"It’s 5,000 metres high, and I promise you: it is much scarier to launch a business than it is to jump out of a plane. When you launch, you are open to being judged, and you can fail, but that 80% fear is exactly what drives you to succeed."

We chat with Smart Cookie co-founder Martina Montreal.

Martina is a language educator and the co-founder of SmartCookie. Since 2016, she has taught over 1,000 students, using that experience to go all-in on building a "second brain" that eliminates administrative chaos for teachers. Martina advocates for the power of patience and taking professional leaps, even when launching a business feels scary.

In this episode, we chat about:

• The power of "nàixīn" [耐心]: why patience is the most demanding requirement for both language learning and business.
• Overcoming the cost of inaction: how saying "yes" to an unplanned Spanish class changed Martina’s entire career.
• How a background in abstract logic fueled the creation of a "second brain" for teachers,
• Why Smart Cookie focuses on eliminating administrative fat rather than overcomplicating with features.
• Why true professional strength is built through failure, not playing it safe.
• Why rest is not a luxury: the role trashy television plays in entrepreneurship.

*Prefer video? Watch the episode on YouTube.

FOR MORE FROM MARTINA MONREAL:

1. Connect on LinkedIn

2. Visit her website

3. Check out Smart Cookie

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