Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Child Care Rockstar Radio
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silvia Sarhadian: Never Lead From Fear | 26 Sep 2024 | 00:48:22 | |
Kris welcomes Silvia Sarhadian, an Empire member of the Childcare Success Academy and owner of two franchise locations of The Learning Experience. Silvia shares her journey from a career in chemistry and banking to early childhood education, where she discovered her true passion. She highlights the importance of resilient leadership, communication, and fostering a collaborative environment in her centers. Silvia also talks about her personal growth, some great tips for empowering your staff, and her commitment to making a difference in the lives of children and families.
Key Takeaways: [5:56] Silvia discusses her transition from a career in banking and chemistry to owning early childhood education centers and finding her passion. [10:21] Silvia’s journey started in 2016 with the support of her husband, helping her gain the confidence to start her first center. [13:19] The importance of having clear goals for business success and expansion. Silvia’s vision includes opening three to four more schools and reaching a business valuation of $10 million. [14:12] Fun fact! Silvia is a ballroom dancer! [15:11] Silvia’s schools and community involvement, including the Make-A-Wish partnership. [17:29] She reflects on how her communication style and leadership have evolved over the years, emphasizing the need for clear communication with her team and the importance of involving teachers in decision-making. [27:46] Silvia shares her strategies for developing a growth mindset and the role resilience plays in fostering confidence and effective leadership. [30:00] She talks about her focus on professional development, offering workshops, retreats, and resources for teachers to improve classroom management and early intervention techniques. [35:22] Silvia’s vision for the future includes integrating early intervention programs and differentiated instruction into her centers to meet the unique needs of every child. [39:51] Silvia reflects on the importance of never leading from fear and prioritizing hiring staff aligned with the company’s vision.
Quotes:
Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) | |||
| Patricia and Megan Williams: The Path to Joy in Entreprenuership in Mother-Daughter Team | 29 Aug 2024 | 00:50:52 | |
Kris welcomes the dynamic mother-daughter duo of Patricia and Megan Williams. As members of the Child Care Success Academy's Empire track, Patricia and Megan share their inspiring journey of joyful entrepreneurship and the profound impact they are making — not just in the United States, but globally. Patricia and Megan talk about the challenges they overcame to grow their successful child care business, American Care Academy, including strategies for boosting enrollment, improving cash flow, and cultivating a positive, community-driven culture. They also shine a light on Patricia's doctoral work and the launch of her nonprofit, She Empowerment Global, which is empowering women entrepreneurs in Ghana.
Key Takeaways: [4:39] Kris heads back to Cleveland, excited to visit family and friends, including a fellow yogi and Child Care Success Academy member! [10:06] More about American Care Academy and Patricia’s journey into child care after being laid off from a corporate job. [11:22] Megan’s involvement from a young age. [15:12] Challenges the business faced with enrollment and cash flow, and how they implemented systems and processes to turn it around, including phone skills training, a new website, and CRM systems. [19:35] Implementing the discipline and accountability that you’re expecting from your team, while also maintaining a culture of joy and fun. [26:31] The high school component of their second location. [30:01] Patricia’s pursuit of a PhD and the launch of her nonprofit, She Empowerment Global, to empower women entrepreneurs in Ghana. [34:01] Strategies for balancing their work and personal relationship as a mother-daughter team, including setting boundaries and finding joy outside of the business. [41:44] Bringing the historical component into their story. [43:05] What’s next for Patricia and Megan? [46:02] Precious Jewels Mentorship Program.
Quotes:
Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal | |||
| Creating a World Worth Being In with Raj Jana | 25 Apr 2024 | 00:42:41 | |
Kris welcomes Raj Jana, co-founder and CEO of the mental health app Liber8. Raj shares his entrepreneurial journey and how he created Liber8 to help people manage stress and mental health. He and Kris discuss their passion for entrepreneurship and using their gifts to help others. They talk about the importance of improving our world and mindfully creating a world worth living in through compassion and small acts of kindness. Raj highlights Liber8 programs, including emotional lab reports and group coaching cohorts, which help users better understand their triggers and find tailored tools for personal growth.
Use Code CHILDCARE10 to get 10% off Liber8
Key Takeaways: [6:18] Raj talks about Liber8 and his journey in entrepreneurship. [8:30] How Raj finally got off the hamster wheel of healing to shift into real and inspired action. [9:33] The start of Liber8. [15:08] What Raj loves most about entrepreneurship. [18:47] The impact that The 4-Hour Work Week had on Raj and Kris. [21:16] Breakups can be emotional, but can also be a great time to rediscover yourself and peel back new, exciting layers. [22:36] How Liber8 can help with burnout. [28:05] What can someone expect when doing a session with Liber8? [28:56] How we can “be the ripple.” [36:05] The people who had an impact on Raj along his entrepreneurial journey.
Quotes:
Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
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| The Everything School: Grow Your Leaders, Grow Your Empire with Tameenah Adams | 17 Sep 2020 | 00:55:52 | |
Tameenah Adams is a Child Care Business Coach for The Child Care Success Company and has over 18 years of experience in personnel management. She joins Kris for a conversation about gaining confidence through preparation and action and how she has continued to expand her empire and development centers throughout the pandemic. Tameenah also talks about the ways that Jeff Bezos inspired her business model to be the Everything School, the power of connection, and how to create a team where everyone feels bought-in and part of the future vision.
Key Takeaways: [15:33] Tameenah has three different Child Care Brands, along with a temporary staffing company. She was inspired by how Jeff Bezos started Amazon with just books, then expanded to being the go-to place for everything. [20:28] Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Tameenah stayed transparent about her own energy and kept it real with her team and parents. She frequently checked in and made sure she unplugged at stressful times to come back with restored energy. [28:42] There were three cases at Tameenah’s school, but they only had to close one time. This is in large part due to the fact that they stayed up on health regulations and really got their prevention and response plans in order. [31:01] A pandemic is no reason for Tameenah to slow down — she is closing deals, working on letters of intent, and looking at securing a commercial space for a catering company to serve child care centers. [34:52] There are many ways to stay connected and involved during this time: keep up with the development in your area, ramp up on marketing, get involved with your community, and volunteer. [44:11] When you let your team know you are all growing together and the leader welcomes getting “called out” from employees, they feel bought-in and empowered.
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
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| Peeling Back the Layers: How to Feel Better and Help the People in Your Life Feel Better with Alyssa Campbell | 10 Sep 2020 | 00:49:37 | |
Alyssa Campbell is an emotional development expert, podcaster, and founder of Seed and Sew. She joins the show to talk with Kris about the method of Collaborative Emotion Processing that she co-created, how developing emotional intelligence skills saved her life, and why this work is of the utmost importance for leaders and teachers to deal correctly with the tiny humans of tomorrow.
Key Takeaways: [2:28] Once Alyssa developed the emotional intelligence tools she now teaches today, she went from feeling exhausted and drained to now being able to recognize her triggers. Through this, she can give herself proper self-care so that she shows up as her best self to the world. [9:13] Alyssa got her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education and after many different careers in early education, landed at a school that had great resources and support. This is where she co-created the Collaborative Emotion Processing method and launched Seed and Sew. [11:02] Although the focus is the children, the real work begins with ourselves. The more emotional intelligence we master in our own life and heal our nervous system, the more we can teach kids to do the same. [13:22] A career highlight for Alyssa was getting to work alongside an occupational therapist who opened her eyes to how crucial it is to regulate our central nervous system in everything we do. [14:44] Seed and Sew provides that village mentality where everyone is working together to help one another. They offer several free resources including her podcast Voice of Your Village, and paid services such as the Tiny Humans, Big Emotions course, and a S.E.E.D Certification program. [20:06] Fun Fact: Alyssa studied abroad in Austria and knows how to speak German! [23:19] Important steps of emotional intelligence as leaders and teachers prepare for adult/child interaction:
[35:25] If Alyssa could tell her past self some advice, it would be to start your personal work earlier, and dig into anti-racism and bias work sooner as well. [42:55] Teachers are not often seen as professionals, and this can lead to a fear of not being perfect. It’s really about realizing that it’s about the marathon, not the sprint, and that progress is more important than perfection.
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
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| A New Twist on Classic Topics in ECE: Quality, Diversity, Head Start, and More with Dr. Calvin Moore | 03 Sep 2020 | 00:56:39 | |
Dr. Calvin Moore was recently named Interim CEO of the Council for Professional Recognition. He joins the show to talk about what first attending the Head Start Program as a student meant to him as he moved up the ranks into executive positions. He and Kris also discuss why obtaining a CDA (Child Development Associate) certification is so important, and how we attract and retain a more diverse workforce.
Key Takeaways: [10:15] Dr. Calvin Moore was recently named interim CEO of the Council for Professional Recognition. He’s also the first CEO of the Council to hold its early education credential, the CDA. Previously, he was the regional program manager for the Office of Head Start in Atlanta within the Administration for Children and Families for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. [13:29] Calvin started his journey with Head Start as a child in 1969 and began working for the program in 1991. He worked his way up as a teacher, center manager, coordinator, and eventually Executive Director. [15:19] Calvin and his wife love living in Alabama, and they have a very busy household with both a 19- and 10-year-old. [19:31] It is the 45th Anniversary of the CDA credential. While they were affected by the pandemic, they are rebuilding and seeing a strong interest from teachers for community and keeping their skills sharp. They also have seen double the numbers of CDA renewals and an extremely large turnout at their Leadership and Learning Series. [26:49] Calvin believes in equitable systems in the way that every community should get access to a Head Start program, no matter what socioeconomic bracket they fall in. [30:28] Consistency is a big part of Head Start, and consistent messaging is something we need more than ever. [31:50] Calvin’s book, Men Do Stay, discusses myths of male teachers in the early childhood field and ways that we can do a better job of retaining our talented future male leaders and life changers. He gives his own example of how male leadership at a school helped other male teachers feel more welcome, and why continued professional development is so important. [36:02] Look back at your program and see if you market in a way that supports diversity. We can do better than the 2–3% statistic of males in ECE now. [41:11] Calvin did four years in the Air Force, which gives him a different perspective than most. [49:11] There are so many benefits to getting a CDA, a few of the key ones being a place for new professionals to feel oriented and welcomed in the industry.
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
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| Supporting Families with Integrity and Grit with Sarah Cudnik | 27 Aug 2020 | 00:51:35 | |
Sarah Cudnik is the Executive Director and Owner of Kids’ Work in Chicago, with two very active and successful locations. Sarah shares her insight from growing up in an environment where childcare was important, and what she learned from starting as a mother-daughter duo. She and Kris also discuss goal setting, creating a great work culture, and the key components of making a website look great. Sarah also discusses her goals to better understand her finances and the leaps and bounds she has made through mentorship and joining groups of like-minded individuals committed to success.
Key Takeaways: [9:44] Kids’ Work has two locations in the North Center of Chicago and has room for 230 families between the two centers. They are a combination of play-based and academic and strive to see the child for who they are as a unique individual. Sarah’s mother started an in-home daycare when she was younger, so early childcare is in her bloodlines. [12:07] Sarah and her mother started with an in-home daycare themselves and quickly went from a waitlist of 12 to 100 families. [14:55] Not only does Sarah have a busy professional life but she is also the proud mother of two active boys, ages 12 and 13. [16:28] Fun Fact: Karaoke is one of Sarah’s weaknesses, and don’t be surprised to see her rocking out to some Janis Joplin. [17:40] One unique thing about Kids’ Work is that they have plenty of play space in an urban environment. A few other strong suits that Sarah is very proud of include the amount of detail they put into their work and the way they naturally build rapport with the kids and families. [25:06] Kids’ Work worked with Grow Your Center to create a website that had beautiful photography, captivating copy that clearly explains their unique benefits, and a section dedicated to their core values. [29:26] Sarah and her team spent time getting clear on the words that surround their core values, and now the whole team is clear on how their actions every day are instrumental in staying in alignment. [31:23] The walls in preschool can be a great space to display fun and visually exciting imagery. For Kids’ Work, their core values are on the wall for all to see as they walk by. [37:15] Sarah’s late husband was extremely instrumental in setting up the business and making sure it consistently was financially sound. After his passing, Sarah knew she had to dedicate time and effort into learning for herself, before she handed the finances off to a bookkeeper. [49:10] A real rockstar to Sarah is someone with integrity who does the right thing and gives their all in their unique way.
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, by Patrick Lencioni
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| Embracing the Pandemic: The Ultimate Leader Shift to the Positive with Linda Hassapis | 20 Aug 2020 | 00:39:38 | |
Linda Hassapis is the owner of Magical Beginnings daycares and learning centers, with six locations around the Boston area. Linda shares her beginnings in the industry from opening up a childcare facility in her home to now growing Magical Beginnings with a full staff and bustling capacity. Linda talks about the importance of teamwork, how her culture got even stronger throughout the pandemic, and ways they have communicated with their families to make sure there is nothing but trust and confidence in sending their children to school.
Key Takeaways: [7:12] Magical Beginnings has six locations, which keeps Linda very busy. The capacity is up to about 65% even during the pandemic, with 500 children and more expected in the fall. [8:43] Linda has been in the industry since 1990 and opened up a family childcare in her home before she had her two children. [11:02] It’s definitely a family affair at Magical Beginnings — Linda’s daughter has dreams to help run the company and has been working there since she was 16. [12:19] Fun Fact: Linda is a huge Bon Jovi fan, and will always catch him when he comes to town. [14:58] During the pandemic, Linda kept four locations open, which was really great for the staff and families. Despite needing to use all PPE gear, they still encouraged play and joy through music and connection. [15:06] Linda kept the company culture high by checking in with staff and making sure they were personally each okay. They also used the Emergency Care funding to service the teachers and children, so there was no extra cost at a time when the families needed it most. [22:18] Magical Beginnings did a Zoom call with parents about how things would look when they opened up the schools, and that way parents felt more in the know and secure about what to expect. [24:11] Linda joined an advocacy group called Daycare United, where she felt supported by other leaders with a similar passion to make sure teachers get the respect they need. [27:00] The pandemic has shifted Linda’s mindset to be okay with uncertainty and she and her team have adapted amazingly to the current realities of the necessary safety precautions. [34:39] If Linda could go back and do it again, she would take more business classes and get more experience with negotiation.
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket Your World-Class Assistant, by Michael Hyatt
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| Leadership and Mindset Shifts from an ECE Veteran with Pamela Piekarski | 13 Aug 2020 | 00:54:42 | |
Pamela Piekarski is the President and CEO of Exploring Minds Academy, which has two programs in two different states: Colorado and Kansas. Pamela joins the show this week to discuss her journey into ECE as a Kindergarten teacher in 1978, and share a few amazing golden nuggets of advice and wisdom she has gained from a long and successful career. Pamela talks about her work in Bilingual studies, the value of a coach and mentoring peer group, and how we can feel confident about raising tuition rates. She and Kris also talk about the foundational pieces to have in place before delegating, and how to get out of overwhelm to work on your business instead of in it.
Key Takeaways: [1:00] Exploring Minds Academy has two locations, one in Colorado and one in Kansas. This showed Pamela the different needs for each culture, and her responsibilities as the operating director fluctuate according to the two different locations. [12:20] Pamela opened her first child care center in 1985 and used her bilingual resources to connect even further with the children and their families. [18:22] Fun fact: Pamela spends most of her time living in Kansas enjoying work and her 11 grandchildren while her husband holds down the ranch in beautiful Colorado. [22:38] Having a good coach and mentor helps us see outside of ourselves and shines a light on our blind spots. [30:31] Our leadership is inside of the culture, and when you view your job as an “occupation” you want not only yourself but others around you to succeed and reach their goals and dreams. [33:38] Pamela had a mindset shift that gave her the confidence to raise her tuition rates, which she had not done in several years. It is important to have strong communication with families so they know the value that comes with the rates, and why your school and programs are worth it. [41:51] Leaders must delegate so they aren’t in the weeds all the time mowing the grass. This means you must trust the people around you and honor the skills and talents that they have. [46:03] Pamela defines a child care rockstar as someone who can be flexible to adapt to new circumstances. A rockstar is different, according to the community, environment, and culture, but they always have passion and drive.
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
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| Best Practices for Successful Licensing Visits with Ronnae Williams | 06 Aug 2020 | 00:48:55 | |
As a previous licensing consultant herself and now part of the Child Care Success team, Ronnae Williams has some great insight into how child care leaders can make the best of licensing. She shares practical tips to get organized and in a positive mindset, both of which will set up a good foundation for a visit from a licensing representative. Ronnae also has helped large chains and franchise organizations with everything including marketing to enrollment and stresses how not just knowing the rules, but really understanding them can make a world of a difference.
Key Takeaways: [11:33] Ronnae started working for KinderCare and Kids R Kids but found her way into Licensing after helping in a multitude of positions and roles. The expertise of working with large chains and franchisees helped give her different perspectives on the industry. [16:00] Fun Fact: Ronnae is a new gardener and even just braved the Georgia heat to plant her first pear tree! [17:16] One of the best practices for a successful licensing visit is clear communication and not just knowing the rule book, but understanding the information and general rules. If you have questions, Ronnae recommends emailing them so there is a saved thread of information. [21:10] A positive mindset before a licensing visit is crucial, so you aren’t stressed or nervous but instead assured and confident. [23:57] Organization is key! You can be the binder queen like Ronnae, or use electronic filings if your state allows it. The more you have the information easily accessible and organized, the more confident you will feel. [31:20] Two sets of fresh eyes on your building may be better than just one. That way, they may see things you aren’t able to. [32:18] A few of the areas where issues tend to pop up are supervision and ratio, the playground, and medicine. [38:22] We assume that parents understand quality, and it’s our job to really step up and educate parents on what they should look for throughout their journey of finding the right school for them. [43:33] To Ronnae, a rockstar is someone who sets goals with passion and focus, and then continues to hit those goals and exceed even their own expectations.
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket The 5-Day Crush Your Fall Enrollment Challenge The Magic (Secret), by Rhonda Byrne
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| Four Steps to Get Out of the Overwhelm Loop | 30 Jul 2020 | 00:40:32 | |
It’s a common feeling for entrepreneurs, business owners, and directors to feel completely overwhelmed and unable to get to the core of their purpose because they are so busy on the ‘hot mess express’ putting out fires every day. Kris takes this week’s episode to give a road map to get out of the loop of overwhelm with four practical steps. She also shares details about the 5-Day Crush Your Fall Enrollment program, and why this super affordable game charger of a program may be the best thing you can do for your business, this year.
Key Takeaways: [2:31] Kris shares that manifesting and all the self-work really does work! She is living in her dream home by the river and marrying the man of her dreams, running a flourishing business, and even now rafting the Grand Canyon. However, it takes time, effort, and focus to really do the work. [13:04] Feeling constantly overwhelmed can have you feeling drained, exhausted, and frustrated that you aren’t getting to your bigger goals. Implementing these four steps consistently will set you up with a road map to free up time and energy to what is really important, but also give space for the expected emergencies that pop up in life. [15:49] #1: Mindset and Beliefs. Have faith that you can take action and that this can work for you. Your mindset patterns and beliefs can either keep you stuck or propel you to a life that is balanced and abundant. Practice gratitude and know that you both have the tools inside of yourself, plus a community that cares and supports you here. [18:22] #2: Focus on Getting and Keeping Clients. This includes spending a little time to make sure you are on point with your enrollment tracking system, phone script, tour system and script, follow up calls, etc! Also, double down on inexpensive marketing such as promotions and email blasts. [22:40] #3. Money Management. Cash flow is freedom. Know your profit margin and break-even numbers, and how much you have coming in and out every month. [23:01] #4. Calendar Management. You have to take control, track your time, and set priorities so your team knows when you are in head-down work mode vs. open office hours for time, parent calls, and greetings. Block out your time and set it where everyone could see, and you may even have to rearrange your talent to make sure everyone on the bus is sitting on the right seat. [33:13] When you follow this roadmap, it frees up more time for establishing the best curriculum and culture, so the kids and families are getting their very best.
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket The 5-Day Crush Your Fall Enrollment Challenge “Secrets to Maintaining Full Enrollment During a Crisis with Alvin Ayusa” “Implementation Equals Speedy Results — Michelle Smith Lank”
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| Keys to Happiness: Eliminating Fear, Drama, and Negative Beliefs From Your Life Forever with Jody Marquis | 16 Jul 2020 | 00:52:17 | |
In this powerful and super fun episode, Jody Marquis joins Kris to take a deep dive into mind-blowing concepts such as important questions to ask both yourself and your team, tips for language and scripts when having difficult situations, and shifts we can do to get out of the Drama Triangle and into receiving abundance. Jody also explains the importance of doing self-work when working with kids and shares more on how the Chance for Change Institute works with leaders to transform themselves through their mindset, beliefs, and habits.
Key Takeaways: [6:28] The Chance for Change Institute in Vermont supports teachers and leaders in training so everyone comes to work happy and ready to do their best for the kids. One passion of Jody’s is working with diverse groups and helping them step into their best selves, no matter what cards life has previously handed them. [13:44] People are operating from their own belief systems. It can be powerful to shift from taking everything personally into asking people the right questions to find out where they are coming from, and what they are really looking to get out of life. The more we get clarity on our own limiting beliefs, the more we can move out of negativity and be present in our jobs and relationships. [17:00] Those that work with children have even more responsibility to manage their own energy and mindsets. One of Kris’s favorite phrases in leadership is “help me understand,” and that is also a concept that can be helpful in the classroom to defuse potential fights or bad behavior. [18:10] According to the research data, eight out of 10 people that come into the Early Childhood Care field carry limiting beliefs from their own childhood trauma. The first step is to have empathy and realize where people are coming from. [23:40] Now is the time for the child care industry to claim our rightful spot as a professional social service that can step up in the time of a pandemic. It is an opportunity to help in our communities and assist parents with navigating through this tough time. [27:16] Even during a pandemic we can still look for the beauty and focus on abundance, not lack. [28:30] Overcoming fear is being able to do specific things to move out of negative thought cycles and the Drama Triangle of blame, shame, and complaining. [48:12] The more we can get into the vibration of love, the more we set ourselves up to manifest and receive.
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
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| Secrets to Maintaining Full Enrollment During a Crisis with Alvin Ayusa | 09 Jul 2020 | 00:51:13 | |
Alvin Ayusa is a true example of a Child Care Rockstar, immigrating from the Philippines and living separated from his family for ten years, to now owning two locations in California at 90% enrollment. Alvin shares how his background in systems and software automation helped him understand integral practices in marketing and enrollment, and how the Leadership Mastery class helped him develop a high-level culture. Alvin and Kris discuss some of the amazing action items Just 4 Kids took, including adjusting phone scripts and virtual tours, spreading community goodwill, and clear communication.
Key Takeaways: [6:33] Alvin has a background in software and analytics and lived apart from his family for ten years when he immigrated to the United States. Upon his wife coming to the United States, they thought about a daycare business, but it wasn’t her calling. He had a friend in Las Vegas who purchased a preschool, and it helped show him that it was a business step that may be worth it for him and his family. [11:33] Alvin’s first preschool was acquired in October 2018, and the second one was just over six months after. One is 190 capacity and the other is 36, with eighteen employees and two directors. Alvin and his wife both take a hands-on role, both working from home and going into the schools sometimes one to two times a month. [14:37] Fun fact: Alvin was very close to becoming a Catholic priest. Now with his wife and three kids, he is obviously meant to be doing what is on his path now! [17:48] Alvin was able to jump into a lot of the tech that helps schools and centers be more successful and combine it with the knowledge he previously had through his tech background. [22:24] Alvin took the COVID-19 news seriously from the start and took immediate action by sending a letter to parents and allocating his website space to become a landing page for parents to go and read real-time FAQs and all previous communication. [29:46] In addition to discounts and avoiding layoffs as much as possible, Alvin and his team did a goodwill series video campaign that connected the community and their competitors. With a 90% enrollment rate, Alvin and his hard-working team deserve a big kudos. [35:06] The pandemic was the first time they were able to implement their e-packet and created one specifically focused on COVID-19. [43:05] Alvin’s staff understood what they were going through and saw the value of themselves through the Leadership Mastery class. Everyone is on the same page and speaking the same language.
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
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| An “Easy Button” For Child Care Management with Daniel Andrews and Sasha Reiss | 11 Apr 2024 | 00:37:15 | |
It’s all about the best and brightest in software automation for schools this week, as Kris welcomes Daniel Andrews and Sasha Reiss, co-founders of Playground, an innovative childcare management software company. They first share Playground’s unique story of being friends since high school and creating a solution for their own families’ childcare centers. Daniel and Sasha highlight Playground’s differentiating features, such as drop-in care management and integrated payroll modules, and they share insights into hiring practices and their vision for AI in childcare. At the end of the episode, Daniel and Sasha share lessons they’ve learned on scaling their own company and fun yet powerful ways to maintain a happy company culture.
Register for our ECE tech webinar with Playground here: https://www.childcaresuccess.com/how-to-navigate-the-evolving-tech-landscape-for-enhanced-operational-efficiency-in-your-ece-business-may-2-2024-webinar/
Key Takeaways: [3:15] Kris announces the two-day virtual challenge, The Road to Freedom. [6:31] Playground’s founding story. [8:38] How does Playground’s mission and technology stand out in a crowded space? [11:37] Perspective on ECE’s past of being a slower adopter of technology, and how that’s changing. [12:53] The “grandma test.” [15:38] The lessons Sasha and Daniel have learned about scaling and growing a business. [17:09] Some of the tools and technology Playground uses. [20:09] The grounding and stabilizing force of working with family. [22:44] Personal and professional inspiration. [25:29] What they look for in new hires. [26:36] Playground’s short but effective interview process. [31:29] What’s next for the Playground team? [33:13] Using AI to improve family interactions, especially with communication, engagement, and lesson plans.
Quotes:
Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal. Webinar: Emerging Technologies Revolutionizing the Childcare Industry
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| What to Do When The World Doesn’t Go Your Way with Tym the Trainer | 02 Jul 2020 | 00:56:01 | |
Tym the Trainer has been holding Early Childhood Education workshops and cruises for over ten years and leads his own school brand in Texas, with six locations. Tym joins the show to talk about innovation in school systems, conscious discipline, and navigating the new paradigm in our world to do things differently and innovate post-pandemic. Tym and Kris also discuss how we can think outside the box in the new normal and appreciate the pause button we’ve been given.
Key Takeaways: [10:34] Tym and his team started their programs with a focus on creating a unique environment that fostered self-regulation and social and emotional development for young children. Tym is a very busy guy with his hands in a lot of different pies. Half of his business is training and consulting, and the other half is operations. They continue to build and acquire different properties along with a solid after-school program that provides support for children after their day at public school. [13:54] Great leaders play offense by mapping out what the future is going to look like as best they can, post-pandemic. People that approach their business with a spirit of innovation will have a better chance of succeeding and pivoting to what the market needs. [16:39] School leaders need to reach out to the media and send out press releases communicating that the industry is here to stay, we aren’t crumbling, and we don’t need reform. [20:18] Fun fact: Tym is as big of a Madonna fan as you can imagine. [24:41] We have to adapt to the new normal and think way outside the box to put together programs, clubs, and activities that will provide children the best education for the current times. [34:05] The after-school programs will be a huge opportunity to innovate and supplement the gaps typical schools may be missing. [36:16] Tym has found profound results using Conscious Discipline in his culture from everything regarding the way teachers manage their classrooms, staff turnover, and leadership. [41:53] One of the main things Conscious Discipline helped with was providing a skill set for adults and children to react appropriately and regulate emotions when things don’t go their way. [45:14] Tym shares a story of overcoming a challenge while acquiring two properties at the same time in 2013, which he will never do again! His advice from this situation was to not bite off more than you can chew, learn to say no, and be careful what you wish for because you might get it, times two. [49:29] Tym defines a Child Care Rockstar as someone who is proud, passionate, and purposeful about their work in early education.
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket National Child Care Association Texas Licensed Childcare Association The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy, by Jon Gordon The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work, by Jon Gordon
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| How Profit and High Quality Can Go Hand In Hand with Vernon Mason | 25 Jun 2020 | 01:04:59 | |
This week features a special working-happy-hour episode with beloved guest Vernon Mason. Vernon has been an early childhood administrator for over 20 years and also owned four centers with locations in North Carolina before selling them to a national buyer. Vernon and Kris talk about the future of early childhood and how quality ties in with profitability. Vernon also shares his love for visiting schools on professional development day, and how we can stay connected to our staff and culture while we adjust to getting back to school in the pandemic.
Key Takeaways:
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Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket Directors Leadership Solutions vernondirectorsleadership@gmail.com
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| COVID-19 and The Early Childhood Business Climate: Trends and Innovations with Ron Spreeuwenberg | 18 Jun 2020 | 00:49:39 | |
Ron Spreeuwenberg, CEO of Co-Founder of HiMama and host of The Preschool Podcast, joins Kris on the show this week. Ron talks about how HiMama is providing answers and support in the COVID-19 crisis, the surprising results from their survey, and what five things your school can do to come out of the crisis the most successfully and financially viable as possible.
Key Takeaways: [4:45] Kris just made a huge dream come to life. After wanting to live in a river home for more than 12 years, she will be living in a beautiful river home in Colorado. [12:41] Rob’s dad had a huge impact on him to be a leader in the community and industry, so when creating HiMama, he set out to start a business that scratched his entrepreneurial itch but also had a social impact and made a meaningful difference in the world. [13:23] HiMama started in 2013, and now is built up to have 75 employees. [16:38] Doing the right thing is the right thing to do. At HiMama, one of the core values is “own positive change,” because no one is going to do it for you. [20:15] The five important things Rob is seeing in the landscape now for early learning centers through the COVID-19 pandemic:
[27:33] Even if they have to be out of the box and a little different from the norm during this time, schools can still focus on fun activities and ideas to keep in touch with parents. [36:30] Focus on what you can control, and what the best version of a post-COVID-19 center can look like. [38:21] In the HiMama survey, the answers were clear that this is a time to band together and talk with your community and what it is you can do to serve them in a way they feel comfortable about. [47:10] Ron’s podcast The Preschool Podcast is up to 200 episodes now. It is a great remote way to hear conversations between top industry leaders and gain inspiration to take into your work.
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Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket | |||
| Case Study of a True Child Care Leadership Journey with Gary Peirce | 11 Jun 2020 | 00:59:47 | |
This week, Kris talks with another international guest, Gary Peirce, who is the owner of Hopes & Dreams Nursery in the Isle of Man, a tiny island between Ireland and the UK. Gary gets opens up and gets vulnerable on what it’s really like to run the school together as a husband and wife duo, with his wife Laura leading the charge on the school curriculum. Gary also talks about the mindset change that occurred as he grew from being an owner to a leader and the detailed story of amazing core value development that has happened within their business. Finally, Gary and Kris talk about the tangible positive results that occur when your team feels supported, aligned, and appreciated even during a challenging time.
Key Takeaways: [8:53] Gary and his wife Laura own Hopes & Dreams Nursery, located on an island called the Isle of Man, which is the size of a small town. They have six settings on the Island, and since the island is self-governing, they can adapt their curriculum and even include extra cool opportunities such as outdoor exploration and nature-based learning. [15:11] Gary and Laura are constantly pushing themselves and their team to discover ways to make learning fun and effective. [20:59] With five kids, Gary has got himself a very own real-life version of the Brady Bunch. [26:05] Hopes & Dreams Nursery has very strong core values, and their mission is to inspire the youth to become the best citizens they can be in the island community for generations to come. [27:55] No matter what their role or rank, everyone at Hopes & Dreams takes their job seriously and understands how fundamentally important they are in the organization. It is also up to everyone to lead the best they can in their individual roles. [30:36] Gary took his team all the way to Las Vegas, where he set up a field trip to Zappos to show them what great management and culture looked like. [41:22] You can look at your failures as a stepping stone to success, and Gary is very vulnerable and open about how he turned his mindset around while transitioning from an owner to a leader. [42:39] Gary took his core values and launched them into his culture by creating a workbook that could provide congruence across the team. As a testament to his great leadership, his team voluntarily took a pay cut during the pandemic to save money.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket The Leader Without a Title: A Modern Fable on Real Success in Business and in Life, by Robin Sharma Life’s Golden Ticket: A Story about Second Chances, by Brendon Burchard
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| Why Lifelong Learning Makes You a Better Leader with Ryan Hawk | 04 Jun 2020 | 00:46:19 | |
This week, Kris is joined by Ryan Hawk, author, speaker, thought leader, and host of The Learning Leader Show, a podcast that has millions of listeners and much industry acclaim. Ryan talks about his rising role as an NFL Quarterback, and how he pivoted to creating a show that allows him to have deep and thoughtful conversations with top leaders from all over the world. Ryan gives us a glimpse into what the world of leadership holds for early learning leaders, and practical lessons to provide to your business and beyond. He also shares a few of his favorite guests from The Learning Leader Show, and life-changing takeaways that came out of their episode.
Key Takeaways: [6:42] Ryan played football at two colleges and even pursued a path to the NFL. The experience taught him a lot and he still draws from the lessons he learned as an athlete. [9:26] Ryan created The Learning Leader Show podcast as a way to show his continuing education as a leader, and start a public conversation between leaders all around the world. [12:42] Ryan’s wife and daughters are his ultimate “why” to inspire and lead, to show them it is possible to create your own life by following your own intellectual curiosity and vigor. [14:37] There are four commonalities that Ryan has found in the best coaches and leaders in his life. First being, they aggressively pursue their curiosity to learn more and strive to get better. [19:27] Great leaders over-deliver on a consistent basis, and they look for ways to make an impact and a significant difference. [24:40] Leaders should understand just how powerful they are; this will help them use their power for good. [28:48] It is important for owners to be engaged in the actual school management, to show up and meet parents on school tours. You can still work on the business, but show up as a leader at the integral times to communicate your mission and your vision. [31:10] Books are a magical thing, and it doesn’t cost a lot to acquire knowledge through the power of books. [37:28] An effective leader does all three consistently every day: manage, lead, and coach. [43:22] Two of the most important attributes and habits Kris has found from interviewing so many leaders are 1.) fast action and 2.) constant working on mindset.
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket Welcome to Management: How to Grow From Top Performer to Excellent Leader, by Ryan Hawk Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert B. Cialdini Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success, by Adam Grant The Wright Brothers, by David McCullough
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| Improving Health and Safety Processes in the Current Times with Martin Bing | 30 May 2020 | 00:49:14 | |
The state of the world presently is placing an emphasis on schools upping their game in many ways, with the quality of health and safety being at the forefront of importance. Martin Bing joins the show this week to talk about how his company, 1Place Childcare, provides a tool for leaders and schools to feel secure about their compliance, training, processes, and procedures. 1Place can make sure your plans are well executed and that staff is well trained to ensure a consistently high level of health and safety. Martin and Kris also talk about what new protocols they are seeing in response to COVID-19, how 1Place can visually demonstrate success, and the importance of creating checklists in this time of a new landscape.
Key Takeaways: [10:33] Martin has a background in both IT and accounting, and is a self-described process nerd, just like Kris. His interest in entrepreneurialism led to his founding 1Place when he identified a need for an online tool to measure processes and easily share information and solve problems. [12:48] 1Place provides a way for owners and leaders to streamline processes, use checklists for training and documentation, and have oversight over multiple locations. This is extra relevant to the times now, where schools must show extra compliance for health and safety issues due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [14:42] Fun Facts: Martin is a third-generation New Zealander. His wife, Wing Wei Chan, is also a published author of the book Lizard’s Tale. [19:10] A few of the new Health and Safety protocols in response to COVID-19 include upped hygiene measures, temperature screenings, and creating systems for social distancing. [24:09] 1Place provides a sophisticated answer for a workflow that allows issues and problems to be dealt with as close to real-time as possible. Instead of seeing an issue and needing to write it down to deal with later, users can contact the maintenance team right away to fix the problem. [30:50] Showing videos and photos really do tell the story of how your school is stepping up, and people will remember and choose you because of that. Once you get your checklist down, you can do videos to demonstrate your school’s compliance to help comfort parents and show that you take measures seriously. [36:18] 1Place is also a tool that can provide the answers for why a certain pattern of issues keeps popping up, whether it’s a broken process, training, or in the leadership. [44:25] Creating checklists can give us a sense of control, and helps us deal with stress.
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work
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| How To Build Goodwill In Your Community And Get The Lions Share Of Inquiries with Bruce Spurr | 19 May 2020 | 00:58:27 | |
Bruce Spurr, Co-Founder of Grow Your Center, joins the show today. Kris and Bruce talk about what sets Grow Your Center apart as the only world-class digital marketing agency serving the early childhood industry exclusively. Bruce shares what advertising and marketing trends he is seeing that are working in the child care industry, how schools can add value in their advertising while they are still closed. He also explains the importance of producing goodwill content and how the Three H's of social media will help you build rapport and stay top of mind with families in the future.
Key Takeaways: [3:48] It is a great time to advertise your message for a very low cost, producing a phenomenal return on investment. [7:12] Parents are noticing what schools are helping and supporting their community now, and some are even wondering why they haven’t heard from their current preschool. It is up to your leadership team to figure out ways to reach out and spread goodwill in the community. [14:33] Your ad needs to add value in some way, and follow the strategy of Goodwill Hunting. You are building rapport in the marketplace by producing Goodwill content, and Build rapport in your marketplace by producing Goodwill content and then hunt (or harvest) your newly engaged families and parents to tour your school. [19:05] Consistently is key when creating brand recognition and trust. [22:02] Bruce recommends having advertising and content that includes the Three H’s: content that is humorous, helpful, and heartfelt. [27:51] “Did You Know” and “How To” videos can be a fun and compelling way to engage families and show just how much knowledge early educators have. [41:42] By currently advertising what are you doing currently in terms of goodwill and helping the community, you will be more likely to be top-of-mind to parents when it's time to return back to "normal" and they will feel more confident about enrolling when schools do open back up. [46:23] One of the biggest mistakes people make is forgetting to put a call to action in their advertising. Make sure all your ads and media include ways for people to connect with you and get in touch with you. Bruce recommends making all your phone numbers textable, and provide an easy avenue for someone to call you (and have you answer).
Quotes:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
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| Finding Hope and Stirring Up Your Own Inspiration with Donna Thornton-Roberts | 07 May 2020 | 00:58:03 | |
This week, Kris is joined by friend and seasoned veteran of the early learning industry, Donna Thorton-Roberts. Donna shares some of her knowledge about being effective, prepared, and proactive during this time, along with some wisdom she personally has gained from going through some tough times in her career, which included going from three to nineteen schools in six years. Donna and Kris also talk about the importance of hiring the right people, offering services to the community, and developing a plan to hit the ground running when society opens back up.
Key Takeaways: [1:15] Donna started her career in 1976, so she has seen some scary times and knows it is just a season we will come out of. It’s important for leaders to show others hope and strength, and to also know about important resources that can help their business and organization. [5:58] Donna is in the beautiful mountain area of Virginia, and loves all things leadership and developing leaders. For fun, she loves sharpening her own saw and is going for a Ph.D. in leadership. She loves doing a lot of reading, writing, and keeping busy with her 13 grandchildren. [11:34] The two most important things Donna did while growing from three to nineteen schools was to fine-tune the process of growth, enrollment, and consistent leadership, and to hire the right people. [24:32] Donna currently has seven schools and made sure each of them will be prepared with a written plan for when school does return. It’s important to have a written plan for marketing, enrollment, marketing, and social media along with maintaining a connection with the community as a source of help. [29:47] Leaders should get to know their applicants on a personal level, and not just their culture and vision, but also their heart. Asking them who impacted their life as a teacher and why gives a glimpse into what kind of teacher they may be. [33:42] When you are leading and serving the community within your own values, you are less likely to care if someone doesn’t like you and you understand it’s impossible to be everyone’s cup of tea. [38:45] Learn from Donna’s experience — take action and be decisive. For her, it was the decision to close a school and open back up as a rebranded new school.
Quotes: ● “We need to instill some hope and excitement about our future because we are going to come through this.” ● “The key to our quality is reflected by the people we hire.” ● “Don’t sit back and wait. We need to take action on the things we can do.”
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket | |||
| How Dedication and Intention Make All the Difference with Lori Semke | 23 Apr 2020 | 00:53:20 | |
Lori Semke is the Executive Director at Mis Amigos Spanish Immersion Preschool in Minnesota. She joins the show to share her game-changing strategies on weathering the storm as a team during tough times, why dedication and intention in enrollment really do make the difference, and what it is like working as a part of a Visionary/Integrator team with her schools owner and previous guest Dawn Uribe. Lori also shares her experience taking home the Director of the Year Award this past October at The Child Care Success Summit™ and how that honor has inspired her mission even further. Key Takeaways: [1:09] Mis Amigos is a Spanish Immersion Preschool and currently has three locations in Minnesota. [2:44] Lori has been the Executive Director at Mis Amigos since 2012 and worked before in the legal field as a litigator along with three years at the non-profit Children’s Law Center of Minnesota. While at the non-profit, it was apparent that she had a passion for both helping children and using her law background, which she gets to do plenty of both in her position at Mis Amigos. [5:07] Lori won the Director of the Year 2019 Award at The Child Care Success Summit™ this past October. Judging by the nominations that came flooding into Kris’s inbox, Lori is very well-loved by her team. [8:11] Lori wears many hats as the Executive Director, including enrollment, working with vendors and HR, and carrying out the visions for growth and expansion. She has to be focused both on the day-to-day and the larger picture. [12:53] It really moves the needle when you have one person focused on enrollment. Whether it’s an Enrollment Director or Specialist, they can make sure every step is well-thought-out and executed. [19:02] Families need to feel that they are wanted and that their enrollment is appreciated and welcomed. This is where a great leader needs to communicate with the team from the top down so they know exactly how to provide that concierge-type experience. [30:48] No matter how strong a team is, they will go through some challenging times together. This is where communication is key, so everyone can know what the plan is and their individual roles in keeping things balanced and healthy. [36:18] The team at Mis Amigos has greatly benefited from sharing their guidance as leaders and acting as mentors to help one another. [43:02] To Lori, a child care rockstar is someone that has overcome challenges despite obstacles, and remains to have a large passion for what they do. They are motivated to grow and love creating incredible experiences for those along their path.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket | |||
| Money and Mindset — Surviving the COVID-19 Crisis | 08 Apr 2020 | 00:42:28 | |
Despite the challenging times we are currently in, Kris reminds us that there are ways we can use our time productively and even shift from feeling powerless to powerful. She uses this episode to share tips and strategies to create awareness about our financial situation and our mindset, and also discusses the Paycheck Protection Program, how to use a cash forecasting sheet, and case studies of successful companies that have used innovation to thrive during similar times in history.
Key Takeaways: [4:01] Kris explains a program called the Paycheck Protection Program, which you can check out here. This can be a lifeline and a source of financial relief. The point of it is to promote the retention of employees by subsidizing small businesses. [11:03] Understand your cash picture and all the different variables to project and forecast where your cash is going in the next couple of months. Using a spreadsheet will give you a realistic look at cash flow. [13:40] Grab as much funding and loan protection as you can that makes sense for your business. Many of the expenses will be forgivable, and it will help keep our employees with us instead of letting them go. [19:47] Be sure you jump on the Paycheck Protection Program sooner rather than later, as you have until June 30, for now. [20:05] The Economic Injury Disaster Loan allows businesses expedited access to capital through an emergency fund. [23:29] This can be a time that we experience stress and high anxiety, and it is normal for that to affect our decision making. It is important to stay informed, but not fall prey to sensationalism and fear in the news. [25:55] Get creative on how you can shift into a place of power and how you can reach your personal best at home. [30:02] Three ideas to continue work during this time:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket | |||
| Unstoppable: A Global Vision of Massive Impact with Kishani Woldberhan | 28 Mar 2024 | 00:45:38 | |
Kris welcomes the very inspirational Kishani Woldberhan of Kids Early Learning Centers, now operating four locations in Texas with plans for expansion into Ethiopia. Kishani talks about bringing Montessori-inspired education to underserved communities, and her vision for building two new schools in Ethiopia with a combined capacity of over 3,000 students. She offers valuable advice on setting clear goals, implementing strong systems and accountability, and using technology like Slack and QR codes to effectively lead a growing business. She and Kris also talk about embracing the difficult things and realizing the sky's the limit when it comes to realizing your vision.
Key Takeaways: [7:12] Kishani joins the show from Arlington, Texas, and talks more about Kids Early Learning Centers. [7:39] Kishani talks about the four locations currently running and the plan to expand to Ethiopia. [10:11] Fun Facts: Kishani came to the United States on a VISA as a Montessori teacher from Sri Lanka. She is now a mother of five and a grandma! [13:30] Buying a center during the pandemic but opening it in 2021. [14:50] What sets KIDS Early Learning Centers apart in the market. [17:54] Working with Grow Your Center. [20:16] How they made their vision become a reality and why they are bringing the brand to Ethiopia. [22:35] The school will be from toddlers to high school. [26:33] Advice for others wanting to open up a school internationally. [29:02] The sky's the limit when you put in the hard work and act with purpose and strategy. [31:07] Keep the end in mind and work backward when working towards your goals. [32:03] Giving your staff the tools they need to succeed. [35:14] How Kishani communicates with her leadership team. [41:50] How being a member of the Academy has helped Kishani and the importance of finding mentors. [43:06] Keep your eyes peeled for Kishani’s program for a childcare management system, which will come out in June. [43:25] Fun Fact: Kishani is a party planner and decorator at heart.
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Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal. | |||
| Legally Protecting Your School with Ron McGuckin | 25 Mar 2020 | 01:01:31 | |
Ron McGuckin has gained a national reputation as the “Child Care Lawyer,” and trains thousands of child care professionals on a variety of issues including personal, administration, management, and legal issues. He joins the show to talk about how he got into child care and came to own Ronald McGuckin and Associates Law Firm, and what kinds of processes people should have in place for managing employee behavior. He also addresses the new issues that arise dealing with COVID-19, and ways we can best protect our classrooms and staff to ensure everyone stays on the same message and mission.
Key Takeaways: [2:23] At Ron’s law firm, they represent child care agencies in PA and NJ. But he personally also has consulting agreements with child care agencies across the country. [3:06] Ron got involved with the Headstart program and saw a need for better legal representation in the field. [7:53] You would never guess it, but Ron considers himself to be somewhat shy. He is also starting up a new comedy hobby, performing and hosting a comedy night at the Civic Center. [14:49] A few failures along the way does not mean success isn't possible. They are learning lessons that we can grow from. [15:05] One way child care leaders can protect themselves is by letting go of toxic people, and not waiting too long to do it. [19:15] Mean what you say, be intentional, and be sure the staff has a clear understanding of company policies. [31:27] Be sure you have thorough policy and service agreements that outline the different possible scenarios in which schools can get shut down or temporarily closed. [40:30] Great leaders take their time training and onboarding their people. They understand that the process is not one to be rushed, and it will pay off when you have a culture that knows how to work within their business and speak to children. When there are shortcuts, children suffer.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Model Child Care Health Policies
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| Passion and Purpose with Leslie Schreiber | 12 Mar 2020 | 00:49:42 | |
Leslie Shriver, Empire member of The Child Care Success Academy and owner of Small Wonders Discovery and Learning Center in Ohio, joins the show about how they stand out from the competition in a rural area, getting freedom in the day-to-day of your business, and the strategy she used to expand from one to five locations since 2011.
Key Takeaways: [1:02] Started in 2011 with one center and has grown to five. They are about 85% full, which for her is great. She was a teacher and administrator of a center and has been in the field since 2004. She opened up the center as a response to needing to send her daughter to a preschool that she felt secure about, where the staff was engaged and the culture was positive. [6:46] Leslie has more flexibility now that she works from home and loves knowing she has helped other people become leaders so they can help her run things smoothly. [8:55] Small Wonders offers white diapers, formula, and freshly cooked food at no cost to the parents, which sets them apart from their competitors. The fourth location is also in a lab school, which serves as a feeder for potential new hires from the graduating students. [13:59] They are hiring all the time, which is normal. They track their culture and work on employee engagement, but the industry average is about 43%. [20:28] Small Wonder’s enrollment rate is 90%, which is extremely high. [24:11] Leslie grows her leadership from within by pulling employees that she trusts and believes in out of the classroom and into administrative positions. [27:37] A child care rockstar is someone who feels passionately about what they do and feels in their heart they are making a positive difference in the lives of their family and co-workers. [34:16] Offers for the subsidy market can be an offer for gas and groceries, gift cards, or a drawing for a fun weekend pass that parents and kids would love. [37:02] Leslie originally had a partner, but ended up opening the school and doing the journey on her own. The experience taught her that she is even more capable than she believed.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Small Wonders Discovery and Learning Center Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman The Promise of a New Day: A Book of Daily Meditations, by Karen Casey
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| Nurturing a Culture of Responsibility and Fairness with Veronica Nelson | 26 Feb 2020 | 01:02:18 | |
Veronica Nelson of Child Time, Inc. schools in Salt Lake City joins the show to talk about leading through example, what benefits she has experienced as a Child Care Success Academy Empire member, and what happens when owners have to step back in the day-to-day business. Ronnie and Kris also have a vulnerable and authentic conversation about how to know when it’s time to let a staff member go, and how to build a strong environment that encourages honesty and loyalty.
Key Takeaways: [:55] Child Time, Inc. now has four locations in the Salt Lake City, Utah area, and each school is different. Their capacity is a 309 max, and are doing quite well with their enrollment. [4:54] Veronica has three very helpful sons, and her 19-year-old, Nate, is working full-time at one of the schools. [5:58] Veronica got started with her career in the child care industry when working at a summer youth program when she was 15. She loved what she did, and went on to get many credentials in child care. [7:02] We must continue to learn and be open to learning from others. Success is not an island, and it only makes us stronger when we network and help others. [8:52] Fun fact: Veronica is known as the “Martha Stewart of Utah”! She is your go-to woman for all things creative, whether it’s gardening, decorating, or entertaining. [15:57] Veronica shares her experience of learning to separate her head from her heart and part ways with an employee that had been at the school for quite some time. After the employee left, Veronica dove in headfirst and worked tirelessly to show her staff that she was willing to do exactly what she asked of them. [27:30] You can tell the culture of a place by the feeling, and a leader must jump right into action and not waste time when they get the vibe that staff doesn’t want to be there anymore. [45:01] Listen to your intuition. For Veronica, she now completely trusts her internal assessment of a classroom. She is open to hearing feedback from others, but nothing can replace her gut feeling.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company
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| Implementing Core Values From Top to Bottom with Karla McCurry | 11 Feb 2020 | 00:50:33 | |
Karla McCurry and her husband Doug own Palm Beach Preschools in Florida, now with three bustling and successful locations. Karla joins the show to talk with Kris about the lessons she learned after deciding to become a preschool owner, and how their school focuses on social-emotional learning in a play-based environment. Karla shares how she hires and trains based upon Palm Beach Preschool’s core values, and how learning how to manage people well is one of the biggest components that have led them to success.
Key Takeaways: [1:19] Palm Beach Preschool is a play-based center that also focuses on social-emotional learning. They are actively in expansion mode, with three locations and an overall capacity of 426 children. [4:03] Karla had a background as a speech pathologist and they decided to open their own center after looking for one for their own children. [5:25] Karla got through the challenge of owning a business during the economic downturn and recession in 2007 and she persevered even in the face of staff and families having to leave. [9:17] Fun fact: Karla was also a hairstylist and attended beauty school but much rather prefers the role she is in now. [14:40] Managing people well is one of Karla’s biggest components to success. She and her team are diligent on hiring and have implemented working interviews to make sure potential candidates are the right fit. [17:55] Branding and marketing have been another focus of Palm Beach Preschools. They launched a new website a year ago, and are always making sure they stay current and make it parent-friendly. [20:01] Palm Beach Preschool’s core values set their marketing apart. The values build upon one another in a value stack: Create an emotionally supportive environment, respect one another, trust, have fun, and then you are in the zone for quality education. When you are clear on your values and operate in a framework and foundation built upon them, it closes the gap and everyone from customers, parents, and teachers understand what the organization is about. [31:39] Karla’s daughter Alexis is their Enrollment Specialist and her great attitude and hard work ethic are social proof of the school’s core values. [33:15] Karla invested in learning more about the Conscious Discipline Method, and it has worked extremely well for them. [39:09] Having a tribe and community is important, and Karla’s mastermind group has shown her it’s okay to step back, delegate, and not try to do everything yourself. [40:07] A child care rockstar is someone who perseveres and gets up to keep going even during the tough times.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Ep 1: “The Beauty of Persistence” | |||
| Rockstars Never Give Up with Danielle Paige | 29 Jan 2020 | 00:42:15 | |
Danielle Paige opened Academic Explorers in Roosevelt, New York, and has built the business to a place where she is at 95% full capacity, and able to work remotely with an extremely capable and dedicated team. She joins the show to talk about the systems and leadership components she put into place that have made the most difference, and how she is able to successfully run her school from Philadelphia. Danielle also talks about how a true rockstar never gives up, and the lessons she learned from experience that she would recommend to those that are just starting out.
Key Takeaways: [1:24] Academic Explorers is a Preschool and Enrichment Center in Roosevelt New York, with a total enrollment of 90 children. Danielle always dreamed of being a teacher, and opening a home daycare in 2014 was her first experience in owning a business. [6:34] Fun Fact: Danielle has had a YouTube channel since 2012, and gives tips for child care providers. [10:21] Danielle found Kris on YouTube, then jumped on a call with Brian who introduced her to the Academy. [14:52] A few major shifts that Danielle made in her work that really made a difference include advertising on Facebook, standing by policies and not being afraid of the outcome, finding mentors and coaches, and getting clear about establishing and implementing core values and service standards. She is also able to work remotely because she has set up clear boundaries and funnels who parents work with, and handles the in-person needs when she comes to the school. [22:49] Danielle highly recommends ChildCare CRM to those looking to help manage the program and boost enrollment. [27:11] If Danielle could do it all again, she would market before her doors were open, and promote to get the word out. [30:16] Danielle views a rockstar as someone who perseveres even during tough times and never gives up.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Built on Values: Creating an Enviable Culture that Outperforms the Competition, by Ann Rhoades info@danichristine.com
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| Empowering Staff, Understanding Data, and Committing to Culture with Neydary Zambrano | 16 Jan 2020 | 00:48:30 | |
Neydary Zambrano won Owner of the Year at the 2019 Child Care Success Summit, and this week she shares her wisdom on growing enrollment, marketing, staff happiness, and culture. Neydary talks about the metamorphosis her school, Magic Memories, has gone through in 2019, now with nine locations throughout Pennsylvania. She and Kris also talk about the responsibility that a true child care rockstar has, how CRM has helped her track and understand data, and the importance of empowering directors and teachers.
Key Takeaways: [1:09] Magic Memories started as one center with 65 children and now has nine locations throughout Pennsylvania with an enrollment of 570 and 140 staff members. They focus on learning through play and socialization. [2:19] Neydary has been in the field for 13 years and also has experience in management and social services. It was after her daughter’s food allergy left her yearning for a school with procedures and policies that got followed that ended up with her deciding that her next move would be in childcare management. [6:51] Fun Fact: As a Venezuelan, Neydary loves to get out and dance! Music is very important to her and her culture. [12:22] The pieces fell in place for Neydary to purchase the centers, and their first focus has been the culture. [19:46] Neydary saw firsthand that when you treat your staff with love and respect, they will give you so much more than what you can ask for. [24:02] A few key tools that helped Neydary and Magic Memories greatly with marketing is to never stop advertising, utilize Facebook, CRM, and Grow Your Center. [28:48] Growing as a leader has helped not only Neydary grow, but her team also expands with knowledge and confidence. [33:07] Neydary defines a rockstar as a supporting caring leader who is willing to grow, and also go above and beyond to help others. This title is fulfilling but does come with the responsibility of making decisions for people outside yourself.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company
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| Crisis, Communication, and Planning with Jane Hulbert | 02 Jan 2020 | 00:46:21 | |
Jane Hulbert of The Jane Group joins the show to talk about her crisis communication firm, and how she landed working in education. Jane shares her background working at large companies like McDonald’s, and how it prepared her for helping educational leaders put together a plan of action for times of crisis. Jane discusses the importance of doing the right thing, the events that shifted crisis communication in schools, and the main steps leaders and their team should take in times of crisis.
Key Takeaways: The Jane Group is a crisis communication consulting firm focused on schools, camps, and daycare centers, both in the U.S. and internationally. Jane was working part-time and responding to a wide variety of issues within schools and camps. She developed a niche where she had a breadth and depth of understanding of not only crisis but teaching people how to respond. Two events that created a pivotal shift in school crisis communication were the Columbine shooting and the exposing of Catholic church child abuse. Jane has three consultants at The Jane Group that work remotely, as well as her husband helping and overseas contacts. Here are a few of the steps in effective crisis communication. Jane and Kris both recommend having a detailed and written crisis plan, along with training two times a year to create an understanding and muscle memory of how to respond.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company
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| Where There's a Will There's a Way with Victoria Lynch | 18 Dec 2019 | 00:46:48 | |
Victoria Lynch and her team at First Discovery Children’s Academy in Virginia are having what she feels is the best year yet, and she explains what exactly her process has been for their expansion, growth, and most importantly — fun. Victoria shares with Kris how game-changing it was to finally hire an Executive Director, her methods for delegating, and which of her marketing efforts provided the largest enrollment boosts. Victoria also shares the wisdom she has learned since beginning her journey with First Academy and why a true child care rockstar never gives up on their dreams.
Key Takeaways: [1:08] Victoria is up to three First Discovery locations in Virginia, and she has been in the business for over 10 years. She and Kris agree that it takes time and hours to master your craft and a decade in the business certainly helps. [7:03] Victoria hired an Executive Director who has been with her for eight years. She helps immensely by taking some of the day-to-day stuff off her plate so she can focus on her tasks and not get too distracted. [11:24] Victoria has had much success in implementing the EOS structure for effective and efficient meetings that give others on her team a chance to identify, discuss, and solve their issues. [16:24] When Victoria provided her team with an enrollment gaining incentive of having the change to go on a vacation, she saw a 20% increase in enrollment from it. She also provided them with peer mentors and helps build them up to have a well-rounded experience, both personally and professionally. [26:39] Victoria has a great mindset and it inspires others around her. She realizes that a true child care rockstar doesn’t wait for the right time to go after their goals. They also have emotional resilience, and understand that quitting is not an option. [35:21] If she could do it all again, from day one Victoria would start tracking and implementing different marketing strategies, start collecting parent testimonials and reviews, and take clarity breaks.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company First Discovery Children’s Academy The Alter Ego Effect: The Power of Secret Identities to Transform Your Life, by Todd Herman High-Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way, by Brandon Burchard
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| Scaling Up Your School in Every Way with Nina Lemon | 05 Dec 2019 | 00:38:17 | |
Nina Lemon, Owner and Founder of the Lemon Tree Academy in Georgia, has the enthusiasm and commitment to action and implementation of a true Child Care Rockstar. She talks with Kris about how she went from a pediatric nurse to a businesswoman with two full locations, the biggest challenges she faced as she scaled up and out, and how her love of HGTV plays into making her centers a welcoming environment for children and their families. Key Takeaways: Nina has been in child care for six years and grew up around kids as part of her large family. She started as a pediatric nurse and very much enjoyed a job at the local elementary school so much she decided to dedicate more of her time and energy to the industry. Once she had her daughter, she figured out a way to carve a path where she could work where her daughter went to daycare, and now she just opened a second location at full capacity. Fun fact — Nina’s father was in construction and the love carried down to her! Her other career in a different world would be in construction, but for now, she enjoys using her HGTV knowledge to make her schools even better. Her first location went from four paying kids and her daughter to 50, and then to a full location of 94. Nina’s biggest challenge when opening up Lemon Tree Academy and expanding to the second location was learning to expand her comfort zone outside of the classroom. She rose to the occasion and saw the importance of training, duplicating successful methods, and being a positive example to her team. Three other action items that Nina implemented at Lemon Tree that she saw produce positive results were: 1. Creating training videos for staff so they could understand policies and procedures.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company LemonTree Academy on Facebook Move Your Bus: An Extraordinary New Approach to Accelerating Success in Work and Life,
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| Getting to Know Judy Bradby, Child Care Rockstar Winner 2019 | 19 Nov 2019 | 00:45:24 | |
This week, Kris is thrilled to chat with Judy Bradby, winner of the 2019 Child Care Rockstar Award. As a Pediatric Nurse with over 30 years of experience, Judy saw a need for a place for children who had no other place to go to learn and grow. She opened up LeaRN Lily Child Development Center and through much trial and error and overcoming adversity, now has tripled her enrollment in just 8 months. Judy talks about her nursing background, her mission behind LeaRN Lily, the mistakes she learned along the way, and her vision for the future to provide medical daycare to children all across the country.
Key Takeaways: Judy has a background in Pediatric Nursing and is an RN with 30-plus years of experience. She saw a need for the children to have a place to go, and also for a place that parents could drop their kids off at with trust and comfort so they could work and earn a living as well. She opened LeaRN Lily and currently has a capacity of 60 with 44 children enrolled. Fun fact: Judy met her husband in an online chat room, and they have a teenage son together. But don’t worry, she did a background check on him first before meeting IRL (in real life)! When there is a will, there is away. Judy sold her jewelry to become part of the Child Care Success Academy and came back from her first event with a notebook and a half filled with things to start implementing. Judy has gone through Enrollment Boot Camp four times, each time learning something new and valuable. She has changed her mindset and attitude to become more approachable, a true leader, and transparent about what she is looking for in terms of her staff. She now hires her staff with more intention towards the mission and based on their value, instead of coming from a place of desperation and fear. At LeaRN Lily, the program is inclusive for every child. Everyone in the same class is integrated with one another in both learning and play. Judy and her staff had great success in marketing when they became more active on Facebook and getting out more in the community, including working with the local children’s hospital. They also made crafts that parents couldn’t help but love, making them happy to leave the school a great review. One of Judy’s big goals in the future is to expand LeaRN Lily, and possibly franchise it so children all across the country can get the same opportunity. It doesn’t matter if it’s one center or 17, if you are doing the work and taking inspired action, you should be proud of yourself and go for the big dreams. Judy did, and that is what landed her the Rockstar award of 2019.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Contact Judy: jcbradby@gmail.com
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| My Solo Adventure in Hawaii | 14 Mar 2024 | 00:52:32 | |
Aloha! In this solo episode, Kris shares more about her month in Hawaii — why she decided to head to island life, the logistics behind her adventures, and how you can use her story as inspiration to make space in your life. She goes deeper into detail about the important strategic implementation steps that allowed her to live her best life and take time to relax, breathe in the salty ocean air, and be led by intuition. Kris talks about the importance of joining a Mastermind group that fits your personal and professional goals, more about ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plan), and how to travel solo like a pro.
Key Takeaways: [4:12] Kris walks us through a grounding exercise to bring presence and mindfulness into the conversation. [6:52] Kris shares her experience of the major change from moving to Crested Butte, Colorado after living in Chicago. [8:55] Why Hawaii is so special to Kris and how visiting the islands has changed her life. [10:31] Intentionally creating space in her life. [11:18] Embracing the flow state and being led by intuition. [20:07] Some of the adventures Kris has enjoyed in Hawaii, including whale watching, snorkeling, and meeting new people. [22:17] Being confident while solo traveling. [25:37] Kris walks us through the intentions behind crafting her exit from the business. [28:10] The importance of finding a Mastermind group. [29:00] The pros and upsides of an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan). [35:34] Kris talks about finding the new CEO and sharing the ESOP plan with the leadership team, along with why ESOP’s can be positive for employee retention. [45:31] Kris’s upcoming trips, including Ecuador and Burning Man!
Quotes:
Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal. | |||
| 3 Key Principles of Think & Grow Rich | 06 Nov 2019 | 00:48:33 | |
Kris starts this week off with a big announcement — her new book, Rockstar Stories, is out and available! She then dives into the three principles of one of the most important success strategy books out there today, Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill. These three principles and their associated action items are the foundation for manifesting your dream life and creating a space where the universe rewards you with what it is you actually seek. Then, Kris gives two real-life examples of what happens when you follow the principles, and also why persistence is key if it doesn’t go perfectly at first.
Key Takeaways: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill is so much more than a book. It’s a manifestation guide, roadmap to getting your mindset right, and resource for creating habits that work for us instead of holding us back. It comes from the successful strategies from over 500 multi-millionaires and powerful business owners, leaders, and thinkers. Know what you want, and make it specific. Write down a specific and detailed description of what your perfect day would look like, your perfect relationship, health, etc. When we take the time to declare it and cement it in our subconscious, our brain believes it has actually occurred and we are living our dream life. Feel the burning desire. Wealth represents your value to others. The 6 steps to acquiring more wealth:
Kris shares a success story of Beth Davis from Kids for Kids Academy where she took what she learned, put it in an actionized plan, and communicated it authentically to her team. If you are struggling with enrollment, look to the people that have said yes and learn more about them, or figure out a way to show your value to the market. Don’t give up if your dream doesn’t come to fruition right away. Stay persistent. Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company The Genius Network Annual Conference Ep #001: The Beauty of Persistence Rockstar Stories — click on link to get the book for free Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill
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| Culture, Metrics, and Execution with Lisa Giancarli | 08 Oct 2019 | 00:49:41 | |
Lisa Giancarli is the Executive Director and Owner of Over the Rainbow Child Development Center, located in Bordentown, New Jersey. Lisa followed her passion to own her own business and fell in love with childcare after acquiring the center in 2011. She talks about the improvements she and her husband made when starting Over the Rainbow from the bottom up, the specific things she has done to create a culture in line with the overall company vision, and the benefits she received when really looking at her metrics and taking action steps based upon them.
Key Takeaways: [3:13] Lisa’s husband is a REALTOR®, and they bought the Over the Rainbow building as an investment in 2011. Her plan was to run it until they got a deal but she ended up taking it on and 8 years later, the rest is history. [6:10] Lisa proves that it is possible to learn as you go. She became a student of the childcare business and they went from a barebones school to one that utilizes technology and state-of-the-art electronic reporting and data collecting. [9:36] Lisa and her husband Joe not only work great together but they are also high school sweethearts who have been married 28 years. [9:54] While you are working hard and building your business, self-care is not only important but it’s also essential. [13:34] The Director position is a huge component of success in the school. Lisa realized firsthand how important it is to listen to the team and foster an environment where people can speak up. [17:38] When one toxic person leaves, sometimes more follow. [20:45] In an age of electronic communication and quick responses, a well thought out handwritten note goes a long way to create a personal touch and show that you care. [21:28] Lisa tracks enrollment weekly and reviews her metrics to create a realistic view of where her business is. This wasn’t always the case but she found much more control and power once they started consistently looking at metrics. [28:45] Lisa’s top pillars to success in the field:
[36:287] A rockstar is one who learns what they need to do and figures out how to do it. They understand, plan, and execute.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company
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| What We Need to Know About School Security with Jason Russell | 24 Sep 2019 | 00:51:38 | |
This week, Jason Russell, former police officer, Secret Service agent and current founder of Secure Education Consultants, talks to us about the important subject of school security. Jason merged his experience in security and crisis communication with his wife’s knowledge of child care centers and early education to bring a unique service to the market. Jason shares with Kris what exactly SEC does, the assessment process he goes through to make sure schools are secure, the common gaps in security he sees, and how we can move forward to ensure our schools have the highest level of security.
Key Takeaways: [1:48] Jason founded Secure Education Consultants back in 2012, after a 20-year career as a police officer in Michigan and with the Secret Service. While working with the Secret Service, he established safety and security for high profile events and individuals. [3:20] SEC started as a way for Jason to protect his own children and he couldn’t find anything like what he was looking for, so he started it himself. The original plan was to stay small but SEC grew quickly and began servicing larger businesses with consultants at the highest level of expertise. [4:24] Jason met his wife while working as a personal trainer in his downtime while also working for the Secret Service Agent. Her background in owning a child care center plus his security background was a great mix for their next step in developing SEC. At one point, Jason sold SEC but later bought it back, and although doing that worked out well for him at the time, he doesn't recommend making that a part of a business plan. [6:52] Tragic events such as Sandy Hook spurred Jason to become even more deeply immersed in the unique nature of providing security to younger-aged kids. [13:46] Jason’s company looks at everything that touches safety and security including entrance and how the facility operates. They do an in-depth assessment of the physical features of security, the process and procedure set in place, and how the relationship is between the two things and between the leadership and the staff. They then give actionable and practical fixes so the school can make changes based upon what will have the highest level of impact on security. [17:10] SEC offers Virtual Certification Programs, so they can provide their assessment online and by phone, making sure teachers and staff acquire the knowledge and training they need. [21:35] The common gaps Jason sees in security are no secure entry, security measures being used incorrectly or staff being unsure how to use them in time of an emergency, code words that are not in the best practice, and no proper training to carry out the plan. [31:23] SEC can also help with crisis management, and providing a crisis plan to help people communicate their message correctly. [36:07] If Jason had to do things all over again, he would diversify his education to learn more about the business end of things.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Milestones Child Development Center The Gift Of Fear: And Other Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence, by Gavin de Becker Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
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| Making a Difference in a Big Way Smart Goals, Engagement, and Singing our Way to Success with Marcia St. Hilaire Finn | 11 Sep 2019 | 00:48:14 | |
Marcia St. Hilaire Finn, Managing Owner and Director of Bright Star Early Care and Preschool, lights up wherever she is with her enthusiasm, energy, and positive attitude. She joins the show to talk about her start in Dominica and how she ended up in Washington D.C., her advice on setting smart goals, and shares her logistics on her teacher engagement and culture of fun and dedication. Marcia also discusses how her background in Pediatric Nursing helps Bright Star stand out, along with their attention to serving the children and their families using music, language studies, and healthy living.
Key Takeaways: [12:22] Marcia is originally from Dominica in the Eastern Carribean and traveled to America as a nanny over 35 years ago. Her love of helping children and their families led her to become a pediatric nurse. [14:40] After Marcia gave birth to her two daughters, she wanted to explore the child care market, and wanted to combine her leadership skills with real-life child care experience. [17:05] Fun fact: for the longest time, Marcia was known as Chris on the island! It took a while for her to adjust to Marcia. [18:05] Bright Star has been NAC accredited for six years, and Marcia was very grateful for the help and support while they put together the application themselves. [19:33] Bright Star adds the component of art to their STEM program, making it STEAM. They serve children from six weeks to eight years old and offer project-based experiences where children can make things and follow them all the way through to see how they operate. [22:12] A few of the things that Bright Star offers that help them to stand out from their competition is that they offer onsite home-cooked meals, a garden, yoga, music history, and of course, Marcia’s background in pediatric nursing. [25:17] Marcia works from home one day a week and uses her in school time to engage and have lunch with teachers and children and her one-on-one meetings. [26:34] Marcia has a deep love for music and appreciates the way it can uplift and connect us. She is always singing to her staff and celebrating their birthdays and big achievements. [30:34] The teachers and Marcia have monthly one-on-one meetings, where they can discuss tangible issues, goals and future plans. She also brings them to annual team building resorts and provides ongoing educational support. [40:12] Marcia’s advice is to visit a lot of schools so you can see different types of leadership styles. Also, be sure to work in a daycare or with children so you can see what it feels like, and will appreciate the hard work of your team even further. Also, be sure to keep an eye on your finances, and keep track of the money in the business so you can make your program bigger and better without having to worry about payroll or a rainy day fund. [45:03] To Marcia, a child care rockstar is someone that embraces the best in the children and helps them improve to be a better citizen and leader for tomorrow.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company National Accreditation Commission | |||
| Asset Creation for Long Term Success | 27 Aug 2019 | 00:49:45 | |
Kris Murray shares how the Child Care Success Company works with leaders all over the globe to help them create their road map for a lifetime of business success. She reflects on the last decade of growing the company and celebrates the success and the impact she's made on the industry. She talks in detail about her proven process, "The Kris Murray Method," and how you can model it in your own brand. Kris shares the assets you need to develop for best results in your own business growth, and the importance of using automation when you can. She even highlights some success stories of a few her Child Care Success Academy™ members thriving after employing the Kris Murray Method themselves.
Key Takeaways: [3:22] It’s important to set aside some time out of the busy schedule to spend with loved ones. These are the experiences that matter, no matter how big or small. [10:05] The Child Care Success Method can greatly help give assets and levels to follow with a clear path and step by step support. [11:28] The four levels of assets in Child Care Success Method/Kris Murray Method:
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman Episode 30 – “Implementing the EOS Model with Heart — Stuart Robertson” | Nov 22, 2018 Episode 41 – “Creating a Culture Where Children Come First | Jennifer Vazquez” | April 25, 2019 | |||
| How to Spot Teacher Burnout, and How to Manage It with Lety Carvajal and Raul Pineyro | 13 Aug 2019 | 00:57:42 | |
Lety and Raoul of Springview Academy in Florida join the show today to talk about working as a married couple, the cute story of how they met and became a partnership, and spotting teacher burnout. They are both highly focused on professional development, active leadership and creating a culture that serves children and their families yet also provides the staff with a healthy amount of freedom and autonomy. They also talk about how they went from 125 children to 350, almost tripling their attendance, and the strategies of success that keep them at the top of their game.
Key Takeaways: [13:01] Lety and Raoul of Springview Academy are married and they structure the business to highlight each of their strengths. Raoul focuses on the billing and financial aspect, while Lety is the primary contact for parents, directors and other teachers. [13:50] Lety has an education background with over 13 years of experience in the field of early childhood, and a Master of Science in Educational Leadership, which is something that gives them quite an edge over their competitors. Her biggest accomplishment, though, is being a parent and having a special needs child. [16:44] Lety and Raoul partnered early on in their relationship, with a business transaction first before marriage. Raoul’s offering to give her a loan worked out quite well for both of them, and now they are happily married and partners, three years later. [21:19] Miami is very competitive for child care centers. Besides Lety’s background in education, other success strategies that set them apart include going above and beyond in communication with parents, great follow-through, and fun activities. [24:09] It’s important for leaders to recognize burnout in their staff. Lety actively manages it by paying attention to who may be burnt out and having transparent conversations on what it is they need to feel energized and fresh. They also have put back-up systems in place to give teachers time off when they need to recharge, even if it’s not paid. [29:02] Lety and Raoul partake in same page meetings and use the days after conferences as a chance to get away on an extra honeymoon. [31:33] Some of their key success strategies since joining the Academy includes educating themselves on CRM, knowing the metrics of their business, and getting real about their numbers. [32:55] Just by charging weekly instead of monthly, Lety and Raoul made $50k annually. [38:48] Springview runs like a small company with attention to the people and culture, but like a big company with systematization, structure, and autonomy. Tools like sales scripts and phone scripts create freedom and consistency. [47:46] To Leddy and Raoul, a rock star is someone that helps others, and has a life that is both professionally and personally fulfilling. They create high-quality programs and have a great company culture, but aren’t afraid to get off the grid and focus on personal connection. [52:49] Lety and Raoul expanded into K-5 by demand from their parents. They are on fire now, but there were growing pains and learning lessons along the way. From a marketing standpoint, it was the same, but from an administration standpoint, it was a whole new ballgame.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company The Road Less Stupid, by Keith J. Cunningham Move Your Bus: An Extraordinary New Approach to Accelerating Success in Work and Life, by Ron Clark Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman | |||
| Why It’s Important to Have World Class Cameras In Your Program with Bobby Franzo | 30 Jul 2019 | 00:51:18 | |
Bobby Franzo, Co-Founder and team lead of pb&j TV, joins the show this week. One of the best practices that we would like to see utilized as a tool to help reduce risk and have full enrollment is to have cameras in the classroom. Bobby and the pb&j team is leading the charge of this industry, using state of the art technology and cutting edge services. Bobby talks about why he and his brother founded pb&j, what he learned in growing the business for over 10 years, and how having cameras in the school sets you apart from others. He also talks about how cameras empower both the schools and teachers while giving parents peace of mind, the technology trends he sees growing even more in the future, and the key dos and don’ts when looking to use cameras.
Key Takeaways: [10:08] Rick and his brother Bobby co-founded pb&j TV, which was named while peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were being made during a brainstorming session. They were both young entrepreneurs, and now have over 500 hundred childcare centers using their technology. [16:15] Fun fact! Rick picked up an appreciation for all things food and cooking through his mom. Just don’t ask him to clean up while he works! [18:40] While childcare centers are the main focus of pb&j, they are also starting to expand into covering sports, nursing homes, and pet care centers. [20:46] There are many benefits to schools using camera systems. These include better staff performance, more productive and safer classrooms, risk management and higher enrollment. [25:08] Cameras build trust with parents, which in turn leads to great ROI. And despite hacking being possible with virtually any site, pb&j builds an infrastructure that meets and exceeds online banking standards. [31:22] pb&j has also created Stream Shield, which is a way to detect and prevent against parents taking screenshots. [32:57] Over the past seven years, preschools are adapting to tech including smart boards, digital check-ins, and Alexa devices in each classroom. [38:53] pb&j is committed to teacher dedicated content and recognizing a job well done. Their Classroom Hero program provides positive feedback for teachers and celebrates them for a job well done. [43:13] You can’t be afraid to fail. Be patient and trust the process. Mistakes are just learning opportunities.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company | |||
| Playing for a Living with Glenn Morshower | 17 Jul 2019 | 00:52:24 | |
One of the busiest character actors in Hollywood today, Glenn Morshower, joins the show to talk with Kris. Glenn has appeared in over 200 film and television projects in a career spanning four decades including the FOX hit series 24. Glenn talks about discovering his love for theatre at a young age, and some career highlights that catapulted him forward. He also shares his wonder and optimistic perspective on life, gives us permission to be silly and joyful, and to focus on gratitude when looking to expand and manifest abundance.
Key Takeaways: [4:17] Glenn discovered his love of theatre and acting in what he calls part of his “natural organic earth school curriculum.” How cool! He went to go see a play at the local theatre and was hooked immediately. From there he landed a national TV commercial, the film Drive-In, and it took him out to the West Coast. [10:13] We are innate math defiers; it is in our DNA to succeed and make our way. Glenn embraces this framework and uses this as a template for living rather than being gripped by fear. [15:13] You can have the hardest or most difficult year of your life, but that doesn’t necessarily have to mean the worst. Glenn lost his dear friend and soul brother, and his beloved brother. Through tragedy and grief, we can find love and connection in ourselves and others. [19:28] The answer to a full and rich life is to fall in love with it just as it is, and just as it is not. [23:11] A strong vision will outsee the naysayers. When we are wholly optimistic and aligned with our mission, we win. [26:36] Most people stop playing because they feel too old or that life should be serious. Playing is what part of keeps us youthful and happy. [32:03] Our thoughts become our destiny. Glenn reminds us to take good care of both our heart and mind, and disallow any toxic influence in. [35:40] Great leaders allow themselves and others to lead with the authentic them. This sets the tone of reality and no one is left with false expectations about the other based on the presentational self. [37:59] What we focus on expands, and we are only competing with ourselves. When looking to create more abundance, we must first focus on the good around us and practice gratitude in our daily lives.
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| Scaling Up with Mike Garatoni | 02 Jul 2019 | 01:01:30 | |
Mike Garatoni of Growing Kids Learning Centers in Indiana joins the show to talk about scaling up, growing, and advice for schools of any size to grow and expand even more. He and his wife Beth found high-quality care quite limited as parents themselves and knew they wanted to help be part of the solution. Mike and Kris talk about the importance of starting from the end goal and working back, delegation, how he empowers his directors, and challenges they faced in the early scale-up phases. They also talk about simple tweaks that have made a huge difference and what we can expect from Mike and Growing Kids in the future.
Key Takeaways: [3:02] Mike and his wife Beth started with one Growing Kids Center that was a franchise, and have since developed nine schools with a total capacity of 1,750 children and 350 staff. They are also very busy with their own six kids ranging in age from 25 to 11, and four dogs! [6:06] Start with the end game in mind, and work your way backward from there. When you define clearly what it is you want, you can work from there and make sure you aren’t wasting your own time and energy with what does not serve you. [14:28] A major key to success is systems thinking and delegation. It is important to set a procedure and structure in place so other people can do it, and do it correctly. Leaders also can’t fall prey to thinking they are the only one in a certain role that is able to do the job correctly. [20:31] Most owners don’t hire the right director and have to restaff this pivotal role often, wasting time and energy. Mike describes how at Growing Kids they distribute the workflow so it doesn’t all fall on the director. This also empowers people in other roles to make decisions. [27:23] The hardest point is starting up a center and going from one up to two and three. Once three centers are in place, adding more is almost just a juggling act that does become easier with time when the right systems and people are in place, and the team is aware of the values. [33:12] It’s important to fully know your radius when picking a location. This will determine your marketing, the messages in that marketing, and how far you plan on trying to reach. [37:30] Once you hit two or three centers, you may want to hire an enrollment coordinator. This “call center” can be one person in charge of calling the leads back and making sure time is spent doing the proper follow up at the most effective times. [45:14] Take some time and be deliberate in planning. Make a plan and take the time to evaluate it throughout the year with your team to make sure everyone is on track.
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company The E-Myth Revisited, by Michael E. Gerber The Slight Edge, by Jeff Olson and John David Mann | |||
| Embracing Your Story with Les Brown | 27 Jun 2019 | 00:33:05 | |
Many of you saw Les Brown speak live at the Child Care Success Summit in Dallas, and saw first-hand how his words can be life-changing and bring you to both laughter and tears. Today he joins the show to talk with Kris about the influences on his own life and path, his tenets for quality and joy in our lives, and why embracing and sharing our story is critical to really shape the lives of children and their families. Les is one of the world’s most renowned motivational speakers and is a highly-sought-after resource in business circles ranging from Fortune 500 CEOs, small business owners, non-profit and community leaders all over the world.
Key Takeaways: [4:30] Les is a former foster child and was a high-energy kid in special education that felt misunderstood until he found a friend in a speech teacher. Teachers have the power to disrupt limiting beliefs and challenge children to realize they are good enough for success. [9:11] Working changes our perspective of life. You must work on yourself continuously, and hone in on your communication skills. It shows people who we are and gives us the power to open doors to our opportunities. [11:54] Les’s advice for a successful life both on the inside and outside:
[22:03] Les is a 27-year prostate cancer conqueror. He is a shining example of embracing the joy and opportunities of life and using his lessons to be of service to others. [23:17] People do business with who they know, like and trust. This is why you must get to know your own story so you can share it with others.
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| Kim Harris: Lifting People Up with “Big-Ups” | 29 Feb 2024 | 00:48:22 | |
Kris welcomes the awesome Kim Harris, affectionately known as "Big Ups," from The Harris & Tucker School in Connecticut. Kim talks about getting her structures “right and tight” and how she stays on the pulse of good leadership. She talks more about the rich legacy of The Harris & Tucker School, and their mission to create superhero influencers and a culture that connects the whole community. She expounds more on Harris & Tucker’s values of respect, integrity, and faith-based education and how she has accomplished so many goals over the years, one of which was getting accredited.
Key Takeaways: [10:55] Kim joins the show and talks about Harris & Tucker schools, along with how it is a product of the civil unrest in the 60s. [12:00] Harris & Tucker becoming an urban epicenter and growth community. [15:23] Harris & Tucker is the only Black-woman, family-owned-and-operated, nationally accredited faith-based urban center in the area. [16:56] Kim speaks more about Harris & Tucker’s leadership structure. [20:56] The two big things that really set Harris & Tucker apart. [22:03] Creating superhero influencers. [24:28] Where did the phrase “big ups” come from? [25:04] Kim discusses taking on her new role after her mother’s passing and her vision for growth, including national accreditation. [27:03] The beauty of longevity in the community, along with values such as community connection and ongoing education. [28:02] Why the pandemic was the best thing that happened to the school. [33:26] The benefits they have seen since joining the Childcare Success Academy. [36:11] Automating operations and systems. [38:24] Plans for the cultural activities center. [41:27] The famous soap story! [44:13] Kim defines a childcare rockstar as someone who has helped to create a movement through transforming their community.
Quotes:
Sponsored By: ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI) Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode: The Child Care Success Company The Child Care Success Academy Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal. | |||
| Tell Your Story, and Then Never Stop Telling It with Alison Pfeister and Alexandra Kroon | 05 Jun 2019 | 00:55:43 | |
In this inspirational episode, we hear from Kris’s very first client Alison Pfeister and her daughter Alexandra Kroon. Their school, the TLC Academy for Young Children in Hudson, Ohio is a family owned business, founded by Alison and her husband in 1989 after the birth of Alexandra, who now serves as the director. Alison shares the story of how TLC continues to be successful after many years, highlights of her journey as an early child care business owner, and provides resources and inspiration for building a culture of play, respect, and transparency.
Key Takeaways: [2:52] Big announcement — the company name has changed! Instead of Child Care Marketing Solutions, it is now the Child Care Success Company. Kris couldn’t be more excited for the rebrand and it fits the mission and vision perfectly. [13:06] Kent and Alison decided to create their own child development center that would provide the best in care and education. They couldn’t find any they felt 100% certain about, so they put their careers on hold and renovated a church. They opened TLC in March of 1990. Their daughter Alexandra was the first baby, and now she is the Director. They used her as the standard and now it’s come three generations in with Alexandra’s children attending the school. [15:19] Usually the cycle of enrollment tightly follows employment and jobs in this country. That is a major reason why schools must work hard to become recession-proof and build the strength of their business. [16:02] TLC is at 75-80 max capacity with a high retention rate, and it has been almost 30 years since the doors of TLC first sprang open, but the motto remains the same: The best is the least we can do for your child. [22:51] Kris and her team’s vision is to make a difference in the lives of one million children. They are in the process of tracking exactly how many, but they think they’ve touched 750,000 children so far. Pretty close! [28:24] Yes, there is a mud kitchen at TLC! Along with a garden, components of an outdoor classroom, a Farm-to-Table program and walking field trips. Experiential learning is very important and they like to foster a connection with nature. [33:46] At TLC, they encourage teachers to remember that each child is different and it’s important to be flexible when coming up with solutions. [36:11] Consistency in training is important, and letting the teachers feel heard is one of the ways they can keep them healthy and happy. TLC also offers professional development, organizational structure, and the blessing to grow and learn if they need to experience something even bigger. [42:43] To Alison and Alexandra, being a child care rockstar is someone that has the ability to create safety for the children and the patience and dedication to develop a bond with both the kids and parents. [48:45] College programs with young ECE students are often great resources for student teachers.
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| Overcoming Adversity and Bringing Out the Best In People with Leann and Jake Chamberlain | 23 May 2019 | 01:04:19 | |
This episode we are joined by Leann and Jake Chamberlain, husband and wife team that run Brighton Montessori in Brighton, Michigan. Leann was the recent winner of the Child Care Rockstar contest, and her vulnerable and authentic approach won the hearts of everyone there. They talk about what it felt like to get out of their comfort zone to enter the contest, the ways they continue to grow their enrollment and connect with the community, the unique challenges of working at a Montessori, and what’s next for the dynamic duo.
Key Takeaways: [3:21] Leann and Jake have three children, all of whom were surprised with a trip to Disney after she won the Child Care Rockstar contest! [4:42] Brighton Montessori is in its third year currently, and the capacity is 100 students. [9:21] Fun fact! Leann was a competitive figure skater that even traveled for the sport, and Jake is one of those brave people that take cold showers. [11:02] Leann and Jake entered the Child Care Rockstar contest just with the intention to get out of their comfort zones and try something new. They ended up winning, connecting with a great tribe of people and learning a ton of new information to bring back to their school. [12:49] Next year, the Rockstar contest is going to be a “Margarita and Flip Flops” themed party in Orlando with a $5,000 cash prize. [20:05] Leeann and Jake built a program around the community they were in, and discuss their challenges of retention when they opened in Sept. 2016. They knew they needed help with tripling their enrollment for the first year, and that is when Leann found Kris and the Summit. They took the Amtrak train to the Summit and found a tribe and a whole new set of resources. They pooled together everything they learned, and discussed core values with the teachers, got CRM and implemented email marketing, more follow up, and better tours. [30:26] LeAnn’s “why” is to bring out the best in people. When she approaches anyone, it’s aligned with the core values of integrity, honesty, commitment, passion, and partnership. [32:28] People tend to have pre-existing ideas of what a Montessori school is, but Leann and Jake take the time to fully explain and educate families the level of quality and the unique differences that make them stand out. [37:52] Their mindset shifts were persistence, patience, and more faith in abundance. [42:51] Goal-setting is a huge part of success. Leann writes out Post-It Notes and immediately adds a new goal as soon as they hit one. [47:28] A rockstar to Leann is someone that knows their “why” and executes it with empathy, perseverance, and love. To Jake, it’s someone that takes action on their goals with courage.
Mentioned in This Episode: Child Care Marketing Solutions
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| The Value of Embracing Sales with Eric Lofholm | 06 May 2019 | 00:58:47 | |
Eric Lofholm is President and CEO of Eric Lofholm International, an organization he founded to professionally train people on the art and science of selling. Eric has used his own successful sales background to help anyone dramatically improve in all areas, including income and happiness. He joins the show today to talk about enrollment building and how his system can apply to a classroom setting. He also discusses the influence of silence, selling equaling service, and pre-framing the sale.
Key Takeaways: [4:41] Eric went from being on quota probation to being a top producer once he found the work of Dr. Moine. He found that it was also a great platform to enhance his natural calling of being able to teach without any professional training. [5:05] Eric worked for Tony Robbins for 3 years. Through this process decided he wanted to help people understand the process of sales. [8:27] People tend to think of those in sales as arm twisters, manipulators, and used car salespeople. It is normal to have a resistance to sales, which is why we must see it from another viewpoint. [11:51] Part of the language of influence is silence. [13:54] Pre-framing the order at the beginning lets people know what is in store for them and sets an expectation of what will happen on the tour. This also gives no pressure on you other than choreographing and delivering the best presentation possible. [22:42] When you feel as though your preschool is the best, in your heart, and it provides a solution, you owe it to you the parents and child to be of service and lead them to the best choice. [25:10] It is crucial to prepare your presentation. Eric mapped out the steps and they are: ● Build trust and rapport. ● Do an agenda strip to let them know how the tour will go. ● Ask probing questions. Find out what they want and care about, and how you can give it to them. ● Share stories. ● Walk them through the close, mentioning scarcity (if it’s true) using the “because” frame. ● Invite them to take one of the slots. ● A thank you gift goes a long way. [38:09] An advanced technique is to show the parents that the existing children in the school are potential new friends for their child. [40:10] If Eric was to go back and do his business again, he would have found advisors and expanded his product line. [45:14] Social media is a great way to tell your story and connect with others.
Mentioned in This Episode: Child Care Marketing Solutions
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