Starting your own business from the ground up can be a learning process. We are constantly learning new things every day and being taught as well. W may not realize it, but teaching can be a thriving business too. Our next guests shares her story…
Please introduce yourself to our readers…
Hi, my name is Johari Murray. I am 39 years old, married with two children. Originally from Westchester County, NY, I relocated to Caceres, Spain with my husband once our first child was born. My background is in education. I earned my BA in English and psychology and my MA in bilingual (Spanish/English) education and Deaf education. Opening an English language/ American culture center came as an organic, calculated risk, so to speak.
You once started your own business – what was it (What Problem/Need/Service did you fulfill?)
Once I started my business I was very clear about the target markets. Many people studied English in a very traditional grammar-translation style and had very little opportunity to use what they were learning in an active and creative way. I created a space and method to bring active communication to the forefront and opened people’s’ eyes to the opportunities to actively engage with English language and American culture in their daily lives.
What made you decide to go out on your own vs work for someone else?
As I mentioned, my background is in education, specifically language learning. Before I started my own business, I was working in study abroad at a local university. There was a major restructuring and I was impacted by it. I could have re-entered in a different capacity however, but I reasoned that the risks of job security were about the same if I went out on my own.
Did you take any outside funding?
I sought outside funding through different public and private investments, grants and stimulus incentives, but it was very difficult. I finally secured a small business loan. The other 70% came out of my own pocket.
Did you have any partners?
I had no business partners, only the love and overreaching support of my husband.
What was your vision/goal for the company? (Did you meet that?)
The vision of the center was create a space to foment the learning of English beyond the traditional frameworks and inspire students to think beyond the English classroom in a way in which her or his learning is not isolated, but rather is an available medium of integrated communication with a reach far beyond the formal classroom, within an environment of linguistic and cultural immersion where social networks of interaction are created just as they occur in real life. This goal was fully met.
What was your company culture like? Did it ever change? ,
The culture created was constant in the sense that it maintained its core values of trust, respect, risk-taking and flexibility.
Why are you not with that business anymore?
We decided to close in order to relocate our family back to the states.
Would you do it again?
Yes, absolutely!
What are you doing now?
I am returning to teaching Spanish and English in the States.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of starting their own business?
Write your ideas down and never give up on the dream. Be open to opportunities whenever they come, especially when you least expect it.
What is your favorite song?
Wow, I wish I could say I had one. What I have in my head is more like a soundtrack touching just about every genre & time period. There is so much good music, can’t just pick one, sorry.
Thanks for sharing Johari!