What is your WHY?
This is an AI-modified post generated from the actual podcast transcript of Hybrid School Builders Episode 2 :)
Finding Your Why as a Founder
When Providence Hybrid Academy was in its conception and infancy stages, I was very much driven by WHY I was doing it.
That “why” was the compass—through the long nights, the financial uncertainties, and the countless hours of planning. And if you’re considering becoming a founder, your why needs to be crystal clear too.
Why Your Why Matters
Your why is both your heart… and your practical needs. It’s tempting to lean heavily into the practical side—maybe you want out of your teaching job, or you need an income that works with your family schedule. That’s not wrong at all. But if practicality is your only driver, you might burn out fast.
The deeper motivation—the heart piece—is what sustains you when the work is hard and the pay is thin (or non-existent at first). Think of it like any job: if you’re just clocking in for a paycheck, it’s draining. But if you’re doing work you love, with a sense of purpose, it becomes sustainable. But, you can’t run all on heart either. Practicality calls, whether we like it or not!
There’s a well-known TED Talk by Simon Sinek about the power of “why.” He talks about how companies like Apple stand out because they don’t just sell products—they sell a mission. People don’t just buy what you do, they buy why you do it.
That principle doesn’t just apply to marketing. It applies to why families will join your hybrid school. And most importantly, it applies to you.
My Why
When we started our program, our why was rooted in what we wanted for our own kids:
Short lessons
Lots of outdoor time
No screens, testing, or long days at a desk
A joyful environment
Strong relationships and community
That heart shaped everything—our choice of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy, our schedule, even how we built community. Watching children thrive in our program was fuel for the journey.
Families came for the same reasons we built it: because they couldn’t find anything else like it. That alignment between our why and theirs was a powerful motivator as well.
Balancing Heart with Practicality
Of course, you can’t ignore the practical side. Maybe your reality is that you need to leave your current job. Or maybe you need to make sure the income from your school can cover childcare while you work.
I learned this lesson the hard way. In the early years, I often shorted myself financially because I felt responsible for making sure everyone else was paid first. But here’s the truth: if you don’t look out for yourself, no one else will. Sustainability requires an honest look at your needs—income, childcare, time, energy—and counting the cost before you dive in.
Mission vs. Vision
When you write down your why, you’re essentially drafting your mission. Think of it this way:
Mission: the philosophical reason you exist. (“We exist to provide a joyful, nature-rich, Charlotte Mason education.”)
Vision: the practical picture of what that looks like. (“A two-day-a-week hybrid school for K–8 families in our community.”)
Your mission is forward-facing—what you’ll put on your website, what will draw families in. But it has to come from your heart. If you make something up, people will see the misalignment between your statements and your delivery very quickly. So be honest and take some time to articulate it well.
Practical Questions to Ask Yourself
As you define your why, also ask:
Do I need to replace a full-time income or just earn part-time?
Can I realistically be on campus two or three days a week?
Do I have reliable childcare?
Am I willing to work bare-bones the first year and grow into sustainability?
When I launched, I had a newborn, two other children, and had just moved houses. It wasn’t exactly a textbook “good time” to start something new! But my why was strong, and I loved the work. Over time, with planning and persistence, the program became financially sustainable.
Your Next Step
If you’re considering starting a hybrid school, here’s where to begin:
Write down your why. Don’t just think it—get it on paper.
Shape that into your mission (heart) and your vision (practical picture).
Take an honest look at your personal realities: income, childcare, time, energy.
Getting clarity on these things now will give you the foundation for everything else—your philosophy, your schedule, your budget, your staffing, and will keep you from losing your focus and being swayed by others’ opinions. Start here, and your compass will pointing in the right direction!
