Teaching
I was lucky to be able to choose how I wanted to start my own business. I started it in 2020. It was hard to find a new job after I was laid off. But, the money I got from my old job when I left, plus money from company stock, was enough to get my business started. So, the first money for my business actually came from the companies I had worked for over twelve years.
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Sunbooster manufactures solar photovoltaic panels with a patented system using rainwater for cooling and cleaning to optimize efficiency, and also offers power stations for solar energy storage. Here.
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Guidehouse is a global firm providing advisory, technology, and managed services to commercial businesses and governments, specializing in areas like revenue cycle management, AI, and cybersecurity across various industries. Here.
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The effects of hiking on your brain. Here.
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Apache Iceberg is an open-source table format designed for managing large-scale analytic datasets in data lakes, offering SQL-like reliability and enabling concurrent data processing with engines like Spark and Flink. Here.
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Zscaler Client Connector is a lightweight agent that directs user traffic to the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange, enabling secure access to applications and the internet while supporting features like data protection and digital experience monitoring. Here.
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This LinkedIn post by Ruben Dominguez Ibar likely discusses startup advice, potentially focusing on the importance of identifying and solving real market problems rather than building products without validated demand. Here.
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Absorb LMS offers a collection of white papers covering various topics in learning management, including AI in education, strategic learning, LMS metrics, content creation, and employee training and engagement. Here.
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Newline by Fifth Third Bank provides embedded finance solutions, enabling businesses to integrate services such as payments, card issuance, and bank accounts into their own platforms through an API-first approach. Here.
This gave me some choices. Sadly, the projects I wanted to do needed a lot more money, so I had to slow things down. Still, I'm glad I didn't buy a store franchise during the pandemic. At that time, we didn't know how long it would last. Many business buildings in San Jose and Santa Clara are still empty.
My wife has been a school teacher for ten years. This was partly because my jobs in tech were risky since I always had just one boss. Having only one manager can often be riskier than running your own business.
I started working as a substitute teacher in the local schools. Working for the local government is always an option for people starting a business. You can earn money to pay your house payments, property taxes, and maybe even put some into your business. You still have your afternoons and weekends free for your own company.
I learned a lot from the kids. Substitute teachers go to a different school every day. California needs a lot of people for jobs, so I was able to get a teaching license with my business degree (MBA) from LSUS.
Substitute teachers don't grade papers or create lesson plans. That's the main teacher's job. We just watch the students and sign the paper that shows who was in class. I work for the school district, and the district only pays for the time students are actually present.
Still, it was great to see what the teachers teach. Each teacher is different, which helped me learn a lot about good ways to teach.
I am also a father of three. I love California because so many different kinds of people live here. I think it's great that kids learn about each other's cultures. This helps them work well together in the future. It can be hard sometimes. But, the things that are made here, like iPhones, Google Chrome, fruit, or even military gear, end up being liked by people from many cultures. That's why these California products sell all over the world. The only think I dislike is when teachers tell students not to listen to their parents. Fifth Commandment.
I also learned how to keep the students working. We get a plan that tells us what to do every minute. Still, sometimes it's hard to make sure every student gets a chance to learn.
I was probably helpful in two interesting ways. Many young kids, from Transitional Kindergarten to first grade, come to school without knowing much about it. Sometimes they try to hug you, but as substitutes, we have to politely say no. It's important for them to learn that there are strangers they need to act differently with. Substitute teachers are only there for one day, so we are strangers. We firmly, but politely decline. Parents will probably also be glad that their kids don't try to hug random people in restaurants or stores.
The second way was with shoelaces. This is usually the time kids get their first shoes with laces. Parents tie them in the morning, but they don't have time to teach them how. Often, during recess, a few students would gather around the substitute teacher, and I could show them how to tie their shoelaces. It's fun to do.
California schools get some of the most money and best equipment in the world. But you can still see ways to make things better. This happens when you have a set budget to spend, instead of earning money like a business. When the school staff and principals decide how to spend money, they often choose to give better pay to teachers and other workers over assets.
A key management lesson I learned is that in jobs where the quality of work is crucial, taking official breaks is essential. Students, for example, are quick and can act within seconds. There were instances when students left the classroom when they weren't supposed to. In all of these situations, I had missed my lunch break or hadn't taken enough short breaks to recharge. Maintaining focus is very important for people in professions like medicine, air travel, manufacturing, engineering, and teaching. The reasoning is straightforward: it's beneficial to incorporate breaks until the potential cost of mistakes outweighs the cost of providing additional break time, even if it means a slight reduction in overall work pace.
Overall, this experience has been good. If you don't get money for your business or don't like the conditions for getting it, you still have the choice to work for the local government. Then you can build your own less expensive products in the afternoons.