March 9, 2025 • 20 mins
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Lisa Hill, the visionary founder and director of Hill Academy in Oklahoma. Lisa shares her heartfelt journey of creating a Christ-centered learning community tailored to homeschool students, blending core and enrichment classes in a hybrid model. With 30 years of teaching and leadership experience, Lisa's passion for fostering a love for learning and unlocking each child’s God-given potential is both motivating and uplifting. Discover how her personal homeschooling experiences and dedication to community programs led to the birth of Hill Academy, where joy and relational education take center stage.
Balancing the demands of a new venture can be tough, and in this episode, we also explore the vital importance of rest and self-care for business owners and community leaders. Hear personal stories about using travel as a means to recharge, and the essential benefits of stepping away from work to maintain balance. Navigate the challenges and joys of starting an educational institution like Hill Academy, while acknowledging the guidance and grace that come along the way. Stay engaged with our journey, and learn how you can be part of the thriving community at Hill Academy.
Thank you for listening! YouTube - @3KeysforYourJourney -Tune in for a new episode every Sunday. Connect with us at www.ocfo.info
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Greg Jones (00:00):
Welcome to Three Keys for your Journey podcast,
where education, faith andcommunity unite.
Today's conversation is withLisa Hill, founder and director
of Hill Academy, aChrist-centered learning
community in Oklahoma.
With 30 years of experience inteaching and leadership, she is
passionate about fosteringjoyful discovery and relational
(00:20):
education.
Join me as we explore insightsand stories that inspire
compassion, leadership and loveof learning.
Let's embark on this journeytogether.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Are you ready to unlock your potential?
Tune in to Three Keys for yourJourney podcast, where business
owners share invaluable insightsand empowering strategies to
guide you towards success.
Based in Oklahoma City, ourhost, greg T Jones, will inspire
and motivate you every week.
Get ready to join ourconversation as we build
(01:04):
community together.
Greg Jones (01:08):
Well, we're glad to have you on the podcast, lisa,
and for most of America I meanus locally we know who you are,
but how would you introduceyourself?
Lisa Hill (01:19):
Well, my name is Lisa Hill and I am married to my
best friend, jonathan Hill,coming up on 29 years, I'm a
mother.
I started off with six children, but now I have two
daughter-in-laws and anothergrandchild, and two on the way.
(01:42):
So my home has been my ministryfor the past 29 years, but also
, in that is, have a passion,have always had a passion for
education and just loving onchildren, helping them to learn
and helping them to unlock thepotential that God has innately
(02:06):
put in them.
And so, yeah, that's that's mein a nutshell, I'd say Well,
that's, that's fantastic.
Greg Jones (02:14):
And, and, and for your friends that know you very
well.
I mean, I was going to say youlike to party, but that's not
really.
That's not really the word.
You love games, you love people.
You love to entertain.
Um, I think what every birthday, every anniversary, every
something y'all are celebrating,right?
Lisa Hill (02:34):
yes, and that's part of kind of the hill yeah, I
think it has yes, when I um wasuh working as a programs
director, I think at ShilohAdventures some years ago, I got
the nickname Dr Fun fromStephen Moore, so that seems to
have stuck.
But yeah, I just like to havefun and I just like to celebrate
(02:56):
people.
Well, I was just telling myhusband the other day I just
want my family and friends toknow that I love them and that
they were worth celebrating tome.
Greg Jones (03:07):
I think that's an awesome attribute.
Now, kind of as we move intoone of the passions that you
have, you've started HealAcademy.
Tell us a little bit about whatthat is and really kind of, how
did that get started?
Okay?
Lisa Hill (03:22):
So I got the name because we homeschooled our
children for over 20 years andas I was homeschooling them, I
would also like do programs forthe community or for the
children at church.
And you know it started doinglittle programs or enrichment
classes and so I needed a namefor the little side business
(03:45):
side hustle that I had.
So Hill Academy was just whatwe called our homeschool.
So that's kind of where itstarted.
But about a year ago I reallyfelt the Lord put in my heart to
start a school and at first Iwas kind of resistant to it.
I'm like I wanted to start aneducational business of some
sort.
I thought maybe homeschoolconsulting or just to continue
(04:08):
what I was doing and doing smallenrichment classes and things
like that, things that were funto me.
But I just kept hearing this,you know, I kept getting ideas,
I'll say, about starting school,and I really feel like that's
how the Lord speaks to me withideas.
And so finally I was just like,okay, lord, I'm going to see if
this is you, I'm just going tostep out in faith.
(04:30):
And you were a big part of that, greg, just kind of helping me
like with the business side,like get your EIN number, get
your business account.
And I know I drug my feet for awhile because I was like oh man
, but just as soon as I steppedout and started just kind of,
you know, knocking on doorstrying to find out information
(04:52):
like how do I do this, the doorsjust started flying open.
And so, yeah, and so we starteda Hill Academy learning
community about a year ago HillAcademy Learning Community about
a year ago and it's a hybridlearning community, which means
it's for homeschool students, sotwo days of the week they're
(05:13):
here and they get their coreclasses, they get enrichment
classes like art and picturestudy and nature study, but they
also get math and reading andliterature and history and Bible
.
And we try to make it reallyabout discovery, about them
unlocking, like I said, thepotential that they have to
(05:37):
learn, because I believe everychild has been born with the
potential and an innate desireto learn and to grow, and so we
don't want to stifle that.
We want to give themopportunities to discover and
learn on their own, not alwaysjust telling them this is what
you're supposed to learn, butproviding a feast before them of
just great literature, greatexperiences, and then seeing
(06:00):
what they grasp from that,because what you may grasp from
it, greg, maybe somethingtotally.
I may grasp something totallydifferent, and that doesn't make
what, what you got wrong, youknow.
So it's kind of a different wayto looking at education, but
we're loving it, we're havingfun.
I love seeing the littlekindergarten students around the
(06:22):
property.
They're discovering things thatI didn't know was out every day
, and so it's just a joy likejust seeing them excited about
learning makes it exciting forme I think that's awesome and
that's a great description.
Greg Jones (06:37):
I can tell that joy overflows as you talk about the
opportunity to take not onlyyour years of experience, but
your god innate ability to beable to just provide an
environment for other families,as well as those students as
well.
Ok, that's.
That's fantastic.
I know that Hill Academy is iscontinuing to grow and to
(06:58):
flourish.
What are some things thatyou're looking forward to in the
future?
Lisa Hill (07:03):
OK.
So this year I really didn'tknow what age students I was
going to have.
I was trying to narrow it down,but ultimately I was just
asking God whatever you want,that's what I'm going to do.
So I actually ended up thisyear with students.
I have five kindergartners andI have a senior in high school
and children in between, so Iliterally have kindergarten, the
(07:26):
12th grade, which wasn't theplan, but but it's working.
Um.
So for high school cause my owndaughter's in high school,
she'll be a junior next year.
So one thing we are adding toour program is, um, college
concurrent classes.
So we haven't picked theuniversity that we're going to,
you know, have those classesthrough yet, but it's in the
(07:48):
works.
So, yeah, so that's somethingI'm really excited about that
we'll be able to offerconcurrent classes.
The students won't have to goon campus.
They can come here to ourprogram and we're we're trying
to see if we're going to haveactual like teachers or will we
have facilitators.
That's just kind of what we'retrying.
We're trying to iron all thatout yet, but there will be
(08:12):
concurrent classes available.
Greg Jones (08:14):
I think that's awesome and I think one other
thing I think you have thatyou're doing as well is these
enrichment days.
Can you tell us a little bitabout that?
Lisa Hill (08:20):
Enrichment days.
The reason I call it enrichmentday is because there's not
enough time in two days to getin everything that I want to do.
But I feel the arts and beingcreative and being outside in
God's nature.
I feel like that's just asimportant in education and a
student growing as math is.
(08:41):
You know the three R's reading,writing and math.
Those are very important.
I think that's what mostparents are looking for.
But teaching children how toand shorter every day.
So I look at like nature, studyfor them to get out, sit down,
(09:14):
learn to be quiet, learn toobserve their surroundings
that's growing.
That is a part of their growthand maturity.
Also, we do we call ithandicrafts, but it's all kinds
of stuff.
We've done soap carving Rightnow.
I had other things planned, butthe group they wanted to learn
crochet, so we switched and sowe're doing crochet right now.
(09:37):
We've also been having anutrition class, but most of the
students are athletes, so thenutrition class has been focused
on nutrition for studentathletes and habits good,
healthy habits for studentathletes.
Greg Jones (09:52):
So that's been fun too know you've got at least
three.
I mean you've probably got morethan three, but what are your
(10:13):
three keys?
What are some things that youhave learned over the years
through your experience thatyou'd like to share with the
audience.
Lisa Hill (10:17):
I would say the first thing is not to be afraid to
just step out and try what'sbeen on your heart or what God
has put on your heart.
That's the first step.
You're never going to know ifyou can do it or even you may
have like.
When God spoke to me at school,I had a certain filter that
(10:39):
that word went through and I hada certain assumption of what
that was going to mean.
But once I stepped out and Ijust started walking with him by
faith and just taking thosesteps, the picture became
clearer.
But had I never stepped out inthe first place?
Because I thought, oh, that'stoo big, I could never start a
school?
I didn't know that.
(11:01):
It would be more like a hybridprogram where they're here a
couple of days and they're doingwork at home for a couple of
days, and it's more like we'recoming alongside and supporting
parents in the education oftheir children.
And so that would be the firstthing is just not to be afraid
to step out in faith and do whatGod has put on your heart.
The second thing is you don'thave to do it alone.
(11:24):
Like I said, you were veryinstrumental in just the first
part of saying, hey, you'redoing a lot of great stuff, you
need to make this a business.
And also not being afraid.
We just had a recent talk aboutnot being afraid to be
compensated for the the yourtime and all the hard work that
(11:44):
you put into something.
So I think that was part of itput into something.
So I think that was part of it.
And so my third one that hasreally been, I would say,
important for me this year wasnot being afraid to pivot,
because I had an idea.
We're a Charlotte Masoninspired homeschool hybrid
(12:07):
community, but I had everythinglook great on paper.
I had it all planned out.
When you start implementing it,it doesn't always like turn out
the way that you thought itwould.
Or I mean, we're dealing withchildren and people, and so All
my ideas didn't always fit forthe group that I had.
(12:28):
I didn't know who I was goingto have.
So one of the things I think thekeys to my success this year is
just not being afraid to pivot.
Like this English curriculum isnot working.
It's not what I thought it was.
I'm going to have to spend themoney to switch something that I
know that's tried and true, andI know it works well and I'm
comfortable with it and it hasbeen a game changer, you know,
(12:52):
for I can actually sit and seetheir wheels turning and see
them learning and growing and sojust things like that Cause
sometimes that's just kind of mypersonality to to pivot.
But I was thinking, lisa, youjust need to stick with
something, just stick it throughfor a year.
I'm just so glad that I didn'tdo that.
(13:12):
You know, I know some peoplethat choose something and they
just stick with it and thatworks for them and I honestly I
wanted to be a little bit likemore like that, um, but in this
situation pivoting was just akey to my student success.
Greg Jones (13:28):
And what would you say?
Because when you say that andyou gave a great explanation on
that the benefit of that pivotyou can now see, but you
couldn't see it then.
Lisa Hill (13:39):
Right.
Greg Jones (13:41):
But it's something about just allowing yourself to
be flexible, agile, according towhat you said again inside of
you, the spirit kind of leadingyou and said okay, according to
what you said again inside ofyou, the spirit kind of leading
you and said, okay, let's try it.
You know, it's interestingbecause it's kind of been one of
the things I've been thinkingabout.
I think sometimes, when Goddoesn't give us an answer yes or
no I think he's saying I trustyou.
(14:02):
And when you said aboutpivoting and being agile and
flexible, that's kind of whatcame to my mind Wow, that's been
incredible.
So.
And being agile and flexible,that's kind of what came to my
mind Wow, that's been incredible.
So, wow.
So we're looking forward tohaving another great year,
finishing the year strong andhaving another great year.
Now.
Do you take a break during thesummer?
What do you do to relax, tounwind, to take care of yourself
(14:25):
?
We call it rest.
Lisa Hill (14:27):
Oh goodness, what do you do?
Greg Jones (14:29):
Tell the people out there oh okay, um.
Lisa Hill (14:34):
well, this year, this past year, I actually um had an
opportunity to go out of thecountry for the first time.
Really, I think it's my secondtime, because I went to Puerto
Rico, even though I know that'sa US territory.
I still flew over water to getsomewhere.
So, but you know, I havelearned that I have to leave
(14:58):
because right now the learningcommunity is in my home, so I
have to get away sometimes, andso I think traveling will be a
good way for me to do that andto rest.
I know that's what you have todo to get your rest.
You got to get away from it all.
Greg Jones (15:18):
Tell the truth now.
Tell the truth, yes, but I askthat question because a lot of
times, as business owners, theresponsibility you have as a
mother, grandmother, um, and andnot only that, but it's just a
grind and um, sometimes weneglect that ourselves needs, uh
, opportunities to to rest,relax, to revive, to rejuvenate,
(15:42):
and so I've been asking folkslike let's make sure that we
also keep ourselves a priorityas well, and it it's nothing
wrong with that.
Lisa Hill (15:49):
Right, because it was around a year ago.
This time is when I started.
I started working with aconsultant and she had this list
of, you know, first tasks to do, and I was so grateful for that
because I could just I look, Iwork well with the list seeing
what I need to do.
I work well with the listseeing what I need to do.
But really, literally from lastJanuary until August, I feel
(16:13):
like I was working around theclock.
Literally I'd be sitting in thesame spot on the computer, you
know, looking at curriculum,trying to, you know, researching
how much tuition should be, andall of that Literally.
Sometimes it felt like 12 hoursa day.
But I mean, it was also anenjoyable experience.
I was learning, I was beingstretched, I was doing something
(16:37):
, an idea that I had years ago.
I've always thought about whatwould it be like to start a
school?
I would do this and I would dothat, I'd do this differently,
and to see that, like dang, thisis really about to happen, and
so it was enjoyable, but it wasa lot.
So by the time, like schoolactually started, then you know,
(16:58):
then you're in the thick of itNow.
You have people with you, youhave teachers, you have students
, you have family and parents.
And so we had an opportunity togo to Jamaica.
Some friends actually paid forour trip and I was like, no, I
can't go.
That's like right afterThanksgiving.
And my husband looked at melike, aren't you the boss?
And I was like but, but, butand little did I know we would
(17:24):
have a family loss in this pastNovember and the trip was
literally scheduled right after.
I didn't know that was going tobe like that, but it was so
much of a needed trip just tosit and do nothing, sit by the
beach and just think and talk toGod and, you know, laugh and
(17:45):
cry and get a lot of rest.
And that's exactly what Ineeded.
And so I wouldn't say that Iwas.
I've been the best at that.
But after this last experienceI think it's really important.
So I actually have a tripplanned in April.
Greg Jones (18:00):
So I'm looking forward to that Fantastic.
Lisa Hill (18:03):
Yeah.
Greg Jones (18:03):
Wow, so well.
Thank you for that.
That that that's helpful.
I think business owners andcommunity leaders that are
listening to this need to knowthat, while the work is
rewarding, but there is alsothat time that we need to really
be able to self-reflect, andwhether that's with ourselves,
our families, whatever that is,but making sure that we take the
time to be able to do that.
All right, is there anythingelse that you want to add?
(18:25):
Before we kind of startwrapping it up, I'm going to ask
you a little bit about howpeople get in contact with you
and all that.
Lisa Hill (18:33):
But, as we've been talking, has anything else come
to your mind that you'd like toshare?
One thing I would want peopleto know about me is that I know
it's the grace of God.
The grace of God has made mewho I am today, and it's been
through his wisdom and hisguidance and really the ministry
(18:54):
of the Holy Spirit in my life,leading and guiding me into all
truth, just being dependent uponhim, and that's just how I've
lived my life with him since Icame to know the Lord, and I'm
just so grateful for that, andso I mean I just give him just
(19:17):
all the honor that's due,because anything that I have,
anything that I've accomplished,has been because of him, and I
just love him, and that's what Iwould want people to know about
me and about Hill Academy,about my family.
Greg Jones (19:34):
That's awesome.
Well, thank you so much.
I get this question all thetime, and so I've been asking
people during the podcast.
People want to get in contactwith you.
How do they reach out to you?
Lisa Hill (19:47):
First way is probably through our website, and that
is Hill Academy dot life, simple.
And then my email address.
Would be the second way, andthat's Hill Academy programs at
Gmail dot com.
Greg Jones (20:01):
OK, fantastic, and for our listening audience,
we'll make sure that we put allthat information in the comments
so that you have a way to getin contact with Lisa.
Lisa, this has been a greatopportunity to get to know you
even better, a little bit moreabout Heal Academy and your
family.
So we appreciate what you'redoing and I just ask that you
know, as you continue to growand mature and you know, take
(20:24):
all these trips around the worldcome back on our podcast and
let us know how it's going.
Lisa Hill (20:29):
Will you do that?
Yes, I will.
Greg Jones (20:30):
All right, we thank you so much for tuning in to
Three Keys for your Journey.
I'm your host, greg Jones, andwe will see you next time.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Thanks for joining Three Keys for your Journey.
Tune in next time for anotherepisode.
Welcome to Three Keys for your Journey podcast,
where education, faith andcommunity unite.
Today's conversation is withLisa Hill, founder and director
of Hill Academy, aChrist-centered learning
community in Oklahoma.
With 30 years of experience inteaching and leadership, she is
passionate about fosteringjoyful discovery and relational
(00:20):
education.
Join me as we explore insightsand stories that inspire
compassion, leadership and loveof learning.
Let's embark on this journeytogether.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
Are you ready to unlock your potential?
Tune in to Three Keys for yourJourney podcast, where business
owners share invaluable insightsand empowering strategies to
guide you towards success.
Based in Oklahoma City, ourhost, greg T Jones, will inspire
and motivate you every week.
Get ready to join ourconversation as we build
(01:04):
community together.
Greg Jones (01:08):
Well, we're glad to have you on the podcast, lisa,
and for most of America I meanus locally we know who you are,
but how would you introduceyourself?
Lisa Hill (01:19):
Well, my name is Lisa Hill and I am married to my
best friend, jonathan Hill,coming up on 29 years, I'm a
mother.
I started off with six children, but now I have two
daughter-in-laws and anothergrandchild, and two on the way.
(01:42):
So my home has been my ministryfor the past 29 years, but also
, in that is, have a passion,have always had a passion for
education and just loving onchildren, helping them to learn
and helping them to unlock thepotential that God has innately
(02:06):
put in them.
And so, yeah, that's that's mein a nutshell, I'd say Well,
that's, that's fantastic.
Greg Jones (02:14):
And, and, and for your friends that know you very
well.
I mean, I was going to say youlike to party, but that's not
really.
That's not really the word.
You love games, you love people.
You love to entertain.
Um, I think what every birthday, every anniversary, every
something y'all are celebrating,right?
Lisa Hill (02:34):
yes, and that's part of kind of the hill yeah, I
think it has yes, when I um wasuh working as a programs
director, I think at ShilohAdventures some years ago, I got
the nickname Dr Fun fromStephen Moore, so that seems to
have stuck.
But yeah, I just like to havefun and I just like to celebrate
(02:56):
people.
Well, I was just telling myhusband the other day I just
want my family and friends toknow that I love them and that
they were worth celebrating tome.
Greg Jones (03:07):
I think that's an awesome attribute.
Now, kind of as we move intoone of the passions that you
have, you've started HealAcademy.
Tell us a little bit about whatthat is and really kind of, how
did that get started?
Okay?
Lisa Hill (03:22):
So I got the name because we homeschooled our
children for over 20 years andas I was homeschooling them, I
would also like do programs forthe community or for the
children at church.
And you know it started doinglittle programs or enrichment
classes and so I needed a namefor the little side business
(03:45):
side hustle that I had.
So Hill Academy was just whatwe called our homeschool.
So that's kind of where itstarted.
But about a year ago I reallyfelt the Lord put in my heart to
start a school and at first Iwas kind of resistant to it.
I'm like I wanted to start aneducational business of some
sort.
I thought maybe homeschoolconsulting or just to continue
(04:08):
what I was doing and doing smallenrichment classes and things
like that, things that were funto me.
But I just kept hearing this,you know, I kept getting ideas,
I'll say, about starting school,and I really feel like that's
how the Lord speaks to me withideas.
And so finally I was just like,okay, lord, I'm going to see if
this is you, I'm just going tostep out in faith.
(04:30):
And you were a big part of that, greg, just kind of helping me
like with the business side,like get your EIN number, get
your business account.
And I know I drug my feet for awhile because I was like oh man
, but just as soon as I steppedout and started just kind of,
you know, knocking on doorstrying to find out information
(04:52):
like how do I do this, the doorsjust started flying open.
And so, yeah, and so we starteda Hill Academy learning
community about a year ago HillAcademy Learning Community about
a year ago and it's a hybridlearning community, which means
it's for homeschool students, sotwo days of the week they're
(05:13):
here and they get their coreclasses, they get enrichment
classes like art and picturestudy and nature study, but they
also get math and reading andliterature and history and Bible
.
And we try to make it reallyabout discovery, about them
unlocking, like I said, thepotential that they have to
(05:37):
learn, because I believe everychild has been born with the
potential and an innate desireto learn and to grow, and so we
don't want to stifle that.
We want to give themopportunities to discover and
learn on their own, not alwaysjust telling them this is what
you're supposed to learn, butproviding a feast before them of
just great literature, greatexperiences, and then seeing
(06:00):
what they grasp from that,because what you may grasp from
it, greg, maybe somethingtotally.
I may grasp something totallydifferent, and that doesn't make
what, what you got wrong, youknow.
So it's kind of a different wayto looking at education, but
we're loving it, we're havingfun.
I love seeing the littlekindergarten students around the
(06:22):
property.
They're discovering things thatI didn't know was out every day
, and so it's just a joy likejust seeing them excited about
learning makes it exciting forme I think that's awesome and
that's a great description.
Greg Jones (06:37):
I can tell that joy overflows as you talk about the
opportunity to take not onlyyour years of experience, but
your god innate ability to beable to just provide an
environment for other families,as well as those students as
well.
Ok, that's.
That's fantastic.
I know that Hill Academy is iscontinuing to grow and to
(06:58):
flourish.
What are some things thatyou're looking forward to in the
future?
Lisa Hill (07:03):
OK.
So this year I really didn'tknow what age students I was
going to have.
I was trying to narrow it down,but ultimately I was just
asking God whatever you want,that's what I'm going to do.
So I actually ended up thisyear with students.
I have five kindergartners andI have a senior in high school
and children in between, so Iliterally have kindergarten, the
(07:26):
12th grade, which wasn't theplan, but but it's working.
Um.
So for high school cause my owndaughter's in high school,
she'll be a junior next year.
So one thing we are adding toour program is, um, college
concurrent classes.
So we haven't picked theuniversity that we're going to,
you know, have those classesthrough yet, but it's in the
(07:48):
works.
So, yeah, so that's somethingI'm really excited about that
we'll be able to offerconcurrent classes.
The students won't have to goon campus.
They can come here to ourprogram and we're we're trying
to see if we're going to haveactual like teachers or will we
have facilitators.
That's just kind of what we'retrying.
We're trying to iron all thatout yet, but there will be
(08:12):
concurrent classes available.
Greg Jones (08:14):
I think that's awesome and I think one other
thing I think you have thatyou're doing as well is these
enrichment days.
Can you tell us a little bitabout that?
Lisa Hill (08:20):
Enrichment days.
The reason I call it enrichmentday is because there's not
enough time in two days to getin everything that I want to do.
But I feel the arts and beingcreative and being outside in
God's nature.
I feel like that's just asimportant in education and a
student growing as math is.
(08:41):
You know the three R's reading,writing and math.
Those are very important.
I think that's what mostparents are looking for.
But teaching children how toand shorter every day.
So I look at like nature, studyfor them to get out, sit down,
(09:14):
learn to be quiet, learn toobserve their surroundings
that's growing.
That is a part of their growthand maturity.
Also, we do we call ithandicrafts, but it's all kinds
of stuff.
We've done soap carving Rightnow.
I had other things planned, butthe group they wanted to learn
crochet, so we switched and sowe're doing crochet right now.
(09:37):
We've also been having anutrition class, but most of the
students are athletes, so thenutrition class has been focused
on nutrition for studentathletes and habits good,
healthy habits for studentathletes.
Greg Jones (09:52):
So that's been fun too know you've got at least
three.
I mean you've probably got morethan three, but what are your
(10:13):
three keys?
What are some things that youhave learned over the years
through your experience thatyou'd like to share with the
audience.
Lisa Hill (10:17):
I would say the first thing is not to be afraid to
just step out and try what'sbeen on your heart or what God
has put on your heart.
That's the first step.
You're never going to know ifyou can do it or even you may
have like.
When God spoke to me at school,I had a certain filter that
(10:39):
that word went through and I hada certain assumption of what
that was going to mean.
But once I stepped out and Ijust started walking with him by
faith and just taking thosesteps, the picture became
clearer.
But had I never stepped out inthe first place?
Because I thought, oh, that'stoo big, I could never start a
school?
I didn't know that.
(11:01):
It would be more like a hybridprogram where they're here a
couple of days and they're doingwork at home for a couple of
days, and it's more like we'recoming alongside and supporting
parents in the education oftheir children.
And so that would be the firstthing is just not to be afraid
to step out in faith and do whatGod has put on your heart.
The second thing is you don'thave to do it alone.
(11:24):
Like I said, you were veryinstrumental in just the first
part of saying, hey, you'redoing a lot of great stuff, you
need to make this a business.
And also not being afraid.
We just had a recent talk aboutnot being afraid to be
compensated for the the yourtime and all the hard work that
(11:44):
you put into something.
So I think that was part of itput into something.
So I think that was part of it.
And so my third one that hasreally been, I would say,
important for me this year wasnot being afraid to pivot,
because I had an idea.
We're a Charlotte Masoninspired homeschool hybrid
(12:07):
community, but I had everythinglook great on paper.
I had it all planned out.
When you start implementing it,it doesn't always like turn out
the way that you thought itwould.
Or I mean, we're dealing withchildren and people, and so All
my ideas didn't always fit forthe group that I had.
(12:28):
I didn't know who I was goingto have.
So one of the things I think thekeys to my success this year is
just not being afraid to pivot.
Like this English curriculum isnot working.
It's not what I thought it was.
I'm going to have to spend themoney to switch something that I
know that's tried and true, andI know it works well and I'm
comfortable with it and it hasbeen a game changer, you know,
(12:52):
for I can actually sit and seetheir wheels turning and see
them learning and growing and sojust things like that Cause
sometimes that's just kind of mypersonality to to pivot.
But I was thinking, lisa, youjust need to stick with
something, just stick it throughfor a year.
I'm just so glad that I didn'tdo that.
(13:12):
You know, I know some peoplethat choose something and they
just stick with it and thatworks for them and I honestly I
wanted to be a little bit likemore like that, um, but in this
situation pivoting was just akey to my student success.
Greg Jones (13:28):
And what would you say?
Because when you say that andyou gave a great explanation on
that the benefit of that pivotyou can now see, but you
couldn't see it then.
Lisa Hill (13:39):
Right.
Greg Jones (13:41):
But it's something about just allowing yourself to
be flexible, agile, according towhat you said again inside of
you, the spirit kind of leadingyou and said okay, according to
what you said again inside ofyou, the spirit kind of leading
you and said, okay, let's try it.
You know, it's interestingbecause it's kind of been one of
the things I've been thinkingabout.
I think sometimes, when Goddoesn't give us an answer yes or
no I think he's saying I trustyou.
(14:02):
And when you said aboutpivoting and being agile and
flexible, that's kind of whatcame to my mind Wow, that's been
incredible.
So.
And being agile and flexible,that's kind of what came to my
mind Wow, that's been incredible.
So, wow.
So we're looking forward tohaving another great year,
finishing the year strong andhaving another great year.
Now.
Do you take a break during thesummer?
What do you do to relax, tounwind, to take care of yourself
(14:25):
?
We call it rest.
Lisa Hill (14:27):
Oh goodness, what do you do?
Greg Jones (14:29):
Tell the people out there oh okay, um.
Lisa Hill (14:34):
well, this year, this past year, I actually um had an
opportunity to go out of thecountry for the first time.
Really, I think it's my secondtime, because I went to Puerto
Rico, even though I know that'sa US territory.
I still flew over water to getsomewhere.
So, but you know, I havelearned that I have to leave
(14:58):
because right now the learningcommunity is in my home, so I
have to get away sometimes, andso I think traveling will be a
good way for me to do that andto rest.
I know that's what you have todo to get your rest.
You got to get away from it all.
Greg Jones (15:18):
Tell the truth now.
Tell the truth, yes, but I askthat question because a lot of
times, as business owners, theresponsibility you have as a
mother, grandmother, um, and andnot only that, but it's just a
grind and um, sometimes weneglect that ourselves needs, uh
, opportunities to to rest,relax, to revive, to rejuvenate,
(15:42):
and so I've been asking folkslike let's make sure that we
also keep ourselves a priorityas well, and it it's nothing
wrong with that.
Lisa Hill (15:49):
Right, because it was around a year ago.
This time is when I started.
I started working with aconsultant and she had this list
of, you know, first tasks to do, and I was so grateful for that
because I could just I look, Iwork well with the list seeing
what I need to do.
I work well with the listseeing what I need to do.
But really, literally from lastJanuary until August, I feel
(16:13):
like I was working around theclock.
Literally I'd be sitting in thesame spot on the computer, you
know, looking at curriculum,trying to, you know, researching
how much tuition should be, andall of that Literally.
Sometimes it felt like 12 hoursa day.
But I mean, it was also anenjoyable experience.
I was learning, I was beingstretched, I was doing something
(16:37):
, an idea that I had years ago.
I've always thought about whatwould it be like to start a
school?
I would do this and I would dothat, I'd do this differently,
and to see that, like dang, thisis really about to happen, and
so it was enjoyable, but it wasa lot.
So by the time, like schoolactually started, then you know,
(16:58):
then you're in the thick of itNow.
You have people with you, youhave teachers, you have students
, you have family and parents.
And so we had an opportunity togo to Jamaica.
Some friends actually paid forour trip and I was like, no, I
can't go.
That's like right afterThanksgiving.
And my husband looked at melike, aren't you the boss?
And I was like but, but, butand little did I know we would
(17:24):
have a family loss in this pastNovember and the trip was
literally scheduled right after.
I didn't know that was going tobe like that, but it was so
much of a needed trip just tosit and do nothing, sit by the
beach and just think and talk toGod and, you know, laugh and
(17:45):
cry and get a lot of rest.
And that's exactly what Ineeded.
And so I wouldn't say that Iwas.
I've been the best at that.
But after this last experienceI think it's really important.
So I actually have a tripplanned in April.
Greg Jones (18:00):
So I'm looking forward to that Fantastic.
Lisa Hill (18:03):
Yeah.
Greg Jones (18:03):
Wow, so well.
Thank you for that.
That that that's helpful.
I think business owners andcommunity leaders that are
listening to this need to knowthat, while the work is
rewarding, but there is alsothat time that we need to really
be able to self-reflect, andwhether that's with ourselves,
our families, whatever that is,but making sure that we take the
time to be able to do that.
All right, is there anythingelse that you want to add?
(18:25):
Before we kind of startwrapping it up, I'm going to ask
you a little bit about howpeople get in contact with you
and all that.
Lisa Hill (18:33):
But, as we've been talking, has anything else come
to your mind that you'd like toshare?
One thing I would want peopleto know about me is that I know
it's the grace of God.
The grace of God has made mewho I am today, and it's been
through his wisdom and hisguidance and really the ministry
(18:54):
of the Holy Spirit in my life,leading and guiding me into all
truth, just being dependent uponhim, and that's just how I've
lived my life with him since Icame to know the Lord, and I'm
just so grateful for that, andso I mean I just give him just
(19:17):
all the honor that's due,because anything that I have,
anything that I've accomplished,has been because of him, and I
just love him, and that's what Iwould want people to know about
me and about Hill Academy,about my family.
Greg Jones (19:34):
That's awesome.
Well, thank you so much.
I get this question all thetime, and so I've been asking
people during the podcast.
People want to get in contactwith you.
How do they reach out to you?
Lisa Hill (19:47):
First way is probably through our website, and that
is Hill Academy dot life, simple.
And then my email address.
Would be the second way, andthat's Hill Academy programs at
Gmail dot com.
Greg Jones (20:01):
OK, fantastic, and for our listening audience,
we'll make sure that we put allthat information in the comments
so that you have a way to getin contact with Lisa.
Lisa, this has been a greatopportunity to get to know you
even better, a little bit moreabout Heal Academy and your
family.
So we appreciate what you'redoing and I just ask that you
know, as you continue to growand mature and you know, take
(20:24):
all these trips around the worldcome back on our podcast and
let us know how it's going.
Lisa Hill (20:29):
Will you do that?
Yes, I will.
Greg Jones (20:30):
All right, we thank you so much for tuning in to
Three Keys for your Journey.
I'm your host, greg Jones, andwe will see you next time.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Thanks for joining Three Keys for your Journey.
Tune in next time for anotherepisode.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com