Do you love learning? I do!  I love to learn things myself and I love to teach others how to do things as well. I have always been fascinated about HOW you teach someone to do something.

So it was no surprise when I became an Instructional Designer. As an Instructional Designer, I am trained to interview and observe an expert in order to determine HOW they do what they do.

Then it is my job to turn around and create quality instructional materials to teach someone else to do what the expert did – at the same level of competence. It involves creating systems of learning, as well as determining the best way to deliver the instruction.

I learned to create learning materials on demand by spending six years writing curriculum materials on a military contract. We were creating modules that were self-contained and shipped to the Navy at sea – so they had to be 100% stand-alone. We had to think through every pencil, ruler, staple – anything they might need to complete the assignments while at sea.

With six years of experience under my belt, it was easy to decide to go back to school and get my Masters in Adult Education – then just keep going for my PhD in Instructional Design.

When I went into business for myself, I quickly realized that I could turn my teaching experience and my instructional design skills into creating information products.

My first products were audio recordings of speeches I gave. I attached a microphone to my lapel and recorded into a portable audio cassette player as I spoke. Then I used my boom box to duplicate the audiotapes. With my color laser printer and Adobe Pagemaker, I created the inserts for the cassette tapes.

This was pretty slick in 1997!

And I was really on my way when I started creating “albums.” I ordered the plastic shells, designed the inserts, then bundled one or two tapes and a tips booklet into the albums. Wow! Another product!

Next I branched out into teaching on the phone. I paid for a moderated line from VoiceText here in Austin and taught a multiple part course. Using my Radio Shack parts, I tapped into my phone line and recorded it all on my high-end audio cassette recorder. Now I had a series of audio tapes.

The technology has changed, but the principles remain the same.

• Start where you are. I was already speaking in front of audiences. Why not just go ahead and record it!
• Maintain control and costs. I had a cassette recorder and a boom box for duplication. Sure, I could have “outsourced” it to a production house. But in those days there was no such thing as “on demand” publishing. You ordered 100 or 500 or 1,000 copies – hoped they’d sell. I preferred doing it in house and controlling costs.
• Use your skills. I always recommend people start product creation with audio products. Why? Because we all can talk! It’s just a simple step to press the record button before you start. And nowadays you can provide a simple mp3 download – no need for a boom box to duplicate and no shipping needed.

When you’re ready to start where you are and create your first product, I recommend you start with First Audio Product.

On May 15, 1997 I walked away from my full-time job and onto a plane for my first National Speakers Association workshop. That was my first full day of job-freedom.

This was not a last-minute decision. I had decided several months before that I was leaving on that day. My contract was set for renewal on June 1 and I didn’t want to sign the non-compete clause they were adding. Since I knew I wanted to attend that workshop, I knew that May 15 was it.

I also didn’t leave unprepared. I had already planned my next six months. I purchased five Macintosh laptops and five PC laptops, plus a server and an LCD Projector – while I still had a job to guarantee the purchase. The plan was to pack up, travel to a city, teach a workshop for teachers on How to Publish Your School Website for three days, then go to the next city.

I also didn’t leave without laying the groundwork for sales. With my employer’s permission (they were not going to teach anything that competed with my workshops), I made a list of every school district and teacher I had worked with in the prior four years.

So on May 15, I mailed hundreds of personal notes and invitations to attend one of my pre-scheduled workshops. I also invited them to contact me for consulting.

By the time I returned home after the weekend, I had business waiting for me. And that made all the difference!

Was it a lot of double-work to plan all of this and make all of the arrangements for multiple workshops, hotels, and events while I was still working full-time? Yes.

But I knew I didn’t want to wake up my first day of “freedom” and realize I had to get out there and invent a business! That was downright scary.

So are YOU planning your Freedom Day? If you are, you’ll want to get a copy of Plan Your Online Business. These are the very tools I use to plan and update my business today. I sure wish I had had them in 1997!

You are invited to join us as we celebrate 15 Years Online! It’s because of YOU my readers, subscribers, customers, and friends that this celebration is taking place. So Thank You!

Over the next 15 days I’ll be posting stories from the past years – along with lessons learned. And I look forward to adding your comments and lessons along with mine. Each of the special articles will be marked with 15 Years Online Banner.

If you’d like to add a congratulations or thank you message or testimonial – I’d LOVE to hear from you. Just click to leave a comment below or use our Audio Testimonial Line. Or if video is your preference, send me the link to your video! One way or another – I want to hear from YOU!