Not Everyone Should Be Teaching
When education becomes a trend, the craft begins to suffer.
Lately, I’ve watched a quiet shift in our industry turn into a full-blown trend—and not a good one.
Everyone’s teaching. But not everyone should be.
I’ve taught floral design to artists and beginners from all over the world—some flew across oceans just to step into the studio. I’ve seen their hands tremble as they held a branch the wrong way. I’ve watched their faces flush in frustration when a design collapsed. I’ve stood beside them as they found their rhythm—not in perfection, but in the trying.
Teaching is not a performance. It’s a responsibility. And it’s not easy.
It’s correcting someone gently, then again, and again.
It’s reworking a demo midstream because the concept didn’t land.
It’s being asked hard questions and having the humility to say, “Let me get back to you.”
It’s staying after class to troubleshoot someone’s confidence, not just their mechanics.
Teaching drains you. Teaching asks you to set your ego down. It’s not about sharing your highlight reel—it’s about handing someone else the tools to build their own.
And yet, we’re seeing floral designers with just a handful of weddings offering high-ticket mentorships and online courses—promising shortcuts to “fully booked success” they haven’t personally sustained. Some are still unsure how to price their own services, yet they’re packaging advice for others to follow.
Let’s be honest: this isn’t education—it’s market erosion dressed up as expertise.
If you haven’t learned how to price for real profit, lead a team through complex installs, or navigate the mess of actual client logistics—what are you really teaching? Inspiration without structure? Theory without depth?
Pretty flowers do not equal preparedness. Popularity doesn’t equal experience.
If you haven’t walked it, don’t teach it.
It’s like someone who’s taken a few piano lessons turning around to sell a masterclass on composing symphonies.
They might understand the melody—but not the mechanics, the pacing, or the discipline it takes to bring something lasting to life.
Teaching, when done well, takes years of experience, honest pricing, and a willingness to lead from both wins and failures. If you’re not there yet, that’s okay—just don’t pass off ambition as expertise.