Hey, there.
It’s been a minute, hasn’t it? My last post was *checks calendar* three years ago. Here’s what’s changed since then:
I quit teaching ESL. VIPKid slashed teacher pay in 2020, which gave me the incentive I needed to not renew my contract. It was good timing. The online ESL industry took a huge hit shortly after that when the Chinese government cracked down on tutoring programs for school-aged kids.
I’m glad I quit. VIPKid was a good stopgap early in my freelancing days, but it later became a crutch. Leaving it forced me to commit seriously to building my own business. Speaking of which …
I co-founded an LLC. I started Ascendant Design and Training with my husband in August 2020. We’re a boutique instructional design firm that specializes in design, development, and strategy for adult learning in the workplace.
I’m head of the services side of the house, so I manage client relations, project management, and learning design/development. Mainly, I find creative ways to make myself to do big, hairy, scary things every day. I’m finding that I’m more competent and courageous than I gave myself credit for. Which is good, because …
We moved cross-country. We now live in Peoria, Illinois. It’s a big change from the high plains of Wyoming. For one thing, stuff just grows out here — grass, flowers, trees, vines, everything. That still blows my mind.
Other stuff happened, too, but those are the highlights. Life has radically changed for me in those three years. But those changes have been net positive. I’m grateful for my life and the adventures I’ve had so far.
Jam of the Week
To The End, Fiendsh
This song captures the essence of my city: Quirky, gritty, and upbeat with an undercurrent of melancholy.
Inspiration
Anything worth building to last — a business, a community, a life — is built on small positive actions practiced consistently over time.
Take care, friends.
Bridget Manley 