Are you a new Teachers Pay Teachers seller? Do you feel overwhelmed with the number of things you need to learn to be successful on TPT? Do you feel discouraged that there are a lot of big sellers who sell more resources and earn thousands of dollars than you? Do you feel like no one is going to buy your products? Do you get zero sales in a day/week? If this all sounds like you, hello and welcome, my fellow teacherpreneur!

First, what is TPT?

TPT is an online marketplace where teachers buy and sell original educational materials.

A Quick Backstory on How I Started on TPT

Around November 2020, I started looking for ways to work online. My school was doing distance learning at the time because of COVID, and I wanted to work from home longer and not be separated from Nugget, who was still a puppy. I saw Becca Davis' video on Youtube; the rest is history. (By the way, if you're new, I encourage you to watch her videos. She is an inspiration to me!)

Why You Need a Positive Mindset as a New TPT Seller

I'm not going to lie, but when I started on TPT, I had doubts. My boyfriend was also having second thoughts about me quitting my job.

"What if you earned less than your teaching job?"

"It is not a stable income. Why quit early?"

(Disclaimer 1: I'm currently living in Brazil, so the cost of living is not skyrocketing compared to the US.)

At the time, I did not have a positive mindset about being successful on TPT (Success is inherently subjective, but I consider myself successful not only TPT related but in life in general). I was disorganized. I did not have a concrete plan for my products or store marketing. I created products I wanted to create, different from what the buyers needed. I pretty much took the phrase, "I am my own boss," too seriously.

But despite my boyfriend doubting my decision to quit my teaching job, despite my earnings below $50 during my first month on TPT, I did not stop. I took a risk. I did not let those limiting beliefs affect me.

See my first TPT income report here from March to June 2021.

So, as a new TPT seller, you need to have a positive mindset to succeed. It gives you more courage to try, learn, and do better. You need to trust that your store is going to be successful. If you check my first TPT income report, you know I earned $39 in my first month. But if you check this income report, you will see that I hit my first 4-figure months after 14 months on TPT. What would have happened if I had stopped being a TPT seller after being discouraged by the lack of sales? I would be broke and still unemployed. You know how I did it? I trusted my store and did the work. No sales? I continued to create products. No sales for a week? I continued to create products. (Disclaimer 2: This may vary for others. I do not have kids and only a dog to take care of, so I can work my butt off 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.) If you think it's impossible to compete with other veteran TPT sellers, let me tell you one thing: Impossible is an opinion, not a fact.

How to Maintain a Positive Mindset as a New TPT Seller

Stop negative self-talk and the what-ifs. I have had many "what ifs."

"What if I didn't earn that much?"

"What if I receive a low rating?"

"What if the buyer didn't like my product?"

As soon as I catch myself with negative thoughts, I immediately stop them. Focus on what you want and filter out the negativities. Have a vision board on your planner and look at it every day. Imagine the life you want and work your way to achieve it. Practice positive self-talk and be thankful even if you only earn a dollar from your TPT store. We all start from zero.

Surround yourself with positive people. Many TPT Facebook groups are full of supportive people who will give you helpful advice and feedback.

On times that you feel like quitting, just do it. Give yourself five to 10 minutes of product creation, and you'll be motivated to continue for an hour or two.

Remind yourself to focus on good things, no matter how small they are. I always tell myself, "it does not matter if I have only one sale today. At least I earned something and helped a teacher and their students."

Turn your limiting beliefs into liberating truths. Instead of saying, "I'm not good at this," say, "I'm going to take a course about this," or "I'm going to hire someone for this task."

Having a positive mindset means making positive thinking a habit, continually searching for the silver lining, and making the best out of any situation you find yourself in.

Take Action

If you're a new TPT seller, here are some things I recommend you do:

Invest in a course. Many TPT sellers swore by Shelly Rees' TPT Focused Success. I have not personally taken it, but I love Shelly's TPT tips, and she is one of the most successful and very down-to-earth TPT sellers. She's an incredible teacherpreneur! I enrolled in Kristen Doyle's Profit BoosterCamp and highly recommend it! I only paid around $37 or $39, and it's worth it.
If you can't afford courses now, many Youtube videos from Becca Davis and It's All Primary are available.
If you need more tips, listen to podcasts. I love listening to Routine Your Dream, The Terrific Teacherpreneur, and School of Sellers podcasts.
If everything feels overwhelming, take a break. If you have way too many ideas, write them down. Plan, schedule your time, and work it out. As time passes, you will figure out the best thing that works for you and your business. So, chill out. And don't stress. Enjoy the process of learning and improving.
Only compete with your past self. I used to envy sellers who were way more successful, so I unfollowed their stores. I stopped checking on social media all the time. There is no point competing with other sellers because, in the end, you will lose. I am 100% confident that I am a better TPT seller today than last year. And in 2023, I know I will improve more and more. And that's the only thing that matters.

I'm still a new TPT seller, but I have improved A LOT. And I will continue to improve more with the help of a positive mindset.

Are you a new TPT seller? Where are you in your TPT journey? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. You can also reach me at @theviralteacher on Instagram. I hope you found this post helpful!