These days it seems like everyone and their uncle is starting a business. We are becoming a world of entrepreneurs and business ideas are seemingly endless. If you are a budding entrepreneur and are starting your own business, congratulations! You’re probably very excited for this phase of your life and so you should be. The road ahead of you is a tough one but with hard work and dedication you’re sure to be successful.
Right?
Well, did you know that 50% of start-ups fail in the first five years? That’s a scary thought. Imagine investing your time, your money, your ideas into a business that goes belly up before it can take off? As you’re surely aware, starting a business is not only about working hard, it’s about working smart, which is why more and more young people are choosing to become TEFL teachers while they are in the process of setting up their businesses.
Sound crazy? Probably, but then most good ideas do. Here are a few good reasons you should consider teaching English as a Foreign Language abroad while your business is in the start-up phase.
Time
Starting a business takes time. From finding funding to planning to development to marketing to networking, there are many steps involved in this process and each one takes time. You cannot fast-track your business; there is no way around this initial start-up phase. But once your business is up and running you won’t have time for anything else. This means the start-up phase is the perfect time to focus on yourself before you focus on your business. After all, an investment in you is an investment in your business. Becoming a TEFL teacher will broaden your horizons like nothing else will and will challenge you and help you grow.
Money
Taking some time to teach English abroad can actually save you money. We’re not talking about taking a gap year to backpack around China. We’re talking about working. As a teacher you’ll earn money. Depending on where you are, you could earn very good money. Especially if you are living in a country that has a low cost of living and if you are smart with your finances, you could put away a decent sum of money each month. After a while you could have saved a big chunk of change which can go straight into your business idea. Plus, living abroad is probably cheaper than your current lifestyle, so you’ll be saving money on a day-to-day basis as well.
Personal and Professional Development
Going abroad is an experience like no other; living abroad even more so. When you live abroad you need to learn to communicate in difficult situations, look after your finances and be responsible for yourself and your actions. As a teacher you learn time management and teamwork skills, while also building your self-confidence and public speaking. All of these skills not only look good on your CV but are essential for entrepreneurs looking to start their own businesses. Teaching gives you a free opportunity to upskill yourself.
Productivity
It may sound counter-intuitive but being busy means getting things done. If you have a lot of free time, it can take a lot of time to do not very much. If you are working full-time but also want to explore your new surroundings and dedicate time to your new business, you’ll soon get very good at being productive in order to do what you really want to do. As a result you’ll learn how to cut down on procrastination and how to prioritise effectively. These skills will stand you in good stead in the running of your business.
Inspiration
In essence, we travel to see the world. Going to new places allows us to meet people, eat different food, try new experiences. Being a TEFL teacher offers you the opportunity to not only see the world but to understand a part of the world from a very different perspective. TEFL teachers are not tourists. We become part of the society we are living in, which means we are able to experience a new culture on a very deep level. Because of this, your everyday experiences will open your mind to new possibilities and inspire you. You will find this inspiration and this creativity will overflow into your business life too.
Networking
Networking is essential to any business. Living and teaching abroad is the best way to network. You will naturally meet new people from all over the world and from totally different situations. You might find yourself teaching alongside a middle-aged software engineer from Sweden or a twenty-something graphic designer from South Africa. And it’s not only your fellow teachers. You could find yourself teaching a French CEO or a Chinese banker. You never know who you might meet and how they might be able to help or influence your business.
As if you needed any more reasons to fly across the world and live in an exotic location, these are six ways teaching English as a Foreign Language abroad will help your business in the start-up phase. Have a look at this TEFL Factbook to find out about salaries and costs of living to decide which destination suits you the most, and off you go!
