4 Common Mindsets that Will Slow Down Your Studio's Success

We all have days where we feel like we are crushing it. Our lesson plans are on point. Our students are progressing. We have a (digital) line out our front door of students that want to start lessons with us. But what about the days where we DON'T feel like we are on our A-game? Sometimes we let these days get to our head. A poor mindset will invite discouraging thoughts to pull up a seat and stay.

It's no lie--every piano teacher loves to feel like all the pieces are falling into place for our studio. But as we know from our experience with this thing we are all stuck in called 'life', we can't possibly have good days 100% of the time. Sometimes, our mind likes to set up camp and stay in these mindsets for a little longer than is helpful.

I've personally felt like my insecurities and mental weaknesses have recently overstayed their welcome and are starting to feel a little too comfortable within the walls of my mind. As someone who struggles with severe anxiety and seasonal depression, I know firsthand that allowing certain discouraging thoughts to spiral into longer-lasting mindsets can serve as obstacles to the success we are seeking for our business.

Here are just a few mental obstacles that make a big impact on our piano teaching success:

"My Studio is not where I want it to be, so it can never become what I want it to be."

In Psychology, this type of thinking is known as "all-or-nothing thinking." Teachers that do not appreciate the process of being a beginner teacher, watching their studio and their own abilities grow, and impatiently waiting for their GOAL studio will have a difficult time making true and lasting progress.

Normalize making and learning from mistakes in your studio, as these experiences serve as catalysts for learning opportunities. One of my favorite quotes is from time-saving expert, Marie Forleo: "Starting small does not mean thinking small."

Every successful piano teacher before you had to start small. With patience, time, and an open mind, you can build your dream piano studio and a thriving business.

"There's already so many successful piano teachers out there, so there's no room for me to have success."

If you know even a little bit about me, by now you probably know that I live for podcasts. A common theme across many of the podcasts I listen to (regardless of their topic) is that we need to train our minds to see the world as a place of abundance, not scarcity.

Many teachers are successful in their studios. We have the opportunity to witness it firsthand on social media. Don't let comparison, the ultimate thief of joy, rob you into thinking that their success takes away from your success. Their success is completely independent from the success that you can have in your studio.

Comparison is a common prequel to burnout and mental exhaustion. Listen to what I have to say about teacher burnout.

"I don't know enough about _________ to be successful."

I was guilty of this mindset for a long time, and it ultimately resulted in depriving my students of the opportunity for competition and performance experience.

When I was a student, I competed in the National Guild of Piano Teachers Association. I competed for 10 years, and knew the system well...as a student. Once I was a teacher, I was so intimidated by the idea of preparing my own students for such a high level competition that I did not join until 8 years into my piano teaching career.

That's 8 YEARS of students missing out on an incredible experience! I had convinced myself that I didn't know enough, wasn't well enough prepared, and didn't have the experience necessary to be successful in that area.

"I'm JUST a piano teacher."

You've heard me mention this before, but this is a BIG ONE. Don't limit yourself to the mindset that you are just a small piano teacher.

You are an entrepreneur.

You started and built your own business,

You are learning and growing every day, with each day bringing you that much closer to your business goals.

You inspire your students and show them an entirely new culture, a culture of music.

You are a piano teaching BOSS!

Remember, you are only unsuccessful the day that you quit on yourself. Take the time to overcome the mental obstacles in your present, so that you can build a better future for your studio.

As always, stay tuned!

(pun unapologetically intended)

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