Australian Teacher to Mindset Coach: The Exciting Career Transition

This week on the Exit Stage Teach Blog we will learn about Jane Beams, an Australian Teacher who has successfully made the career transition from Teacher to Mindset Coach. At Exit Stage Teach, we’re all about embracing the exciting journey of Australian teachers looking to exit the traditional classroom and embark on new, fulfilling careers. Don’t forget, if you want to be featured on our Exit Stage Teach Blog connect with us now. We are thrilled to introduce you to Jane Beams, a teacher who transitioned from the classroom to becoming a respected mindset coach. Sharing her invaluable experiences, Jane sheds light on the challenges and triumphs of career transition for Australian Teachers.

Jane's Sparkling Background

Meet Jane Beams, an educator whose teaching journey began as most of ours do, with the enthusiasm of a fresh graduate, eager to light up the minds of young learners. With a diverse teaching history across primary, secondary, and tertiary education, Jane’s commitment to shaping young lives is inspiring and commendable. Her classrooms radiated an air of safety, belonging, and active engagement – the epitome of an exceptional teacher. Jane’s experience in education and coaching is outstanding, she has published educational materials for the Australian Curriculum and has over a thousand hours of experience coaching individuals and groups in resilience, personal transformation, leadership, careers, health and relationships. Transferable skills from her teaching life have immensely supported her career transition into Mindset Coach. Jane is delivering professional learning and coaching experiences in Australian schools, through group workshops and one-on-one coaching sessions, to build resilience in teachers and school leaders. She coaches school leaders to become successful coaches themselves. She also coaches teachers and school leaders in resilience, self-leadership and pathways to leaving teaching.

The Spark that Ignited the Change

Ah, the teaching journey! While it starts with bright eyes and a heart full of dreams, it’s not uncommon, as we know, for challenges to dim that initial spark. Jane’s story resonates with many of us who’ve walked the path.

As we all know too well, this enthusiasm starts to fade as the reality of teaching kicks in. Jane describes a very likely story of rising workloads and administration tasks, hours creating individualised learning plans, increasing legalities weighing on the mental load, parents becoming more of the problem rather than the solution, the lack of work/life balance as the never-ending to-do list continued to grow, not shrink. The focus of my students became second to the rest of the never-ending tasks. As she reflects, “I found myself entangled in administrative tasks and a work-life seesaw.”

The Career Transition begins

“What really saddened me was seeing new graduates face the same pressures, minus the strategies I had developed over the years to manage the workload.” This is where Jane first started mentoring other teachers, who like her, found the challenges of teaching difficult to overcome. Witnessing young teachers grappling with these challenges fuelled her determination to incite change. This inspired her to start searching for a better way, hence the career transition from teacher to mindset coach. The birth of her one-on-one coaching and workshops to help teachers and leaders came to fruition. Her goal was and still is, to help teachers and leaders handle workloads and expectations, and empower them to live happier and less stressful lives, both professionally and personally. Jane understands the challenges of teaching and has found strategies for those who want to improve their teaching lives or for those who want to transition out of the classroom as she has successfully achieved, “As I have walked in their shoes, I also help those teachers who want to transition out of teaching altogether, coaching and empowering them to start their own business or change careers as I did.”

Transitioning Challenges

Now, let’s dive into the exhilarating part of the tale – Jane’s career transition from a classroom teacher to an empowered mindset coach. But, let’s be real, it wasn’t all smooth sailing, “My decision to leave teaching full-time coincided with building our dream home, with a hefty mortgage attached! If I was going to make this coaching thing work, I was going to have to precariously balance some teaching work with a solid attempt to find clients to serve immediately. This meant going way out of my comfort zone, having uncomfortable conversations and believing in myself no matter what. This took a great deal of courage and there were many moments of self-doubt,” Jane admits. Conquering self-doubt, Jane ventured beyond her comfort zone and began the entrepreneurial journey. She embraced her transferrable teaching skills and used these to help create her business, skills such as public speaking, relationship building, time management, content creation, and her organisational prowess. Already having the confidence in her skillset from teaching made the career transition from classroom teacher to mindset coach so much easier.

Diverse Avenues: Coaching and Beyond

Jane’s story isn’t just as simple as a career transition from teacher to mindset coach, it’s a multi-faceted exploration of her skills in diverse realms. Jane had two separate stages of transitioning out of teaching. Initially, she was successful in applying for a role as a Commissioning Editor for a global education publishing company. From there, she was soon promoted to publisher and manager of the professional learning program. She was able to bring her insight as an educator to all of her roles. Jane shared the reality of life as a teacher and this helped guide how to best meet and support teacher needs when it came to curriculum and resources. She trained educators globally in best-practice literacy approaches. “From Commissioning Editor to global literacy trainer and workshop guru,” Jane gleefully reveals, showcasing her seamless transition from the classroom to influencing education on a grander scale. Her teaching foundation armed her with the unique ability to bridge education and other industries, expanding her impact beyond traditional boundaries, “I have facilitated behavioural science training workshops for many other industries including real estate, allied health, local councils, WorkSafe providers, construction, etc. This has exposed me to so many different people, organisational structures, cultures and beliefs about human behaviour.” Jane’s story is an exciting journey and a common theme amongst those who move into the entrepreneurial realm. Wearing several different hats is the norm in the entrepreneurial space. It’s also a great way for teachers to try different jobs to see what sticks.

Skills and Resilience

So, what’s the secret recipe behind Jane’s triumphant transition? It’s a blend of credentials, resilience, and an attitude of life-long learning. Armed with a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment and fortified by rigorous coaching courses, Jane embarked on her coaching journey. “The first thing I did was attain a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. This qualification has been far more valuable for me in getting jobs than any of the thousands of dollars worth of university degrees!” Jane has gone on to do a high-level intensive 3-year coaching course. Within this, she trained in triads to practise coaching, neuro-linguistic programming and business skills development. She also has a certification in Mental Health First Aid for youth and has just completed a week-long intensive certification to become a MindGym Coach. As teachers, we appreciate the lifelong learning approach, this is also true for an entrepreneur and part of why teachers make great business owners. Running your own business means you need to wear many different hats, Jane proudly describes her journey, “I have learnt how to build a website, an email list, landing pages and use social media effectively as a marketing tool. I have learnt how to use design software and numerous online training and meeting platforms and joined groups such as Toastmasters to improve my speaking and presentation skills. I read personal development books, listen to podcasts and watch many videos! I regularly attend conferences, talks and networking events to learn more and meet new people. I share everything I learn with my clients to save them time and money.”

A passion for Coaching

Jane’s passion for coaching and wanting to make a difference shines through the moment you speak with her. Her face lights up as she talks about coaching and it’s evident the joy she gains from helping others improve their quality of life. Jane’s journey has taken many paths but her favourite is helping teachers, “Most of all I love delivering professional learning opportunities for teachers and school leaders to build their resilience and emotional fitness so they can better manage emotionally challenging situations in the workplace.” As Jane reflects on her coaching journey and although her teaching skills have aided her in this career transition, she has also had to learn how to ‘stop and listen’, “I have learnt to be as open-minded as possible. One thing I have learnt is that as teachers, we often feel compelled to solve problems for others but when it comes to being a successful coach, it isn’t our job to solve others’ problems or fix things. Our job is to empower them to solve their problems through active listening and curious questioning.”

Staying motivated during the Career Transition

Moving into another career usually has an air of excitement at the beginning, once the initial adrenaline subsides your motivation to keep going will need to kick in. Our blog ‘Overcome Setbacks and Challenges when Leaving Teaching‘ explains how to set realistic goals and timelines and how to learn new skills to support your career transition. Jane supports, “You realise that now you have to create your work and if you don’t work, you don’t get paid. My best tips to help with this are, to set up a non-negotiable morning routine, continually educate yourself about technology, eg. website development, social media, email lists, design software etc and continually educate yourself about finances eg. tax, superannuation, budgeting, forecasting etc.” As an entrepreneur you work alone most of the time, this can be challenging at first. You are continually learning new skills, and finding a team you can outsource some work to will help lighten the load but ultimately, having an understanding of how everything in your business works will give you the best outcome.

For more information regarding digital skills, website design and entrepreneurial pursuits, these blogs will help:

How to replace an Australian Teacher Income with Digital Skills

How to Start an Online Educational Website and Retire from Teaching

Build a Thriving Teacherpreneur Business

Advice for other Teachers wanting a Career Transition

A business coach is going to save you a lot of time in that initial stage of planning the exit from teaching. Jane knows the value of a coach to help get your mindset on track before anything else, “Get a coach first. They will be able to help you understand your current fears (which you possibly won’t be aware of), develop self-awareness, and self-belief, keep you focussed on your goals and empower you to create a meaningful reason and purpose for making this exciting change in your life.” As exciting as it can be, it can also be very daunting and having support to help you through the journey is invaluable. The transition out of teaching directly to a new career as a paid position in a different industry can be scary but Jane says, “It’s ok not to know everything on your first day.” You are learning a whole new industry and your employers know that. New systems and ways of working with different people can be challenging. Jane describes her time working as a publisher, “I had to be open to new ways of working, working with a wide range of people and being kind to myself by lowering my personal expectations in terms of what I was capable of. I went from being a very big fish to a tiny one in a vast ocean!”

Running your own Business

Moving from teaching to your own business will take more time. You will most likely need to spend some time building your business while you’re teaching. “After a while, listening to webinars and writing coaching assignments whilst juggling yard duty, meetings and curriculum planning became too much. I wasn’t doing either job as well as I should have been.” This is always a busy time and we are fortunate in education that the opportunity to move into part-time work or relief teaching is available. Often this is a better idea to help manage the workload of teaching in collaboration with starting a business. “Whilst this was a very busy time for me, I was so passionate about my new career, it didn’t feel like work at all and to be honest, after nearly 10 years of coaching and training, it still doesn’t feel like work to me!” Building a business takes time and by dropping to part-time work you can help balance those initial years of growth. You also need to be gentle on yourself and don’t burn yourself out before you begin. Jane gives some advice about building your own business, “Don’t expect results straight away! Anything worthwhile takes time. Business is all about building relationships. Always focus on this aspect well before trying to sell anything. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will. Develop your self-awareness, be open to learning and ask more and better questions.”

A Reflection of the Journey

Reflecting on the journey and the unexpected positives of her career transition, Jane describes the flexibility of the entrepreneurial life as being one of her favourite parts, “One of the greatest benefits that I appreciate every single day, is that I am in total control of my business and I don’t have anyone telling me how or where to work, when I should be working or how much money I should be earning. If I want to have a quiet day in my office I can. If I want to spend more time connecting with others, I make that happen too. This is ideal for someone who is self-driven and disciplined.” Growing a business becomes an extension of yourself, it’s a reflection of who you are. Janes’s career transition into mindset coaching really is an extension of herself as a teacher, “My core values have influenced this transition immensely. Without them, I wouldn’t have achieved what I have and how I have!”

Trust: I have learnt to trust in myself, keep the promises I make to myself, and be authentic, reliable and professional.

Decisiveness: I am purposeful, self-assured, organised and prepared to take action.

Growth: I face my fears with courage, take risks, I am openminded and continually seek ways to learn.

Joy: I see the humour in things, I am optimistic and playful, and I am kind to myself. I love connecting and laughing with others.

A New Way of Life

Jane’s journey has been an inspiring story but not only that, it has led her to new horizons and brought her unmatched well-being. “Whilst I will always consider myself a teacher, my levels of happiness and wellbeing since leaving teaching are much higher now. I feel in control of my life and my time. My health has improved significantly. I am more organised at home and have the flexibility to travel when I want to, spend more time with my aging parents and mother-in-law and spend time with my other family members. I have taken up golf and play during the week. I walk regularly and fit my work commitments around looking after myself. Most importantly, my ‘work’ is to empower others to seek the same levels of happiness and wellbeing in their own lives which is hugely rewarding for me!” Jane’s vision is to empower educators all across the globe, guiding them toward purposeful careers and harmonious lives. Jane hopes to share her message of resilience with as many teachers as possible. She offers a range of mindset experiences for teachers and school leaders to help them better manage emotionally challenging situations at work, helping them to experience less stress and more joy. If you’re unsure if leaving teaching is the best option for you then Jane nurtures you through this decision. She also supports those teachers who have the desire to pursue a new career and lifestyle beyond teaching.

Your Adventure Awaits

As we wrap up Jane’s exhilarating journey, we invite you to seize your adventure. At Exit Stage Teach, we’re here to empower and guide Australian teachers in their pursuit of a fulfilling career transition. Jane’s story stands as a beacon of hope, a testament to the power of resilience, personal growth, and the boundless potential that lies within each of us. We thank Jane for sharing her beautiful career transition journey from teacher to mindset coach. Her generosity and kindness are felt as soon as you connect with Jane and we are so grateful to have her in our Exit Stage Teach community.

OFFER FOR THE EXIT STAGE TEACH COMMUNITY – Use Promo Code MOJOME23 and Jane will organise a discount for you. Have a look below at the mindset coaching Jane offers.

The Mojo Mindset Experience

The Mojo Mindset Experience is a suite of unique coaching immersion experiences designed especially for teachers and school leaders. It is a customised opportunity to build a more resilient, self-aware and connected team to create a flourishing staff culture at your school. It allows teachers to purposefully reconnect with themselves and others to have a positive influence on their students’ academic outcomes and emotional development.

It is a full-day professional learning experience and also has additional half-day and 90 minute workshops available.

Limited places for 1:1 Mindset Coaching sessions for teachers and school leaders. These packages are the ultimate service in individual, personalised coaching with me.

3 coaching packages available that you can choose from. They are all the same price but serve different purposes:

THE RESILIENT TEACHER

For teachers who want to build their resilience and emotional fitness to better manage emotionally challenging situations at work.

SELF-LEADERSHIP TO LEAD OTHERS

For current or aspiring school leaders who want to uplevel their thinking, language and decision making to become the best leader they can be.

THE COURAGE TO BE HAPPY

For teachers who are wanting to leave teaching to seek a more meaningful purpose in life.

Please contact Jane for further information regarding the course:

Jane Beams

Resilience Coach & Trainer

DipT, BEd, PostgradCertGiftedEd,

MEd (SpEd), Cert IV TAE, CertAdvCoach

jane@janebeams.com.au

www.janebeams.com.au

+61 422 782 702

“Thank you, Jane! I feel like me again – the good version! Now I look at things differently, finding solutions not problems. You’ve helped me find my energy and I feel so much calmer at the same time. I’m more positive, relaxed and less stressed at school. I’m loving having more time to ride & bush walk and am a role model to my boys. This was my wake-up call. Thanks for giving me my mojo back!”

Rachel, 41- Assistant Principal

Book Recommendations

We always love to ask our teachers who we interview for the Exit Stage Teach blog about resources that have helped them on their journey.

Jane: I have a cupboard full of books that have helped me in my career transition! I am always looking to learn more about entrepreneurship as a business owner, but also about personal growth for both myself and my clients, so I seek out the latest podcasts, videos and book recommendations from friends and fellow coaches who have insightful and practical strategies. When I read a book with a very powerful yet applicable message, I often create a workshop based on its message eg. Atomic Habits (James Clear), The Courage to be Disliked (Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga), Daring Greatly & Dare to Lead (Brene Brown).

Other books include Tools of Titans (Tim Ferriss), The Happiness Trap (Russ Harris) and The Speed of Trust (Stephen M. R. Covey).

My favourite podcasts are currently The Imperfects (Hugh Van Cuylenburg) and Mel Robbins.

Possibly my greatest resource has been Ben Crowe, a fellow Mindset Coach & Trainer.

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