Episode 34: From Principal to Profit: How Matt Molloy Discovered His $100K+ Niche as an EdTech Translator

Show Notes

What if the warning signs of the feast-or-famine cycle were flashing right in front of you for months, but you were too buried in client work to see them? And what would you do when you finally hit that wall and realized your pipeline had completely dried up?

In this episode, host AJ Riedel talks to Matt Molloy, former school principal turned EdTech consultant who transformed his struggling practice into a thriving business by becoming a "translator" between education technology companies and school districts.

Why You Should Listen to This Episode:

Matt's journey from a burned-out principal to a successful EdTech consultant offers a masterclass in business transformation that every self-employed consultant can learn from. His honest account of hitting rock bottom, missing obvious warning signs, and ultimately finding his unique niche provides both practical strategies and emotional validation for consultants struggling to grow their practices.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

How to identify and overcome the critical mindset shift from employee to business owner
The warning signs of the dreaded "feast or famine" cycle that most consultants miss
Why replicating what you already know can be a dangerous trap for new consultants
How to locate your unique value proposition by exploring adjacent opportunities
The power of collaborative networking vs. competitive thinking in business development
Strategies for pivoting when your initial business model hits a wall
How to transform from being a service provider to becoming an industry expert

Listen to These Key Moments:

[00:04:30] The First Challenge: Deciding to Leave - Matt reveals the internal struggle of determining whether he was running away from something or toward something when leaving his 25-year education career.

[00:19:49] Hitting the Wall: When Warm Circles Dry Up - The moment Matt realized his business was in trouble and how the warning signs were "crystal clear" but completely ignored.

[00:23:41] The Pivot Strategy - How Matt immersed himself in every business opportunity conversation to find his way out of the hamster wheel cycle.

[00:26:32] The Marketing Wake-Up Call - Matt's honest confession about not understanding marketing and how other consultants became his unexpected teachers.

[00:32:30] Finding His Niche as an EdTech Translator - The breakthrough moment when Matt discovered his unique value as a bridge between technology companies and educators.

[00:38:00] The Advice He Wishes He'd Known Earlier - Matt shares the career advice he used to give others but failed to apply to his own business journey.

Connect with Matt Molloy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmolloy3/