The Teacher Exit Compass

Question 1

When you imagine your post-teaching income, do you want to…

Use what you already know from your subject area (ELA, Math, Science, etc.) Use a skill or hobby you've developed outside of school

Question 2

Which subject drains you the LEAST to think about?

Pick the one you know best and wouldn't mind talking about.

Question 3

How many years did you teach this subject?

1–3 years 4–7 years 8–15 years 15+ years

Question 4

What grade level did you primarily teach?

Elementary (K–5) Middle School (6–8) High School (9–12) Multiple / All levels

Question 5

What was the MOST repetitive task you did in that subject?

Pick the one you could do in your sleep.

Grading papers, quizzes, or assignments Creating lesson plans or unit plans Writing emails to parents or administrators Organizing materials, supplies, or digital files Explaining the same concept over and over Entering data into gradebooks or tracking systems Participating in or leading meetings Creating substitute lesson plans

Question 2

Which hobby have you done long enough that it feels like muscle memory?

Pick the one you could talk about without thinking.

Question 3

How many years have you been doing this hobby?

1–3 years 4–7 years 8–15 years 15+ years

Question 4

How would you describe your skill level in this hobby?

I can do it, but I still look things up I rarely look things up—I just know People ask ME for advice I could teach a class on this

Question 5

What's the ONE thing about this hobby that newbies ALWAYS mess up or ask about?

Choosing the right equipment or tools Timing—when to do things, how long things take Spending too much money or not knowing what to buy The actual execution—how to do it correctly Planning ahead or organizing the process Fixing common mistakes or failures

Question 6

Who would be most likely to pay you to solve this problem?

Other teachers (current or former) Parents (homeschooling or just overwhelmed) Students (high school or college) People new to your hobby Small business owners in that field Anyone—this is universal

Question 7

How much time are they willing to spend solving this problem?

5 minutes or less 30 minutes to an hour Several hours They'll work on it for days

Question 8

What price point feels right for your product?

Pick the one that feels comfortable to you.

$9–$19 $20–$39 $40–$67 $68–$147 $148–$297

Question 9

Which format would be EASIEST for you to create with zero stress?

A single-page checklist (printable) A fillable template (Word/Google Doc) A 5–10 page packet with multiple files A schedule or calendar layout Talking points or email templates

Question 10

How much design work do you want to do?

Plain text—I don't want to design anything A simple Canva template with basic colors I'll make it look professional with graphics

Question 11

How hands-on do you want the buyer to be with your product?

They print it and fill it out themselves They fill it in on their computer They just read it and apply the knowledge They watch a video walkthrough

Question 12

What's the ONE emotion you want your buyer to feel AFTER they use your product?

Relief—like a weight lifted off their shoulders Confidence—like they finally know what to do Speed—like they saved hours of time Clarity—like the fog cleared

Question 13

How much ongoing interaction do you want with buyers?

Zero—sell it and forget it Email only, no calls or zooms Some support, but limited

Question 14

On a scale of 1–5, how overwhelmed are you right now?

1 = Not overwhelmed at all · 5 = Completely paralyzed