What If the Goal Isn’t Just the Destination, but the Conversations Along the Way?

A few days ago, I shared that someone had asked to arrange a call with me to find out more about the Clara James Tutoring franchise.

It was the second request I've had.

I commented that I realised it might take 100 conversations to reach the goal I have in my head, but at least these first conversations were a very small step in the right direction.

Someone replied:

"How exciting that you get to have 100 conversations and meet 100 new people."

And I loved that.

Because I hadn't thought about it like that at all.

I'd been looking at 100 conversations as a number. A target. Something I potentially had to work my way through in order to get to where I wanted to be.

Suddenly, I was looking at it completely differently.

I get to have 100 conversations.

I get to meet 100 people, hear 100 stories, discover what brought them to this point in their lives and learn about what they hope might come next.

Some of those people may eventually become Clara James franchisees. Many probably won't.

But that doesn't mean the conversations that don't lead to a franchise are wasted.

Far from it.

When you believe in something, talking about it isn't a chore

I've realised there is a huge difference between trying to sell something and having a conversation about something you genuinely believe in.

I could talk for hours about tutoring.

I could talk about the child who believes they "can't do maths" and gradually discovers that actually they can — they just needed it explained differently.

I could talk about the tutor who cares enormously about the children they support but isn't sure how to turn that passion into a sustainable business.

I could talk about confidence, SEND, games, relationships, making mistakes, trying something different and recognising that sometimes the lesson needs to change, not the child.

These aren't things I've invented because I decided to build a franchise.

They're things I've believed for years.

And when you believe deeply in what you're building, conversations about it become something to look forward to rather than something to fear.

You aren't trying to convince everybody that they should want what you're offering.

You're discovering the people who already believe some of the things you believe.

There is something incredibly energising about finding your people

Perhaps that's the part of those future 100 conversations that I'm now looking forward to most.

Meeting people who have their own ideas, experiences and stories.

People who might say, "I've always thought that too."

People who believe children shouldn't have to fit neatly into a predetermined box in order to learn.

People who believe that relationships matter.

People who want to build successful businesses without losing the human side of what they do.

And people who may have completely different experiences to mine but share many of the same underlying principles.

There is something incredibly inspiring about talking to people like that.

Their enthusiasm feeds yours.

Their ideas make you think.

Their experiences challenge your assumptions.

Sometimes they say one simple sentence — as happened to me this week — and completely change the way you look at something.

That's why I think surrounding ourselves with people who share our philosophies and principles matters so much.

Not necessarily people who agree with everything we say. In fact, some of the best conversations come from people who don't.

But people whose values sit comfortably alongside our own.

People who understand why we're doing what we're doing.

Dreams can feel very big when you're standing at the beginning

I have big ambitions for Clara James Tutoring.

When I look at the whole picture, those ambitions can occasionally feel enormous.

There is such a long way between where something starts and where you hope it might eventually go.

But perhaps we aren't supposed to spend too much time staring at the distance.

Perhaps we're supposed to concentrate on the next conversation.

The next person.

The next opportunity to listen.

The next thing we learn.

The next small step.

Because those conversations don't just take us towards the dream. They shape the dream as we go.

The Clara James franchise I eventually build will undoubtedly be better because of the people I meet while building it.

Some will join me.

Some will simply share an idea.

Some will ask a question that makes me reconsider something.

Some may tell me that what I'm offering isn't right for them — and perhaps help me understand why.

And some might make an offhand comment that completely changes my perspective.

So, bring on the 100 conversations

I don't know whether it will actually take 100 conversations.

It might take 50.

It might take 200.

I'm beginning to realise that perhaps the number doesn't really matter.

Because if I genuinely believe in what I'm trying to create, then those conversations aren't hurdles standing between me and my goal.

They're part of the reason for pursuing it.

They're an opportunity to meet people, listen, learn, share ideas and hopefully occasionally inspire someone else in the same way that other people continue to inspire me.

Building something you care about can be daunting.

Following a dream can be scary.

But finding people along the way who understand your philosophy, share your principles and remind you why you started can give you the motivation to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

So I'm no longer thinking:

"It might take 100 conversations to get there."

I'm thinking:

"Imagine who I might meet in those 100 conversations."

And suddenly, the journey ahead feels rather exciting.

If you are considering becoming a tutor and would like to have a chat, please do get in touch. I promise there will be no hard sell just an opportunity to talk and I can answer any questions that you might have

[email protected]