Here’s the hard truth: as teachers, we’re used to showing up, clocking in, and pouring out our energy for hours just to make ends meet. But what if you could create something once, and have it keep working for you with strategic business systems?

I’m unpacking what it really looks like to stop trading time for money and start building business systems in a model that works while you rest.

The Hustle Isn’t Helping

You know the feeling.

You’ve finally hit publish on that new product. You’ve got your captions scheduled. Maybe you’ve even posted twice on Instagram this week (go you!). But the second you take your foot off the gas, it’s like everything stalls. And you start to wonder… “Is this what growing a business is supposed to feel like?”

If you’ve been running your teacher business like a treadmill, constant motion with little momentum, it might be time for a shift. Not a bigger hustle. A better business system. Let’s clear something up: You’re not lazy. You’re teacher tired. And that’s a different kind of tired altogether.

You’re managing classrooms, families, and the occasional copy machine meltdown and then trying to build a business on the side? Of course you’re exhausted. But burnout doesn’t have to be the cost of growth.

What if the problem isn’t your effort but your structure? Because if every dollar you make depends on your next post, your next launch, your next Sunday-night prep session, you haven’t built a business. You’ve built another job.

Why Recurring Revenue Changes Everything

Recurring revenue is income that shows up month after month, because your offer is built to serve consistently, not sell constantly. It’s the opposite of one-off sales. It’s income that works while you rest.

Think: waking up to a Stripe notification, not because you launched, but because your system did the heavy lifting while you were sleeping. And yes, it’s possible. Even with a full-time job. Even without a team.

Here’s what that looks like in action:

• Build a bingeable opt-in. Create a free resource that solves a single, tiny, immediate pain point; like a parent communication template, a Friday planning checklist, or a classroom behavior tracker. It should feel like a little gift and lead naturally into your membership or offer.
• Pair it with a nurture sequence. Set up 3–5 emails that welcome your new subscriber, give them an additional win, and introduce your recurring offer in a warm, helpful way. No salesy marketing tactics needed, just connection, clarity, and calm.
• Create a simple monthly delivery plan. What will your members get each month? One resource? A short training? A guided reflection? Choose a cadence that supports your lifestyle, or the season you are in, and delivers meaningful value for them. Then schedule it out so you’re not reinventing the wheel every month.

These three business systems together create a runway of recurring revenue, one that runs on strategy, not hustle.

Why a Membership Might Be Your Best Next Step

So why choose a membership instead of a course?

• Recurring revenue: With a course, you typically get one big launch and then crickets until your next big push. A membership brings in income each month, so you’re not starting from scratch every time.
• No more constant launch cycles: Say goodbye to launch burnout, endless warmup emails, and hoping the algorithm plays nice. Memberships create steadier growth and less pressure.
• Room to grow over time: With a course, the pressure’s on to get everything perfect up front. A membership gives you space to build as you go, respond to member feedback, and refine your content month by month.
• Built-in community: Teachers thrive in connection, not isolation. A membership is more than just resources, it’s a space to encourage, share, and grow together.

If you love the idea of serving consistently without constantly selling, a membership isn’t just a good fit. It might be the fit. Here’s the truth: teachers make incredible membership hosts. You’re already designing curriculum, differentiating for learners, and building relationships week by week. A membership just channels that magic into a structure that supports you, too. And no, it doesn’t have to be complicated.

You don’t need to overdeliver to create value. You just need to show up consistently with purpose. A simple monthly membership might include:

• One resource drop per month
• A short video training or behind-the-scenes walkthrough
• A community space (like a FB group or private chat)

How Business Systems Make This Work

Here’s the real win: once your membership is live, you can build a business system around it. A business system is just a set of automated or repeatable actions that keep your offer visible, valuable, and converting. It’s what allows your business to keep growing while you’re grading papers, picking up groceries, or finally binge-watching that show you’ve been “meaning to get to” since fall break.

And for the full-time teacher who’s already balancing student needs, staff meetings, and substitute shortages, simplicity is everything.

Here’s how to build it step by step:

• Content that attracts – Think of this like setting out the welcome mat. Whether it’s a blog post that answers a question your teacher friends are Googling at 11 p.m., a reel that gets them nodding along, or a newsletter that feels like a pep talk, you’re creating content that makes them feel seen. Bonus points if it makes them laugh or breathe a little easier.
• Email sequences that nurture – This is your digital warm hug. When someone signs up for your freebie, they get 3–5 emails that welcome them in, show them a quick win, and share how your offer can keep supporting them. No icky sales vibes, just “here’s how I can help” energy. And once it’s written? It runs in the background while you do your real job (you know, teaching kids and keeping humans alive).
• A sales page that sells – Let your sales page do the heavy lifting. Instead of repeating yourself in the DMs or re-explaining your offer to every curious browser, your sales page clearly outlines who it’s for, what’s included, and why it matters. It’s like having a 24/7 version of you that never forgets what to say.

These three business systems aren’t about fancy funnels or complicated tech. They’re about buying back your time, one sustainable strategy at a time. Because you deserve a business that works while you teach, while you rest, and while you live your life outside the inbox.

A business system is the set of automated or repeatable actions that keep your offer visible, valuable, and converting. The overview: 

• Content that attracts – blog posts, reels, or emails that speak directly to your audience’s pain points.
• Email sequences that nurture – pre-written emails that walk a new subscriber from “interested” to “invested.”
• A sales page that sells – so you’re not explaining your offer again and again in the DMs.

Once those three things are in place? Your business keeps moving, even when you’re not.

Start Small, Grow Smart

You don’t have to quit your job to create recurring revenue. You don’t need a team. You don’t need to launch with confetti and countdown timers. You don't have to create 25, 50, or even 100 TPT products first. You just need one offer that supports your audience consistently. One system that keeps it running. One step to start moving in the right direction.

You don’t have to set up all three systems overnight. But you can take one small step today, and that momentum builds faster than you think. Here are 3 things you can do today to start setting up business systems that work on your behalf:

• Map your member journey – Jot down how someone finds you, what they need, and how you help. This simple sketch becomes the blueprint for your content, your emails, and your offer. We'll actually be doing this live inside the Lessons to Lasting Impact Summit Community!
• Write your first welcome email – Just one. No funnel required. Tell your new subscriber who you are, what you stand for, and how you’re here to support them. Boom, nurture in action. If you choose the Momentum Pass with the Summit, you'll actually get a Business Builder pathway that supports this very topic! No more guessing.
• Choose one offer, one delivery method, and one rhythm – Maybe it’s a monthly resource drop. Maybe it’s a 10-minute video training. Pick what’s sustainable for you, and let that be enough.

Start here: Grab your copy of The Not-So-Fabulous Life of a Teacher and see how real teachers are building recurring revenue with purpose, not pressure. Then come join us inside the From Lessons to Lasting Income & Impact Summit, where you’ll learn how to turn your ideas into a sustainable membership that works while you rest. And the live kick-off to ur summit? It's the steps you need to get started tomorrow.  Because the goal isn’t more hustle. It’s more peace. More purpose. More progress. And the right business system makes that possible.