"Use this template to share your story: I was having (this problem/challenge), I wasn’t sure what to do (establish the pain/frustration). I joined (name of program) and (new thing you learned, realized or discovered). I (what you did) and (specific result you got).
Over the last 10 years from 2010 until 2020, I bought hundreds of thousands of dollars of business and marketing programs on every subject imaginable. I had a classic case of shiny object syndrome, exacerbated by a core belief of “not enough.” Among these programs were at least 4 or 5 different ones on course development. They all promised and most likely could have delivered had I made it past clicking the buy button. With the exception of maybe one i can think of, most of them are now digital dust somewhere in my cyber library.
My challenge was I knew being an entrepreneur was a calling deep in my heart. I’ve actually had some form of business since I was in my 20s. I KNEW how to hustle. I even worked for nearly 15 solid years as a freelance American Sign Language interpreter. But it was until October, 2020 when I learned of the Experience Product Masterclass (EPM). At the time, I had just invested in another high end program, in which I was beginning to have some success. But something in my heart just kept drawing me into what Marisa shared during the launch for EPM. I was truly like a moth to a flame, the more I wanted to resist the more the still small voice inside of me said “Go for it!”
I sat through just about everything during the final day of the EPM launch. There were so many incredible presentations, testimonials and bonuses and I felt compelled to buy. And here’s why: a few weeks before I was on a high profile, high impact voicing assignment with some of my favorite colleagues; together we are the cream of the crop of interpreters in the United States, and we are also Black and brown. We represent a tiny minority of nationally certified interpreters (less than 5% of our entire profession).
Completing that assignment, I was reminded that I wanted to make sure that more interpreters, especially Black and brown interpreters had the honor of doing the work we do, being super talented, confident in our skills, used to experiencing the support we have with each other and knowing that everyone is committed to working together so that all of us are able to ensure the success of the assignment.
I realized it was important for us to share our experience. While pondering this I realized it would be important to not only share our experience but also to create a learning community where other interpreters could develop shared language and values about our work. Where we could focus on developing our strengths, be aware of our growth opportunities and cultivate a brave space where everyone could thrive and do their best work.
I realized the gifts I have in ASL-English work are ones that I can teach so that more and more interpreters not only are assured they can be successful when it’s their turn to voice but actually look forward to delivering finely-crafted spoken English messages that allow their consumers who are Deaf and hard of hearing to create great relationships with their colleagues who can hear.
I had been trying to figure out the “how” of teaching what I’ve learned over many decades of doing this work in many of the most amazing situations imaginable, including traveling the world and literally turning down work daily. Of having the honor and privilege to work with truly the best and the brightest the Deaf community, and the interpreting profession has to offer, primarily at the Mecca of Deaf education, Gallaudet University.
But I realized the “how” wasn’t the important question. The important question was, “What’s keeping me from sharing the gifts I’ve been given?” I was playing small. I wondered what would be required to lean more into the pull to share my gifts than falling prey to the fear of what people would think?
I knew creating an online course and eventually a series of courses was the solution. But I wondered if I could finally use the many investments I’d made to overcome the fear of being visible and free myself to teach others how to do their best ASL-English work. Did I trust me to really lean into all of the support I had gathered around me and build a program I knew would change the lives of interpreters and ultimately move us out of the way so our consumers who are Deaf and hard of hearing could really shine.
I, who was quite busy with all the things, decided I would carve out the time and give everything I had to begin teaching. What did I have to lose? I had a proven record of success in our field and had built an incredible network of support.
So a few weeks before the EPM launch I began teaching the first course. Because I was still struggling with old beliefs and challenged with deep-seated patterns of self-sabotage, I practically tanked the first course and lost my steam at the beginning of EPM. But unlike just about every other program I’d been in, EPM kept calling me back in. Literally.
When I disappeared and stopped doing my assignments in EPM, I got text messages, emails and finally a phone call to see what I needed to get back on track. That was what made the difference. The week I got the phone call EPM was on one of the courses built in break weeks so I committed to the angel (aka coach) who called me to dig in and do some catching up. And that’s precisely what I did.
With the help of some friends in the program who directed me to parts they knew I’d like I slowly got in the EPM rhythm, consuming the content. Doing the activities and making progress. I realized the thing that had me repeatedly fail to complete courses over the previous decade was I would get stopped, for whatever reason, and then rather than going back and finishing what I had I would run off and purchase the next shiny, well-marketed, well-meaning program.
This time was different. The emails, text messages and ultimately the phone call from that angel were the jump start I needed to actually EXPERIENCE EPM. Once I did the lightbulb clicked. I understood that applying what I was experiencing and learning about to my course could help me break the cycle of so many of the workshops and trainings that have been offered in my field.
I figured out the challenges I had when I tried to create course before: I wasn’t specific enough, I didn’t have a clear end in mind (i.e. mission statement) and I hadn’t thought clearly through what my ideal student wanted AND what they needed to succeed.
Once I figured this out, I got to work, doing the primary thing that made such a difference for me. I used the tool of “Chatterboxing” to talk with a slew of people - over 60 in fact. From those calls, all of which I recorded because I knew they contained valuable data for my program development and marketing materials. Through those sessions I gathered a wealth of information about what people wanted and how I could support them.
I used all of that to craft a ground-floor course for working interpreters who already have experience in the field and know that they can be better at the skill of watching Deaf people sign and putting their source message into a cohesive, clear, accurate and well-crafted spoken English message. As of this writing I have 16 students enrolled in the course who paid over $10,350 allowing me to exceed my stretch goal in the program.
And only 36 hours after our “meet and greet” as a cohort, one of my students wrote in our course Facebook group, “So since we are in a voicing workshop I wanted to share that I just had an assignment that required a lot of voicing. I have always said that is not my strong suit…..well that ends today. I rocked my voicing portion. I kept all of you especially Candas in my head the entire time. I’m so proud of myself and although we haven’t done much work yet I credit this group ???? ???? ???????????? ???????? ????????”
I am thrilled with the course I’ve created. It’s so good I want to actually take it myself. And, the post I made that got me the folks to chatterbox with had HUNDREDS of responses. I know that had I taken more time with enrollment earlier on and created a system to support me in dealing with all of the interest in the course it’s very likely I could have enrolled many, many more.
What I know for sure is who is enrolled is exactly who is supposed to be in this cohort. Since we’ve only begun I will continue to enroll students for a couple more days and I expect to end up with over 20 before it’s all said and done.
It’s been a glorious ride, and I’m clear that what I’ve begun with this course is just the beginning of something much larger. I feel that EPM has given me the blueprint for courses that are going to change the lives not only of the interpreters I'm working with and their families lives but ultimately the lives of the Deaf and hard of hearing people we serve and their families lives.
EPM has given me the tools to Live My Message and have the impact I’ve always known I could have.
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