Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in training and education but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Spencer Russell, Founder of Toddlers Can Read, located in Houston, TX, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

At Toddlers Can Read, I help parents and caregivers teach their little ones how to read. The folks who support me are a mix of 1) toddler parents, 2) homeschool parents, and 3) parents of older/struggling readers. While we represent many different races, cultures, countries, ages, experiences, religions, and beliefs, we're united in wanting better for our little ones.

Tell us about yourself

This is a tricky question, so I'll give you the short answer.

I'm a former kindergarten and first-grade teacher. In six years of teaching, I won over $30,000 across multiple teaching awards and was recognized at the city, district, state, and national levels. But, when my partner and I had our son, I left my job teaching to work as a director at educational non-profit helping teachers and leaders better understand their reading curricula. I worked at this job for three years, and despite the fact that I worked from home, made a great salary, and had a relatively comfortable lifestyle: I knew it wasn't the job I wanted to do forever. At the same time, I had been actively teaching my 2-year-old son to read. Every night, we spent a few minutes learning the letter sounds and how to blend them together, and by 2.5, he was reading WELL. Because as it turns out, the same strategies I used to help my kindergarten and first-grade students excel also worked with my toddler. So, in November of 2021, I decided to quit my full-time job to run Toddlers Can Read full-time in order to help other parents and caregivers teach their little ones to read too. And today, I am selling three online courses: Learning Sounds, Blending Words, and Reading Books along with the best sound flashcards, money can buy.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Doing what I said I'd do. Period.

I said I would quit my job and start the best online reading program in the world, and I did. I left my job BEFORE I was making enough money from Toddlers Can Read to support my family, and I said I would make it work... and I did.

When parents sign up for one of my courses, I say I'll do whatever it takes to support them and their little ones to be successful, and I do. I answer every one of their messages, emails, and Facebook posts. If they need more support, I send audio and video messages breaking down exactly how to do a better job with their little one.

And in terms of my team, I had folks working for me for free for months. I told them I'd pay back every hour when we made money, and I did. Then I said I would get them full-time roles with benefits, and I did.
Your word is only as good as your follow-through, and as a business owner, I'm proud of the fact that when I say something, I follow through and get it done. Every time.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

I think this probably depends on the person. Some folks are the type to "set it and forget it." They get something set up once, and it's done. Then onto the next. Personally, I'm the type of person who is never satisfied. Nothing is ever good enough, which is a blessing and a curse. For example, when we optimize one area of the business, we know that we'll need to loop back to it in 3-6 months to review the data, update it, or revamp it completely. Or when we accomplish a goal or a milestone as a business (like 200K followers on IG), we celebrate VERY briefly and then change the goal immediately to something harder. So I think it's hard to keep perspective when you know all of the wins and also all of the potential wins that we haven't accomplished yet. The goalposts are always moving, and that can be tough culturally and financially as the leader of the business.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

I've said this before, and I'll say it again: burn the bridge. Burn it.

The #1 piece of advice I have for folks trying to get into the business space- especially online businesses- is to go all in. If you've done your research, you know your market, you know what you bring to the table, you know that nobody else is bringing that same value, you know folks will pay for it, you know your own strengths, you hire to fill your weaknesses, and you have a viable business model: just do it. I see far too many folks making backup plans if the business fails or fails to take action or make progress from week to week. If you're the best person in the world to do what you do: burn the bridge and get it done. Otherwise, my advice is to quit while you’re ahead. This lifestyle isn’t for everyone, and if you’re not ready to give it 100%, I think it’s better to quit before you invest any more time and money that you can’t get back.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.toddlersread.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toddlerscanread
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toddlerscanread/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/toddlerscanread
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/srussell12/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Turn your craft into recurring revenue with Subkit. Start your subscription offering in minutes and supercharge it with growth levers. Get early access here.