If you had asked me 13 years ago how difficult it is to start teaching and opening your own business, I would have said it’s a piece of cake.

My dad had already had a few successful businesses and I was that privileged young woman who had whatever she wanted whenever she wanted it. It was 2009, right after the recession. People in my country (Romania) only wanted to emigrate and work abroad. It was a great year to open a language school. When businesses where going bankrupt, mine was just blooming.

And I loved it. I was a 25-year-old woman, with no real life

)) so I just dedicated all my time to increasing my business and becoming the best teacher out there. By 2015, I had had international certifications, international experience, and a team of 24 teachers. I had been in some news papers, on TV and even supported secondary teachers and undergrad students with developing their skills for the future.

But during all these years, I just got tired and tired. Anxiety kicked in and panic attacks. I was so tired, I couldn’t sleep anymore. I was so tired, people would talk to me and I just had to repeat the words back cause I wasn’t able to focus on the meaning. “Would you like some water?” – “Would you like some water … would you like some water… oh, yes, please”

So, I was a mess. I started asking myself : Is this my life? I was just a spectator and I didn’t like the show anymore.

And then a miracle happened. I had been told that, due to my health problems, I might never be a mum. But at the end of 2015, I got pregnant. And there it was. My reason to live.

Of course, as soon as my daughter was born, my attention immediately shifted. I didn’t want to work so much and to have to leave her side. But I had a business to run, so her first year, I wasn’t able to spend too much time with her so I really felt I was failing my most important job.

So, when she turned one, we decided to close the businesses and move to the Uk (permanently, as we had been here before with several contracts). That was five years ago.

At first, I didn’t want to have a business anymore or be self-employed. I just wanted to get a job somewhere, have a low but fixed monthly income. I had over 8 years of experience in business and I first targeted admin jobs.

I found the dream one. Only 2 candidates. Managing the only language school in my town as the manager was going on maternity leave. However, in an email, I was told I could not have the job, as I could be considered competition.

So, no luck. I had the experience, but not the Uk qualifications in business. I tried working in public schools as a supply teacher. I hated it. Working with 30 children at once really scared me.

So, there I was, no money, no job, with a one-year-old in a foreign country where everyone spoke the language that I taught. There were days where we had only a few pounds to buy nappies or milk

But the turning point for me came when I went to yet another assistant job interview. It was laundry assistant. In my mind, I thought it was an admin position. It was actually ironing and folding sheets. Ok, I needed a job so I went for the interview, had a trial, and was told I was not good at folding laundry as I was too short and the sheets were touching the floor and getting dirty. I left in tears. I was not even good at folding sheets.

On my way home, I started laughing, then crying again, then laughing. And that’s where it hit me. I only knew to do one thing (well actually two, teaching and managing).

So, I had to be able to succeed as a non native speaker in a country where everyone is a native, there was a lot of competition, and no one knew me.

But was I able to do it? Oh, yeah.

And here I am today. I successfully run two businesses in the Uk. A language school, duh, and a coaching and mentoring academy, where I help teachers who are starting out make it big time. Cause I’ve been there.

Is it easy to start from the very bottom? No, it is not, now I know.
Would I want others to go through what I’ve been through? No.

I have been blessed really. I have been lucky, in the end.

And I am writing this message to you today because, if you are feeling stuck and struggling, it’s time for someone to tell you:

YOU CAN DO IT TOO!