We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lauren Grube a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

As a former elementary school teacher, I could talk about this for hours! And is one of the reasons I left the profession. I wanted to teach my students to be well-rounded, ready for real life, polite, thoughtful, big thinkers, and to get uncomfortable. The problem is that those are not ‘standards’ therefore most schools do not allow time for that in the school day. As a teacher it is already near impossible to teach a 10-month curriculum in about 7 months before testing while giving yourself time to get settled in as a class. I have often been asked this question, and sometimes I feel like the answer is too big to be an easy solution. But it does start in the home. Good parenting, setting boundaries, letting a child take risks and learn from mistakes provide the most room for growth and for the child to choose her/his own path. Often, I would see children not wanting to think, not giving effort, not dreaming, and waiting for someone else tell them what to do. So that is why I wrote my children’s book. I wanted children to get creative, learn that ‘where there is a will, there is a way’! When we think outside the box, we can create any life we want. I currently am in that place in my career, and I want students to know, that we do not have to take the path that looks ‘normal’ or is well traveled.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

My story is unique. I started as an elementary school teacher; I truly love impacting others. When I left the profession, I would still work with students while tutoring or reading my book aloud. I also have worked on many entrepreneurial adventures, got into software tech training for a while and am currently working in finance! It has had many twists and turns and I couldn’t be happier right now! Life is meant to be lived, to thrive, to be fulfilled and give back. If you don’t have that, I urge you too, to take the risk. It can be scary and uncomfortable, but like one of my favorite lines in my book ‘braid your ideas with determination, and you can be anything!’ If you needed the nudge, I am here to tell you to go for it!

If you would like to know more about my book, want to set up a time to come read aloud, or about my journey – please reach out! Maybe you are unsure about your child’s education, what it is like to make big career transitions, want to become an author, or learn how to give back – I would love to hear from you! You can email me or follow me on Instagram.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As previously mentioned, I left public school education. I feel it was God’s plan for me to teach and it was an extremely hard decision. At the end of the day, I had completely changed as a person. My friends and family saw it, my work out instructor saw it and asked me ‘what happened to my smile,’ and that is when I knew I needed to change. I was completely drained and not the person I wanted to be. I left the classroom and created a tutoring business and worked my online skincare business with Rodan+Fields. I still got to work with children, on my terms, and was fulfilled by helping people fall in love with their skin and have confidence again! I didn’t know there was a way to achieve fulfillment being an entrepreneur. And being an entrepreneur taught me some of the biggest life lessons! It was more of an education about myself, my gifts, and having to have determination and grit. When I wanted to move from FL to CO, I had to start over with my tutoring clients, and it was hard! I did many odd jobs because I was afraid to go back to a job I didn’t like. I started applying to jobs outside of education in 2019, and hearing no and waiting was discouraging. And then the pandemic happened. And yet again, I had to pivot. I ended up teaching a pod of students during the pandemic, made a lot of great connections, built up my tutoring clients again, but I still wasn’t happy where I was at. I was missing a big part of myself – making an impact in a bigger way. In 2021 I started in a very low position at a software tech company just to get my foot in the door. I realized that I could do it, it was my own self doubt holding me back from a career transition. And from there, and connections I made being an entrepreneur more doors opened for me with opportunities I never thought possible. My advice is to keep going. Go where it seems most uncomfortable, dream bigger, listen to your heart whispers, and don’t give up!

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

This is a great question! Because I think most of us are under the impression that starting a business is so expensive that it scares us away.

Tutoring can be in many different areas of life, it does not have to be only education. This business cost me nothing. I took my skills and shared them with others in need, I got asked about it as a teacher, and then my business grew through word of mouth. If you are going to do something like this, do it well! And then the clients will come to you. Be dependable, confident, and educated in your field.

With Rodan+Fields the initial startup cost had 3 levels, so I could join in a reputable brand for a cost that served me, all 3 of which were under $1000. What I grew to love about R+F that I didn’t like about my books, is not stocking inventory. It is true ecommerce. A few other things to look for if you do want to go with an established ecommerce business are: Is the product consumable? How long have they been in business? What is the reputation? What problem does their product solve? Would I use it myself?

For my book, I took the non-traditional path (are you noticing a trend about me??). I have friends who wrote books and spent a lot of money on the process. I wrote it, designed it, had some help from my sister getting it ready to print and then called over 30 places to get it printed how I wanted. I had a great team of support to encourage me when I was frustrated that I couldn’t get it printed like I had envisioned. But then found one print shop to print and another company to bind it! To print the books, it was more money up front and inventory that I then had to hold and ship out. (Something I really started to appreciate more with R+F, that I could just send someone my link!) To help with the initial cost of printing, I got pre-orders.

And for any business, make sure you serve others! That is the foundation of good business, serving others and helping them find solutions to their problems! And like my book says, get creative, think outside the box – starting a business does not have to be expensive!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.whatifchildrensbook.com/
• Instagram: @legrube
• Other: Fast, fun and free skincare quiz: https://laurengrube.myrandf.com/en-us/solution-tool email: [email protected]