We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kathy Simpson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kathy below.
Hi Kathy, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My work ethic comes from my mom and dad. My dad , Vincent Marra, ventured to America from Naples,Italy in 1924. He was 3 years old at the time. He and his family moved around to a from a few cities, but settled in what is now South Philadelphia. His mom and dad opened an Italian restaurant in 1927, which will be celebrating its 100 year anniversary in 2027.. (My cousin Robert D’Adamo owns it now.)
In 1954 he opened his own restaurant at 313 Baltimore Pike, Springfield, Pa. I watched my mom and dad put in long hours making pizza dough and spaghetti sauce pretty much the whole day. Because the restaurant became extremely popular and my mom and dad were there every day but Mondays, we bought a larger house and moved into this house with my mom’s parents, who would watch my brother and I everyday, while my mom became the backbone of the operations of the business.
But there is one thing I didn’t mention, yet and I believe this is where my work ethic of working hard and never giving up until you succeed, to keep on trying until you’re proud and just do your best and your best changes at any given time…my dad was illiterate. He could not read or write and was never able to learn to read; but was a successful entrepreneur. However, he did figure out how to read a race track form.
But seriously, he signed many contracts for the business, made decisions and could talk to anyone about any topic. Are you wondering how that is possible? Well, when my parents went to sign contracts, he would say to my mom, “Jo, I forgot my reading glasses, can you read this for me?” He couldn’t read newspapers, but he could listen to talk shows and listen to news to keep current. Yes! he could not read or write but he worked hard to
use the tools that he DID have to learn about the world, businesses trends and my mom, who worked in a bank before they were married, would take care the financial part.
Living in this environment growing up, showed that hard work pays off and that you can do pretty much anything if you work hard and believe in yourself!
As a result of my personal experience and watching my dad work so hard to learn to read, I wanted to become a teacher so that I could make sure that all children who passed through my classroom door, would be given the resources they needed to succeed and become life-long learners.
I taught part time and full time for 34 years and now, after I retired, I sell teacher resources in my shop, Sunshine and Lollipops for Teachers Pay Teachers. This enables me to support other teachers with giving their students what they need to learn.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
In 2014, I retired from teaching. As I mentioned earlier, I taught part-time and fulltime for a total of 34 years. Most of my career was teaching first and second grade and for 13 years I looped with my students and they stayed with me for first and second grade, which was an amazing experience and, as a teacher, I was able to really know my students and parents.
After many retirement parties, while I was down the shore, I tripped down some steps and long story short; I severely sprained my ankle…I mean it was as swollen as a watermelon. That could be an exaggeration, but you do get the point. What was supposed to be my first summer retired became long hours of physical therapy, crutches and boredom.
Sitting at my kitchen table, I decided…this is enough. I had heard of Teachers Pay Teachers and even purchased some resources from various shops that were hosted on their site. So…I looked through my files and thought, “What have I created that is mine and unique that I can sell on TpT?”
And that is how I started. I made my first teeny tiny sale at the end of August and just kept going and going and going. Now, I have about 600 resources that I sell to teachers and parents. My products target Kindergarten through Second grade, English Language Learners, and students with special needs. My most popular resources are Social Emotional Learning Activities, Behavior and Classroom Management, Progress Monitoring, Building Classroom Community as well as English Language Arts and a bit of Math. Pretty much everything a K through 2nd grade teacher might need and a bit more!
My blog (https://www.joyssunshineandlollipops.com/) features many of these resources and well as tips and ideas for new and seasoned teachers as well as parents. I collaborate with other TpT sellers to feature dollar deals, freebies and also participate in sitewide sales with TpT.
My life is not too glamorous, but what I have loved most about what I have done in teaching and creating is helping others reach their potential. Whether it be a student I have supported with learning or a teacher who has used a product from my shop to help a student or whole class, I know that in some shape or form, I am helping others succeed. Now at 73 years old, I can look back and realize that all my hard work has paid off. I know I have made a difference and made a teacher’s life easier and a student’s life better.
Here is a link to my TpT shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/sunshine-and-lollipops
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
BE Authentic…BE yourself! Don’t look at others and try to be like them. You are YOU and you have a lot to offer to those around you with whatever path you choose.
Do your BEST…Your best changes depending on what life brings you, but at the end of the day if you can say, “I did my BEST, even though ….” Then you had a good day! Which means don’t be so hard on yourself. Even if you simply jotted down 2 ideas..you have 2 ideas and that is better than NO IDEAS!
Work Hard…Reaching your goals take time. Research, learn and find out all you can about what interests you. Yes! some people press the elevator button up and wind up on the top floor, but most people have to stop at each floor until they reach their goal. or take the steps..So…baby steps are good and you learn more through trial and error.
What I do is make a list of what I have accomplished instead of what I haven’t. This allows me to see I am moving forward with my goals. You can also jot down your goals and cross each as you achieve them so you can see your progress. I am not one to have all these organized air tables or spreadsheets. I work much better with lists, more lists and of course sticky notes are my best friend.
There is one more thing…you are never too old to start something new, create a new hope or dream or reach another goal. I have a children’s book I wrote years ago and my goal is to get it published. I also love to draw, but never advanced that talent…so guess what? This winter I am enrolling in a drawing class. Keep trying and work hard and anything is possible!
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
There are so many things that develop a person: experiences, family, strengths, weaknesses, friendships, how one deals with stress. You name it and you have probably learned something from every negative or positive encounter.
In 1997, I read a book entitled The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, which I have recommended to my own children and many friends. It comes to mind almost everyday as I wake-up and conquer my day.
Here are the Four Agreements that I live by and have embedded in my brain: (they may not be in the correct order!)
1. Don’t take anything personal: It’s not always about YOU! For example: you have a waiter that comes up and slams down the menu and almost yells, “Can I get you anything to drink?” You may feel like…what have I done to deserve this kind of treatment. BUT, you don’t know what just happened to the server. Maybe he or she got a ticket on the way to work or fell in a ditch. It has nothing to do with you…you did not do anything …the waiter is probably having a bit of a bad day. So, what I do is act pleasant and guess what? the waiter will feel your positiveness and you might just even make her day!
2. Do your Best: I have explained this one previously, but remember your best changes.
3. Mean what you say and say what you mean: Be impeccable with your word. Be honest and truthful.
5. Don’t make assumptions. Ask questions to clear up ambiguity. Have your own opinions and don’t always accept what others say as truth.
The Four Agreements outlines a code of conduct or life based on the Toltec teachings that can help us deal with everyday life at home or in the workplace.
There is so much more I could say, and if you know me, that is a fact! So… I will end with this: Start your BOLD journey today! What will you do with the talents you have?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.joyssunshineandlollipops.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyssunshineandlollipops/
- Other: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/sunshine-and-lollipopsPinterest:
Image Credits
Kelly Harvill @speaking of Images
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