Episode 248 – Emily and Paul Hughes – Emily’s Motorcycle Leathers and Why Knowledge Prevents Nagging
Taking the Leap from a Job to Entrepreneurship with Emily and Paul Hughes Working on a job can be really satisfying. Think of those regular pay checks, assured stability, and many other benefits. But there comes a time when the working environment becomes too toxic to force someone to leave all that and take responsibility to chart a different path. Does this sound like a situation you are in? Are you struggling with your exit strategy from your job to enter entrepreneurship or something bigger than you? Join this conversation with Emily and Paul Hughes, a couple that has successfully made that decision, leaving their teaching careers to focus on their passions. In this episode, you will gain inspiration, tips, and insights on how to take your leap. Paul & Emily Hughes met in 2003 as trainee teachers assigned to the same school. It took a few years until they finally bonded over divorces and Emily’s motorcycle leathers (long but obvious story), and the rest, as they say, is history. They have been happily married for almost 15 years, and now that they have both escaped teaching (their words, not mine), they run the Parent Guide to GCSE (and Post-16), supporting parents whose children are in Years 10-13. Emily has a Masters from Cambridge in Maths with Education, while Paul has a Masters in Information Management and Computing from University of Sheffield, which will probably tell you what they each taught for 15 years. Emily also runs a pop choir in her spare time, as she says she still needs to be able to boss people around, after having left teaching. Paul says he thinks that’s already covered at home. Let’s jump in! Key Highlights from the Episode; [00:01] Episode intro and a quick bio of the guests, Emily and Paul Hughes [02:36] Emily and Paul’s coffee culture and other hobbies that fill their lives [07:05] The purpose and drive that made them quit stable jobs as teachers [11:46] Notable leadership flaws and other weaknesses that need to be improved [15:43] Why teachers don’t exit from trapped working environments even if they want to [18:40] How they can step out of the matrix and make the decision to pursue their passions [22:04] Most significant thing the Hughes have been currently working on in their business [26:58] How the summits for their business have impacted them and their lives [32:17] How to best reach out and connect with Emily and Paul [34:18] Key takeaways you can start implementing today [35:20] A book they would love to read while having coffee in a dream location [36:06] Wrap up and end of the show Resources Mentioned Good Omens Novel by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Omens-Accurate-Prophecies-Nutter/dp/0062697250 Notable Quotes * Knowledge means nagging. As a parent, if you know how to support your child, you will probably nag them less. – Paul Hughes [10:06] * Most people change and forget the struggles of the juniors when they clinch the senior ranks in business or leadership. – Paul Hughes [12:08] * Good leadership is about empowering your team. If your team does a fantastic job, that makes you look good as a manager, builds your team, and empowers them. – Emily Hughes [13:45]