Episode 161 of the Leader of Learning Podcast features an interview with Michelle Smit (@digiteach), a passionate business coach who helps educators move away from trading time for money and towards trading value for money through digital courses, group programs, and digital products. Her mission is to help educators bring their impact online through online business. In the episode, we discuss pursuing your passions and building successful side hustles and online businesses in the education space. Michelle shares her personal journey from burnt-out ESL teacher to successful course creator, and offers advice on how to overcome fear, lean into discomfort, and follow intuition. We also discuss why educators may hesitate to monetize their skills and hobbies, and offer strategies for breaking through those internal barriers. We also delve into the importance of finding your niche, getting specific on your target audience, and conducting market research to create offers that truly resonate with customers.