From the Classroom to Creativity: Three Dog Design

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From Australian Classrooms to creating an online business is the inspiring story of Ngaire a high school maths and science teacher. Ngaire has embarked on a completely new path with her company, Three Dog Design. Ngaire shares her experiences, challenges, and insights from teaching to T-shirt design to pet portraits her artistic flare is the basis of Three Dog Design.

The Career Transition

Ngaire Linde’s teaching career began straight out of University where she studied as a high school math and science teacher. After teaching in Australian schools for several years, she spent 18 months teaching abroad in England. Like many teachers, she decided she needed a break, and after a hiatus from teaching for a few years, she returned to the profession in rural Queensland. Despite challenges, she currently teaches Junior PE part-time at a primary school. Ngaire’s desire for a career shift led her to explore new skills and talents. She found she enjoyed the creativity of design in drawing, particularly T-shirt design.

Challenges Faced

Transitioning out of teaching presents its hurdles. Ngaire, currently working three days a week, highlights the difficulty in finding the next step. Despite the challenges, she remains determined, drawing inspiration from her newfound passion for drawing and designing. Building a business needs to be built over time; it’s rare for a company to make money immediately. Ngaire is blending part-time teaching while running her business; hopefully, one day, she will be able to replace her teaching wage.

Skill Development and Resources

To prepare for her career transition, Ngaire turned to online tutorials, utilising platforms like Skillshare to enhance her drawing skills. She specializes in portraits with coloured pencils and T-shirt designs created on her iPad. Learning to use apps and technology on the iPad is a skill she has obtained. A space that is always changing, and new technologies allow her to continue learning. This creative outlet became the foundation for her business, Three Dog Design.

Starting a Business

Ngaire’s journey into entrepreneurship followed a “trial and error” approach. After experimenting with various print-on-demand sites, she settled on Redbubble due to its quality and user-friendly interface. Her T-shirt stores on Redbubble showcase both digital designs and coloured pencil drawings.

“I just used the tried and true method of stumbling around until I hit on the right thing. I am continuing this method. It’s generally how I run my life. Other people might like to call it trial and error. Finding the right print on demand site was difficult and I used a lot of sites that seem to produce not the best quality or the website was difficult to use. I ended up with Redbubble. The products I have ordered have always been good and the website is easy for me to use.”

Networking and Connection

While Ngaire admits to not attending networking events, she acknowledges the potential impact on her business. Despite this, she remains resilient, learning and adapting as she navigates her entrepreneurial journey. Networking is something that can really help a business. Ngaire is hoping she can do more of this in the future to really get her brand out there.

Favourite Resources

Ngaire finds inspiration in books by authors like Lois McMaster Bujold and Elizabeth Gilbert. Podcasts like “Things Fell Apart” and “Criminal” also contribute to her creative mindset.

“I have favourite books almost anything by Lois McMaster Bujold (science fiction and fantasy). I also very much enjoyed Signature of all things by Elizabeth Gilbert.. podcast ‘things fell apart’ by BBC and ‘Criminal’ with Phoebe Judge… just love her voice and the stories.”

Maintaining Motivation and Resilience

Ngaire emphasizes finding enjoyment in the process, taking breaks when needed. Despite the slow progress, she values the purpose and satisfaction her new venture brings.

“I have found something I really enjoy. At times I have taken breaks especially from the pet portrait side of things which can be challenging. The drawing side I always love but other sides of it are difficult for me.”

Unexpected Benefits

The transition from teaching has provided Ngaire with a sense of purpose and enjoyment, even if progress is slow. She appreciates the positive changes in her life and that she can focus on a new career that brings her joy.

Advice for Fellow Teachers

Encouraging fellow teachers to contemplate a career change, Ngaire stresses the importance of evaluating personal priorities. She urges teachers not to sacrifice their passions for their jobs and emphasizes the professionalism of teaching. Ngaire suggests exploring your other passions and finding a way to make an income from them. Try new things and you never know you might stumble across a new found talent like Ngaire has.

“I think you have to weigh up for you. However, I don’t think you need to feel passionate or put every second of your life into teaching. Sometimes, less is more. Teaching tends to create artificial pressure on teachers. They do this by framing teaching as a ‘calling’ and discussing how teachers ‘love’ their students. This probably leaves well over half of the teachers with feelings of guilt because it isn’t how they feel. You can be competent without being passionate, called to teach, or whatever other propaganda they use this week. Don’t give up what you love for your job. That’s what teaching is a job. Be professional and leave it at the classroom door. And if you are waking up and vomiting (I’ve known teachers and felt that way myself), then leave. Do it today. Go to a doctor take steps to get out.”

Work-Life Balance

Reducing her teaching workload to three days a week, Ngaire credits her partner’s support for helping maintain a work-life balance during the transition. One of the significant parts about teaching is that we have the flexibility to reduce our teaching days, which can be a saving grace when creating your own business. It gives you a steady income and time to work on and grow your own business.

Long-Term Goals

Ngaire envisions a future centred around designing and selling T-shirts and creating pet portraits. Her strategy involves embracing a flexible approach and stumbling through the journey until she finds the right path. She is hopeful she can one day replace her full teaching income with her artwork.

Obstacles and Setbacks

Acknowledging failures so far, Ngaire remains committed to improvement, using setbacks as opportunities for growth. She knows her next step is to work on the business side; being creative is only part of the entrepreneurial journey. At Exit Stage Teach we recommend you get the help you need, perhaps you need a website, help with a social media strategy, ideas of how to grow your business. Working with a professional in this area can help your business grow.

Sharing the Journey

Despite not replacing her teacher income yet, Ngaire finds happiness in her reduced workload, enhancing both her well-being and teaching abilities. She is grateful that she can work part-time in teaching and is hopeful that one day, she will be able to replace her teaching income.

Ngaire Linde’s journey is a testament to the power of embracing change and pursuing one’s passions. As she continues to stumble through the challenges, her story inspires those considering a career transition and knowing that building a business can take time and perseverance, as Ngaire has described. Whether it’s teaching or entrepreneurship, Ngaire’s resilience and creativity illuminate the possibilities beyond the classroom and finding new talents that you can turn into a business of your own.