Starting a business is exciting—until reality hits. You have a great idea, but getting clients, making sales, and scaling? That’s a whole different game.
I learned this firsthand when I built, scaled, and sold Flex Academies, an education business that went from struggling to thriving—partnering with 82 schools and working with 500+ providers. But the journey wasn’t easy.
When I launched Flex Academies, I thought my ideal clients were schools without after school programs. Seemed logical, right? But after launching my first program, I hit a wall —parents weren’t signing up. They already had trusted providers and didn’t need my service. Instead of giving up, I dug deeper and realized my real clients were schools with programs—ones that were failing because they were run by overwhelmed volunteers. They needed structure, reliability, and better results.
My first mistake? Thinking I needed to “sell” my program. The truth? If your offer is clear, compelling, and directly solves your client’s problem, it sells itself.
Once I nailed my messaging and addressed the exact pain points schools were facing, the sales process became effortless. I’d walk into meetings and answer their biggest concerns before they even asked.
Starting a business is exciting—until reality hits. You have a great idea, but getting clients,
making sales, and scaling? That’s a whole different game.
I learned this firsthand when I built, scaled, and sold Flex Academies, an education
business that went from struggling to thriving—partnering with 82 schools and working
with 500+ providers. But the journey wasn’t easy.
When I launched Flex Academies, I thought my ideal clients were schools without after-
school programs. Seemed logical, right? But after launching my first program, I hit a wall
—parents weren’t signing up. They already had trusted providers and didn’t need my
service. Instead of giving up, I dug deeper and realized my real clients were schools with
programs—ones that were failing because they were run by overwhelmed volunteers.
They needed structure, reliability, and better results.
My first mistake? Thinking I needed to “sell” my program. The truth? If your offer is clear,
compelling, and directly solves your client’s problem, it sells itself.
Once I nailed my messaging and addressed the exact pain points schools were facing, the
sales process became effortless. I’d walk into meetings and answer their biggest concerns
before they even asked.
That level of clarity builds trust —and trust closes deals.
That level of clarity builds trust —and trust closes deals.
Early on, I relied on word-of-mouth. It worked—until it didn’t. Growth stalled because I had no system to consistently attract and convert new clients.
That’s when I developed a lead generation strategy that worked on autopilot. I used LinkedIn, email outreach, and content marketing to get in front of the right people.
Instead of chasing clients, they started coming to me.
Growing a business isn’t just about sales—it’s about systems. I brought in the right people, streamlined operations, and automated processes so the business could run without me.
Early on, I relied on word-of-mouth. It worked—until it didn’t. Growth stalled because I
had no system to consistently attract and convert new clients.
That’s when I developed a lead generation strategy that worked on autopilot. I used
LinkedIn, email outreach, and content marketing to get in front of the right people.
Instead of chasing clients, they started coming to me.
Growing a business isn’t just about sales—it’s about systems. I brought in the right people,
streamlined operations, and automated processes so the business could run without me.
After my exit, I realized too many education founders were stuck—offering great services but struggling to generate consistent leads and sales.
That’s why I started coaching.
Craft a no-brainer offer that attracts the right clients
Build a lead generation system that fills their pipeline weekly
Develop scalable systems that eliminate bottlenecks and maximize profits.
After my exit, I realized too many education founders were stuck—offering great
services but struggling to generate consistent leads and sales.
That’s why I started coaching.
Craft a no-brainer offer that attracts the right clients
Build a lead generation system that fills their pipeline weekly
Develop scalable systems that eliminate bottlenecks and maximize profits.
Josh Chernikoff’s career started behind the mic as a sports broadcaster before he transitioned into the education space. With a passion for sales, marketing, and communications, he went on to found, grow, and successfully exit two education companies—proving he doesn’t just talk about scaling businesses; he’s done it himself.
His expertise in storytelling and messaging, shaped by his background in journalism, now helps EdTech founders crack the code on lead generation and sales.
NOW FOR THE FUN FACTS...
🏌️♂️ I'm an avid golfer who can turn any business lesson into a sports analogy.
✈️ A family man at heart, I love traveling with my wife and daughter as much as possible.
🏡 I'm currently building my dream home in Mexico, which means I split my time between Mexico and DC.
👨👩👧 I love the entrepreneur life because it means more time at home for those priceless moments with my daughter!
Josh Chernikoff’s career started behind the mic as a sports broadcaster before he transitioned into the education space. With a passion for sales, marketing, and communications, he went on to found, grow, and successfully exit two education companies—proving he doesn’t just talk about scaling businesses; he’s done it himself.
His expertise in storytelling and messaging, shaped by his background in journalism, now helps EdTech founders crack the code on lead generation and sales.
NOW FOR THE FUN FACTS...
🏌️♂️ I'm an avid golfer who can turn any business lesson into a sports analogy.
✈️ A family man at heart, I loves traveling with my wife and daughter as much as possible.
🏡 I'm currently building my dream home in Mexico, which means I split my time between Mexico and DC.
👨👩👧 I love the entrepreneur life because it means more time at home for those priceless moments with my daughter!
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GET AHEAD WITH YOUR LEAD GENERATION
The only podcast teaching education companies how to get more leads and sales in their business! Ready to start and scale your education company - it's time to get the breakthroughs you need when you tune into Breaking The Grade!
GET AHEAD WITH YOUR LEAD GENERATION
The only podcast teaching education companies how to get more leads and sales in their business! Ready to start and scale your education company - it's time to get the breakthroughs you need when you tune into Breaking The Grade!
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