by admin | Jun 26, 2022 | Blog, Uncategorized
It’s that old vicious circle again! One that I hear time and time again. “I can’t afford to invest in myself”. But then because you’ve not invested you can’t grow. And so it goes on. Ad infinitum. So I’ve written a blog to explain why you can’t afford not to invest in yourself!
Read on to discover the reasons I know that it’s time for you to start taking investing in you and your childcare business seriously.
Excuses I hear everyday about why you can’t invest in yourself
When I’m coaching childcare business owners something they very quickly grow out of is making excuses. They used to say things like “I can’t afford to take time off”. Or “I can’t afford to get a coach”. Or even “I can’t afford to hire staff”. And instead they now take time to consider things carefully before automatically making assumptions about money and affordability. They look at all the options available to them. They don’t write off things that could actually help them grow their businesses just because they have in the past.
I’m not suggesting that you start taking silly risks or putting your home on the line. No way! I’m just asking you to REALLY think about things before you turn down huge opportunities to up-level your childcare business.
When I was coaching with my most recent cohort of The Childcare Flip, I saw them completely change their mindset about “affordable” and other money issues. The progress they made was incredible. And I want that for you too!
Can’t invest in yourself or won’t…What is going on really?
More often than not when someone says “I can’t afford it” they’re not thinking about their actual finances and bank statements. Sometimes it’s about trust. Others it’s about priorities. And occasionally it’s about being more resourceful and thinking outside the box.
So when you’re faced with an opportunity to invest in yourself as a childcare business owner, I’d encourage you to journal on it. Don’t immediately say no. Instead take some time to look at what’s really happening here. What are the benefits of investing in this? Where might the path take you? Who will you get the chance to work with? How much money could this make you in the future?
Can you afford not to invest in yourself?
As a childcare boss, there’s only so far you can go by yourself. I know because I’ve been there. I’ve had to invest in a coach to help me navigate growth and dive deep into my own
mindset issues. And I’ve taken courses to elevate my business to the next level, far beyond the imagination of home daycare Nyckie from back in the day! I never imagined I’d be the owner of multiple facilities and a coach to Childcare Ninjas across the globe!
And that’s what I want you to think about, Ninja. When you invest in yourself there are so many amazing benefits beyond the coach/course/program you buy. You get that awesomeness, and then you also get the added bonuses so often available. And that’s what you get with
The Childcare Flip too. I will be teaching you SO much brilliant stuff in there to flip your business! I also give you templates to help you grow your list, and more! These things will MAKE you money. Can you afford not to invest in yourself?!
The Childcare Flip – turning childcare business on its head!
This course is THE complete, step-by-step system I have created for in-home daycare and childcare owners to create a childcare business with freedom, flexibility, and financial success.
You’ll learn the F.O.R.G.E. Method to help you create a winning marketing method that gets potential clients coming to you instead of your competition & that does this fast.
The Childcare Flip Course has helped me keep growing my daycare business day after day, have more than one center & made my life and business into what it is today…
I’ll be running my free webinar training on these common and easy-to-make mistakes TOMORROW! Based on my own experience and going through this huge learning curve I want to shortcut your success and help you save $$$s on costly mistakes!
If you’re not ready for my course, why not get connected with other childcare owners instead? Get tips every week to move your childcare business forward by joining my FREE Facebook group! Hang out with like-minded and aspirational daycare owners as well as training every other week from me! Or if you prefer Instagram, we share ideas and tips there too. We’re an army of childcare professionals who are sharing ninja-sharp skills to transform our businesses into childcare empires! This is Childcare Ownership all Grownup!
by admin | Jan 21, 2022 | Blog, Uncategorized
Like every single adult with kids in their midst – whether they’re your own or your grandkids, or the ones in your daycare – the last couple of months have been all about Encanto. Am I right!? It’s EvErYwHeRe! There’s so many themes running through it that are hard resonating with grown-ups, not just kids.
So when I was talking to a friend about it, I was thinking about how there’s a few lessons in there to use when it comes to running our childcare businesses too.
Curious? Read on to discover the 6 things I’ve learned from Encanto.
1. You can’t carry the weight of everything yourself
This is a lesson that’ll help you build a sustainable childcare business. It’s very easy for us to forget that help is available. We get caught up in controlling everything and being independent. After all, it’s our business and the buck stops with us, right?
However, Luisa in the movie has a whole song about how much pressure she’s under. She’s trying her hardest to protect her family and feels like she’s worthless if she can’t be of service. It’s super important, however to remember that you don’t always have to be the problem solver, and you don’t have to be strong all the time.
Don’t forget that you’re not weak if you show vulnerability. It’s absolutely normal to admit you’re struggling. No one is let down by you sharing the burden of running a business and being honest about it. I know from my own experience that honesty and authenticity will bring your people closer.
So remember: when you’re finding things challenging, you’re allowed to ask for help. You don’t have to do it all alone.
2. Nothing’s ever going to be perfect
Urgh. Perfectionism, be gone! People pleasing, disappear! Something many of us struggle with – especially in the early days of growing our businesses.
In the movie, Isabela tries her hardest to make her family proud. To the point where she’s considering marrying someone she doesn’t love in order to please her grandmother. Yikes.
However, the take away here is learning that you’ll never be good enough for some people. No matter what you do or how perfect you are. Instead of letting that get you down, let it inspire you to do your own thing! In setting up your childcare business, you need to limit whose advice you seek and stop caring so much about people’s opinions. At the end of the day, they’re not the ones who you want shaping the direction of your business.
Lesson? Do your own thing, Ninja!
3. Don’t compare yourself
Oooof comparison is often lurking nearby isn’t it?! You open up your Instagram and there’s the business woman from down the road who’s “smashing it!” Or the entrepreneur you met at networking a while back who raves about their new car. What you’re not seeing is the other side of things. We only see a snapshot on there. That business woman? She’s on depression meds. That entrepreneur has just lost his kids in the divorce.
In Encanto, Mirabel sings about how she’s unable to heal what’s broken and how she can’t move mountains. She’s got a severe case of comparisonitis. She’s seeking some signs to show her which path to take for her life to have some sort of meaning, looking to others. But she can’t see her own magic. Mirabel constantly compares herself to others.
As the old adage goes, “the grass is always greener on the other side”. So the lesson here is stay in your lane! Mind your business and focus on you.
4. Try not to be defined by just one thing
Number 4 on my list of things I’ve learned from “Encanto” you can use in your childcare business is particularly relevant! It’s so hard in this day and age not to get tied down to just one thing. By all means be memorable, but give yourself the flexibility to pivot if you need to.
This movie is a reminder to us all that humans are complicated beings! We can’t be defined by simply one thing. Your previous career doesn’t define you. Or your family name. Neither do your talents define you. And it’s the same for your childcare business. There are so many brilliant things you could do!
Don’t be afraid to stand for more than one thing!
5. Listen to your heart
All the characters in Encanto are trying far too hard to please Alma – the matriarch of the story. However this behavior makes them feel utterly miserable. It was only when they started listening to their own hearts not all the “shoulds” that they found happiness.
In our businesses it is easy to get caught up in the expectations of other people. Whether it’s investors or pressure from the community, or even your family members, it’s important that you try to focus on w
My takeaway? You shouldn’t feel pressured to do what is expected of you and instead do what feels right to you.
6. You can always bounce back
Right towards the close of the movie the family home falls apart. But it’s not the end of the world because the characters are able to rebuild. I believe it’s a reminder that you’ll be able to bounce back, no matter what you’ve been through.
And this is so relevant to us as biz owners! Running a business can be outright hard. There’s no getting away from that. Sometimes we face real challenges that knock us right down. But you are strong, Ninja. You are resilient. You will persevere. If something doesn’t work, it might just be the wrong time. Don’t give up, try again.
Final lesson – Don’t always assume that one setback means it’s not meant to be.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog! Never thought I’d be writing about 6 things I’ve learned from “Encanto” or any Disney movie, actually!
Ninja, while you’re here, I wanted to make sure you know all about the free resources I’ve created especially for you!
I’ve been creating these to help both start up owners and those further down the road. You can sign-up for them here.
We’re an army of childcare professionals who are sharing ninja-sharp skills to transform our businesses into childcare empires! This is Childcare Ownership all Grownup! Interested in becoming more involved in the community and to grow your business? Join us for more tips on how to make your childcare business the success it deserves to be! Or if you prefer Instagram, we share ideas and tips there too!