Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kordilia Foxstone. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kordilia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you take vacations? How do you keep things going – any advice for entrepreneurs who feel like they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation?

I truly don’t take vacations. Even when I travel and tell myself “it is going to be purely for pleasure” I end up coming with a new idea and getting back to my computer, making calls and researching.

I have burned out before, but I get back to it pretty quickly. Being very passionate about the project and mission, having very distracting and challenging hobbies are some of the best tips I have. Also, treat your body and mind well – whatever that may mean for you.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I create Language Academia, not exactly yet knowing what it would come to. Having a very diverse upbringing, I never considered myself fully fluent in any language and kept jumping from one language to another.

Eventually, in attempts to settle on one language and location I started tutoring English as a Second Language. Knowing multiple foreign languages helped me understand my students. I noticed that even though students had to pay extra to learn with me, they would still leave their free classes and join mine. I did this for math too, and had the same result.

Eventually this path led me to Language Academia. To this day, I tell myself that this is a hobby and is far from “Final destination” for me, I put in all my love, thought, and energy into this school.

Now, Language Academia is becoming a pathway for immigrants to have a better live. Benefit from immigration not only for future generations, but feel at home, no mater what age they moved. We make leaving the US and coming to the US easier.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I came into this business with a lot of passion, and I wanted to give… well, everything to everyone. The best service to my students, the best working conditions to my tutors… What I had to learn, or unlearn, is that business is brutal. If I want to survive in it (and in Los Angeles, where everyone is a shark), I’m gonna have to say “no,” “enough,” “ready,” “not perfect is fine,” “we can fix it as we go,” “this is out of budget,” and most importantly, “I CAN DO BETTER!”

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Simple! I saved (laughing)…

I started working as early as 7. I worked for my father first, and was making about $100-$200/month. You would think that working for your dad is not really working, but let me tell you, that was one of the hardest jobs I’ve ever had. My father did not make things easy for me at all. But he taught me important things, such as “I CAN sleep faster”, “if I don’t do it, no one will”, and “in order to get what no one else can, you need to do what everyone else did, and then more… as much more as you want to get back”.

I was saving everything, and after 7 years, I thought I was rich!

But, I stopped saving when I had to pay rent. However, I kept saving whatever was gifted to me – birthdays, Christmas, other family visits. I had no idea what I was saving for. But at that point, it was a game. I didn’t need shopping or fancy foods. I thought “I can have nice food today and no money tomorrow, or I can do something with this money, and have good food for the rest of my life”. Mind you, in retrospect – in Japan, all food is good.

College took some of my savings, which is what taught me that college might not be the best way for me. I went there anyway. That was before I learned the “only I know what’s better for me” rule.

During my military service, I saved again. I took a big chunk of my savings and invested in finding a good job, while mopping floors at a beauty salon towards the end of my service.

Finally, I found a perfect job. That job taught me to run and build a business, allowed me to hire and fire people, learn to delegate, and most importantly had me relocated, which forced the company to pay all my bills: rent, food, and car. I only had one expense: the gym. And even that I thought was “too much”. It was an expensive gym, and my soul needed it, but sometimes I felt bad.

I left that company and went to Tokyo. Back where I felt free and at home. I spent some of my money going through a few business ideas, and finally landed on Language Academia. Its first format was far from what it is today. But I fell in love with the idea, and the more I changed it, the more I loved it.

PS: I didn’t have enough money. While building the business (the first 3 years), I still had to work and invest everything I made.

Contact Info:

• Website: languageacademia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/languageacademia/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/accentsforactors/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-pierce-02724a278/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lang_Academia