I’m realizing I’ve been the main poster here, and I want this to become a real working community—not a feed. Comment with 3 quick things: 1. I’m a: (lifeguard / instructor / manager / owner / vendor / other) 2. My biggest stuck point right now is: ____ 3. I can help others with: ____ No long answers needed—1 sentence each.

Years ago, before Georgia Swim School existed, I reached out to someone in a larger town not far from mine. I was exploring what it might look like to start a swim school. The message I got back was dismissive. The gist was: “You may know how to teach lessons, but that’s not the same as running a swim school. You won’t succeed. You don’t know what you’re doing.” And I’ll be honest: I took it personally. Not because feedback is bad but because the tone wasn’t guidance. It was gatekeeping. It wasn’t “Here are the realities to prepare for.” It was “You’re not built for this.” So I did what a lot of operators do when they’re underestimated: I built it anyway. Here’s what happened after that: - Year 1: 74 lessons - Year 2: 980+ lessons - Year 3: 3 locations - Year 4: 5 contracts + 12 instructors And I’m sharing this for one reason: If you’re reading this and you’ve been told “you can’t,” “you’re not ready,” or “teaching isn’t the same as operating” I want you to hear me clearly: You can learn the business side. You can build systems. You can create a professional operation. And you do not need someone else’s approval to start. Yes, teaching and operating are different skill sets. But that does not mean you’re incapable. It means you need a framework. Which brings me to this: Next week, through All Things Aquatics, I’m hosting a webinar on how to start a swim school. Not to “sell a dream” but to give you the structure I wish more people offered instead of shutting the door. Because unlike that conversation years ago, my goal is simple: If you have the passion and the work ethic, I want you to have a path. Share in the comment if you’ve ever been underestimated and built it anyway. Or if you’re in the “I want to start, but I don’t know where to begin” stage.

I want to share a major update with full transparency. After a recent compliance/investigation process with the American Red Cross that resulted in my instructor authorization being revoked (despite my appeal), I’ve made the decision to transition away from Red Cross programs moving forward. My focus has always been simple: - teach the skills thoroughly - make learning clear and doable for students - keep documentation clean for employers - remove unnecessary barriers that keep good people from getting trained Over time, Red Cross training has also become more expensive, with additional fees and administrative requirements that make it harder on students and providers. Going forward, I’m certifying through Lifeguard-Pro. I selected Lifeguard-Pro after researching acceptance and compliance considerations. Notably, Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) has publicly stated they’re partnering with established certifying agencies including Lifeguard-Pro as part of their transition away from their own program. I have a copy of my appeal and Red Cross documents for those interested. After serving as a Red Cross instructor since 2005 and teaching 430+ classes, I had a compliance case opened on me that ended in my instructor authorization being revoked — and my appeal was denied. I’m not going to re-litigate every detail in a post, but I will say this: It felt unfair, not respectful, and honestly scary from a “what could happen to any of us” standpoint. The standard I’ve always held is that skills are taught, performed, evaluated, and documented. That hasn’t changed.

We just crossed 100 members, and I’d love for this space to feel less like a silent folder and more like a living group. A community works best when people know who’s here. So if you’re comfortable, I’d love for you to introduce yourself in the comments: - Your name - Where you’re located - What you do (or what you’re hoping to learn) That’s it. You don’t have to be an expert. You don’t have to post perfectly. You don’t have to agree with everything. This group exists so we can: - Learn from one another - Share ideas - Ask questions - Build safer, stronger aquatic and educational spaces together You never know who in this group might help you — or who you might help just by speaking up. I’ve opened my library to you. Now let’s open the conversation too. 💬 Introduce yourself below.

What’s everyone doing today?