what i learned after the 30 under 30 award
When I first started Large Tutoring, it was never to create a business. I originally started tutoring to help a friend’s son with physics. I was a fresh engineering graduate, had just written the MCAT for the first time, and wanted to pursue medicine. I had done a great job teaching physics, bringing the engineering approach of understanding “why” we do each step to a high school course, so my friend recommended me to other students (huge shoutout to Jenny Reilly for the encouragement, helping me grow, and encouraging me to quit my job 4.5 years ago!).
When I quit my other two jobs to grow my business, it was to demonstrate my skills for Medical School Applications. I thought it would only be for a little while until I could go to school to become a pediatrician (see the theme of working with youth? I think that just makes me immature <insert emoji>). I never thought 3 years after quitting my job, I would be on BC Business Magazine’s 30 Under 30. I also never even dreamed that I would be a Canadian Delegate at the G20 Young Entrepreneur Summit in BRAZIL a year after that.
With the anniversary of the 30 Under 30 award just passing and the new cohort being published in last month’s edition of BC Business, I thought I would share a few insights and revelations I had this year. You might think “what do I have to learn from Clinton?” and as you’ll see in part 1, I don’t know what I’m doing. I’m just bored on a plane to Brazil and since I can’t chat with anyone, I thought I’d do this.
no one knows what they are doing
Nobody actually knows what they’re doing most of the time, especially when it’s something new. Everyone is just trying their best at any given moment. One friend compared it to graduate school, where everyone is highly motivated and absolutely clueless.
There are no degrees or courses that can walk you through how to start a tutoring business and grow it from beginning to end. We can do our best to learn as much as possible ahead of time, but you will have to figure out things as you go.
2. Find a business community
A rising tide lifts all boats! Find other people in the business community who have successfully started their own businesses. They are a wealth of information, ideas, and solutions, as well as just great support when you’re feeling low. I have always done business by sharing my ideas with others. I’m competitive with games (I don’t play Mario Party with friends anymore - I’m a sore winner), but business doesn’t have to be that way. Even with those in similar industries, there’s room for all.
3. Find supports and resources
There are so many supports, accelerators, grants, etc. out there. I found out about the G20 Summit through the League of Innovators (LOI) business accelerator. I found out about LOI through my new network with BC Business Magazine, and I found out about the magazine through a friend earning a spot on the list a few years prior. They also told me about the Canadian Digital Adaptation Program grant that I’m currently using with Longhouse Media. These are just some of the supports out there that we are trying to leverage. The only thing stopping us from using more is just time. It’s so worth it to research!
4. entrepreneurship is just problem solving
I was told recently that I had a natural inclination for business. This was such a kind compliment, but I don’t think it’s true (cue imposter syndrome). When I was pursuing my engineering degree at UBC, our exams were always a few very large open-ended questions. You had 3 hours, your textbook, your notes, and yourself - that’s it. These were always questions you had never seen, and you had to apply your knowledge in a new way. Basically, you had to just figure it out.
I had to get really good at pushing through that uncomfortable feeling of not knowing what to do; I had to build up my capacity for uncertainty (something I try to instill in my students). It was here that I learned how to work backwards, break down a problem into bite-size pieces, attempt a solution just to find out it wasn’t the right path, and repeat. This is exactly what business is. You identify your goal, and you treat it just like a physical problem. I always fall back to this skill set when I’m not sure how to get to a goal.
I don’t treat entrepreneurship as a businessman - I treat it as an engineer.
These are just some of the lessons that I am continuously learning. A year into having this award, I have had some great high moments (like this conference or a record-breaking month) and some low moments where I wasn’t sure what to do. I hope some of these random thoughts resonated with you! Feel free to write me at Clinton@LargeTutoring.com or comment on socials what you think of my “Plane Thoughts” blog.
