My brother tells me I’m getting a little sappy on here—who knew my brother read these anyway? But since he is my big brother, and he stopped locking me in Mom’s closet at least ten years ago, I’ll take his advice and get down to business.
It is business I’m writing about today, or I’ve been writing about? For the past week I’ve been working hard to write a business plan for a new business I’m starting with a friend. I love writing, so I thought this would be a great way to kick of the summer; I was wrong.
Why? Because I’m a teacher, all the classes I’ve ever taken have been geared toward that. I can write a research report on any topic in the educational field and still hold true to my natural writer’s voice and style. But, this business plan? Nope, it painfully ripped style and voice straight from my brain. It also didn’t help that I had never even read a business plan before, the vocabulary was new or at least uncertain—even the format confused me. I struggled.
So here was my process.
- Google Business Plan
- Read online advice & online examples
- Attempt to start writing on my own
- Run to Barnes and Noble and buy “My First Business Plan”
- Begin to write 24 page Business plan while holding book in my hand and using Merriam-Webster Dictionary app on my cell phone every five minutes
- Drink wayyyy too much coffee at local Starbucks
- Complain
- Read over first six pages with business partner
- Call a friend who knows more than I do
- Repeat steps 5-7
- Finish 24 page Business Plan
Even just looking at that list kills me. It was such a painful process; I felt so confused. And then I got to thinking, is this what happens to our kids when we ask them to write something new? Something hard? How do they make it?
I know I pressed on because I was working on something I believed in, because I knew that I needed this document to further the company that I’m passionate about. If I was not passionate about the company I would have given up at step three.
How do we keep our students going when the genre is new, difficult, or confusing? We give the writing, or the project, or whatever it is real value. And then we keep encouraging them like crazy.
Is my business plan good? No.
Do I know more now than when I started? Yes.
Am I proud? You bet ya’
Now, on to Revision!
4 replies on “Business as Usual?”
You must feel like some of your students right now. Remember that feeling. Although, I’m sure you already usually do. BUUUT keep pressing on because the “stuff” that’s driving you si what is going to make this a better business than others. I’m so proud of you!!!
Embarassing- a typo on a english teacher blog–> si = is. 🙂
I know I would always rather work toward a goal than just do busywork. This realization could have a huge impact on your readers’ classrooms. What if the answer to “When will I ever need to know this?” was RIGHT NOW because you’re working on a project that YOU’RE excited about and that actually matters in YOUR life?
… As usual, I wish I had had teachers like you growing up 🙂
can i do a re-do of 8th grade next year with you? i’d like to delete my 8th grade memories and replace them with you being my teacher