**Title: Grit, Vision, and Preparing a Hybrid School**  

Hello and welcome to the Hybrid School Builders Podcast! I’m your host, Rebecca Foley, and I’m so glad you’re joining me today. As a fellow grassroots founder, I’m here to make your journey toward founding a sustainable hybrid school a little easier. Whether you're dreaming of starting a hybrid school or have already begun, you're in the right place.

Join me as we dive into real stories, practical tips, and hard-won lessons that I've learned to help you launch and grow your program with confidence. Remember, building a hybrid school is not just about creating a business or jobs. It's about reshaping the landscape of education—one community, entrepreneur, and program at a time.

### The Importance of Grit in Founding a Hybrid School

Today, I want to revisit a topic I touched on in a previous episode about the qualities of a founder and the skills necessary for not just starting a program, but seeing it through to success. Many of you might feel, "I can't do that," or think the workload is too much. Let me assure you, you’re not alone if you feel that way, but it’s probably not true.

I won't list out who can or can't start programs based on specific skills. What it boils down to is grit. Anyone determined to stick it out, work hard, and learn what’s necessary can make it happen. It's about determination.

### Understanding Yourself and Your Role

Of course, different people will find various aspects of the process easier or harder. Tools like the working genius model from Patrick Lencioni, or even frameworks like Myers Briggs, can be helpful. They’re about getting to know yourself so you can anticipate which parts of a project might stretch you or where you may need support.

Businesses often start and do not succeed or may fizzle out after a short time due to burnout. My mission through this podcast and my online courses is to help you avoid burnout by providing frameworks and advice to prevent reinventing the wheel.

### Preparing for Success

Preparation can save you from building something that your community doesn’t want, and it helps avoid burnout. Even if a program doesn’t flourish for reasons outside of your control—like competition or demographics—the preparation will pay off in the long run. 

Considering market validation and budgeting from the start can make a huge difference. You need a planning budget that extends over a few years, allowing you to strategically cut where necessary. The first year might be a lot of work, but with effort, you’ll head towards sustainability—getting paid for your work and hiring help where needed.

### Embracing the Entrepreneurial Mindset

The entrepreneurial mindset is about seeing possibilities, having vision, and sticking it out. Not everyone is naturally inclined to see possibilities; some focus on potential problems instead. If you identify more with the former, great! But if not, surround yourself with support that can complement your perspective. Both the visionary and the realist have valuable roles in entrepreneurship.

Visualize and articulate your mission clearly. Understanding your mission enables you to take calculated risks towards achieving it.

### Building a Team

As you grow, it's important to build a team that balances strengths and fills gaps. Successful teams are diverse in skills and perspectives, supporting each other towards sustainable and healthy growth.

### Conclusion

So, what kind of person can start a hybrid school? Someone passionate about their vision, with the grit to endure challenges, and who takes time to prepare. Business success depends on these qualities coupled with understanding market readiness, clarity in vision, and careful preparation. 

I hope you find this perspective encouraging. Clarify your mission, prepare well, and stick it out. Your vision for change in education is needed now more than ever.

Thanks so much for listening today. Don’t forget to subscribe and check out the resources I’m developing at Start a Hybrid School.com. Feel free to email me anytime; I’d love to hear from you. Until next time!