Child Care Rockstar Radio: Recent Episodes
Kris Murray
Early learning leaders around the globe are breaking through challenges, leading the way in innovation, testing new best practices, and impacting children and families in a much more powerful and positive way than ever before. Each week, tune in to top child care business guru Kris Murray on the Child Care Rockstar Radio podcast for interviews with early childhood leaders and experts that will leave you inspired to get to the next level of success, whatever that means for you.
Kris Murray is President of Child Care Marketing Solutions, and the Founder of the Child Care Success Academy, the world’s largest and most comprehensive business coaching program for early childhood entrepreneurs and leaders. She is the author of two top-rated books on early learning business, and the mom of two great kids. She and her team are based in the mountains of Colorado.
Jennifer sits down with a true magic maker, Tammy England! Tammy is part of the team at The Child Care Success Company and often one of the first friendly faces members many of you have already met, but long before joining the team, she spent 29 years teaching, training teachers, mentoring educators, and finding creative ways to help children fall in love with learning. She also happens to be Jennifer's cousin who feels much more like a sister, which makes this conversation especially sweet.
Tammy shares how their grandmother Mimi taught them that magic can be created with imagination, patience, cookie dough, pretend hotels, and an RV that suddenly becomes an apartment. She brings that same spirit into the classroom through dramatic play, sensory experiences, nature, animals, imagination, and plenty of opportunities to get messy. Jennifer and Tammy also talk about understanding behavior as communication, partnering with parents, and creating classrooms where children feel safe, excited, and free to explore.
Key Takeaways:
[8:05] Tammy shares how 29 years of teaching, along with the influence of Mimi and Mary Poppins, shaped her love of making learning magical.
[11:54] Children are experiencing so many things for the first time, which gives teachers the incredible opportunity to become magic makers.
[14:00] Tammy shares how finding something positive in a struggling child changed the experience for both the child and her worried mother.
[18:52] When a child is struggling, start by looking at the environment, finding something positive to praise, and giving the child ownership in the classroom.
[20:56] Observing exactly what happened without assigning emotions can help teachers understand what a child's behavior is communicating.
[23:24] Parents do not need a list of everything their child did wrong, but they do need to understand where their child needs support and how they can help.
[25:13] Small personal connections with families help build the trust that every strong child care relationship depends on.
[26:38] Tammy's dream classroom brings nature inside and includes animals, hands-on learning, movement, books, art, and a calming space.
[28:02] Preschool classrooms should be built around how young children actually learn instead of looking like miniature kindergarten classrooms.
[31:53] When behavior problems keep showing up, look at the classroom setup and whether the environment meets the needs of the children currently in it.
[33:46] Meaningful learning experiences do not have to come from an expensive catalog, as Tammy proves with everything from loose parts to a real octopus sensory experience.
[35:27] Items that look like junk to adults can become pure magic when children are given the freedom to explore and create with them.
[38:08] Letting children help with everyday activities like baking can build confidence, pride, and a genuine excitement for learning.
[38:56] Candy corn math, sensory tubs, and rainbow writing are a few of Tammy's favorite ways to make early learning irresistible.
[45:03] Tammy closes with a hilarious reminder that preschoolers can create unexpected mischief anywhere, including a dramatic play at a flower shop.
Quotes:
"Some of the most magical classrooms are built with cardboard boxes, sensory bins, imagination, patience, and a teacher who genuinely loves being there." — Jennifer [5:34]
"Before we were business owners, before we were leaders, most of us simply just wanted to make a difference in a child's life, and that's still the greatest work we get to do." — Jennifer [6:02]
"These kids, for the most part, are experiencing these things for the very first time, and so getting to plan these things out, you become a magic maker, and it's one of the best jobs in the world." — Tammy [11:54]
"Most of the time, every reaction, every behavior is a communication, and so if you look at it that way, what are they communicating?" — Tammy [21:08]
"Every classroom should have a cozy corner for children to regulate." — Tammy [44:44]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
Jennifer Conner
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Tammy Lee England
In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Zach Merritt, Senior Manager of Product Marketing at Procare Solutions, who spends his days talking with child care programs across the country and spotting the patterns that show up across hundreds and thousands of centers. Together, they dig into what separates the programs that continue to struggle from the ones that are truly thriving, and why sounding exactly like every other child care center in your area is one of the fastest ways to disappear into the background.
Zach and Jennifer talk about what today's parents actually expect, why "safe, nurturing, and quality education" is no longer enough to set you apart, and how speed, transparency, and real-life content can completely change the enrollment experience. They also get into technology, automation, and how the right systems can give owners back hours each month without losing the human connection that makes child care so special.
Key Takeaways:
[3:02] Zach shares how his work with nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and education led him into the child care industry.
[5:19] Staff retention, enrollment, and the overwhelm of competing responsibilities continue to be the biggest pressure points for owners.
[7:43] The industry is still feeling the effects of COVID, staffing changes, and the end of many pandemic-era funding programs.
[10:51] Owners have an important role as advocates who can bring real data and real business needs into policy conversations.
[13:27] Thriving centers often find a meaningful way to specialize and carve out their own place in the community.
[14:25] Zach shares how one North Carolina center built belonging and strong word-of-mouth by intentionally serving Indian immigrant families.
[17:00] When every center uses the same words, parents are left comparing only price and convenience.
[19:02] Your website, reviews, and social media are often the first places today's parents decide whether you are worth exploring.
[21:03] Fast now means automated, with an immediate response, helpful information, and a clear next step.
[22:22] Families may stop searching as soon as one center responds quickly and makes them feel like they have found the right place.
[24:23] Real photos, videos, and everyday classroom moments help families see what life inside your center actually feels like.
[27:08] Owners have to look at their marketing through the eyes of the younger families walking through their doors.
[28:47] Technology can turn hours of administrative work into minutes while creating a smoother experience for families.
[30:15] Procare supports the full family journey, from the first inquiry and tour through enrollment, communication, and daily care updates.
[33:22] The right software can save a center an average of 60 to 80 hours each month.
[34:20] Zach's first lightning-round answer is simple: stop sounding like everybody else and start responding faster.
[34:32] Owners should review what is taking too much time and decide what software can take off their shoulders.
[35:22] New owners should expect mistakes and focus on building a strong culture from the beginning.
[35:44] Child care is becoming more widely understood as a vital part of the infrastructure that keeps society moving.
[37:22] AI is opening new possibilities for automation, planning, and handling more complex tasks with less owner oversight.
[40:15] AI can support the work, but it cannot replace an owner's expertise, relationships, or responsibility for quality.
Quotes:
"I think sometimes people forget that they're an advocate for childcare in general, but also as a business owner." — Jennifer [10:51]
"If you are expedient in getting back to people and giving them the opportunity to see and experience what they can expect from your center and what their child's outlook would be and all of those things, then you're just going to win them over before and their research is going to stop there." — Zach [22:22]
"It's okay to make mistakes. You're going to learn. I would say focus on your culture as a building block." — Zach [35:22]
"I think the way that our society is looking at childcare now is that it is no longer just daycare or a place to drop your kids off, as it was in the past. But deeper than that, I think that it's becoming more and more clear where childcare plays a pivotal role in the infrastructure of our society and the needs for it for all other aspects in terms of work and education and those key functions that our future coming generation needs, and the parents and families now are also in dire need of. So, childcare is not going anywhere." — Zach [36:09]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
Jennifer Conner
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Procare Solutions
Jennifer welcomes Rachel Chaisson, owner and CEO of A Joyful Noise Preschool and Child Care in Maine. Rachel's journey is incredible: after earning her GED and raising three children as a single mother, she began working in child care as a teacher and eventually grew into the owner of three successful early learning centers serving more than 200 children and families each year.
Rachel talks about the season she is in now and learning to pause, reflect, and ask whether the things that once drove her are still the things she wants to carry forward. Jennifer and Rachel talk about personal core values, leadership, trust, building a business that supports the life you love, and the surprising realization that sometimes the very things you have been fighting for are already yours. And yes, there is even a little homework in this one, but we promise, it's the good kind!
Key Takeaways:
[5:30] Rachel shares how she went from never planning to have children to building a life and career around caring for them.
[10:23] Jennifer and Rachel reflect on becoming "unintentional" child care owners and finding purpose in a path they never expected.
[12:15] Rachel shares how she first focused on becoming the best business owner she could be before realizing she also wanted a business that supported her life.
[13:45] How to build a business that can sustain a life you love that gives you freedom, stability, and space to evolve.
[16:04] Rachel shares the family crisis that forced her to step away and showed her how capable her leadership team really was.
[18:00] Jennifer points out that Rachel's team could step up because Rachel had already spent time modeling, training, and building trust with them.
[19:30] Rachel talks about her current passion for developing leaders and giving her team room to grow.
[21:19] Jennifer gives listeners a little homework: pause and write down your personal core values.
[22:30] Rachel shares the realization that independence had once served her deeply, but may not be the value she needs to keep fighting for now.
[24:27] Rachel names stability, peace, and growth as values she is still reflecting on in this new season.
[27:30] Rachel explains how the CEO Lab helped her think not only about being a better leader, but also about being a better wife, mom, friend, and person.
[28:47] The shift from fighting for independence to learning how to trust.
[31:48] Great advice from Rachel: be open to what life sends your way and surround yourself with people who are where you want to be.
Quotes:
"Sometimes the things you're fighting for are already yours." — Jennifer [4:35]
"Once I got into the business, I became very much about how to make it the best business, the strongest business. You know, how to have profit, how to have systems." — Rachel [12:15]
"How do I build my business to sustain the life that I love so much right now?" — Rachel [13:45]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
Jennifer Conner
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
A Joyful Noise Preschool and Childcare
In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Ben Poswalk, Director of Business Development at The Child Care Success Company, for a chat about what really separates owners who keep growing from the ones who stay stuck in the same overwhelm, year after year. Because after years of working with child care owners in every stage of the journey, Ben has seen the patterns clearly: where owners break through, where they get in their own way, and what actually helps them move forward.
Together, they talk about the habits that show up inside successful businesses, the blind spots that keep owners spinning, and why the biggest problem is not always the one sitting on the surface. They also get into trust, relationships, vulnerability, and what it looks like to stop carrying everything alone.
Key Takeaways:
[3:57] Ben shares how his path into child care started unexpectedly and became a calling he never planned for.
[6:47] The owners who grow are usually the ones who take action on what they learn instead of just gathering more information.
[8:09] Many owners stay stuck because they are buried in the day-to-day and are trying to control too much at once.
[9:25] Letting go of tasks your team can handle often creates more freedom and better results than holding on too tightly.
[10:42] A lot of staffing struggles point back to leadership, culture, and clarity, not just hiring.
[11:53] Better hiring starts with helping people see the purpose of the work and how they fit into the bigger vision.
[14:03] One major blind spot is chasing outside solutions for problems that are really happening inside the business.
[15:07] Strong enrollment systems are built on trust and relationship-building, not pressure or rushing families.
[18:25] The owners who keep growing are usually the ones willing to do the hard things and have the hard conversations.
[19:40] Vulnerability is often the thing that helps owners get support, build confidence, and move forward.
[26:58] In 2026, one of the biggest opportunities is getting back to real human connection with staff, families, and children.
[31:48] Owners do not have to carry everything alone, but they do have to be honest about what is not working.
[33:33] Often, the biggest breakthrough starts by identifying the one issue that will create the most momentum first.
Quotes:
"I feel like it's a calling more than anything else, and we end up serving the children and families that are in our care, because it was just meant to be." — Ben [4:09]
"It's the owners that implement and actually take action on the information that they receive." — Ben [7:06]
"Relationships are everything, because it's not about what we can do or the shiny objects that we can build; it's about who we are on the inside, showing up and being authentic, building trust, and building relationships with them." — Jennifer [17:14]
"We are in the trust business. Always." — Jennifer [17:50]
"Vulnerability is such a key component to success." — Ben [20:32]
"My passion is getting fulfilled, and that's making this world a better place, one child at a time, and that's only possible through those conversations I have on a regular basis with owners." — Ben [35:02]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
Jennifer Conner
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Ben Poswalk Facebook
Ben Poswalk Instagram
Ben Poswalk LinkedIn
Brené Brown
For years, child care marketing followed a pretty familiar formula: build a beautiful website, drive traffic, collect reviews, book tours, and convert families once they walk through the door. But in 2026, that path just is not as neat or predictable as it used to be. Families are researching differently, AI is changing how information gets found, and many parents are making decisions long before they ever visit a school in person.
In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Parissa Snider, Chief Marketing Officer at WatchMeGrow, for a conversation that goes far beyond ads and websites. Together, they talk about trust, transparency, parent psychology, and what the full family experience now says about your brand, from the first search to the tour to the follow-up after. This episode is a fresh look at what enrollment and marketing really mean now, and why the schools that build trust most clearly are the ones families are more likely to choose.
Key Takeaways:
[5:45] Marketing now lives inside the full family experience, not just in ads or website clicks.
[6:10] Parents are increasingly getting answers from AI before they ever visit a school's website.
[8:10] The old marketing funnel is no longer linear and has become a messy back-and-forth decision process.
[8:33] Lower website traffic does not always mean lower interest if families are still converting further down the path.
[10:08] Schools need website content that helps AI understand and surface real information about who they are.
[12:10] FAQs matter more than ever when they answer the actual questions families are really asking.
[13:01] Transparency around difficult topics is becoming a stronger trust-builder, not a liability.
[15:05] In many cases, pricing transparency creates more confidence than withholding information.
[19:02] The strongest websites speak to parents' fears and needs, not just the school's features.
[21:11] Families want the curtain pulled back and are more likely to trust schools that show the real experience.
[22:55] Trust and reassurance are deeply human needs, which is why communication matters so much in child care.
[27:11] Follow-up should uncover hesitation and uncertainty, not just push for the enrollment decision.
[31:24] The schools that win will be the ones that reduce uncertainty and build trust at every step.
[34:41] Families stay more connected and loyal when they feel like participants instead of observers.
Quotes:
"Lower traffic does not always mean lower interest." — Parissa Snider [8:33]
"Transparency equals customers." — Parissa Snider [13:24]
"I think that starting now, consumers are not going to reward only the businesses with the biggest ad budgets. They're going to reward the businesses that reduce uncertainty and make a huge and visible effort to build trust, the ones that have trust in mind in every step of the experience" — Parissa Snider [31:24]
"Participation equals ownership." — Parissa Snider [34:38]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
Jennifer Conner
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
WatchMeGrow's Free Guide to Marketing 2026
Parissa Snider
Most child care owners do not think about crisis management until they are already in the middle of one, and by then emotions are high, information is moving fast, and every response matters. In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Marsha Archer, president of M-Squared PR and Crisis Management, for a practical conversation about what it really means to protect your brand before something goes wrong.
Together, they talk about how social media is changing the pace and pressure of crisis response in 2026, what belongs in a real crisis plan, and why your brand is about so much more than a logo or website. Marsha also shares how trust is built long before a crisis ever happens, what owners need to document and monitor now, and when it is time to bring in an expert. This is one of those conversations that feels preventative, practical, and incredibly important, because, as Marsha says, it is not a matter of if. It is a matter of when.
Key Takeaways:
[4:11] Crisis planning matters long before a crisis ever happens.
[4:39] A crisis usually starts when something pulls you completely out of your normal day.
[5:35] Social media is one of the biggest drivers of crisis in 2026.
[7:37] Every school should have a real crisis manual in place.
[9:51] A strong plan includes a crisis team, templates, and clear next steps.
[13:45] Facts need to be documented right away while everything is still fresh.
[15:39] Google Alerts and Talkwalker help you monitor your name, brand, and industry.
[17:38] Your brand includes every interaction tied to your name, not just your logo.
[21:13] Negative reviews should be acknowledged calmly and moved offline when needed.
[25:17] Great reputation building often starts with everyday moments inside your school.
[29:16] Child care is not just the child care business. It is the trust business.
[30:58] Building trust in small moments helps you lead better in bigger ones.
[33:42] Your crisis plan should include contacts, templates, tools, and after-hours access.
[36:45] The first few hours of a crisis can shape the entire outcome.
[41:45] How do you know when it's time to bring in an expert?
[46:14] Have the plan before you need it, and keep it updated!
Quotes:
"It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Because it's bound to happen, and you just want to make sure you're prepared." — Marsha [4:30]
"The number one driver of what's really interrupting the day-to-day and creating a crisis is social media, and not just social media as we see it, but how social media has grown." — Marsha [5:50]
"Parents want clarity, licensing wants accuracy, and attorneys want facts." — Marsha [13:45]
"Everything that is attached to your name completes your entire brand reputation." — Marsha [18:55]
"We're in the childcare business, but what you're really in is the trust business." — Jennifer [29:44]
"Building trust when it's small equals even more trust when it's bigger." — Marsha [30:58]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
Jennifer Conner
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Marsha Archer — LinkedIn | @Msquaredpr | @Britishprgirl
Kris Murray returns! In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Kris for a timely conversation about what is really changing in child care in 2026 and what owners cannot afford to ignore. Together, they look at the current market from a bigger-picture view, from AI and parent decision-making to enrollment shifts, differentiation, and the growing pressure to clearly communicate the value of what you offer.
They also get into branding, in-person connection, what today's parents are actually looking for, and why being the face of your business matters more than ever. At the heart of this conversation is a reminder that while the tools and trends may change, strong businesses are still built by owners who know their market, know their value, and are willing to keep evolving.
Key Takeaways:
[2:00] Kris shares what is happening in her own world right now, including wedding planning, her new community, the audiobook release of Antidote to Fear, and the delayed release of her TED Talk.
[6:30] AI is one of the clearest shifts in 2026, and Kris explains why owners need to get comfortable using it to save time, improve systems, and stay current.
[8:00] Even with all the new tools and noise, the real work still comes back to the basics: understand your market, match your market, and get clear on the value you bring.
[9:30] The child care market is shifting, and Kris explains why every enrollment matters more now, especially as family needs, birth rates, and state involvement continue to change.
[10:40] Jennifer and Kris talk about why the old model is not enough on its own anymore, and why owners have to be willing to evolve if they want to stay competitive in the years ahead.
[12:10] The conversation comes back to a core question every owner needs to answer: what makes your program different, and why should a family choose you?
[14:00] Kris talks about the growing desire for real connection and why community, events, and in-person experiences still matter so much in a world that feels increasingly digital.
[16:10] Running a business takes energy, intention, and a willingness to keep showing up, especially when the market feels harder or more crowded than it used to.
[17:50] One of the biggest mindset shifts for owners is being willing to step forward and be the face of the business instead of staying hidden behind the scenes.
[21:00] Jennifer and Kris talk about storytelling, visibility, and why it is not enough to offer something valuable if no one really sees it or understands it.
[24:50] Branding is not extra. It shapes how families see you, what they expect from you, and whether they see your school as just another option or the clear choice.
[27:10] Small, personal touches still go a long way, and Kris shares why personalization creates stronger connection, trust, and loyalty with families.
[33:18] Using the "where am I now, and where do I want to be?" framework, and knowing how to surround yourself with people to help you move to the next level.
[35:15] The importance of getting into a tribe, no matter where you are in your numbers and revenue.
[40:01] If there are things that are draining you, free yourself up by delegating so that you can do what you love.
Quotes:
"What we've always taught, what we've owned in the childcare business, is to understand your market and match your market." — Kris [9:35]
"Parents are having fewer babies, so every child is even more important. Every enrollment is even more important." — Kris [10:05]
"In an AI-driven world, people are looking for connection, more than ever." — Kris [14:25]
"That's a mindset that needs to shift is that people want to connect and to be that person that's going to attract and connect people; you have to get out of your comfort zone and be willing to show up on social media and be to show up on video with your story, with some fun, charming elements of what you have to offer and be the face of your business." — Kris [17:50]
"You've got to get out there and be that leader and that CEO or that face of the business from time to time throughout your week. And then putting that stuff on social media is because that's where the eyeballs are." — Kris [21:12]
"Get into a tribe." — Kris [35:05]
"There's no way I would have built an 8-figure business without being in mentorship and coaching all along the way." — Kris [37:16]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
Jennifer Conner
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Kris Murray — The Antidote to Fear
In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Thomas Brawner, owner and CFO of Alta Schoolhouse in Lakeland, Florida, to talk about what it really looks like to grow with intention. Thomas shares how he made the decision to overstaff his first location so he could create the space to focus on expansion, prepare for a second school, and keep the first one strong at the same time.
Their conversation gets into the real pieces behind that kind of growth: knowing your numbers, making smart tuition decisions, building a team that stays, and learning how to let go of the things that do not all have to stay on your plate. Thomas also talks about something a lot of owners overlook: how much first impressions matter, from your online presence to what families see before they ever walk through the door. He gives great and practical tips for anyone thinking about their next location and wanting to do it in a way that feels thoughtful, steady, and sustainable.
Key Takeaways:
[5:10] A major season of change is underway for Thomas, including a move from Florida to California, the recent acquisition of a second location, and leadership changes inside the business.
[7:03] One of the first strategic moves toward growth was intentionally overstaffing the first school so there was space to focus on expansion.
[7:50] Brand identity played a major role in the search for the next location, from the kind of building Thomas wanted to the way Alta Schoolhouse is meant to feel inside its community.
[9:21] Overstaffing only works when the numbers support it, which is why profitability, payroll, and long-term opportunity all had to be weighed together.
[11:42] Tuition increases were part of the plan, and those pricing decisions were made with staffing, future growth, and culture-building in mind.
[14:17] Lower turnover comes from building a better employee experience, including top-of-market pay, paid time off, and extra classroom staffing to prevent burnout.
[18:15] Parents are making short lists online before they ever book a tour, which means curb appeal, reviews, photos, and a strong visual first impression matter more than many owners realize.
[24:49] Thomas and Jennifer discuss how zoning and land-use research can save owners from expensive mistakes, especially when expanding into a new building or new area.
[30:59] Replacing yourself inside the business takes emotional trust, not just systems, especially when handing off responsibilities that carry real financial or relational weight.
[35:09] Some of the hardest responsibilities to delegate were parent meetings and enrollment, which required a gradual handoff process built on training, shadowing, and follow-up.
[37:00] The bigger lesson underneath all of it is that there is no shortcut to time, and intentional growth depends on letting people learn by doing.
Quotes:
"Sometimes in the next level of growth, you're asked to let go of the very things that helped you get there, and it asks you to trust your people more, to trust your systems more, to trust what you built can keep working even when you're not holding every single piece together." — Jennifer [1:30]
"I could have been at the front desk myself, doing marketing and enrollment and tours, but if I were to do that, I wouldn't be able to have looked for second locations, grown our school, and implemented software and new processes and procedures that have enabled us to grow." — Thomas [10:08]
"If you don't know your numbers, then your school is running without you, and it's not running intentionally." — Jennifer [17:30]
"You can love kids as much as you can to the best of your abilities, but it doesn't matter if parents don't walk through the door to see it." — Thomas [18:39]
"The biggest thing that I can tell people who are either looking to open their first location or just an additional location is to hire the right people." — Thomas [25:17]
"I had to get comfortable with the uncomfortability that things might not be done 100% correctly, but I can also make mistakes as well. So human error is always a factor." — Thomas [34:17]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
Jennifer Conner
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Alta Schoolhouse
@thomas.k.brawner
In this episode, Jennifer opens with an honest reflection on control and the emotional weight so many child care owners carry without even realizing it. That sets the stage for a real conversation with Barbara Tedrow, owner of A Gold Star Academy and a multi-site child care leader in New Mexico, about what it looks like to build a strong team on paper and yet still feel like too much of the business is resting on your shoulders.
Barbara shares what came up during a recent VIP Day at the Child Care Success Company's corporate office in New Orleans, where a deeper truth started to surface: the issue was not just delegation or SOPs, but fear, control, and the pressure of carrying a reputation she has spent 25 years building. Together, she and Jennifer unpack what shifted when Barbara began trusting her team more fully, stepping back from the meetings and tasks she no longer needed to own, and making space for the bigger work she is called to do. This is an honest, powerful conversation for any owner who knows what it feels like to still be carrying the business, even when it looks like you already stepped out.
Key Takeaways:
[5:12] Barbara shares her background as the owner of multi-site locations in Farmington, New Mexico.
[6:56] Barbara mentions her involvement with the New Mexico Childcare Association and her current role as its president.
[9:17] The emotional and mental toll of trying to control everything.
[13:57] The deeper truth comes out: what was underneath all of it was fear, especially around protecting the reputation she had worked decades to build.
[19:15] Once Barbara stepped back and really looked, she began to see the passion, pride, and ownership already present in her leadership team.
[22:37] Letting go came with an unexpected emotion: sadness, and the realization that not being needed in the same way was actually a sign of growth.
[26:21] A closer look at the difference between correcting, training, and continuing to hold on, and why leadership still requires mentoring and clear expectations.
[33:57] Six weeks later, the shift felt real: more space, less pressure to prove constant involvement, and more trust in the team.
[39:28] Barbara shares what this next season opens up for her, including advocacy work, expansion, leadership development, and more time for family.
[43:59] Barbara closes with a reminder that no matter how long you have been doing this work, there is always more to learn if you are willing to hear the hard truth.
Quotes:
"If you've built the right team, a team that cares as much as you do, then your job isn't to control everything. Your job is to build something bigger than you. That's the real responsibility, not doing everything, but creating something that can actually grow beyond you." — Jennifer [3:53]
"I had to realize I hired people to do those jobs, and that's why I'm not needed. I'm not needed because I'm not needed in the company. I'm not needed because of the way that I have structure, and that was on purpose because I needed to assess what role I want within this company." — Barbara [23:08]
"I'm not needed because I'm not wanted. I'm not needed because I did my job and I have built it the correct way." — Barbara [23:54]
"It's working. That little org chart with all its arrows and everything, it's working." — Barbara [35:28]
"You can always learn something new if you're open to it and you're willing to listen to the hard truth." — Barbara [35:28]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
Jennifer Conner
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
A Gold Star Academy
Real leadership takes time, clarity, and the willingness to slow down and lead with intention. In this episode, Jennifer reflects on a recent VIP Day at the Child Care Success Company's new corporate office in New Orleans, and the perspective owners can gain when they step out of the daily rush long enough to think differently about how they lead. That sets up her conversation with Toni Bedford, owner of Bedford Learning Programs, a network of six family child care homes, about what it takes to stop being the person everything keeps coming back to.
Toni shares how a strong team and multiple locations still left her carrying too much, especially during a major family season when she and her husband became foster parents to their three young grandchildren. Together, she and Jennifer unpack the difference between delegating tasks and truly developing leaders, and what it looks like to create more clarity, intention, and ownership across the organization.
Key Takeaways:
[1:20] Jennifer opens by sharing how a recent VIP Day reminded her why she loves helping child care owners slow down, think differently, and step into stronger leadership.
[2:35] Jennifer introduces Toni Bedford and explains the core challenge behind their VIP Day work: building a stronger leadership structure so the business can grow without everything flowing back through the owner.
[5:53] Toni shares the story behind Bedford Learning Programs, her six in-home child care locations, and the struggle of still being pulled into daily decisions even with a solid admin team in place.
[9:39] Toni opens up about a major family transition, becoming a foster parent to her three young grandchildren, and how that season forced her to face what had to change inside the business.
[12:44] Jennifer asks where Toni was feeling the most pressure, and Toni names the tension many owners know well: trying to support the team while quietly carrying parts of everyone's job.
[15:29] Toni explains why she said yes to the VIP Day and how she came in determined not to let the insights become just another set of notes that never got implemented.
[18:37] Toni describes her biggest realization from the day: no one could simply tell her what to do. She had to think clearly about what her business actually needed and build from there.
[21:40] Back at home, Toni uses her already scheduled admin retreat as a reset meeting, rolling out a new org chart, updated roles, and a more intentional leadership structure.
[22:50] Toni shares one of the most important shifts: weekly one-on-one training with each admin team member, focused not just on tasks, but on confidence, expectations, and leadership development.
[26:21] Toni and Jennifer talk about the truth many owners miss: there is no shortcut to building leaders. Real delegation takes time, mentoring, modeling, and consistency.
[30:25] Toni reflects on her team's response to the reset and how trust, support, and a phased rollout helped the changes feel energizing instead of overwhelming.
[32:12] Five weeks in, Toni shares what she is most proud of: the team has not slipped backward, the momentum is still there, and she is learning how to respond as a stronger leader, too.
[34:37] Toni talks about what has changed for her personally: she feels more confident, more energized, and more connected to the coaching and mentoring side of leadership that she genuinely loves.
[37:20] Asked what she would tell the version of herself before the VIP Day, Toni offered a powerful takeaway for other owners: it is okay to let things go and trust your team.
[40:08] Toni closes by reminding listeners that this work is hard, and that the best place to start is by getting honest about what you love and where you want your leadership to go next.
Quotes:
"It is seldom about working harder. It's all about thinking differently." — Jennifer [2:50]
"If you want to have this great team, you actually have to train them. You can't actually be like, 'Hey, here's your position. Now think of some things.'" — Toni [23:55]
"When you look at redesigning organizational structures or reworking job descriptions, you don't take away something that is great with one of your team members when they love doing something, and they're bringing results, and they're fantastic at it… you don't take that away." — Jennifer [29:12]
"It's okay to let things go and trust your team." — Toni [37:20]
"This job is hard. It could be hard, and really kind of just figuring out what you love, I think, and what you want to do in the future is just where you should really start, rather than always worrying about the day-to-day stuff." — Toni [40:08]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
Jennifer Conner
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Bedford Learning Programs
In this episode, Jennifer shares a personal moment that slowed her down and clarified what matters most: impact, leadership, and protecting what's been entrusted to you. That framing sets the tone for a grounded conversation with Sharita "Rita" Brown, a long-time early childhood leader and Child Care Success Company coach, about one of the fears many owners carry quietly — the allegation that can shake everything.
Rita walks Jennifer through a season where her centers faced a false report, and they couldn't immediately produce the proof they needed. Instead of spiraling, they tightened their standards: documentation, overstaffing to protect ratios, and leadership that showed up in the building, not just on paper. This conversation is a real look at how "inspect what you expect" plays out when it's no longer a slogan, and why the simplest protection is often the most overlooked: documenting, consistently, as a team.
Key Takeaways:
[:08] Jennifer reflects on a recent car wreck and how being "shaken" clarifies what matters, and why "protect what you've built" is more than a mindset.
[6:07] Rita recounts the moment a false report landed, and they couldn't quickly find documentation to prove ratio coverage.
[8:45] The emotion behind it: feeling helpless — and realizing systems exist to protect children, staff, and families.
[10:24] What changed immediately: pushing systems, tightening documentation, and temporarily overstaffing to protect against ratio risk.
[14:28] "Inspect what you expect" as the non-negotiable leadership shift, especially across multiple sites.
[16:45] The practical reset: going into each center, one-on-ones, rebuilding buy-in, and modeling standards in real time.
[19:26] A more recent allegation (2025) and what it looked like to be ready this time: systems, documentation, leadership alignment, and no case.
[21:36] Rita's "one thing" every owner can do today: document, and make sure your team is documenting.
[28:41] Stepping into the CEO seat means boundaries: staying reachable without being on the floor every day and building leaders who can carry the work.
Quotes:
"What matters to me is not about playing a game. It's not about chasing something, wanting bigger and better. It's more about living a life that matters to me. It's about making an impact. It's about leading well and protecting what's been entrusted to me." — Jennifer [2:43]
"So we really pushed our systems and made sure that our documentation was in place from that moment, because we didn't have any proof to show them otherwise." — Rita [11:43]
"Inspect what you expect." — Jennifer / Rita [14:04]
"I think sometimes, as owners, we don't realize that there's no shortcut to time, there's no shortcut to personal interaction, there's no shortcut to modeling the behaviors you want to see." — Jennifer [18:03]
"Make sure your team is documenting." — Rita [21:08]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
Jennifer Conner
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Sharita Brown
A new season of Child Care Rockstar Radio begins with Jennifer Conner, CEO of the Child Care Success company, stepping in as host! Jennifer shares the real behind-the-scenes of her own journey: buying a struggling center, realizing "love and passion" alone won't sustain a business long-term, and learning how systems, finances, and leadership create the stability that protects your mission. Then Jennifer welcomes Michael Ingram, a legacy child care leader and school owner with multi-generational roots, to talk about the kind of leadership growth that doesn't show up on an org chart. Michael reflects on moving from defensiveness to connection, mentorship and choosing community over isolation, and learning how to create space. Michael also shares how mentorship changed his leadership, and why being the one everyone calls for answers can be a signal that it's time to find your own room of mentors.
Key Takeaways:
[1:10] Jennifer shares her journey from childcare owner to building a strong leadership team and moving to Mexico.
[1:25] She highlights how systems, finances, and leadership are critical to a sustainable childcare business.
[2:28] Jennifer talks about shifting from running schools remotely to becoming a coach and CEO rooted in love for children and families.
[9:32] Michael reflects on taking feedback too personally early on and learning to get comfortable with discomfort.
[16:20] Michael explains how stepping aside from his own ego and seeking mentorship transformed his leadership.
[20:22] He describes his school's model, which includes on-site OT, speech, and ABA therapy for children with higher needs.
[22:31] The challenges that Michael faces in his school, and how he works to overcome them.
[26:02] Michael's passion for advocacy and advice for someone who wants to get involved but doesn't exactly know how.
[29:11] Finding the right group that advocates for your cause.
[31:17] QTIP - Quit Taking It Personal, and how Michael learned to not take things so personally.
[35:23] Learning how to give and take space as a leader, and embracing the mantra "just for today".
Quotes:
"The version of you that started your center isn't necessarily the version of you that sustains it or carries it forward." [4:44] - Jennifer
"I had to get out of the way of knowing all the answers and allow the people who I am here to serve and work with to help me figure out those answers." [10:05] – Michael
"Where there's uncomfortability, that's where growth is. You know, that's the innovation of growth. And so, I had to be comfortable with being uncomfortable." [11:04] - Michael
"You just have to embrace the uncomfortability, and then you can step into greatness." [11:20] - Michael
"We are doing great things, and we are ready to accept families and support families where they're at. And I think when you have a voice, and you use that voice, other people often will hear it, and it will energize them to rally around a cause that you're passionate about." [29:43] - Michael
"When you operate out of space, that's when things fall into line." [35:09] - Michael
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
Jennifer Conner
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Michael Ingram
Bedford Heights Daycare Center
In this heartfelt sendoff episode, Kris sits down with her very first hire, Camille St. Martin, for a deeply meaningful conversation about the postpartum experience, nervous system regulation, and the importance of truly seeing and supporting new moms. Camille, now a mother of two and the founder of Ritual Movement Mama, shares how her own experience of isolation and identity loss after childbirth sparked a mission to help mothers reconnect with their bodies, their breath, and their inner wisdom, one slow movement at a time.
Together, Kris and Camille explore what it means to return to yourself after birth, how child care leaders can support the full family system, and why "happier mamas" really do lead to "happier babies." This episode also marks a full-circle moment and a big transition — Kris's final episode as host of Child Care Rockstar Radio before passing the mic to new host and CEO of the Child Care Success Company, Jennifer Conner.
Key Takeaways:
[9:35] Camille talks about her experience of feeling isolated and disconnected after her children were born, and her desire to create a community of support for new moms.
[10:14] Ritual Movement Mama is aimed at helping new moms feel at home in their bodies and regulate their nervous systems.
[15:14] Camille shares her personal journey of quitting drinking and the coping skills she developed, which inspired her to help other new moms.
[17:43] Camille speaks candidly about postpartum depression screenings, the cultural default to medication, and the urgent need for alternative, holistic support.
[23:04] Instead of a rigid routine, Camille now teaches a "wheel of anchors," small, accessible practices like breathwork, movement, and prayer that help moms feel grounded again.
[25:27] Camille's personal life and projects.
[27:05] Fun fact! Camille INDEED was a professional hula hoop performer!
[31:26] Her new virtual program offers guided journaling, somatic movement, and imagery-based integration for women navigating identity shifts in early motherhood. [34:58] Camille reminds child care leaders that they may be one of the first outside interactions for postpartum moms, and that those early moments imprint deeply.
[35:50] Kris reflects on her own child care experiences as a new mom, emphasizing the power of environments that support both the baby and the mother.
Quotes:
"Moms right now are so isolated, and there is not a lot of support, and there isn't a lot of support around healing as far as stepping into motherhood and transitioning into motherhood and learning how to cope and how to regulate our nervous systems and how to move into motherhood gracefully." — Camille [10:04]
"Lots of times we have the biggest shift of our lives and everything rearranges on the inside, our whole nervous system has been rearranged, and everyone just expects us to bounce back and go back to normal, and there's just not even a witnessing or a holding or a ceremony." — Camille [11:29]
"I would say it's kind of a real honoring and reverence for the transition into motherhood through movement and other integration processes." — Camille [31:18]
"Regulated mothers equal regulated children and happier families." — Camille [33:18]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Ritual Movement Mama | IG
Miracle Morning
Are you ready to grow stronger as a leader and show up bigger for your center? This week, Kris sits down with Cynthia Maher, owner and founder of Bedford Child Development Center in Michigan, and a proud finalist in the 2025 Child Care Rockstar Contest. Cynthia shares what it felt like to be on that big stage, the personal breakthroughs she experienced, and the mindset shifts that are helping her move forward with more clarity and confidence than ever before.
With over 20 years in the field, Cynthia opens up about her team culture, marketing strategies, and why her center's motto, "treat others as you want to be treated", is more than just words on a wall.
Key Takeaways:
[3:14] A big podcast announcement!
[8:04] Cynthia shares how she's using discounts and community awareness to drive enrollment at Bedford Child Development Center.
[9:21] She's been in the field her whole adult life and has owned her center for over 20 years.
[10:10] Cynthia lights up when she talks about watching children grow and hit those magical "lightbulb" moments.
[12:49] For her, this work is more than a job — it's a calling and a ministry.
[13:44] Cynthia reflects on how much she's grown as a leader, especially in shifting her mindset around business ownership.
[15:13] She gives a peek into her personal life, from her supportive husband to the joys of being a grandmother.
[18:21] Cynthia breaks down the community partnerships that are helping her center thrive, like working with the local library and schools.
[23:24] Her leadership style centers on treating staff like family and making sure every team member feels supported and properly trained.
[24:34] Building a strong, connected team culture has always been a top priority at Bedford.
[26:06] Cynthia walks through how her admin team is structured to help things run smoothly and support both teachers and families.
[27:53] She talks about what it was like to be a finalist in the Rockstar Contest, and how it helped her step more fully into her power.
[31:20] Her "why" keeps her going: helping kids, building a legacy, and showing her team what's possible.
[33:12] Cynthia encourages other leaders to take the leap, invest in themselves, and keep learning, no matter what stage they're in.
Quotes:
"The development and watching children grow and flourish and getting those aha moments with the light bulb has always been like something that just drives me." — Cynthia [10:10]
"It has always been my ministry to be with children and to work with the children." — Cynthia [12:49]
"Our motto has always been to treat others as you would want to be treated." — Cynthia [23:24]
"Just building that sense of teamwork and a culture that inspires excellence has always been what we have been focusing on." — Cynthia [24:34]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Bedford Child Development Center
Cynthia Maher LinkedIn
The 77 Best Strategies to Grow Your Early Childhood Program
Kyleigh Tolman and Keaton Ross are the powerhouse sister duo behind Klever Kidz Academy in rural Southeast Oklahoma. With three centers and over 300 children served, Kyleigh and Keaton have built something deeply rooted in family, community, and intentional leadership.
During their chat with Kris, they share how they've infused fun, core values, and heart into their culture, from heart-shaped tattoos with their leadership team to parent survival kits and walkout-proof staff meetings. They also open up about enrollment challenges in rural areas, personal development routines, and how finding the right community has shaped their success. This episode is a playbook in purpose-driven leadership and the impact of building a strong internal culture in early education.
Key Takeaways:
[4:48] Kyleigh started Klever Kidz Academy in 2011, and Keaton joined in 2023; together, they now lead three centers serving over 290 children.
[6:32] As co-owners and sisters, they divide responsibilities based on strengths and have found a rhythm that balances business and family.
[8:32] Kyleigh shares the origin of the Klever Kidz name and her early passion for creating a safe, loving environment for children.
[11:10] The sisters share personal insights about their families and the importance of maintaining a supportive work-life balance.
[11:52] The leadership team bonded so deeply they got matching heart-shaped tattoos — on their left feet!
[14:02] They've built a close-knit team culture grounded in core values, with staff meetings so engaging that no one wants to leave.
[20:48] In a unique Oklahoma model, they've built contracts and partnerships that help sustain their rural enrollment.
[22:34] Their personal development practices include books like The Miracle Morning and strong morning routines to lead with intention.
[25:09] Facing inflation, low birth rates, and local competition, they've used strategic enrollment tools like waived fees and parent survival kits.
[29:11] They prioritize building strong relationships with licensing reps and being visible in their communities.
[31:11] Their marketing strategy includes going back to basics and focusing on human connection and word-of-mouth.
[32:30] The Parent Survival Kit is a small but thoughtful gift for new families that makes a lasting impression.
[35:07] Their biggest advice: build a trusting, collaborative relationship with your licensing rep. It pays off long-term.
Quotes:
"Heart-shaped tattoos because we lead with heart." — Kylie [12:21]
"We always try to make sure we have the right people in the right seats." — Kylie [13:49]
"I'd say we are really a close-knit leadership team. We're like a family, and then we are intentional about that, and that's one of our core values as well. And we're always incorporating our core values and making sure our leadership team is instilling those core values into our staff." — Kylie [14:16]
"We are their family. We are that connection they're looking for." — Kylie [20:17]
"Align yourself with the right people and then implement as fast as you can without burning out. It's a hard one, but it is possible." — Kris [38:49]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Hal Elrod — The Miracle Morning
Klever Kidz Academy
Happy New Year and welcome to 2026! In this episode, Kris sits down with Megan Ferring, a dynamic regional director at Hamilton Heights Child Development Center, where her 16-year journey began as a preschool teacher. Megan's deep commitment to both operational excellence and playful leadership recently earned her the Director of the Year award.
Kris and Megan talk about how Hamilton Heights approaches leadership structure, branding, and enrollment strategy across its six locations. Megan shares her perspective on centering community connections, building team culture, and developing consistent processes across all sites. She also reflects on her growth from shy teacher to confident presenter, the importance of celebrating wins through initiatives like the Hammy Awards, and how servant leadership, inflatable silly Santa costumes, and "yellow box" muffin runs all play a role in culture-building.
Key Takeaways:
[7:24] Megan shares about her family life, including her 17-year-old and 12-year-old sons and her love of camping with her husband of 18 years. [8:01] She began working in early childhood during high school and has now been with Hamilton Heights for over 16 years. [9:12] Her leadership journey has included roles as a preschool teacher, toddler teacher, assistant director, director of special projects, and now regional director. [13:06] Megan emphasizes the importance of building brand recognition and making your center a household name in the community. [14:17] Community outreach strategies and partnerships with early childhood networks.
[17:43] She encourages leaders to recenter on their program's unique strengths to maintain and grow enrollment. [19:52] In her new company-wide compliance role, Megan oversees SOP alignment, staff file audits, and training expiration alerts using BambooHR. [24:05] She finds value in the Academy's team program for helping leaders feel less alone and more connected.
[27:05] Megan uses playful leadership tactics like inflatable costumes, scavenger hunts, and holiday games to boost team morale. [30:27] She prioritizes understanding how each team member feels appreciated using workplace love languages. [33:59] Megan shares how her leadership team supports one another through challenges with trust and shared commitment. [34:24] She defines a childcare rockstar as someone who shows up every day to serve children and families with heart. [36:28] Hamilton Heights recognizes excellence through company-wide shoutouts and the annual "Hammy Awards" celebration.
Quotes:
"The thing that I've recognized about myself is that I'm a lifelong learner. That fuels me. So being able to do that and put it into my toolkit is just great." — Megan [12:31]
"I think the big thing to learn in all of this is that it's important that you put your footprint in the community that you're serving." — Megan [14:09]
"I think that in that team room, something special happens. In the main room, too. You don't feel alone; you're hearing that people are struggling with the same issue you are, and it makes you feel better. And that you're not in it alone." — Megan [24:02]
"Not everybody has the same heart and drive that I do, and that's okay. It's what sets me apart." — Megan [37:44]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Ep 202 with Adrianne Agulla
Hamilton Heights Child Development Center
This week, Kris welcomes LaVonda Paul, a trailblazing early childhood leader and fourth-generation entrepreneur, for an inspiring conversation about legacy, leadership, and the power of showing up. As the owner of Small Impressions Child Development Center in Taylors, South Carolina, LaVonda has spent 19 years building a community-first program. In the episode, LaVonda talks with Kris about how she's cultivated deep trust with families, built a rock-solid team culture, and gone all-in on advocacy, helping shape policy while showing up for children, parents, and educators alike. She opens up the community programs she's launched and why she might just run for office one day. This is a powerful look at what it means to lead with heart, purpose, and unapologetic commitment.
Key Takeaways:
[7:37] LaVonda shares the origin of Small Impressions, which she's led for 19 years. With 90 students currently enrolled, she prioritizes quality over quantity and deep relationships with families.
[8:57] Her journey in early childhood education began at the Urban League of the Upstate and in after-school programs, where she realized the impact she could make by working with younger children.
[10:13] LaVonda reflects on launching her center while going through a divorce, raising a one-year-old. Her leap of faith led to a thriving business — now co-run with her husband, Curtis.
[11:40] Fun fact: LaVonda is afraid to fly, but that doesn't stop her from being a world traveler!
[13:34] LaVonda details what sets her center apart: low staff turnover, deep parent engagement, teacher-parent conferences, onsite therapy, and advocacy for families.
[17:27] She's active at the state level, working with lawmakers and Chambers of Commerce to advocate for childcare investment and workforce development in South Carolina.
[18:06] LaVonda explains her entrepreneurial drive as generational — a fourth-generation business owner who didn't want to live with "shoulda, coulda, woulda" regrets.
[19:41] LaVonda explains running her school like a real school, where she acts as more principal than babysitter.
[21:53] Kris and LaVonda talk about the importance of taking ownership when mistakes happen.
[31:59] Lavonda's advocacy work includes training for childcare workers, as well as expanded services and access for children with behavioral or developmental needs.
[33:06] What's next for LaVonda and Small Impressions?
Quotes:
"I'm about quality as opposed to quantity. I don't want to pack out my classroom because I don't want to lose my sense of being able to connect with my students, um, being able to connect with my families." — LaVonda [8:10]
"That speaks volumes within itself, that children and families believe in our program here, that they stay with us, five, six years. I have a family here that's been here for 12 years." — LaVonda [9:02]
"I'm a risk taker. I'm gonna jump off that cliff. One or two things are going to happen, either God's going to catch me before I fall, or he's going to give me wings and teach me how to fly, but he's taught me how to soar." — LaVonda [10:40]
"It's better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all. So why not try to create something special with my own ideas?" — LaVonda [18:32]
"Take ownership when you screw up. Take ownership when you don't always get it right." — Kris [22:34]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Small Impressions
Small Impressions Facebook
First Steps South Carolina
It's solo episode time! Kris shares insights from her new book, The Antidote to Fear, and outlines three practical ways to trust yourself and the process. She talks about embracing fear and self-doubt, including her "yoga mat" moment that changed her career direction. Kris discusses manifestation as a giving process and highlights the importance of creating quiet spaces for intuition and growth. She also gives an update on her recent women's retreat in Maui.
Key Takeaways:
[2:22] Kris explains the concept of "trust the process" from the Success Academy's guiding principles.
[11:11] How fear can come in and stop us from taking action on following our intuition and going towards our calling.
[14:28] The yoga mat moment that came from a moment of stillness and changed Kris's life.
[15:00] Hug your fear? Why going towards your fear is actually one of the best things you can do to alchemize it.
[17:25] The importance of tapping into gratitude.
[18:08] Overcoming self-doubt.
[21:24] Calling out the "B.S." in your life, and why having a coach or mentor to help you through the process is great.
[22:04] Manifestation as a giving process.
[33:26] Kris talks about manifesting a fun book club where she is surrounded by sisterhood, and her beautiful partnership.
Quotes:
"When you feel fear, the ultimate strategy, the ultimate antidote to fear, is to move towards it. It's to actually embrace it and to feel it and hug it." — Kris [15:24]
"The opposite of fear is actually love. So the way to alchemize the fear is to love it, and to tap into gratitude." — Kris [17:25]
"Manifest from the giving energy, the loving energy, and everything in your world can change." — Kris [33:26]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Mana Awakening
The Antidote to Fear
Kris welcomes Vance Morris, former security guard turned Disney leader and successful entrepreneur, for a trip to the happiest place on earth — great customer service! Vance helps business owners get, serve, and keep clients for life through creating experiences and response-required marketing. He shares real-world strategies to delight customers, build community buzz, and drive word-of-mouth referrals.
In this episode, Vance breaks down Disney's hiring and training magic and the "why" behind it, how it transforms the customer experience, the role of linertainment, and how to make operational consistency actually fun, all with a lens on how these lessons can translate to the early education business. He also walks through the steps to Disney-fy your business and opens up about how to navigate loneliness in leadership.
Key Takeaways:
[2:53] Kris and Vance agree — no cell phones out in the water, unless you are playing music!
[7:11] Vance talks about the changes at Disney, including the increase in employees and the impact on customer service.
[15:22] The importance of addressing leaky holes in the business process and improving customer experience through small changes.
[15:30] Gifting and reciprocity in building customer loyalty and trust.
[16:57] Disney's "linertainment" or the entertainment that helps people stay energized and happy while they wait in line.
[19:09] The "what, how, and why" at Disney and the importance of running things on a system and process.
[20:07] Systems give you freedom, and the importance of consistency and efficiency.
[26:43] What we can learn from the hamburgers at McDonald's!
[27:07] Having an engaged team and empowering people.
[32:23] Building trust and reciprocity through gifting and special "thank you" treats.
[37:03] Vance Morris introduces his coaching program and the concept of systematic magic, which helps businesses map out the customer journey.
[39:50] Finding your community when you are an entrepreneur, and the downside to isolation.
[41:50] Vance's Disney event business and the unique experiences he offers, including a nine-course wine pairing dinner.
[50:06] What's next for Vance in the future?
Quotes:
"I much prefer to work with the mom and pop, Main Street business, where we can have an immediate, noticeable impact, not only on the experience, but on the finances and how profitable customer experience can be." — Vance [10:55]
"What is the company doing to entertain you during that wait period and make it not feel so bad?" — Vance [18:08]
"The secret sauce behind all of the experience stuff at Disney is that Disney runs on systems. And literally runs on three words: what to do, how to do it, and why do we do it that way? And everything has a what, how, why behind it, and the reason for this." — Vance [18:39]
"Systems give you freedom. You're not locking down creativity." — Vance [20:07]
"The boss doesn't always have the answers, and asking your employee, well, what would you do? And you'll be surprised a lot of times, because, you know, they're pretty smart." — Vance [25:57]
"Isolation kills entrepreneurs." — Vance [39:18]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Vance Morris
52 Ways to Wow Your Customer Without Breaking the Bank
Deliver Service Now Institute
Kris welcomes Ashanti Ordone, the Founder and CEO of Gifted & Talented Academy, and the 2025/26 Child Care Rock Star Award winner! They talk about expanding from a home daycare to three locations, transforming her school's culture, and overcoming challenges in the early childhood education landscape. Ashanti shares her powerful story of building a thriving early learning center, detailing how she developed rock-solid core values and poured into her leadership team, implemented innovative leadership strategies, and turned her school's culture into a model of excellence.
Key Takeaways:
[6:02] Ashanti shares her background, starting Gifted and Talented Academy in Indiana with her mom in 2002. They are family-owned and family-focused.
[6:21] Fun fact! They started with a home daycare and expanded to a center within three months due to high demand.
[14:31] Ashanti discusses her transition from practicing law to early childhood education, driven by her passion for working with children.
[17:07] How Ashanti's legal training and education background have been instrumental in her success in the child care industry.
[18:21] Ashanti talks more about her family and personal life, along with her love of a good beach!
[21:53] What led Ashanti to Kris and the Child Care Success family in 2018.
[23:47] Ashanti implemented strategies from the academy, focusing on core values and culture, which led to significant improvements.
[25:42] Ashanti explains how they crafted their core values: family, education, respect, excellence, and fun.
[31:30] Teachers were involved in the interview process to ensure a good cultural fit, and core values were incorporated into interview questions.
[36:19] They have a core value of the month award to recognize team members who exemplify each value.
[38:21] Ashanti gets candid about the struggles that providers are facing, and the importance of staying focused on your mission and staying on the course.
[42:30] The power of keeping a positive mindset and building with consistency and focus.
Quotes:
"I don't think there's anything more important as a cornerstone, a foundational element to your culture, than core values that you actually live and breathe." — Kris [4:55]
"She is absolutely my why. She is the reason that family and education are so important to me." — Ashanti [10:13]
"I think that that combination of just that core value of education, growing up with a mom who is an educator, and having a passion for young children, combined with the legal training, is what helps me to be successful in business." — Ashanti [17:33]
"For me, I think the biggest game changer that first year was focusing on our core values and really starting to turn our culture around." — Ashanti [26:40]
"If family is one of our core values, then you have to fit into this family." — Ashanti [35:26]
"Excellence, again, means we're a culture of continuous improvement, so we don't settle for where we are right now. Our culture is amazing, but culture is living and breathing, and so we're always working on it, and we're always striving to make it better." — Ashanti [35:47]
"When you feed yourself with a positive mindset and you really spend time working on your spirituality and your growth mindset, it helps you actually prepare for the challenges, be grateful for them, and work through them." — Ashanti [42:43]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Gifted & Talented Academy
Ashanti Ordone LinkedIn
Want to stop the revolving door of teachers and create a rock-solid childcare team? Kris talks with Jami Hartmann from Trainual about how the right systems can transform your center's operations. They dig into practical strategies for finding great staff, training them effectively, and keeping them motivated. Jami shares some great insights on getting your whole team aligned, creating smooth onboarding, and using technology to make documentation easier. If you're struggling with staff turnover and want to build a more consistent, high-performing center, this episode is packed with real-world solutions that can help you level up your team.
Key Takeaways:
[5:00] Kris launches her new book, The Antidote to Fear!
[9:02] Alignment is at the core of what Trainual offers, and to think of it as a digital version of your childcare center.
[10:05] The need for operational consistency to deliver exceptional customer service and meet parent expectations.
[10:35] Jami shares her professional journey, including her transition to Trainual, impacting the maternity leave policies, and the challenges of balancing work and motherhood.
[12:35] The beauty of Trainual's supportive work environment.
[17:33] Fun fact — Jami was on Wheel of Fortune as a teenager!
[19:30] Jami explains how Trainual helps childcare centers by providing a centralized platform for documenting and training staff.
[22:09] Graduating from Google Docs and how Trainual allows for the creation of standard operating procedures and having a well-documented and accessible playbook for childcare centers.
[26:33] Successful documentation needs everyone on the leadership team to contribute and take ownership of their processes.
[28:54] More about the AI component of Trainual, including the content creation piece.
[33:31] Jami identifies the top challenges in the childcare industry, including finding and retaining staff and managing parent communication.
[35:47] It can be a red flag when a center has constant turnover and a revolving door of staff.
[41:55] Jami shares Trainual's plans for future product development, including enhancing AI capabilities and integrating with other tools.
[44:33] The feature of a public share link that parents can always refer back to.
Quotes:
"At the core of what we do is really about alignment." — Jami [9:06]
"The inconsistency, or consistency in operations based on how your staff knows the playbook, is the cornerstone for going towards great customer service and giving parents that exceptional experience. It's very difficult to do that if you aren't all on the same page together." — Kris [10:19]
"At the core of that growth is that we genuinely care about our customers, and our success is dependent on our customers' success." — Jami [13:17]
"Trainual works really well for any people-powered business." — Jami [30:42]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Trainual
Jami Hartmann LinkedIn
Kris welcomes Josh and Pamela Hernandez, owners of Montessori Kids Universe Stone Oak. The duo talks about their path into early childhood education and opening up MKU, tips for starting out with cash flow out of the gate, and enrollment strategies that worked for them. They also chat with Kris about using referral rewards, how they balance family and business, marketing tools that help them build trust and stand out in their community, the need for the industry to collaborate more, and how they keep their staff happy and inspired.
Key Takeaways:
[5:04] Joshua and Pamela talk about the history of MKU of Stone Oak, and how they got into the ECE field.
[8:58] They currently have 37 team members.
[9:27] The wins and challenges of creating (and keeping) great employees.
[14:50] Joshua and Pamela discuss their marketing strategies, including Google and Facebook ads, and their active presence on social media.
[15:19] The importance of referrals in their business model, offering bonuses for both staff and families who refer new enrollments.
[21:06] Working as a husband-wife team and the importance of dividing responsibilities based on their strengths.
[26:04] Pamela shares her inspiration from her mother, who was a social worker and professor, and her own passion for education, while Joshua talks about his mother’s influence and the importance of hard work and dedication.
[30:03] Thinking long-term with employees and getting them in a mindset to stay with the company for years to come.
[34:48] Will an expansion be in the future?
[38:14] Remembering that building something new takes persistence, but it is one step at a time, so keep going!
[40:24] The need for better collaboration.
Quotes:
“At this stage in both of our businesses, we’re more firefighters right now. So wherever there’s fire, that’s where we go.” — Joshua [5:11]
“We have a beautiful culture that we’ve built, and we go above and beyond to show our teachers how much we care and love them, and want them to be a part of the team.” — Pamela [10:40]
“We both bring our strengths to the table, and we have created what I feel is a beautiful team of husband and wife.” — Pamela [21:39]
“Growth is a process, and sometimes the best lessons come from challenges.” — Joshua [35:05]
“Building something meaningful takes time, persistence, and a lot of heart, but it’s worth every step.” — Joshua [38:03]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Montessori Kids Universe Stone Oak
Kris welcomes “The Jens”, aka Jennifer House (CEO) and Jenni Grawvunder (COO) of Children’s Choice Preschool, to share the remarkable story behind their 12-center child care empire in San Diego County. What started as a nonprofit program with 25 children has grown into a thriving operation serving nearly 1,300 kids across 11 centers (with a 12th on the way) and supported by a team of over 300 staff.
From pet chickens to RV-based school openings, the Jens talk about blending practical business strategy with fun, managing both nonprofit and for-profit centers, building culture through grace and accountability, and how a vivid vision exercise helped reawaken their passion (and their animal sanctuary dreams). They also share some great advice on marketing, building a community, and not staying stuck as a leader.
Key Takeaways:
[8:24] The Jens join Kris from sunny San Diego.
[9:37] Jen House reflects on starting Children’s Choice in 1998 as a nonprofit with 25 children.
[10:11] They now operate 11 schools, with the 12th in escrow.
[11:27] Jenni G shares how she started as an aide in 2008 and worked her way up.
[12:28] The hilarious Yellow Pages story of how Jenni found her job and showed up with a posse.
[13:35] They now care for nearly 1,300 children and manage over 300 employees.
[14:25] The pet mascots of Children’s Choice.
[17:29] How a vivid vision exercise during a mastermind reignited Jen’s goals.
[18:08] Why events, parent engagement, and low ratios keep them nearly full.
[19:56] How they separate their nonprofit and for-profit businesses.
[22:55] Culture tips: give grace, hold accountability, and never stop training.
[23:51] Why adaptability has been key to their continued growth.
[24:05] Their dynamic: Jen is the visionary; Jenni is the implementer and numbers brain.
[26:34] Jenni recalls stepping up as a leader during COVID after Jen’s family loss.
[28:18] Jen reflects on shedding the nonprofit scarcity mindset and embracing self-worth.
[30:15] Their marketing strategy includes events, banners, mailers, and constant hustle.
[33:38] Why they gave up enrollment specialists and returned to director-led tours.
[36:02] Jenni’s personal journey of staying in California and building a life she never imagined.
[37:33] Their next move? An RV to launch school #12 on the road.
[39:12] The Jens share their fun facts, including chasing cows and running a puppet business.
Quotes:
“I told her, when I interviewed with her the first day, I said, ‘I’m gonna run one of your schools one day.’ And here I am.” — Jenni Grawvunder [11:43]
“You say give grace, but we also have to hold accountability.” — Jennifer House [23:13]
“Everything that we do, we learn from, we grow from, and who I am today is because of the things that I went through.” — Jennifer House [35:17]
“You’re always marketing. Even when you’re full, you keep marketing.” — Jennifer House [32:52]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
LocaliQ
Trainual
Children’s Choice Preschool
Children’s Choice Academy
Kris welcomes Dominique Gill, heart-centered leader and owner of Unique Kids Childcare in Nashville and Smyrna, Tennessee, to share her journey to multi-site child care leader. Dominique opens up about starting as a young mother seeking affordable child care, working in exchange for tuition, and eventually moving from home-based care to two thriving centers. Dominique built her program around love, family, and celebrating every child’s uniqueness. She discusses the challenges of opening during the pandemic, shifting into leadership, raising tuition for the first time, and creating a supportive culture where both children and staff can thrive.
Key Takeaways:
[7:00] Dominique talks about her two centers, and more about her background, starting as a teen parent and transitioning to in-home child care due to financial constraints.
[8:41] She describes the evolution of her business, eventually expanding to a licensed center during the pandemic.
[12:28] Dominique is a busy woman! She has a large, beautiful family, including four foster children.
[14:02] Dominique explains the origin of her center’s name, “Unique Kids,” and its significance in embracing diversity among students.
[15:21] She describes the family-oriented atmosphere at her centers, with herself and her mother actively involved daily.
[15:25] Building a family-centered culture that supports both staff and parents.
[19:37] Dominique’s struggle shifting from home-based provider to confident leader of a team.
[19:52] A game changer from joining the Academy — surveys! Dominique talks about how the surveys conducted with parents and staff revealed areas for improvement, particularly in management and fairness.
[20:18] Dominique reflects on the importance of setting clear expectations and contracts to maintain order and respect within the organization.
[21:33] How parent and staff surveys humbled her, revealed blind spots, and strengthened her leadership.
[24:36] Going from people-pleasing to people leading.
[26:37] The hardest challenge she faced was raising prices, and how accountability helped her push through.
[30:23] Dominique explores additional revenue streams, such as hosting birthday parties, offering in-house field trips, and partnering with external providers.
[32:33] Dominique’s fun fact: she’s shy and introverted, even though she’s often on the dance floor at Academy events!
[34:42] How an accountability partner from the Academy kept her on track and boosted her confidence.
[37:34] Dominique’s vision: building legacies for her children and creating lasting impact through her centers.
Quotes:
“Find your uniqueness in a world of differences. Our kids are from different areas of the world, the city, and situations, but they’re still unique in some type of way.” — Dominique [14:39]
“Treat people fairly, but not the same.” — Academy Coach Tamina [24:55]
“Having accountability partners was just amazing.” — Dominique [27:38]
“Everywhere I’m going is where I need to be, so I appreciate where I’m going and how I’m getting there, and all the obstacles that are putting me through. So I’m grateful for the company and everybody around, because without anybody here, I don’t know how I would be able to just get up and keep going, but we are headed to creating legacies for my kids, and that’s my biggest thing.” — Dominique [37:50]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Unique Kids Child Care Center
Kris sits down with Tea Shong and Trina Romanowski, the powerhouse mother-daughter duo behind a thriving, multi-site early childhood business in Michigan. Winners of the Partnership of the Year Award at the Child Care Success Summit, Tea and Trina share how they scaled from an in-home daycare to three high-quality centers, all rooted in purpose and shared vision. They discuss navigating family dynamics, leading with clarity, embedding nature-based learning, and using creative systems like coaching calls and color-coded lanyards, to keep their team culture strong across every location.
Key Takeaways:
[3:26] Kris starts to shift to all things Summit prep!
[7:03] Tea and Trina talk about their family’s involvement in education and coaching, blending their expertise in both fields.
[9:03] The business has grown from a small in-home center to a high-quality program with three locations, serving approximately 250 children.
[11:24] Tea and Trina talk about winning the Partnership of the Year award at the Childcare Success Summit, and what that meant to them.
[12:49] Tea and Trina share their impressive fun facts!
[15:55] Their family dynamics and the challenges and rewards of working together in a family-owned business.
[17:08] How they incorporate natural elements into their centers, including outdoor nature trails and using natural materials.
[20:02] Their coaching structure, including weekly Zoom meetings and collective coaching calls.
[21:19] Having a VA to help them with administrative tasks.
[22:13] How joining the Academy helped them.
[27:57] Using a color-coded lanyard system to reinforce core values, and other techniques that have become culture drivers.
[31:52] Running a business that empowers both the staff and the children and their families.
[33:24] Investing in a CRM system.
[34:05] ECE owners are very sometimes reluctant and shy about telling their story, and it’s important to know and share yours!
[39:44] Tips for moving away from a fear-based mindset and being able to separate from people that aren’t a fit for your business.
[41:27] The importance and beauty of self-love.
[44:08] What’s next for Tea and Trina?
Quotes:
“Sharing your vision with your team sets the course, and it gets everybody excited and enthused and energized and in a positive mindset around where you're headed, and that can reduce fear, anxiety and that questioning that goes on in people's minds.” - Kris [2:44]
“From being a small in-home center to just basically keeping everyone alive and healthy and learning basic stuff to now a company that's doing all of this curriculum just being that next notch of a childcare center, that’s where we're at now.” - Trina [10:09]
“Our mission is to ignite the spark. So if that speaks on the passion and all that goes with it, I think that's what truly sets us apart from other programs, and then just really valuing nature as an aspect of our program as well.” - Trina [17:08]
“I think we need to give shout outs to this organization. If Tea hadn’t talked me into joining here, I would still be the director and drowning and trying. I could never be in the position where I am coaching and inspiring people.” - Trina [19:10]
“Be patient with yourself. Do little by little, and keep reaching for those higher goals.” - Trina [21:05]
“I think if there's one thing that I can say made a huge difference, the biggest difference would just be investing in a CRM system.” - Tea [33:40]
“Knowing that whatever happens to me is happening for me, not to me.” - Tea [44:08]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Birth Toddlers & Beyond
Kris is joined by longtime friend, business visionary, and rockstar early childhood leader Rachel Supalla. Rachel is the founder of Vision Tree, a TEDx speaker, and the author of The Playful Leader’s Toolkit, a book packed with wisdom on leading with joy, grounding, and energy. With 10 schools across Montana and Utah, Rachel shares how she’s scaled her business while embracing what she calls “ruby slipper leadership.” They talk about managing energy instead of time, why remote teams need tight leadership structures, and how playfulness is more than just dress-up — it’s a strategy for productivity. Rachel also opens up about living with ADHD and how it shapes her leadership style, creativity, and drive.
Key Takeaways:
[5:26] Rachel shares her evolution from center owner to coach and consultant, and how joining the Child Care Success Academy changed her career path.[6:36] She talks about scaling rapidly across three regions and how Vision Tree emerged as her consulting and leadership training brand.[9:05] Rachel loves lake life and is a proud mom of four kids and grandma to baby Zeke.
[10:39] Fun fact: Rachel’s trip with her grandma (who some thought was her sister) to Ireland at age 13, including a spontaneous solo in a pub, was an early clue that she’d someday take the stage.[12:46] Rachel explains how The Playful Leader’s Toolkit came out of her ADHD-fueled trial-and-error experiences, and why she believes burnout is not a badge of honor.
[14:12] Ruby slippers became a metaphor for grounding, confidence, and leadership clarity, especially in high-pressure seasons. Once you’ve got the right shoes on, you can do anything!
[16:41] Managing energy (not just time) helps Rachel structure her day and lead effectively, especially as a neurodivergent leader.
[20:24] She breaks down the “max of 10” rule for direct reports and why it protects leadership bandwidth across large teams.[24:34] Rachel gives a deep dive into her favorite systems: Playground, JotForm Enterprise, Teachable, and Zapier.[27:16] Playfulness isn’t fluff — it’s a mindset that supports innovation, brain-based leadership, and mental reset when teams are stressed.[32:03] Rachel walks through her M.A.G.I.C. framework, the five pillars of playful leadership.
[35:40] Doing a TEDx Talk was terrifying and transformational; the unexpected outcome was a deeper conversation about ADHD and leadership.
[39:15] Rachel shares her seasonal schedule, non-negotiables like football and summer in Montana, and the power of team infrastructure.
[41:48] She teases her upcoming course, focused on helping women scale their culture without losing their soul.
Quotes:
“I think that’s probably where I learned the most about how to run a remote team, was being an employee for the Child Care Success Academy.” — Rachel [7:46]
“You go up the ladder in life when you’re succeeding and you’re accomplishing, and you get to this level of contribution, and that’s the level that I feel like I’m at. And I want to give back. I want to help people do it faster, the right way, from my mistakes. So that’s what inspired me to write my book.” — Rachel [13:46]
“That’s when I’m most productive, when my energy is managed. It doesn’t have anything to do with time. You can have time blocked. You can have all the time in the world. But if your energy sucks, you’re not going to get anything done.” — Rachel [17:46]
“I think that’s been the biggest thing, learning to manage my energy.” — Rachel [18:29]
“From the beginning, we have learned to automate, delegate, eliminate.” — Rachel [21:10]
“Play is not just, let’s dress up and have a potluck. It’s a mindset.”— Rachel [26:15]
“I am very passionate about this playful leadership concept. It’s an idea. It’s silly to some, it’s weird to others, and it’s powerful to others. And I really do think that if you embrace it, it’s going to change the way we teach children, it’s going to change the way we lead our companies, and it’s going to make the world a more happy, innovative, creative place, which is what we’re lacking right now, and so I am very passionate about that.” — Rachel [36:48]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
The Playful Leader’s Toolkit
A Quest of Creative Culture Building with Rachel Supalla
The power of play for better leadership | Rachel Supalla | TEDxParkland
Vision Tree
Kris welcomes Gigi Schweikert, CEO of Lightbridge Academy, to explore what it takes to lead at scale and stay grounded in the human side of early childhood education. With 85 centers across the U.S., Gigi shares how she thinks about quality, culture, and decision-making at the organizational level, and why trust is still the best metric. They discuss industry trends, mentorship, and the habits that help leaders grow. Gigi also reflects on what she’s learned after publishing 18 books, raising four children, embracing grandmotherhood, and showing up consistently for her team and community.
Key Takeaways:
[6:52] Gigi explains how Lightbridge Academy evaluates quality across its network and why it comes down to trust more than checklists.
[8:52] Gigi talks about her passion for mentoring women in leadership, her new role as a grandmother, and how watercolor painting gives her space to recharge.
[10:54] Both Kris and Gigi reflect on the importance of creating safe spaces where women can speak openly about challenges and goals.
[13:42] Gigi breaks down the balance of running a business with high accountability while preserving joy and mission-driven work.
[16:08] Lightbridge is made up of 20% company centers and 80% franchise centers.
[20:38] The Serene Seedlings rollout program.
[23:50] Gigi reflects on how technology, when used intentionally, can improve connection and enhance the customer experience in early childhood environments.
[25:45] She shares a (funny) standout memory from a speaking engagement in China and what it taught her about cultural differences and the universality of leadership challenges.
[33:51] Kris and Gigi talk about the upcoming Child Care Success Summit, with Gigi returning as a main stage speaker, and why she’s especially excited for this year's event.
[41:22] Why you have to spend money to make money, and you can’t save your way to success.
Quotes:
“I really see ECE so much as that quality piece, that education piece, that opportunity to make sure that every child gets the best start, from zero to three, zero to six, etc. And so I’ve always said that early childhood education is the trust business.” — Gigi [6:52]
“At the end of the day, when I am out in the field and looking at quality, my judgment of quality is trust.” — Gigi [7:56]
“Being a mentor for women is one of the most meaningful and fulfilling things that I do.” — Kris [10:37]
“I just want to make sure that I can create a safe space wherever I go, where people can feel like they can be themselves and talk about their vulnerabilities and talk about their aspirations with equal enthusiasm to overcome whatever barriers and boundaries they might have.” — Gigi [11:45]
“Families are about love, reconciliation, understanding, and about getting through tough times together, and about having each other’s backs and all those things. I think childcare centers are the same. They just look different all over. So my desire, my personal desire and passion, is that every child has access to affordable, quality childcare. I just think it’s paramount.” — Gigi [19:36]
“I want people to recognize that in so many ways, when you think you can’t, you can.” — Gigi [35:19]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Lightbridge Academy
Kris welcomes the joy-inducing and magnetic Regina Miller, a nationally recognized trainer, author, and owner of Trailblazers Academy in Wichita, Kansas. With nearly five decades in early childhood education and 35 years in leadership, Regina shares fantastic insight into what it really takes to lead a team, stay connected as an owner, and build lasting impact in your center.
Regina shares some great takeaways from her new book Leadership Lessons, including how to hire smarter, mentor without ego, and avoid becoming an absentee owner. Kris and Regina also talk about how to stay engaged, inspire your staff, and create a culture that works, starting at the top.
Key Takeaways:
[5:05] Some exciting new info about the Summit! [7:06] Regina brings more than 47 years of experience in early childhood and 35 years in leadership, with a clear focus on mentorship, literacy, and building long-term community impact.
[8:58] After losing her daughter in 2022, Regina downsized her center to honor her daughter’s dream and now focuses on a smaller, literacy-driven program model. [11:46] She has no plans to retire and emphasizes purpose-driven longevity in leadership, reinforced by consistent self-care and boundaries.
[14:13] The beauty of an early wake-up time. [17:02] Her newest book, Leadership Lessons, was years in the making and centers on transparency, personal growth, and lessons from mistakes made as a leader. [20:34] Regina encourages leaders to stop being intimidated by talented hires. She views strong team members as a resource to grow the organization, not as a threat. [23:18] New directors often assume the title alone is enough. Regina challenges them to build systems, listen to input, and avoid siloed decision-making. [25:59] Veteran leaders can become disconnected. She emphasizes the importance of owners remaining present and actively involved in culture-building. [30:18] Regina is deeply involved in policy advocacy and stresses the need for early educators to be consistently vocal with legislators, not just during funding crises.
[34:04] Fun fact: You may catch Regina on the dance floor, and she moved for four hours at her own birthday party! [34:24] Joy and energy are core to Regina’s leadership style, and she believes team morale can be shifted through presence, celebration, and meaningful connection.
[36:13] The connection between dancing and leadership. [39:03] For introverted leaders, Regina recommends finding trusted allies, preparing in writing, and participating in leadership through small, strategic actions. [41:54] Regina uses creative, real-world training exercises, like immersive people-watching in Las Vegas, to help emerging leaders build confidence and self-awareness. [45:04] Her upcoming literacy program not only supports child development but also functions as an enrollment strategy by drawing families back into the center.
Quotes:
“I believe that all of us have a part. So there’s no better school, bigger school, best school. There’s all of us, and then there are all of these children that need us.” — Regina [8:43]
“Hire someone smarter than you.” — Regina [22:08]
“As a new leader, be willing to listen.” — Regina [24:14]
“Leaders cannot ask of their people what they’re not willing to do themselves. And a lot of times you can’t just delegate that down.” — Regina [29:28]
“Once I dance, I make everybody dance. I can boogie off anything you give me.” — Regina [39:29]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Leadership Lessons
Trailblazers Academy
Funding and Advocacy for ECE, Across All 50 States with Cindy Lehnhoff
Sasquatch music festival 2009 — Guy starts dance party
Kris welcomes young inspiration and rising leader Whitney Burkman, owner of Magnolia Academy in Payson, Utah. Whitney shares more about her journey from in-home childcare to a full 125-spot center before age 30. She talks about building confidence as a young business owner, gives some great advice for hiring, marketing strategies, leadership challenges, and the critical role of mindset in growing her successful childcare business.
Key Takeaways:
[4:55] Whitney opened Magnolia in 2022, and they are currently at 122 enrollments. [7:43] Opening a center at age 27 and what inspired the move from home to center.
[12:59] How is Magnolia Academy different from its competitors?
[15:44] Becoming an off site owner and the shifts she had to make in her habits and mindset when going from in home to an actual center.
[21:09] Whitney’s chaotic home life (in the best way) with a busy husband and four boys.
[23:43] Whitney shares some of her best marketing and branding tips.
[27:12] Enrollment and staffing is always cyclical.
[28:42] Using organic content for social media to show the cool things going on at Magnolia Academy.
[30:30] Lessons learned in leadership and building a team.
[35:04] Reminding staff that there is always something that can be fixed, but they also must remember it is a business with parents and children depending on them.
[38:06] Whitney shares challenges as a young leader and owner.
[40:53] What’s next for Whitney in the rest of 2025 and beyond?
[45:57] How joining the Academy and shifting her mindset helped change things for Whitney.
Quotes:
“I feel like I've really been able to pull that in-home feel into my center, which makes us stand out a lot.” [13:56] - Whitney
“I feel like our program has just far exceeded just giving trust into my teachers and my directors and letting them do what they're supposed to do.” [20:08] - Whitney
“You can't make everybody happy.” [30:56] - Whitney
“To me, leadership is not for the faint of heart. It's not easy to do all those things. It's much easier just to smooth it over or pretend like everything's fine and shut your door, but that's not really serving people.” [37:02] - Whitney
“Once I was able to change my mindset, then just everything else fell into place, my enrollments, my staffing, just everything. It's just weird how it works.” [46:02] - Whitney
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Magnolia Academy
Kris welcomes Brett Neller, CEO of LineLeader by ChildcareCRM, to explore the real meaning of the customer journey in child care, and why it’s critical for sustainable growth. Brett shares insights from his professional evolution, including how dropping his kids off at care centers helped him deeply understand the needs of operators. He and Kris talk about enrollment challenges, operational bottlenecks, mapping a full customer journey, and how automation can power human connection, not replace it.
They also discuss fear-based leadership, what small businesses often get wrong in scaling, and why “state-of-the-art” doesn’t have to mean complicated. From CRM misconceptions to the power of unified data, Brett drops insight after insight on how to grow with intentionality, and why understanding your brand touchpoints matters now more than ever.
Key Takeaways:
[6:49] Brett shares how he got started at LineLeader in 2018 and how the mission of the early childhood industry drew him in. [9:30] Brett explains how their offering goes beyond a CRM. [10:20] What is the customer journey really, and how does understanding it boost your enrollment? [12:18] Many small businesses are still using whiteboards and sticky notes to manage leads, and why that doesn’t scale. [13:02] Brett breaks down what most get wrong in enrollment. [15:08] How automation can be a gift for parent experience, and why tech doesn’t have to feel robotic.
[16:07] Brett shares more about his family life, and how he and his wife rely on child care as well.
[18:28] Fun fact — Brett grew up in a military family and moved many times throughout his childhood. [19:30] The biggest mindset shift for owners: from reactive to data-driven. [22:04] How to spot where you’re losing families in your funnel. [25:55] The real ROI of mapping your journey: improved staff morale, better conversion, and clarity.
[27:03] The “wow” experience. [30:31] Brett and Kris talk about the danger of fear-based leadership and the difference between helpful automation and shiny object syndrome. [34:17] Practical tips on how to start your journey mapping even with a small team. [39:45] What it really means to lead with empathy and insight.
Quotes:
- “I love the mission behind the space. I love having kids and then dropping my kids off every day at childcare centers. So every day I see operators. And it’s been fun to live the professional journey in parallel with, you know, the personal journey of raising kids.” — Brett [6:46]
- “Our thesis is to provide the best unified platform experience for staff and parents from a digital experience perspective.” — Brett [10:12]
- “That’s the most important aspect of the family journey when they’re seeking care, is that you need to execute a great tour. If you don’t, that’s the make or break point, where a family is either like, I’m in or I’m out.” — Brett [23:02]
- “Yeah, you have to get your teams excited about engaging and selling your school. It shouldn’t be a dirty word. We have the opportunity to serve this family. Sales is service, and so let’s just use that service mindset and get our teams excited about being able to win that family over so that we can actually make a difference in the life of that child.” — Kris [28:19]
- “The first thing we generally ask is what’s your customer journey, and have you mapped it out?” — Brett [33:09]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
LineLeader
In this episode, Adrianne Agulla, CEO of Hamilton Heights Child Development Centers in Nebraska and the true definition of an education entrepreneur, joins Kris. Adrianne shares how she went from working in the corporate world to owning six successful daycares and a catering business called Milton’s Amazing Kitchen. Together, she and Kris talk about growing from three to six locations, empowering a leadership team, using VAs to streamline operations, creating a strong scorecard, and what it really takes to scale with excellence. Adrianne goes through the very real ups and downs of growing with intention and building a company that inspires.
Key Takeaways:
[6:19] Adrianne owns and operates Hamilton Heights Child Development Centers, with six centers across Nebraska. She originally purchased three as a package in 2017 and has grown from there. She also owns Milton’s Amazing Kitchen, a catering company focused on child nutrition. [8:27] Hamilton Heights believes that it’s their professional responsibility to protect childhood from all of the external threats in today’s world, and they have a focus on play. [9:31] Adrianne’s earlier career included leadership roles at Coca-Cola and ConAgra, before pivoting into child care.
[11:30] She juggles the business while raising three busy teenagers.
[13:46] Adrianne shares reflections plus a funny story about upgrading her wardrobe from a trip to Vietnam. [15:19] What benefits Adrianne has found being part of the highest-level membership of the Child Care Success Academy: the Empire level. [22:15] She explains her leadership structure, including a director of ops, finance lead, and a high-tenure team.
[24:15] The leadership team meets weekly to review scorecards and KPIs. Accountability plus support equals success.
[28:55] Adrianne shares how she works with three virtual assistants (VAs), including one for marketing, one for data and reports, and one for administrative support.
[31:05] She talks about the industry-wide challenge of attracting and retaining staff and how her company stays focused on its leadership vision.
[38:37] Her 2025 goals: simplify, streamline, and build an even stronger team.
[40:55] Why she acquired a catering business and how it’s improved their food program and opened new business channels.
Quotes:
- “We say that we’re very serious about play. And we believe that it’s our professional responsibility to protect childhood from all of the external threats in today’s world.” — Adrianne [8:27]
- “That combination of loyalty and commitment and tenure and then new energy and new ideas and fresh faces, has created a really, I think, a unique and just a sustainable culture.” — Adrianne [9:12]
- “We are working to create an Early Learning Company that inspires because of the opportunity it creates for staff, families, and children, and so we are just trying to be single-mindedly focused on what it means to create abundant opportunities for our staff from a professional development standpoint, from a wage standpoint, and from a benefit standpoint.” — Adrianne [34:40]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Hamilton Heights Child Development Center
Milton’s Amazing Kitchen
Zac Alcampo, Creative Director at Grow Your Center, brings a fresh perspective to leadership, culture, and creativity in early education. With two decades of experience in the gaming industry, Zac is a dynamic entrepreneur and inventive strategist who has helped build immersive digital experiences that merge gamification, artificial intelligence, and user engagement. Now, he’s applying those same ideas to the world of child care — reimagining everything from team collaboration to marketing to parenting itself.
In this episode, Zac joins Kris to talk about gamification in parenting, business, and leadership. They cover how AI can boost productivity and creativity, how to use jam-style collaboration in your team culture, and how behavioral design can be a powerful tool in both the classroom and the breakroom.
Key Takeaways:
[6:15] Kris shares her summer travel adventures and spiritual coaching work. [7:48] Zac joins from Minsk, Belarus, where he splits his days between parenting and leading creative tech projects.
[9:12] Zac explains how his video game industry background led him to gamify tools at Grow Your Center. [13:24] From Microsoft to Bangkok startups, Zac’s global career shaped how he solves problems creatively and at scale. [18:23] He shares how he co-parents a bilingual preschooler and how every moment becomes a playful game. [25:51] Fun fact: Zac is a seasoned street dancer and battle organizer who once crowdfunded a street culture festival in Thailand! [33:07] Kris and Zac talk about the tools that the GYC team uses to build next-level content.
[37:48] Zac explains how “art directing” AI is the key to using it effectively. It’s not about replacing creativity but amplifying it. [45:31] Zac outlines the structure of a “session” — collaborative cycles that build energy, creativity, and connection.
[48:26] Gamification isn’t just games; it’s strategic behavior design. Done well, it increases engagement without being overwhelming.
[53:45] Ideas for using gamification in parent events, leadership retreats, classroom behavior, and team training. [55:08] Tip: Split leaderboards into categories so everyone has a lane where they can win and feel valued. [56:28] S3 clients will soon see new gamified systems for onboarding, tracking progress, and celebrating wins.
[58:59] Zac spills some beans on what’s coming to S3, including visual progress tools, Slack AI, and more rewards.
[1:01:35] Zac shares what he’s most excited about: launching the M3 platform (Marketing Made Easy) for 2026.
Quotes:
- “I always tell people, GYC is childcare center marketing on the outside, but inside it’s this crazy, cool tech, innovative kind of machine going on inside.” — Zac [9:40]
- “I have to say, I have a huge sense of purpose with everything that I’ve learned in my career beforehand and applying it to child care centers.” — Zac [12:10]
- “Everything turns into a game, and it’s quickly become like having a little best friend.” — Zac [18:50]
- “That’s the biggest thing, the mentality shift in the team, instead of like a doer, or just like, you know, a run-of-the-mill worker, really put into their heads to just act like the art director of what you’re doing, and use the AI as a pencil, a really, really fast pencil. And you still have to know what looks good. You still have to have your design principles and your theory in there, but you can just produce so much more content with that.” — Zac [40:11]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Zac Alcampo LinkedIn
He’s back! The great Vernon Mason returns as one of the podcast’s most popular guests to help celebrate this milestone 200th episode. He and Kris reflect on leadership, legacy, and what it really means to be present.
In this episode, Vernon shares his beautiful wisdom and journey from growing up in an in-home child care program to building and selling a five-site child care business, and now helping grow The Nest into a 52-location powerhouse. Together, he and Kris chat about the realities of leadership today including accountability, toxic positivity, turnover trends, universal pre-K challenges, and financial uncertainty. They also remind us that every day is a gift, and leadership is all about showing up authentically, building real relationships, and staying grounded in gratitude.
Key Takeaways:
[6:15] Kris, the bucket list queen, talks about her adventure to the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.
[8:09] Vernon is the only person to be on the podcast three times!
[9:19] Vernon talks about being the “trifecta” in child care. He shares how he grew his child care company from one to five centers before selling, and how that transition shaped his leadership.
[16:18] Is labor starting to stabilize?
[22:04] The mindset to get out of fear-based leadership, crisis mode, and the scarcity mindset.
[24:26] The difference between toxic positivity and effective leadership and management.
[27:33] Strategies for accountability and preparing for the unknown in the future.
[30:15] The importance of both staying optimistic and taking action in the right direction.
[34:15] Building a parent referral reward program.
[38:29] Vernon talks about The Nest and maintaining relationships with leaders.
[42:47] Incentivizing teachers to stay present and view the classroom as a safe space.
Quotes:
- “We don’t have a dress rehearsal for this. This is the real show here, right? There are no do-overs, right? This is the life we’ve been given, and I want to make an impact. I want to be the best person that I can be.” — Vernon [15:17]
- “Accountability without a relationship is viewed as harassment.” — Vernon quoting Stephen [19:22]
- “Your people will never be more enthusiastic than leadership.” — Vernon [22:04]
- “Whatever you focus on most, you get more of.” — Vernon [25:57]
- “To me, presence is everything. That’s it. We only have this moment, so we’ve got to just juice it up and just be here for it.” — Kris [42:16]
- “The kids, they have that sixth sense, that intuition, they’re going to feel that whether the teacher is coming to the day with the energy of openness and presence or worry and stress and fear and arms crossed.” — Kris [44:41]
- “I really feel as if this industry is in my DNA.” — Vernon [46:52]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Don’t Waste a Crisis, by Vernon Mason
The Nest
This is an inspiring and impactful episode with Rachel Davis, founder of Children’s Promise Centers, an early childhood program in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Operating 20 hours daily, her centers provide critical support for working families often overlooked by traditional child care models.
Rachel chats with Kris about her journey from the Denver Rescue Mission to creating a faith-driven, community-focused child care network where high standards, deep relationships, and genuine care intersect.
She shares the heart behind her mission to support nontraditional working families through innovative programming and reflects on her leadership evolution, from being hands-on with every detail to stepping into a visionary role. Rachel also discusses navigating hiring challenges, working with refugee families, and building a program where inclusion, safety, and excellence are the foundation.
Key Takeaways:
[5:33] Rachel launched Children’s Promise Centers in 2009. Now she operates two locations in Albuquerque and is open 20 hours a day, serving families who need flexible care. [6:37] Her journey began in Denver at the Rescue Mission, where she discovered a passion for supporting the working poor. [10:50] Starting Children’s Promise wasn’t easy — Rachel faced funding barriers and self-doubt but found clarity by leaning into faith. [13:29] One grant rejection helped her clarify her mission — family support, not just academic outcomes. [16:35] Rachel became an early adopter of online learning tools and video systems long before it was common in child care. [22:21] Her passion is serving the working poor — families who don’t qualify for help but still struggle to access care. [24:10] Children’s Promise is the only program in Albuquerque open until 2 a.m., meeting a unique community need. [24:45] Monthly family dinners offer a chance for connection, storytelling, and celebration. [25:58] Her team focuses on relational care, celebrating small wins, like a child’s first steps. [27:00] They’ve supported families who are refugees, including children with medical needs and trauma backgrounds. [30:24] Security is high-tech, featuring “James Bond-style” systems and extensive training for staff. [32:19] Rachel reflects on her shift from being in every detail to trusting her team with day-to-day operations. [36:40] She now focuses more on visionary leadership, delegating while maintaining accountability. [41:04] Her staff go through the same training she’d want for someone caring for her own kids.
[43:54] One of her locations features an open-concept floor plan, encouraging transparency and teamwork. [50:39] She speaks on the power of prayer and being intentional about the energy she puts into her work. [52:04] It’s not about growing for growth’s sake but also about community development and showing up with excellence. [53:15] Rachel reminds us: Don’t grow until your heart and leadership are ready.
Quotes:
- “I’ve always had a passion for the working poor, and I like to say that because it’s not those that are homeless, but they’re working to try and get a hand up, but they just can’t, and they just don’t get the same quality and excellence as others. And so that’s really where a lot of my passion has come from.” — Rachel [22:45]
- “We create kind of a relational community approach to everything. So whether it’s our staff or families or whoever it may be, we’re all about building the community and working with the resources around us.” — Rachel [21:32]
- “The other big thing is just wins, to celebrate each other, right? Even if little Johnny just took their first step, let’s celebrate that, because it’s a big deal to those families.” — Rachel [25:58]
- “I’ve always told people, I’m not going to put them in our program if I wouldn’t leave them with my own kids.” — Rachel [41:04]
- “We’re about the community and how we develop, not about just necessarily growing the business. We’re about community and helping people develop and grow, and that’s our focus.” — Rachel [52:04]
- “We want to do everything with excellence, and the only way to do that is to put my heart in.” — Rachel [53:15]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Children’s Promise Centers
Jessica Harris is the owner of Four Sisters Childcare in Linden, Utah — a thriving center named after her four daughters. Alongside her husband, she’s built a program that’s now serving 91 full-time equivalent students with a capacity of 86 and a waitlist. But her real work goes beyond enrollment.
In this episode, Jessica shares her journey from running a home daycare to leading a full-blown center, all while growing as a leader, navigating fear, and learning how to truly step into her power. She opens up about the deep personal habits that ground her, the way she teaches resilience to her staff, and how she learned to treat herself like the CEO of her own life with systems, policies, and boundaries.
She talks with Kris about how she rebuilt from burnout, found peace in structure, and created a culture where small daily wins add up to big growth.
Key Takeaways:
[2:58] Kris is heading to Bali to work on her leadership, mindset, and spiritual growth.
[7:02] Jessica and her husband run Four Sisters Childcare, named after their four daughters. The center started as an in-home program and now serves 91 FTE students with a waitlist.
[8:28] A push from Kris at a conference inspired Jessica to expand into a center — an idea that changed everything.
[11:42] Jessica was never someone who dreamed big, but learning to shift her mindset has helped her move from fear to confidence.
[16:59] The past year brought clarity: her center’s “why” is teaching resilience, not just to children, but to her staff. [19:04] Personal growth, including spiritual habits and consistency, helped Jessica move through fear and burnout.
[22:02] Missing her daily practices for just two weeks during Summit reminded her how essential small habits are for inner peace. [23:29] Jessica teaches her staff to create “personal policies and procedures” the same way a company would, down to details like where to leave a retainer at night. [26:51] Her team resonated deeply with the message, and starting small helped them follow through on goals they’d struggled with for years. [28:09] Jessica applies the CEO mindset to social media habits too: setting systems and supervision helps her stay accountable without cutting Instagram out entirely. [30:46] Systems = success. Whether it’s the gym or your phone, adjusting your system helps you follow through. [36:41] Just like sharing your brownies, it’s important to share your strengths and successes. [38:17] Marketing strategy: strong Google Ads, Facebook, and Instagram stories, a busy road, rotating banners, and word-of-mouth from alumni families. [41:56] Jessica and her husband pursued a second location but learned through the process that they needed a little more time to prepare. [44:25] Not getting the building was a hard lesson in acceptance but also an opportunity for growth, reflection, and systems testing.
Quotes:
- “Get comfortable being uncomfortable, and you’ll see the growth.” — Jessica [12:30]
- “I have slowly been learning my passion and realizing that resilience, along with communication, is just huge. It’s huge.” — Jessica [19:05]
- “We are our own CEOs, and we have to have policies and procedures for ourselves, and we have to follow them just like a company. If you don’t do that, it fails.” — Jessica [23:29]
- “If you do what you say you’re going to do, then you have a higher level of deservingness, self-love, and value.” — Kris [27:50]
- “When things either go my way or don’t go my way, it’s like, I’m not going to put power into wanting to claw at it and control it and need it and be in resistance to the fact that it’s not working. It’s just to be in acceptance and it’ll flow.” — Jessica [45:08]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Four Sisters Child Care
Neshanta Linson is the owner of Hermes Enchanted Garden, a boutique early childhood program in Lower Alabama. Starting as a home-based daycare, her center has grown into a thriving, community-driven school that blends classical education, family values, and a strong sense of connection. Beyond her role as a business owner, Neshanta is deeply committed to servant leadership, fostering an environment where families, staff, and children feel like an extended family. In this episode, she shares how she built a family-centered school culture where staff and parents feel truly connected. Neshanta also talks with Kris about the power of mindset shifts and personal growth in leading a successful business, the ECE Mafia, and the importance of setting boundaries to avoid burnout and ensure sustainability.
Key Takeaways:
[7:42] Neshanta started her program as a home daycare and expanded into a boutique school due to growing demand.
[8:33] The name Hermes Enchanted Garden came from blending two meaningful influences — an early childhood program she admired and her family’s cloth diaper business.
[10:41] The culture of her school is laid-back yet structured, emphasizing Southern values, community, and support.
[12:50] Fun fact: Neshanta loves folding a hot towel and hates traveling home with dirty clothes!
[14:10] Neshanta is part of the mafia! Well, the ECE Mafia, a small group of accountable, high-performing child care leaders who challenge each other to grow.
[15:05] Joining the Freedom track of the Child Care Success Academy helped Neshanta implement systems, delegate leadership roles, and reclaim her time.
[19:01] For Neshanta, 2021 was a pivotal year — she battled personal losses, business struggles, and health challenges, but found strength through her team and accountability group.
[22:39] Working with Kris on mindset coaching and awakened leadership has helped Neshanta recognize the impact of ego, expectations, and balance in business and life.
[27:46] Rather than traditional tours, she hosts one-on-one “meet-and-greet” sessions to ensure a mutual fit and strong parent-school relationship.
[30:22] Her strong word-of-mouth reputation allows her school to stay fully enrolled without aggressive marketing.
[32:27] She learned to set boundaries to avoid over-giving and protect herself and her team from burnout.
[33:30] Hosting family events like Mom’s Night Out and private Facebook community discussions helps strengthen parent connections.
[37:32] A rare snow event in Alabama reminded her how much parents and communities rely on child care centers as a support system.
Quotes:
- “I would say our culture is laid back, but structured and firm. We believe that kids need to have a balance. I’m a Southerner, and so Southern values really matter to me, and so we want to instill those Southern values into our students. We want them to be well-rounded kiddos.” — Neshanta [10:55]
- “I think we have cultivated a small community where they (the staff) hang out outside of work. They’re becoming real friends and real family, and that’s who we are. Family.” — Neshanta [11:16]
- “It’s like putting the right people in the right seats and people love to give more, especially if that’s their gift.” — Neshanta [18:09]
- “I’ve always been a bit driven, and nobody can tell me no if I believe that that’s where I’m supposed to be.” — Neshanta [19:04]
- “Real love just is. And being authentic, which is something that I do professionally, being authentic is a way to be, and a lot of times that ego gets in the way of that. And so you have to check yourself in the roles that you play, in your shenanigans when that ego comes to play, and then just realize that life just is. And you have to realize life is about duality, but you want to be balanced.” — Neshanta [24:03]
- “I think that part of our unique brilliance is holding space for parents to be parents.” — Neshanta [26:36]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
The Energy Bus, by Jon Gordon
Hermes Enchanted Garden
Kris welcomes The Sisters, Sister M. Mercedes Diaz and Sister Maria Consuela Garzón of St. Francis Daycare Center in Alton, Illinois, who also just happen to be the winners of the 2024 Child Care Rockstar Contest! In this episode, the sisters share their journey of leading a 45‑year‑old institution, discussing their leap into early childhood education without prior daycare experience, transforming systems post‑COVID, and embracing a “whatever it takes” mindset. Their story reveals the heart, courage, and excellence that define a true ECE rockstar.
Key Takeaways:
[4:31] M. Mercedes and Maria are the winners of our 2024 Child Care Rockstar contest!
[7:28] Their decision to join the Child Care Success Academy marked the start of crucial changes, moving from makeshift sticky-note systems to structured processes.
[8:08] More about St. Francis, located in Alton, Illinois.
[10:21] Fun Fact: One sister reveals her Dominican Republic roots and bilingual background, while the other shares her love for writing letters and a wild adventure running down an active volcano in Nicaragua.
[12:18] How their program has grown and changed since they came in.
[14:06] Having families pick their schedules.
[16:33] Implementing Kangarootime software.
[18:42] Enrollment and getting the word out about St. Francis.
[19:47] Learning what ECE meant — The Sisters have grown a lot!
[21:26] Sharing more about their 38 Mission partners.
[24:37] The Sisters discuss overcoming a “cray cray” work culture by embracing the right mindset, focusing on gradual improvement, professional development, and maintaining a clear goal.
[27:04] Advice to those who may be in a daunting work situation and out of their comfort zone.
[29:25] Taking baby steps toward your core values and getting employees bought in.
[30:38] What made The Sisters want to enter the Child Care Rockstar contest?
[34:40] Kris shares about the first ECE Conference she attended at NAEYC, the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
[37:00] The Sisters define a Child Care Rockstar, and the balance between heart and will.
Quotes:
- “All we had to go was up. So we were given that opportunity and the Academy gave us the tools that we needed.” — Sister Mercedes [14:00]
- “There’s such a great desire to share freely and it’s a really beautiful experience.” — Sister Mercedes on The Academy [16:08]
- “Even though you're scared, know what the goal is. In your mind, see it and keep your eye on it, and don’t be discouraged.” — Sister Mercedes [27:19]
- “The core value piece is one of the biggest shifts that you're going to make in their mindset as professional educators, and how you want them to show up too.” -— Kris [30:00]
- “I think a Child Care Rockstar is someone who has a huge heart and a courageous heart.” — Sister Maria [37:40]
- “A rock star is someone who can see the star, who can see where your goal is, and then take those steps courageously, fall and get up, have arguments and make up and be stronger because of it.” — Sister Mercedes [39:01]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
St. Francis Day Care Center
Jacob Jensen is the Executive Director of The Learning Station, a Christian-based child care organization in Myrtle Beach, and a coach for the Child Care Success Company. As a husband and father of two boys, Jacob is dedicated to providing exceptional early education while upholding core values like positivity, family, and excellence.
With three schools serving nearly 500 children, Jacob focuses on empowering leaders and driving success in the child care industry. He is passionate about building strong communities and helping child care businesses thrive. In this episode, Jacob talks with Kris about his journey from growing up in child care with the awesome Donna Jensen as his mom, how his experience in mortgage sales and ministry shaped his leadership style, and how stacking small wins creates massive momentum and helps to prevent burnout. Jacob also has some great insights into using community events and a “whatever it takes” approach to boost enrollment, embracing technology, and the COACH acronym (Call Out & Call Higher) as a key strategy for empowering staff and fostering growth.
Key Takeaways:
[5:58] Jacob grew up in child care. His mom, Donna Jensen, founded The Learning Station. He talks about returning to lead his family’s business after exploring careers in mortgage sales and ministry.
[10:31] More about Jacob’s (very busy) family life.
[12:18] Fun fact: Jacob’s front two teeth are fake, and knocked them out during a wild event the same day he was supposed to take his now wife out. Everyone is pretty happy she decided to give him another try!
[14:10] Challenges in the industry include technology and child care leaders learning to build their own systems to stay efficient.
[18:42] The power of consistency and the “captain” analogy. Many child care leaders are busy plugging holes in a sinking ship instead of standing at the helm and leading with strategy.
[22:07] Lessons learned in the ministry that Jacob carried over to childcare.
[27:51] Stacking small wins builds momentum.
[31:02] Seasonal thinking helps prevent burnout. Understanding when to push hard and when to pause and reflect keeps businesses sustainable.
[33:37] The Learning Station now follows a “whatever it takes” approach, removing barriers and offering promotions to secure sign-ups.
[38:52] Ways that The Learning Station markets everywhere parents are, including community events, partnerships, and a grand reopening to stay top-of-mind.
[42:20] The “COACH” analogy.
[42:49] The importance of finding the hidden talent on your team.
Quotes:
- “I always joke with Donna that I need 10 centers before 2030. But we're, we’re excited, and it’s been an honor to help her bring to fruition that dream that she’s always had.” — Jacob [9:40]
- “Obviously, it is a passion-based industry, and so there's a lot of different heart-tied elements to the fact that the margins are not as big as they are in other industries, and so you're operating with fewer resources.” — Jacob [15:13]
- “I think the biggest thing that I noticed is you have to create your own thing. You have to take the bull by the horns and say, okay, if not me, then who's going to do it?” — Jacob [15:38]
- “Consistency, consistency, consistency. That will save leaders so many headaches and also give your people a roadmap for how this place runs and how we do things around here.” — Kris [18:50]
- “When you’re in leadership, you are the captain of the ship.” — Jacob [18:53]
- “You have to have a vision of where you want to go.” — Jacob [19:10]
- “Sometimes when you’re under the water, you have to hold your breath, and you have to just paddle, paddle, paddle, paddle, paddle until you get to shore. But the shore is there, and just understanding that it’s a season. It’s a really good mindset because it's way easier to run hard when you see the finish line.” — Jacob [19:33]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
The Learning Station
How to Lead When You Are Not in Charge, by Clay Scroggins
Extreme Ownership, by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie
Michelle Masjedi is a dedicated early childhood educator and business owner in Los Angeles. As the founder of The Journey Begins and the soon-to-open The Journey Continues, she has spent over 30 years shaping the future of child care. In this episode, Michelle shares how she and her community have rallied together in the wake of the devastating California fires, working to provide emergency child care, support families in crisis, and address the gaps in disaster infrastructure for young children. Beyond that, she goes more into the systems and leadership strategies that have transformed her business, from implementing clear SOPs to maximizing technology for efficiency.
Key Takeaways:
[5:38] Michelle secured a $1M grant to open The Journey Continues, a new child care center expanding infant and preschool care in a child care desert.
[7:01] Michelle’s child care journey is deeply rooted in family, with her husband playing a key role in property acquisitions and business operations, while her children are also involved.
[8:26] Michelle’s early career in early childhood education led her from teaching to business ownership, where she has spent 32 years shaping child care programs.
[10:53] The California fires destroyed 289 child care centers and family daycare homes, leaving hundreds of families without care.
[15:55] Michelle and other local directors mobilized immediately, forming a response team to provide emergency child care, distribute resources, and advocate for displaced families.
[20:11] Michelle and her team created a GoFundMe scholarship program to help directly affected families cover the cost of child care.
[23:55] The experience reinforced the importance of strong leadership, defined roles, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) in managing a crisis.
[25:08] Being named as a Child Care Rockstar finalist this past year, and a few best practices that have helped Michelle grow her business.
[27:15] A few of the many benefits Michelle has gained from joining the Academy.
[33:07] Michelle secured a $1M grant to open The Journey Continues, a new child care center expanding infant and preschool care.
[36:44] More about the vision for the new center, including serving children from 18 months to after school and the anticipated timeline for completion.
Quotes:
- “In the Pasadena Altadena area, there are 289 child care centers and family daycare centers that were lost in the fires — 289 — which is hundreds of children that immediately lost both their homes and their childcare.” — Michelle [11:41]
- “I immediately wanted to, just like wrap my arms around and protect people from that. And how could we do that quickly?” — Michelle [13:30]
- “Even in all of this devastating disaster, there’s been so much beauty in the community coming together.” — Michelle [21:59]
- “No matter how difficult and challenging it is, find the good.” — Michelle [23:45]
- “Really, the Child Care Success Academy changed everything for me. I really had some excellent tools in my toolbox, but I was missing so much. And when I joined the academy, it’s been five years now, I learned so many things.” — Michelle [26:22]
- “What if you could actually take on more and do more and grow to levels you never even imagined? And that was something I never allowed myself that opportunity or even thought, and that’s what the academy really did for me.” — Michelle [29:18]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
The Journey Begins
Donate to Michelle’s GoFundMe to help provide child care scholarships for families in need:
GoFundMe — The Journey Begins
Tameenah Adams is a Certified Child Care Success Academy (CCSA) Business Coach and a seasoned entrepreneur who has successfully owned and operated multiple childcare centers in the DC Metro area. As a coach, she helps childcare owners streamline operations, build high-performing teams, and achieve sustainable growth. With over 25 years of experience in HR, business management, and leadership development, Tameenah launched ChildcareHR to support childcare owners with HR, compliance, and scaling their businesses. In this episode, Tameenah and Kris dive into the feelings wheel and discuss everything from life post-pandemic to stepping back into abundance — not just financially, but personally. They explore the importance of self-love, creating a life of ease as a leader, and embracing a daily rhythm that feels peaceful and fulfilling.
Key Takeaways:
[8:46] Learning to surrender and taking it one day at a time.
[11:26] The biggest lesson learned from the pandemic.
[13:07] Tameenah shares how she’s shifted to a reward system based on how her heart, mind, and body feel, rather than material things.
[19:04] The connection between self-love and effective leadership.
[20:40] Strategies for managing overwhelm and staying present.
[25:52] The importance of surrounding yourself with the right community.
[29:43] How outsourcing can create more time and efficiency.
[35:17] Practical strategies for financial recovery and smart money management.
[38:06] Overcoming fear and leading with confidence.
[42:07] Transparent leadership and leading with grace.
[44:48] Exploring the power of the Feelings Wheel.
Quotes:
- “I was at the intersection of my life. I had to make a choice because, quite honestly, there were times I didn’t even know if I could make it another day. What kept me hanging on was knowing my children needed me.” — Tameenah [7:56]
- “I’m learning now that there is a different reward system. My reward comes in how my heart feels, how my mind feels, how my body feels. Am I able to sleep well? Rewarding myself really doesn’t cost anything.” — Tameenah [13:07]
- “I’ve started the journey to really look and love me. I’m healing from the hurt in my life and how I hurt myself. Self-love is being kind to yourself.” — Tameenah [18:33]
- “I stay plugged into a community that can serve me and understand me, where I feel safe.” — Tameenah [25:00]
- “Your intentions have to equal your impact.” — Tameenah [35:22]
- “It’s all about the energy you bring into your leadership decisions.” — Kris [40:08]
- “I’m leading differently because I’m leading even more transparently.” — Tameenah [42:18]
- “I’ve taken my power back. There is nothing anyone can say about me that I haven’t transparently shared myself. I’m not going to walk around in shame for anything.” — Tameenah [43:47]
- “What people think of me is none of my business. What I think about me is my business.” — Tameenah [48:20]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Tameenah Adams
Kris welcomes Thomas Brawner, Owner and CFO of Alta Schoolhouse, a Montessori-inspired preschool located in Lakeland, Florida. Thomas first talks about his and his wife's journey to Lakeland - his wife had previous experience as a director at a childcare center, while Thomas came from a business background but shared a passion for working with kids. Thomas provides an inspiring glimpse into the strategies he and his wife used to successfully open Alta Schoolhouse, after facing challenges with their first two location attempts, emphasizing the importance of understanding the dynamics of their local market and building a strong, credible team - including hiring a respected architect - as keys to finally launching the school; throughout the conversation, Thomas shares insights into his innovative approaches to marketing, staffing, and growing the new childcare business, demonstrating the rewards that can come from pursuing your vision with the right support system in place.
Key Takeaways:
[5:40] Check out Kris’s new website! https://krismurray.com/
[9:03] Thomas joins the show from Lakeland, Florida.
[9:38] Alta Schoolhouse opened in April 2022, and is a Montessori inspired pre-school.
[11:00] Thomas talks about why he and his wife chose Florida.
[12:50] How he and his wife handle the different roles and responsibilities.
[15:05] Fun fact: Thomas is Argentinian and has a close affinity for the culture…especially soccer!
[16:25] The Montessori inspired component.
[18:25] How Thomas found the Child Care Success Academy.
[22:10] Falling in love with the real estate development side of building Alta Schoolhouse.
[23:25] The two locations that failed before the final Alta location, and what Thomas learned from the process.
[25:15] Investing in the right team at the beginning will save you money and earn you respect down the road.
[27:35] The different types of marketing they utilized, including the power of Mom’s Groups!
[29:47] Fun offerings at tours and open houses.
[32:20] The importance of knowing your market and doing your homework.
[32:35] Staffing and building confidence within leadership.
[35:31] Team retention and finding new members.
[38:17] Alta is a young and vibrant environment.
[41:01] The idea of starting another location in the near future.
[42:02] Thomas talks about managing finances as a self described “spreadsheet fiend” and secret shopping locations before they opened.
[47:18] Thomas’s advice for people looking to get into the industry: go for it!
Quotes:
- “The work life balance is truly, truly a gift in this industry.” [14:16] - Thomas
- “It's been an absolutely incredible experience ever since joining the community and just the wealth of knowledge that you can get so quickly. It’s pretty invaluable.” [20:08] - Thomas
- “The moment that we hired this architect and he walked into the doors of the city hall with us, the city planners and everybody on staff took us seriously. We were no longer two kids that had a dream and were trying to open up school. We were now business professionals with the backing of an architectural firm that was well known in Lakeland and respected in Lakeland. That is what gave us the credibility that we needed to be taken seriously.” [24:53] - Thomas
- “We were able to build a wait list and have enough desire for what we were offering, where we were able to be in the green on day one.” [27:11] - Thomas
- “They (your team) get confidence from good leadership.” [34:22] - Thomas
- “I'm constantly looking at what other centers in our area are paying, and it's my goal to pay more than them.” [35:51] - Thomas
- “It’s obviously an income for my family, but it's provided a community and just a sense of fulfillment in creating jobs, creating happiness through, through the kids and students and parents that are under your care. Go for it!” [37:14] - Thomas
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
@iamkrismurray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Alta Schoolhouse
@altaschoolhouse
In this episode, host Kris Murray welcomes Brenda and Geordie McClay, the dynamic husband-wife team behind Bright Ideas Child Care and Learning Center. Brenda and Geordie share their remarkable journey, from Brenda's initial desire to be an elementary school teacher to opening their first childcare center in 2009 and expanding to a second location in 2020. The McClays discuss the challenges they’ve faced, particularly with hiring quality staff during the pandemic, and the strategies they’ve employed to overcome these hurdles. This includes partnering with local high schools to develop an apprenticeship program, leveraging social media to showcase their positive culture, and implementing a robust referral bonus system. Geordie also shares his insights on the value of the Academy’s men's group, which has provided him with a supportive network of like-minded individuals as he transitions into a more active role in the business. Additionally, Brenda and Geordie emphasize the importance of building a strong, family-oriented culture and the power of community partnerships in enhancing their program.
Key Takeaways:
[8:40] Brenda and Geordie’s path from home daycare to multi-center childcare program.
[10:00] Geordie shares his background in the Coast Guard and his transition to supporting Brenda in the childcare business.
[12:36] Family fact: the McClays have six children!
[16:41] Brenda discusses the difficulties in hiring quality staff and the impact of COVID-19 on the hiring process, along with different recruitment strategies.
[19:00] Brenda mentions their partnership with local high schools to recruit Co-op students and provide apprentice programs.
[20:51] Their intentional use of social media to showcase the fun and positive aspects of their program.
[24:58] Their referral reward program.
[26:39] Showcasing the family aspect of it.
[28:30] The Academy’s men’s group and the support it provides for men in the childcare industry.
[31:26] Gaining confidence and focus from joining the Academy.
[37:30] Working together as a husband and wife duo.
[40:13] The partnership with the local public preschool and the benefits it brings to their teachers and students.
[43:13] Support can show up in a variety of ways.
[45:53] What does it mean to be an “energy bus school”?
Quotes:
- “I thought that having a center was the big dream, and I had achieved it. So, I guess when I joined the Academy, I realized that I could dream bigger than that.” — Brenda [8:52]
- “We have worked hard to pour into our staff and show them that we care about them and their contribution. Without them, we couldn’t do it.” — Brenda [17:17]
- “I found that the more we showcase the fun things that we’re doing, the more successful we are in finding a good match for us.” — Brenda [17:50]
- “I think it’s important for us to get our high school students and young adults excited about the field, yes, because it’s an amazing field.” — Brenda [20:23]
- “I think as a community, we need to be together, whether we’re in the same town or the same state, we should all be here for the children.” — Brenda [31:08]
- “The only way to scale the business and be able to impact more people and more children is to figure out where you’re the bottleneck and start replacing yourself in the areas that are not your unique brilliance.” — Kris [35:40]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Bright Ideas Childcare
The Energy Bus
This week, Kris welcomes Constance Sholar Cherry, the powerhouse owner of Creative Home Academy, to share her remarkable journey from home daycare to running multiple thriving centers. Constance discusses her growth through challenges, especially navigating the launch of her center during the pandemic, and emphasizes the “don’t just survive, thrive” mindset. Constance also highlights the value of creating a positive culture, personal development for staff, and the rewards of seeing children go from surviving to thriving.
Key Takeaways:
[9:15] Constance joins the show and shares the capacity and recent expansion of Creative Home Academy.
[10:48] Launching her commercial center during the challenges of April 2020.
[12:09] Why Constance stays passionate about early childhood education.
[14:14] Fun fact: Constance used to show and breed big, beautiful Cane Corso dogs!
[16:41] What sets Creative Home Academy apart, including its screen-free environment and commitment to high-quality nutrition.
[18:53] Constance discusses the importance of showing up as a leader and gaining her team’s trust.
[20:53] Onboarding new team members with a thriving mindset and fun team culture.
[24:02] Teacher appreciation week is a whole vibe… massages with training as well? Yes, please!
[26:56] Constance’s mindset during the pandemic and how she overcame obstacles.
[32:52] The value of failing your way to success.
[35:26] Constance shares how her grandmother and mother inspired her journey.
[36:18] The story of how Constance joined the Academy and how it changed her life for the better.
[39:26] Exciting plans for 2025, including new pre-K programs.
Quotes:
- “I love to see children go from surviving to thriving.” — Constance [12:09]
- “If I want people to perform in their best version, I have to show up first in my best version.” — Constance [19:10]
- “I had to come as the expert, meaning, I know what kids need. I know what my staff needs.” — Constance [19:50]
- “ECE is not just something that I just do. It’s who I am, and trust me, because I’m going to lead us in the right direction.” — Constance [20:07]
- “I want team members to understand we want to work in a thriving school. … Come on this side. It’s good over here!” — Constance [21:02]
- “Some of my darkest moments, the one thing that kept me going was knowing that I deserve to have everything that I want in life, and just being grateful for what I did have.” — Constance [32:18]
- “You literally have to fail your way to success. ... You have to move through the hard times because it’s always greater on the other side.” — Constance [32:52]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Creative Home Academy
Constance LinkedIn
It’s all about the story this week as Kris welcomes Jon Sieber, Co-Founder of Story Time Learning, and Story Time Chess, an innovative early learning and education-based product for kids and adults of all ages. Jon shares how he went from theater to chess to Story Time, the power of storytelling to help children learn complicated concepts such as chess or coding, and the importance of storytelling in creating meaningful connections and learning experiences. He and Kris also talk about the importance of consistency in personal and professional goals, and the future exciting plans for Story Time Learning.
Key Takeaways:
[4:10] Congrats to Sister Mercedes for being named the new Rock Star!
[8:33] Jon joins the show from Brooklyn, New York.
[9:30] How a chess tutoring company evolved into Story Time Learning.
[13:26] Jon is a direct descendant of which royal figure from history?
[20:01] How can you use the power of storytelling?
[25:42] Jon highlights the success of their program in Singapore and the interest from parents and educators.
[28:16] Shaping 450‒500 preschools.
[30:27] Kris shares a great story on how she and Jon met.
[35:24] The key lessons Jon has learned as an entrepreneur.
[37:02] The importance of positivity, consistency, and showing up every day.
[41:47] What’s next for Story Time?
Quotes:
- “Children are capable of learning big, complex things like chess or coding if you throw out the rule book and you tell them fun, engaging, silly stories and let them discover the rules, rather than use rote memorization or rules that they have to stick to.” — Jon [10:26]
- “The same way that I train my teachers or tutors in New York City, we can train teachers, educators, librarians, anywhere in the world, to deliver our fun, engaging curriculum.” — Jon [12:10]
- “The power of story is one of the most powerful things you can do as a business owner, as a marketer, as anybody who’s trying to make a difference.” — Jon [19:27]
- “Storytelling is what we think is the best vehicle to deliver something.” — Jon [20:48]
- “We feel very strongly about the powerful tool and the vehicle that is storytelling.” — Jon [21:32]
- “You have to be positive and optimistic and believe in what you do. And if you approach things with eternal optimism and the ability to show up day after day, you will expose yourself to enough surface area that you will start getting ‘lucky.’” — Jon [37:21]
- “Consistency over time equals success.” — Jon [37:53]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
StoryTime Learning
Jon Sieber LinkedIn
What would you love in your life? This week, Kris goes solo to explore the power of possibility and heeding the universe’s call—wet pants and all. She recaps highlights from the Child Care Success Summit and reflects on her own journey from CEO to strategic founder. This shift, she shares, has opened doors to new passions and personal growth. Through her transformation, Kris inspires listeners to step outside their comfort zones and fully embrace life’s possibilities. At the end of the episode, she talks about her new coaching, combining conscious leadership with business badassery.
Key Takeaways:
[7:13] Kris shares some insider baseball on the Child Care Success Summit, the most energetic and transformative event yet.
[10:44] Learning to trust the process.
[12:35] Hiring a new event management team, a beautiful fit with Anna and her husband.
[17:15] Where are things not a fit right now, and you have not had the time or the courage to step up and make the change?
[19:05] The power of possibility and answering the call, even through fear and imposter syndrome.
[25:56] Kris talks about becoming the next version of herself, which is being the Founder but not having to do with the day-to-day operations or schedule of the Summit.
[30:14] Moving towards your highest calling.
[31:45] Ben Nemtin’s beautiful story and encouragement, using a Bucket List journal.
[36:40] The universe will show you that “how” after you take the leap first.
[39:27] Kris shares a few of her own bucket list items, including an amazing love relationship.
[40:15] Kris listened to the universe, joined Bumble, and met Chris!
[43:29] What would you love to do?
[45:30] Kris’s new coaching group for awakened and enlightened leaders.
Quotes:
- “When you start really focusing on what you love and what you would love to have in your life, your life transforms into something new and fresh and different. It’s almost like a rebirth of sorts. It’s a new version of you that’s showing up.” — Kris [3:40]
- “Trust the process.” — Kris [10:44]
- “If I had not believed in the power of possibility that I actually could do that, even though I was scared beyond belief and had imposter syndrome beyond belief because I’d never owned a daycare, I decided to dive in anyway with wet pants.” — Kris [21:04]
- “I created a multi-million dollar business out of a $15,000 investment of seed capital. And that was it.” — Kris [21:44]
- “I’m a much lighter, neutral, glowing, loving, present version.” — Kris [27:14]
- “The real you is the essence of the Divine. It’s you as the big you. It’s you as the ocean, not the drop.” — Kris [28:38]
- “What are you waiting for? This is the youngest that you will ever be. … So this is again a wake-up call to listen to your wake-up call.” — Kris [34:55]
- “We’re not getting any younger, and this is not a dress rehearsal, so focus on what you would love.” — Kris [44:37]
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
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Eckhart Tolle
Ben Nemtin
Kris welcomes the awesome Kim Lannin, member of the Child Care Success Academy and owner of Inch by Inch Childcare, Inc. for the past 18 years. Kim shares her inspiring journey of building a successful child care business, overcoming early challenges through the support of the Academy, and developing a unique “Inch Way” philosophy centered on exceptional customer service and a collaborative, hands-on leadership approach.
Key Takeaways:
[2:47] Kim provides an overview of her business, Inch by Inch Childcare, Inc., which she has owned for 18 years. The school has a current license capacity of 102 and is 90% full, with a revenue of over $2 million for the year.
[6:25] Kim loves a good Peloton session, with over 2,600 rides completed.
[7:30] Fun fact, Kim is Canadian!
[8:41] Kim recounts the early challenges she faced, including having no vision and lacking business skills. She credits the Child Care Success Academy for providing the tools she needed to succeed.
[14:00] Kim suggests that the lack of leadership in childcare may be due to a lack of leadership skills and a reliance on conventional, top-down management styles rather than a more collaborative, hands-on approach.
[14:42] Kim advocates for a more unconventional, collaborative leadership style where the leader is “hands-on” and focused on supporting the team, rather than just giving orders.
[17:30] How Kim’s mindset has changed over the years and what she attributes that to the most.
[20:07] Forming a Massachusetts cohort during the pandemic and how that helped everyone get through a difficult time.
[23:58] Dealing with staffing challenges by constantly hiring and bringing in candidates.
[28:01] What sets Inch By Inch apart from competition in the community?
[30:27] How “The Inch Way” helps retain employees and family.
[31:29] Future goals, including rebranding and expansion.
Quotes:
- “What is now your ceiling will become your floor.” — Kim [6:59]
- “Within the first five years, I was on the brink of complete and utter failure. And this is a true story. This is not a paid infomercial, but what saved me was finding the Academy, because I had no plan. I had no idea what I was doing, and it gave me the tools that I needed to get on the right path.” — Kim [9:32]
- “The two main pillars I think of what you should be doing with your business are articulating your vision or core values and deciding what they are. They have to be inherent to you, that you believe in, and that’s what we have now.” — Kim [11:56]
- “Putting together that team who’s working with you and you’re all working together is really, really important.” — Kim [12:50]
- “To be successful, at least for us, we’ve had to be unconventional. We are unconventional, and it’s hard to be that way sometimes.” — Kim [14:07]
- “I have much more confidence in our brand than I did even five years ago, but we’ve really managed to articulate and put into place something that parents appreciate. Kids are thriving, so I have much more confidence.” — Kim [17:46]
- “ABC. Always Be Hiring.” — Kim [23:06]
- “If someone wants to be a part of your team, then hire them. If they want to be with you, then why would you say no? Likewise, if somebody wants to come to your school and then find a way to get them in.” — Kim [26:33]
- “The way we decided to set ourselves apart was through customer service, and that is what the ‘Inch Way’ is. It’s being helpful, being kind, and not hesitating to go the extra mile for people. That will set you apart. People will appreciate that, and it will benefit your business in ways that you never anticipated.” — Kim [29:22]
- “People often confuse kindness for weakness, but they are different things. Meet people where they are — some people need help and support. Be that for them, and it will pay off. That’s really the foundation of the ‘Inch Way’ — it’s how we treat our families and staff, and it governs how we go about our day.” — Kim [29:41]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Inch By Inch
This episode features Ashley Varouhas, a young powerhouse, dynamic child care leader, owner, and coach at the Child Care Success Academy. Ashley shares her journey from teacher to owner and administrator, and how she integrates her passion for early childhood education into her two successful centers. They discuss the importance of strong leadership, staff retention, and cultivating a unique school environment that meets the needs of both children and teachers. Ashley also shares some great strategies for business growth, managing multiple centers, and how fostering relationships is key to long-term success.
Key Takeaways:
[2:28] Congrats to former guest Beth Davis and her Kindness Initiative! If you want to learn more about Beth, check out her past episode here.
[12:46] Ashley’s early career in early childhood education started at KinderCare, sparking her passion for leadership and innovation in the industry.
[15:15] After several false starts, Ashley opened her first center in Minnesota in 2022 and is about to open her second location.
[17:29] The importance of serving her teachers and maintaining strong leadership to retain staff — only two teachers have left in two years.
[20:49] Ashley emphasizes that ensuring a supportive, well-staffed environment reduces stress and turnover, leading to high teacher satisfaction and 100% tour conversion.
[27:26] Gardening plays a big role in her program, offering children hands-on learning experiences. Next year, Ashley plans to expand the gardening curriculum.
[37:45] Ashley highlights the importance of being present at her centers, whether through daily visits or other ways, to maintain a sense of stability and connection with staff.
[40:45] Ashley is currently opening a second center focused on infant care, to address a growing need for more infant and toddler spots in her community.
[46:39] She maps out child transitions up to nine months in advance, ensuring smooth transitions and full capacity throughout the year.
[51:07] Ashley defines a Childcare Rockstar as someone who puts their all into it every day, and that can look different for everyone!
Quotes:
- “I still get into the classroom because that part of me that loves working with kids will never die.” — Ashley Varuhas [14:16]
- “I really feel in my life, like, when things are right and meant to be, it just all clicks, and it all flows really fast.” — Ashley [16:27]
- “I’m proud to say, in almost two years of being open now, we’ve only had two teachers turnover in almost two years.” — Ashley [17:26]
- “When people have it, you can’t train the it factor in somebody. I believe you can train skills, but she just has everything else.” — Ashley [20:18]
- “It’s about supporting the teachers, creating a great place for them, and that energy trickles down to the kids.” — Ashley [21:40]
- “I feel like my program is a menagerie of my experiences, and then my passion all kind of in one melting pot.” — Ashley [23:06]
- “We have to deepen our roots before we grow our branches.” — Ashley [36:36]
- “I think you can define a Childcare Rockstar as someone that puts their all into it every day.” — Ashley [50:51]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Nest Learning Academy
Ashley Varouhas
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:
- “It’s not just all about money. It’s all about putting our experience into action, helping families, and helping our communities. That’s our mission.” [12:03]
- “Our mission is to make a positive impact on the lives of the families and communities we serve. That’s what we live every single day.” — Silvia Sarhadian [16:40]
- “It’s not like we have to, we get to do this, and we do it with love.” — Silvia Sarhadian [20:00]
- “You are the CEO of your own classroom. What are the needs and challenges of your classroom, and how can you make it a better place?” — Silvia Sarhadian [30:19]
- “Never lead from fear.” — Silvia Sarhadian [39:51]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Silvia on LinkedIn
The Learning Experience
Make A Wish Foundation
New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS)
The Happiness Guide for Early Childhood Educators
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:
- “There is a transaction taking place, but it’s not a transactional relationship. The whole purpose is for us to empower children through our learning programs, and that starts with us all being on board and having our own light to give out.” — Megan [26:31]
- “We mean it does take a village. We are there to be that village, quite literally.” — Patricia [28:45]
- “A ChildCare Rockstar is someone dedicated to enhancing the quality of early childhood education with all of their might and joy.” — Megan [47:30]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
American Care Academy
American Care Academy on FB
Kris welcomes Tasha Santistevan, the Executive Director at Child Time Inc. and a coach for the Child Care Success Academy. Tasha shares her journey from a high school summer job in childcare to her current leadership roles. She discusses her passion for empowering directors and leaders in the childcare industry, offering insights on conflict resolution, collaborative leadership, and the importance of work-life balance. Tasha provides a unique perspective both as an active executive director and coach on the challenges and rewards of leadership in early childhood education, emphasizing the value of continuous learning, servant leadership, and creating a positive workplace culture.
Key Takeaways:
[5:57] Tasha introduces herself and her background in early childhood education.
[10:29] The transition from being a manager to becoming a leader and director, and what she loves about the role.
[12:28] The distinction between manager and leader.
[13:58] Tasha’s personal life and balancing multiple roles.
[14:25] More about Tasha’s very busy family life!
[18:07] Strategies for staying organized and maintaining work-life balance.
[21:51] The importance of not taking on others’ problems as your own.
[23:37] Approaches to resolving conflicts between team members.
[25:59] Conflict can just be a better opportunity for us to be better and learn from one another.
[29:56] The evolution of leadership styles and the importance of empathy.
[30:42] Tapping into confident empathy.
[31:45] The need for servant leadership in the current workforce.
[32:20] Tasha’s definition of a childcare rockstar.
[34:13] The importance of bringing fun back into childcare after the pandemic.
[35:00] Tasha’s goals and aspirations for the future.
[38:11] Life is short — buy the Cadillac!
[42:01] The value of continuous learning and personal development in leadership.
Quotes:
- “Once you find that sweet spot of being a leader, that job becomes exponentially more rewarding and less challenging.” — Tasha [11:04]
- “Conflict is really if we stop looking at it as like this bad thing, that it’s an argument, but looking at it we just have different desires and drives and this.” — Tasha [24:37]
- “I believe we just don’t fully understand in the industry, the stress that directors feel and what they go through. So I love being a coach because I love to provide that safe space where they can come to us.” — Tasha [27:54]
- “That tribe aspect is everything in this business, and it's not something that is easy to find.” — Tasha [28:15]
- “I can be a great support to somebody, but I cannot let their problems be my problems.” — Tasha [29:45]
- “It’s perfect that we’re evolving within the leadership industry into this mode because this is what’s going to save this industry.” — Tasha [32:17]
- “As a rock star, you are somebody that empowers your team to reach their full potential.” — Tasha [32:53]
- “We have to have fun because fun is what’s going to get us through the hard times.” — Tasha [32:58]
- “This is childcare guys! If it’s not fun, what are we doing?” — Kris [35:08]
- “Just commit to learning how to be a good leader. Because if you do that, everything else falls into place.” — Tasha [39:10]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Child Time Inc.
Jon Gordon
Maxwell Leadership
Hal Elrod
Seth Godin
Kris welcomes the awesome Ashley Blackmon, owner and founder of A Perfect Start Learning Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Ashley shares her remarkable journey from humble beginnings to running a thriving, nationally accredited childcare center with plans for expansion. She discusses how she’s built a program focused on empowerment, growth, and helping families rise. Ashley opens up about overcoming significant challenges including a major health scare, and how she’s transformed herself from a childcare provider to a true CEO through mindset shifts and finding her tribe. Her story is one of resilience, passion for serving children and families, and the power of continual personal and professional growth.
Key Takeaways:
[4:55] Make sure you are following Kris on IG!
[5:57] Ashley joins from Huntsville, Alabama and gives an overview of A Perfect Start Learning Center and its current stats and accreditation.
[9:27] Ashley’s approach to empowering parents through a Parent Academy program.
[12:16] Don’t forget to celebrate your wins before moving on to the next goal!
[12:44] How Ashley has built strong relationships and retention with families and staff.
[13:17] Parent prep at their Academy.
[17:52] The culture at the Academy and how Ashley has grown as a leader.
[19:02] Losing her corporate job and being encouraged by her aunt to open a childcare center.
[29:03] More about Ashley’s home and personal life.
[30:26] Ashley has fostered 14 children, including twins.
[33:48] Upcoming second location and expansion plans.
[40:27] Realizing that you can’t please everyone and letting go of negative team members.
[48:03] The health crisis that led to a major mindset shift for Ashley.
[51:44] How joining the Childcare Success Academy transformed Ashley’s perspective and business.
Quotes:
- “I think just overall, naturally, I have an urge to really be my best self. So I try to hire others who don’t mind putting their best foot forward to always achieve all the crazy things that I come up with in my head.” — Ashley [8:50]
- “I think one of the biggest things is empowerment and growth… We not only empower the children with our high-quality educational care, but we do the same thing with the parents.” — Ashley [12:44]
- “It’s an us thing. It’s like, we’re raising this kid together.” — Ashley [14:40]
- “I’m going to be providing high-quality education, right, I need you to know what this education can get you. I don’t want to be a bit basic in every sense of the word.” — Ashley [29:00]
- “I want for the women and children that have access to me that look like me, I want them to be able to look at me and see other things as possible.” — Ashley [29:14]
- “No matter how much you pour positivity, growth, and support, you’re not going to satisfy everybody.” — Ashley [40:27]
- “Now I’m a CEO. That’s the mindset. And I think the tools that you’ve given me to be able to see my program as a business have been critical to my development.” — Ashley [52:44]
- “I’m creating generational wealth for my families, and hopefully for their children. I am a bridge to all kinds of different people.” — Ashley [53:56]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
A Perfect Start Learning Center
It’s an extremely valuable and informative episode, as Kris welcomes Militza Mezquita, Senior Advisor with Save the Children. Save the Children is the primary organization in the United States, helping childcare centers with emergency preparedness, resources, and funding for over 100 years. Militza shares a wealth of knowledge about funding and what you can do to come back stronger after an emergency event, even if you are a for-profit business. She talks about the importance of embedding emergency preparedness into business plans, the Gulf Coast Resilience Network, and the process of accessing funding after a disaster. Militza also emphasizes the critical need for mental health support for both teachers and children following emergencies.
Key Takeaways:
[7:44] Militza talks about Save the Children’s background, mission, and history.
[9:11] Explanation of Save the Children’s support methods including remote assistance and fundraising.
[13:56] What is the Gulf Coast Resilience Network?
[20:40] The importance of prioritizing teachers’ mental health after disasters.
[21:02] How Save the Children gets their funding.
[23:35] Advocating and staying in touch with legislators.
[24:19] The importance of prioritizing the mental health of teachers and providers.
[28:45] Tips for relocating childcare facilities after a disaster, including the FEMA-SBA application strategy.
[32:15] All of Save the Children’s training and materials are free for childcare providers.
Quotes:
- “We teach our childcare folks that emergency preparedness is embedded in your business plan, it’s got to be in there.” — Militza [11:01]
- “If parents can’t have stable and high-quality childcare, they’re not going to work and our economy will collapse. And then when you finally paint that picture, you can see the light bulb go off.” — Kris [23:21]
- “We’ve done the mental health work, we’ve done the hard part and we’re really proud of that. And we’ve seen a lot of good come out of those training sessions and getting teachers and families ready to go back into centers.” — Militza [27:22]
- “We really saw a lot of good results in building our teachers’ resiliency and our children’s resiliency. We know that when our teachers are ready and calm, then our children will be ready and calm. And then together, they can facilitate advantageous learning and quality learning.” — Militza [27:15]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Save the Children
Kris rolls out the pink carpet for Latrice Galloway, one of the most inspirational, dynamic, and business-savvy women in the early learning industry today. She talks about The Childcare Chic blog, The Childcare Clique community, and her upcoming Born to Teach conference at which Kris will be speaking. Latrice drops some golden wisdom on the two things every ECE professional must know. She also gives some great tips on avoiding common industry missteps, the value of using coaches, and having the right mindset and leadership.
Key Takeaways:
[3:17] Kris recaps her four-day Mastermind Retreat!
[9:44] Latrice joins and talks about working with her sister and The Childcare Chic.
[11:30] Latrice’s first employee was her mom, who is now retired as a super-grandma.
[16:28] Before Latrice started changing lives with children, she used to change lives with felons, using her degree in criminal justice.
[20:40] How Latrice set herself apart.
[22:37] How Latrice has grown as a leader.
[24:09] Latrice’s leadership style.
[27:18] Tips on having hard conversations with staff.
[29:19] Latrice’s two key pieces of advice for ECE.
[33:18] The mindset mistakes Latrice most often sees in the industry.
[35:18] Growth and trends in ECE and what’s next for Latrice.
[40:16] Latrice defines a Childcare Rockstar.
[41:14] Catch Kris at the Born to Teach conference!
Quotes:
● “My staff brag about me as their leader. That makes you feel like, Okay, I’m doing something.” — Latrice [25:35]
● “Fast forward to today, I’m a person that you can follow, but I’m going to get in there with you.” — Latrice [24:09]
● “Yes, you have to create those boundaries, but I can still treat them well. We can still laugh, but at the end of the day, they know that I am still their leader and they still have a job to do.” — Latrice [24:49]
● “Invest in your team. If you don’t have a team to help you enforce those policies, they go out the window.” — Latrice [29:30]
● “The trend is: go to the conference. Invest in yourself. Hire the coach. I think that’s great because people are investing their knowledge so they can go back and grow these programs and offer amazing services to their families and students.” — Latrice [39:47]
● “It costs too much to have a coach, but do you know how much you’re going to lose trying to do this on your own?” — Latrice [40:28]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
The ChildCare Chic
The Childcare Clique
Born to Teach Conference
From 120% staff turnover annually to just 14% in seven months? It may sound like a dream scenario, but for Kris’s guests this week, it’s reality. Kris welcomes Crystal and Ricardo Romero from the New Mexico Early Learning Academy, currently serving three amazing locations. They share some game-changing tips on hiring the right people, onboarding, and staff retention. Crystal and Ricardo talk about working as a couple and how it helps their overall mission and keeps them both energized and focused, their approach to expansion, and the extra perks they offer to keep their staff satisfied personally and professionally. Get ready to be inspired!
Key Takeaways:
[8:49] Crystal and Ricardo talk about their school, New Mexico Early Learning Academy, currently with 3 locations.
[11:05] Their different journeys into early childhood education.
[14:23] Yes, Crystal and Ricardo spend almost every moment together, and they love it!
[15:12] They share about their blended family and how their work and personal lives are fully blended.
[16:24] How Crystal and Ricardo love spending their free time (together, of course) and being intentional about breaks.
[19:31] Fun fact: if you need some cool shoe inspiration, check out Crystal’s renovated home office! It’s now a sneaker closet.
[21:53] Crediting the Academy for success.
[25:40] Remembering the basics of fostering authentic and meaningful relationships.
[27:01] Crystal and Ricardo get into the specifics of hiring and making onboarding engaging and less intimidating.
[31:14] More about how they reduced turnover from 120% to 14% in seven months.
[32:47] Getting intentional about lowering the turnover rate.
[34:24] Realizing the give and take of making staff happy and still meeting their goals while working on the overall mission and vision.
[41:09] Overcoming any struggles as a husband and wife team.
[43:08] The other businesses that keep Crystal and Ricardo busy.
[47:27] Their approach to expansion.
Quotes:
- “I would say we spend about 90%, maybe more, of our time together. And honestly, it works really, really well.” — Crystal [14:39]
- “I think for us, we thrive off each other and the energy that we have to be able to make decisions and bounce stuff off each other has been really one of the key indicators on why we’ve been so successful.” — Crystal [14:52]
- “We lay it out there of what our expectations are, and communicate that clearly with each other.” — Crystal [15:24]
- “I tell Ricardo every day, there’s absolutely no way we could have accomplished where we’re at today if we didn’t have each other. What we have as a couple makes us dynamic in our business and our personal life.” — Crystal [15:43]
- “Intentional goals make for incredible outcomes, so we made sure that every goal we set in place is trackable and attainable.” — Ricardo [32:37]
- “I think as owners, we get caught in that mindset of this is my program, this is my school, these are our rules. But not realizing that at the end of the day, we need these people, and there's a lot of give and take that has to happen.” — Crystal [34:24]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
New Mexico Early Learning Academy
Ben Newman
What are the two keys to retaining more families in your program? And do you think that those two keys also apply to retaining staff? This week, Scott Whitaker, aka the “Membership Boy Wonder,” is here to answer those questions. Scott is the membership consultant at the Child Care Success Academy, and he has some great tips on how to set yourself apart in your community, how to compete with the increasing competition in today’s world, and how to do it in a way that’s fun for teachers, kids, and parents.
Key Takeaways:
[3:48] Kris recaps her beautiful trip to the jungles of Ecuador.
[5:01] More about The Pachamama Alliance.
[10:19] Scott’s wife Kelly was a teacher, and they have been married for almost 29 years.
[17:43] What are some keys to improving family retention or customer retention?
[20:14] What are the results that the parents are looking for?
[25:36] Creating a unique value proposition for schools to stand out and become the “provider of choice” in their community.
[30:20] Retaining staff and clients through relationship-building and reward systems.
[34:11] That which gets rewarded gets repeated.
[36:26] You want your staff to believe in your value proposition.
[42:46] Identifying target clients and your avatar through a state of abundance.
[51:24] Allow the members of the Academy to help you and thrive in the community!
Quotes:
- “That’s really my goal, to make them the most impactful inside their niche so that they can help those businesses that are truly looking to grow and serve.” — Scott [9:38]
- “I can’t think of any better journey than taking an owner and helping them move from growing into a place of freedom into a place of an empire.” — Scott [16:34]
- “Retention is all about relationships and results.” — Scott [18:16]
- “As we look at this retention model, we have to look at it as a relationship and results with the child and relationship and results with the parents, and it’s got to be an equal focus there.” — Scott [19:00]
- “My first challenge to anybody and everybody considering identifying who their avatar is is to come from a place of abundance.” — Scott [42:47]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
podcast@childcaresuccess.com
Pachamama Alliance
OnlineJobs.Ph
The story this week starts with pizza, so you know it’s going to be a good one! Kris welcomes Rick and Nancy Kodama from Kid’s World Learning Center. Rick and Nancy are a husband-and-wife team based near Houston, Texas. They share some great tips on having a business together as a married couple for over three decades. They chat with Kris about their journey from owning Domino’s Pizza franchises to transitioning into early childhood education and give perspective on how having four sons affected their overall managing style and work-life balance. They also talk about how joining the Childcare Success Academy impacted Nancy’s leadership growth and confidence in running their school.
Key Takeaways:
[3:42] Kris set herself a goal of visiting all seven continents and speaks a bit about her Amazonian adventures.
[6:35] Rick and Nancy join from Texas.
[8:00] Kid’s World started in 2012 and now has a capacity of 262. They have nine classrooms.
[9:12] Rick and Nancy share more about their four sons and family background.
[15:03] How they went from a Domino’s Pizza franchise to Kid’s World, and lessons learned along the way.
[20:01] Remembering that you’re in a relationship business, and true connections matter.
[23:09] Fun fact! Talk about a large family — Rick has over 150 relatives in California.
[25:38] Leading without micromanaging.
[26:37] What The Child Care Success Academy has taught them about leadership.
[32:14] Communication, respect, and overcoming challenges as partners.
[44:18] The “other” Nancy at Domino’s that inspired our Nancy.
[46:18] What’s next for this husband-and-wife duo?
Quotes:
- “Our vision for our school is to serve more children in our community.” — Nancy [8:32]
- “With five locations, it was just not enough to sustain a supervisor. So it's either grow, or go.” — Nancy [16:06]
- “When people ask me how I spend 12 hours at the childcare, I say that’s nothing. Working 6‒6:30 pm is nothing.” — Nancy [19:32]
- “It’s not a transactional business. It’s a transformation business.” — Kris [20:36]
- “We’re not just watching your babies here, we’re teaching them. When I say we’re teaching curriculum, and all the things that I’m saying that we’re going to deliver, I make sure that my staff is going to do that. That’s what is important to me.” — Nancy [48:02]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
podcast@childcaresuccess.com
Kid’s World Learning Center
Kris welcomes Shannon Vasquez, Executive Director of PB Schools. Shannon started as a floater in 2004 and has since grown the organization to 8 locations. In their chat, Shannon shares her journey from floater to leader and her goals for the upcoming year. She discusses how the Academy's training and coaching have helped her build confidence in her leadership abilities and implement strategic planning practices. She and Kris chat about growing collaborative teams and the importance of courageous leadership when facing challenges. Plus, Shannon shares some fun facts including one of her favorite ways to destress - watching true crime!
Key Takeaways:
[7:37] Shannon talks about PB Preschool and celebrates her 20th work anniversary.
[8:26] Shannon started as a floater.
[9:47] Shannon’s favorite age to work with.
[10:08] What a typical week looks like for Shannon.
[12:27] Why starting from scratch can be a good thing.
[13:29] Challenges in hiring and retaining staff.
[13:33] Growth is happening, but there's still a long way to go in aligning company practices across two counties.
[13:57] Shannon’s goals for 2024.
[14:55] An update on enrollment.
[15:50] The 8 schools combined hold a capacity of 878.
[16:37] Fun fact: Shannon is a crime fan!
[18:16] Shannon discusses the expansion.
[21:28] How the business changed and morphed over the last eight years.
[23:41] Feeling like a more confident leader and making friendships inside the Academy.
[26:20] The importance of listening.
[28:32] Winning Director of the Year.
[31:03] How Shannon defines a childcare rockstar.
Quotes:
- “You can’t dwell on trying to make a decision, you’ve got to just make a decision. There’s no right or wrong. There’s an outcome. And if you don’t like the outcome, then you change direction. Don’t dwell, just keep on going, keep on moving.” — Shannon [20:31]
- “Every year, we continue to grow and put more policies, more procedures into place, and hold people accountable to those policies and procedures. And we’re just constantly succeeding.“ — Shannon [22:38]
- “They want you to support them and teach them how to be self-sufficient, but also give them the confidence and know that you have the confidence in them.” — Shannon [28:10]
- “A child care rockstar is someone who puts into practice high-quality business strategies that are driven by their vision and mission. And that not only is about the children but it’s about the people that are in the day-to-day grind.” — Shannon [30:49]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
podcast@childcaresuccess.com
PB Schools
LinkedIn Shannon Vasquez
“Ep. 61 — Stackable Core Values, Branding, and Managing People Well with Karla McCurry”
Kris welcomes Shannon Vasquez, Executive Director of PB Schools. Shannon started as a floater in 2004 and has since grown the organization to 8 locations. In their chat, Shannon shares her journey from floater to leader and her goals for the upcoming year. She discusses how the Academy's training and coaching have helped her build confidence in her leadership abilities and implement strategic planning practices. She and Kris chat about growing collaborative teams and the importance of courageous leadership when facing challenges. Plus, Shannon shares some fun facts including one of her favorite ways to destress - watching true crime!
Key Takeaways:
[7:37] Shannon talks about PB Preschool and celebrates her 20th work anniversary.
[8:26] Shannon started as a floater.
[9:47] Shannon’s favorite age to work with.
[10:08] What a typical week looks like for Shannon.
[12:27] Why starting from scratch can be a good thing.
[13:29] Challenges in hiring and retaining staff.
[13:33] Growth is happening, but there's still a long way to go in aligning company practices across two counties.
[13:57] Shannon’s goals for 2024.
[14:55] An update on enrollment.
[15:50] The 8 schools combined hold a capacity of 878.
[16:37] Fun fact: Shannon is a crime fan!
[18:16] Shannon discusses the expansion.
[21:28] How the business changed and morphed over the last eight years.
[23:41] Feeling like a more confident leader and making friendships inside the Academy.
[26:20] The importance of listening.
[28:32] Winning Director of the Year.
[31:03] How Shannon defines a childcare rockstar.
Quotes:
- “You can’t dwell on trying to make a decision, you’ve got to just make a decision. There’s no right or wrong. There’s an outcome. And if you don’t like the outcome, then you change direction. Don’t dwell, just keep on going, keep on moving.” — Shannon [20:31]
- “Every year, we continue to grow and put more policies, more procedures into place, and hold people accountable to those policies and procedures. And we’re just constantly succeeding.“ — Shannon [22:38]
- “They want you to support them and teach them how to be self-sufficient, but also give them the confidence and know that you have the confidence in them.” — Shannon [28:10]
- “A child care rockstar is someone who puts into practice high-quality business strategies that are driven by their vision and mission. And that not only is about the children but it’s about the people that are in the day-to-day grind.” — Shannon [30:49]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
podcast@childcaresuccess.com
PB Schools
LinkedIn Shannon Vasquez
“Ep. 61 — Stackable Core Values, Branding, and Managing People Well with Karla McCurry”
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:
- “What I love most about being an entrepreneur today is that I get to use my gifts, talents, and my brilliance to help people.” [15:57]
- “I don’t know of a more growth-fueled journey than the journey of entrepreneurship.” [16:40]
- “I do feel like entrepreneurship is my art.” [17:07]
- “If we can help the little humans be better learners and more emotionally resilient, then we can help the world because as the little humans get big, it’s just going to ripple out.” — Kris [29:30]
- “I think just about the most impactful thing we can do is to wake up to the fullness of ourselves, learn to love ourselves, and be that light from the inside out. And then just be that ripple in the world.” [31:10]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
podcast@childcaresuccess.com
Raj Jana
Liber8
Maverick Next
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:
- “I think our differentiated approach is the new technology that we’re bringing. A lot of that comes down to really solving the problems that we are building software for.” — Daniel [8:39]
- “If we want to be able to compete and if we want to be able to operate at the same level, we need to adopt the same tools that they’re using.” — Sasha [14:10]
- “A lot of the big problems that we faced have become significantly smaller by putting phenomenal people in front of those problems. If you find someone great, you can just trust that they’ll get the job done and that you don’t need to be managing the day-to-day.” — Daniel [16:54]
- “Working with family and then also building for family really grounds you on what the work you’re doing, who’s impacting, and why it’s actually getting done.” — Daniel [20:09]
- “It’s ultimately the three of us against the problem. It’s not us against each other. So realizing and recognizing what it is that we’re working for, and why we’re doing it ultimately helps us get into the right direction.” — Sasha [21:25]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
podcast@childcaresuccess.com
Playground
Linear
Webinar: Emerging Technologies Revolutionizing the Childcare Industry
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.
Quotes:
- “We have dedicated teachers who love children and love to teach them.” — Kishani [14:50]
- “This is a partnership. It’s not just you dropping off your child, we babysit with your child.” — Kishani [15:30]
- “The sky's the limit as long as you know what you want and you go for it.” — Kishani [22:18]
- “Keep the end in mind and work backward.” — Kishani [31:07]
- “Nothing is going to come easy. It’s going to be difficult. If it was easy, everyone would do it.” — Kishani [31:44]
- “I worked so hard on getting systems and processes in place.” — Kishani [32:59]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
podcast@childcaresuccess.com
Kids Early Learning Centers
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:
- “I am becoming every day, a better, higher, and deeper version of myself.” — Kris [6:25]
- “I've created this new life for myself and I have intentionally created more space in my life. — Kris [10:31]
- “You need to find a group of peers and people that are walking your walk, who are successful, and who you can be coached up with and model their success for whatever that looks like for you.” — Kris [26:35]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
podcast@childcaresuccess.com
Maverick1000 Mastermind Group
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:
- “This is because of the mindset of two black women who came to Connecticut, and said that they were going to make a difference and do the things that they were going to do.” — Kim [12:22]
- “We walk our core values. We talk about it all the time.” — Kim [20:33]
- “We can talk about all the dreams and everything that we want to have in life, but if we don’t do the action part, it doesn't happen.” — Kim [22:30]
- “That's what we teach our kids here with the school — you have a chance to create your hustle, create your legacy, and to keep it going.” — Kim [44:14]
- “To be a childcare rockstar is a movement that just moves us all forward. I think when you arrive at the status of childcare Rockstar, you've helped to create a movement. ” — Kim [45:38]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
podcast@childcaresuccess.com
Go Fund Me
Harris & Tucker
In this episode, Kris welcomes John and Tracy LaBreche from Ardent Preschool and Daycare, with seven locations in Alabama. John and Tracy share their journey into developing Ardent’s value system and building a strong and happy team. They talk about their desire to not burn their team out during the pandemic and facing staffing shortages and enrollment declines, and they discuss how they turned things around while maintaining a healthy work-life balance for employees. John and Tracy share some great insight into rewarding good attendance, their commitment to data-driven decision-making, and a few of their favorite benefits from joining the Academy.
Key Takeaways:
[5:20] Ardent currently has seven locations, and close to 1600 students enrolled with a waitlist of just over 500. They also have 300 employees.
[6:42] John and Tracy talk about how they got started in child care and how Ardent came to be.
[10:15] In addition to their busy work life, John and Tracy have a large family with six kids.
[12:23] Fun fact: if you are looking for a great tequila, ask John! As for Tracy, she will be reading a few of her favorite books including Traction, What The Heck is EOS, and The Alter Ego.
[16:40] Tracy and John’s commitment to making sure the people, teachers, and admin are enthusiastic and passionate about Ardent’s mission.
[17:46] Exceeding the expectations of parents.
[18:10] Ardent is also a Christian company, so they include Christian-related Bible studies and curriculum.
[25:42] Overcoming challenges over the pandemic by learning to push enrollment, stay focused, and not be complacent.
[30:42] Now they are at 91% enrollment, which was their goal.
[30:56] Coming off the Summit, John and Tracy rescaled, brought on one of their existing staff to be a full-scale enrollment specialist, and hired an internal recruiter to help with bringing teachers on board.
[31:17] The importance of having a fast response to applicants and tracking all data.
[36:44] How Ardent maintains good retention and a happy culture.
[37:02] Breaking down Ardent to Ability, Respect, Dependability, Engaging, Nurturing, and Team Player.
[47:46] The ROI of academy membership.
[46:22] Culture is the glue that will hold you together in the face of challenges.
Quotes:
- “With our purpose of committing to excellence in all areas, we can deliver a childhood experience that is worth the investment of our parents.” — Tracy [17:11]
- “When we get testimonials or reviews from our parents, one thing that just always is a recurring thing is that we’ve exceeded their expectations.” — Tracy [17:46]
- “We always focus on people, process, and service. I have the right people doing things the right away to have excellent service. You can’t have one without the other.” — John [19:00]
- “You meet people where they are, and you leave them where they need to go.” — Tracy [25:20]
- “A healthy culture is where reality meets the road and the value system becomes a reality.” — Tracy [46:06]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
podcast@childcaresuccess.com
Grafton Milne LinkedIn
Childcare Center Success: How to Maximize Profits and Minimize Mistakes.
Move Your Bus
In this episode, Kris welcomes Marissa and Sunflower from Little Luminaries, two talented women partnering together to bring art, beauty, and mindset tools to empower children globally. They discuss how Little Luminaries aims to support children through self-celebration and resources for challenging conversations using their thoughtfully designed toys, decks, and other mindfulness creations. Marissa and Sunflower discuss their individual journeys and partnership in developing toys, curricula, and other products to support children's mental wellness. They also explore how to apply non-violent communication practices in business relationships and classrooms. Additionally, they talk about how they maintain alignment as business partners living on different coasts through clear communication, sharing their passion for creating resources to positively impact children and the future.
Key Takeaways:
[6:27] Marissa and Sunflower talk about creating Little Luminaries.
[7:18] Their shared passion for mental health.
[11:41] The process of getting the artwork and artistic components just right.
[12:05] How the animal affirmation cards work.
[13:00] Marissa is a new mom of two and a teacher and Sunflower is a mental health and mindfulness coach in North Carolina.
[17:30] How Little Luminaries helps children with their own self-image and supports them in learning more about sustainability and how we can live in harmony with our environment.
[21:16] Fun fact: when Marissa and Sunflower aren’t dreaming up new business ideas, you may catch them lip-syncing on The Toy Boat.
[22:15] Kris picks The Rooster!
[24:38] Other products in the Little Luminaries line include decals, posters, and a mythical creature mystery pack.
[30:00] How Little Luminary helps cultivate self-love and the ways it ripples out to take care of our communities and planet.
[32:09] What is “nonviolent communication”?
[44:11] Marissa and Sunflower have learned to be rocks for each other, so they can navigate challenges and grow together.
Quotes:
“We both found that whenever we’re giving kids tools to celebrate who they are, instead of changing the parts that don’t fit in the box, we’re just seeing so much more pride and authentic celebration in themselves.” — Marissa [11:32]
“I think what inspired me to really step into mindfulness coaching is going on a deep dive myself and collecting all the tools, then starting to watch transformations happen in who I was and how I felt about myself and the world, in general.” — Sunflower [14:08]
“Our brains are like popcorn when we get together, just all these fun ideas.” — Marisa [24:31]
“I think that when we can cultivate self-love, we have so much more capacity to love our communities, to love our planet.” — Sunflower [30:00]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
podcast@childcaresuccess.com
Grafton Milne LinkedIn
Childcare Center Success: How to Maximize Profits and Minimize Mistakes.
Little Luminaries — use code “rockstar” for 25% off
@littleluminaries
In this episode, Kris welcomes Grafton Milne and shares a glimpse into his distinctive expertise in childcare real estate. Grafton gives practical insights on understanding your market through straightforward approaches, emphasizing clarity and actionable insights. He talks more about his latest book, Childcare Center Success: How to Maximize Profits and Minimize Mistakes, highlighting key practices such as measuring due diligence, nuanced market understanding, strategic planning, and the latest trends in real estate. Grafton also sheds light on some of his favorite go-to tools tailored to enhance your understanding of the market dynamics, in an industry where one neighborhood could make a world of difference.
Key Takeaways:
[6:30] How Grafton fell into the niche of early childhood by happenstance.
[7:29] Grafton’s degree was in marketing and advertising with a minor in business.
[8:15] Grafton has a busy home life with four energetic young kids, who keep him and his wife very busy.
[8:51] Fun fact: Grafton visited Scotland and Ireland and fell in love with the countries, so don’t be surprised if you ever see him learning the bagpipes!
[9:26] The process of and inspiration behind Grafton’s new book, Childcare Center Success: How to Maximize Profits and Minimize Mistakes.
[11:08] What does it mean to make sure you are getting the appropriate amount of due diligence?
[12:17] How can you measure due diligence?
[15:14] Tips for strategic planning and the cost-of-care model.
[17:14] Examples of how real estate can positively or negatively impact a childcare center’s success.
[19:21] How Grafton’s experience in commercial real estate in the early childhood niche sets him apart.
[25:20] What Grafton would tell his 20-year-old self.
[29:32] What we can expect from Grafton and his team in 2024?
[30:06] Where are the hot markets now?
Quotes:
“Different streets and different neighborhoods can make or break your business.” — Kris [3:05]
“The takeaway is, you’ve got to do some due diligence to make sure that you’re making an educated and informed decision.” — Grafton [12:29]
“You can’t overcompensate the importance of just taking care of your mental health and surrounding yourself with good people and good influences.” — Grafton [25:53]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
podcast@childcaresuccess.com
Grafton Milne LinkedIn
Childcare Center Success: How to Maximize Profits and Minimize Mistakes.
How Will You Measure Your Life?
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Limitless
Buxton Reports
Kris is joined by the incredible Barb Tedrow, a Child Care Rockstar finalist at the Child Care Success Summit and proud owner of A Gold Star Academy. Barb takes center stage as she shares her remarkable journey and unveils the secrets behind her extraordinary success that propelled her business from $3 million to an astounding $6 million in revenue in just one year.
Hailing from the scenic landscapes of Farmington, New Mexico, Barb breaks down her formula for success, touching on key marketing activities, growth strategies, leadership insights, and the mindset that fueled her remarkable achievement. Barb talks about the unique features that set her schools apart, including a gardening program for children and a farm-to-table initiative that she integrated into classrooms. Barb also shares how life has changed after joining the Academy and how she implements the resources in a consistent manner with her staff as well.
Key Takeaways:
[6:25] Barb joins the show from Farmington, New Mexico.
[8:02] What led Barb to buy the center, and how they have grown, starting as a little center with 60 kids.
[11:24] Where did the name Gold Star Academy come from?
[13:01] Breaking news, hot off the press: Barb is opening up a 5th center!
[14:25] Barb and her husband are currently empty nesters now.
[16:37] Unique selling points that set her school and staff apart, including accreditation and establishing an award-winning garden program.
[22:37] Farmington’s community spirit and generosity.
[24:39] How she and her husband learned to outsource non-core tasks such as social media to focus on their strengths and save time and energy.
[29:15] The importance of working with a team that supports your vision.
[30:04] Advice for retention and keeping your team motivated.
[33:03] Remembering to be kind and treat everyone like an equal.
[36:06] Learn to delegate and give people responsibility, and why leaders shouldn’t always fear their employees will quit.
[39:43] The amazing benefits Barb has gotten from being in the Academy.
[42:07] Barb’s plans for expanding in 2024 and beyond in the state of New Mexico, and growing her consulting company.
[44:54] Not only was Barb named Childcare Rockstar Nominee, but she was also just named the Farmington Chamber of Commerce Business Woman of the Year. Way to go!
Quotes:
- “Farmington made me who I am, so we're gonna give back.” — Barb [21:40]
- “As a business owner, you have to pick and choose your battles and what you're good at.” — Barb [22:03]
- “Let people help you. You can’t do it yourself, and it’s okay to ask for help.” — Barb [34:34]
- “If I had to do it differently, I think I would learn sooner than later to let go of trying to do everything myself. Learning to give people the responsibility and hold them accountable.” — Barb [37:34]
- “I took a revenue from $3 million to $6 million in a year. I attribute 90% of that to just being in the academy. I mean that because of the resources that are available to me.” — Barb [40:33]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
podcast@childcaresuccess.com
A Gold Star Academy
Kris welcomes Maria Ahrens, Owner of Paper Planes Early Learning Center in Mount Sinai, NY, for an inspiring conversation on transparent and open communication and embracing the special parts of yourself in leadership. During their talk, Maria shares more about what makes Paper Planes unique and provides valuable tips for team engagement and teacher retention. She also reflects on the benefits of being part of the Academy and receiving mentorship in the industry.
Key Takeaways:
[2:10] The inspiration behind Maria opening Paper Planes in September of 2020, and how opening during the pandemic affected their journey.
[3:42] Paper Planes is licensed for 100 and has a special license for continuity of care. They have a current staff of 25.
[4:44] How Maria got into the world of ECE.
[5:29] Maria grew up in a ski resort in New York and worked in childcare centers there.
[8:48] The transition of leaving Denver and going back to New York.
[11:01] Fun Fact: Maria is a doula and certified birth educator.
[12:35] One of the selling points of Maria’s business is her ability to connect with people and provide an open and transparent environment.
[14:03] A few more of Paper Planes’ selling points are the play-based model, transparency in all departments, and training the staff to have hard conversations.
[20:55] How Kris got into a good flow doing Facebook Live recordings.
[22:24] The importance of making the teachers feel important and learning how to communicate in a way that helps others grow.
[29:11] How the academy helps Maria stay on track with having systems in place.
[31:27] Taking away the anxiety that comes with being understaffed.
[34:44] How Maria overcame staffing challenges in 2022.
[40:40] How Maria utilized Grow Your Center and the ways it freed up her time.
[42:39] How Child Care Success and coaching have impacted Maria’s mindset and helped her with productivity, while spending time with her family.
[45:20] What is next for Maria in 2024, both personally and professionally?
[50:10] A reminder that you don’t have to stay stuck and it’s okay to invest in yourself.
[52:19] You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a lot of impact.
Quotes:
- “It chose me. I have loved babies in particular, since I was really, really young.” — Maria [5:00]
- “One thing that I’ve really loved about opening from scratch has been that I do see a difference in the culture because I built it this way.” — Maria [13:45]
- “My passion was babies and making moms feel comfortable, that was really my thing.” — Maria [14:32]
- “When kids feel loved and safe, they do better.” — Maria [14:36]
- “Part of what makes us who we are is that the parents have really strong relationships with the staff.” — Maria [16:25]
- “If you go in there with no expectation of the outcome and just saying whatever you’re saying with love and respect, the outcome is almost always going to be better than it would be if you were saying it as if you’re already wrong.” — Maria [27:02]
- “You don’t have to stay stuck.” — Maria [50:05]
- “You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a lot of impact.” — Kris [52:18]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
Paper Planes Early Learning Center
Paper Planes on Facebook
It’s all about financial success this week as Kris welcomes Jessica Ferguson from Live Oak Bank, the nation’s largest SBA lender. Jessica talks about Live Oak’s commitment to helping small business owners and how they have grown from starting with veterinarians and dentists to 35 different industries, including ECE. Jessica shares some best practices in the world of lending and borrowing and gives some great tips to get your business financially prepared for the next level. She discusses the different lending options that Live Oak offers, and what they look for when taking on new clients.
Key Takeaways:
[9:44] Jessica talks about Live Oak’s unique business model and how they have grown from conception.
[10:47] Live Oak’s 35 different verticals, and why they were once dubbed the “doggie bank”!
[12:52] Fun fact: Jessica lived abroad both in Spain and Argentina, and made lifelong friends that she still keeps in touch with today.
[13:41] Some trends Jessica is seeing regarding early education and early childhood businesses.
[14:50] The types of loan programs Live Oak offers.
[17:38] Advantages and disadvantages of both conventional and SBA lending options for school owners.
[22:29] What are the rates looking like now?
[26:00] How Live Oak approaches and analyzes deals.
[29:57] The benefits of working with a bank that knows the industry more than just a general lender.
[32;46] How do they work with other borrowers?
[34:27] Best practices for schools seeking financing.
[38:38] Fingers crossed for interest rates coming (and staying) down in 2024.
Quotes:
- “It came down to this model of let’s find industries that have performed well through recessions that have good repayment history and who maybe don’t have the most robust personal financial statements.” — Jessica [14:40]
- “They are just really good borrowers that fit with SBA programs.” — Jessica [14:43]
- “I think it is a ripe time for acquisition opportunities.” — Jessica [15:01]
- “That’s also the nice thing about working with a bank that really knows the industry. We know what to look for, and what makes sense.” — Jessica [29:47]
- “Knowing what each person’s priorities are helps us work with that borrower to make sure that we’re putting them in the right product.” — Jessica [31:57]
- “Being disciplined about tuition increases is really important.” — Jessica [34:52]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
Live Oak
Kris recaps the incredible Child Care Success Summit and sets her sights on next year’s event in Chicago. She then welcomes the amazing Michael Ingram of Bedford Heights Daycare, founded by his mom five decades ago. Michael discusses the impact that he and his mom have had on thousands of families in and around Cleveland, his drive to serve and give back to his community, and the things that set his program apart. Michael talks about the power of manifestation and mentorship, the beauty of stillness, and how he grew the confidence to take his business to the next level with the support of the Academy as a foundational piece. Michael is delighted that one summer job turned into a 22-year profession, and in this interview, you will learn why.
Key Takeaways:
[8:35] Michael joins the show from Ohio and discusses more about Bedford Heights Daycare Center, or BHDC. They are going into their 50th year and have 125 students, ranging from 18 months through 13 years old.
[11:13] One summer for Michael turned into 22 years. He talks about how his mom’s legacy in the school shaped his experience, and that she now still does what she loves while making a giant impact.
[12:06] The turning point for Michael was when he started to look at it as a business and see how he helped his community.
[14:31] Fun Fact: Michael is a yoga teacher and has traveled to India on an Ayurvedic retreat.
[19:49] Michael manifested finding a therapy partner and providing additional support to children including ABA therapy, speech, OT, and social-emotional health services.
[24:53] The component of multiple funding and how it affects your ability to grow your impact.
[26:59] The importance of mentorship.
[31:11] Getting rid of the monkey mind and how many great ideas come when we are still.
[34:14] Michael’s advice for those who are struggling in their business and how the Academy can help.
[41:17] Michael shares a beautiful Sanskrit Mantra.
Quotes:
- “My mom was an original girl boss when it maybe wasn’t as cool to be a girl boss.” — Michael [9:35]
- “It’s seeing the direct impacts that we could have on the community and how knowing our numbers and knowing how to fill the seats would not only make a beautiful life for us but also support all of the employees that we have in our building and support our families. So, that was probably the turning point in my journey in the childcare space.” — Michael [12:35]
- “I came in just thinking it was going to be a layover on a journey elsewhere. It’s afforded me an amazing life and has allowed me to give back to the community.” — Michael [13:19]
- “I just think that when you give back, things come back twofold.” — Michael [13:48]
- “It’s knowing that I don’t have to do everything and that I can hand things off and empower others to make those amazing things happen.” — Michael [27:14]
- “If you’re on that hot mess express and you’re not sure if you should join the Academy, you need to run and find the nearest coach. It will not only grow you as a person, but it will allow your business to just bloom.” — Michael [36:30]
- “The biggest strength of the academy is the positivity. We’re celebrating the winning culture and instead of complaining, we are celebrating.” — Kris [39:10]
- “When setting out on a journey, never seek advice from those who have never left home.” — Rumi [40:06]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
Bedford Heights Daycare
In this episode, Kris welcomes the awesome Maria dos Santos, a childcare entrepreneur hailing from Florida with Venezuelan roots. Maria founded My First Academy, a thriving venture with three locations, each catering to around 100 children, and she’s not stopping there — she’s gearing up for the opening of her fourth location in December 2023. Maria’s commitment to her business and her “whatever it takes” mindset, deeply rooted in her upbringing, are evident in her approach to life and her work with her family and team.
During the conversation, Maria shares the unique benefits and value components that distinguish her school. Maria also discusses her leadership style and how she has nurtured her team while scaling her enterprise. Lastly, she shares the influential figures in her life and her ongoing commitment to giving back to her community and supporting families, parents, and educators.
Key Takeaways:
[5:44] Kris gives up sugar!? What about Halloween?
[6:59] The beauty that comes with sticking to your commitments.
[11:23] Maria joins the show from Orlando, Florida.
[11:57] Maria talks about My First Academy and getting the key for their fourth location.
[13:19] What inspired Maria to get into the field?
[15:09] Maria’s Venezuelan roots and working with her daughter.
[18:05] Fun fact: Maria is a personal trainer and has traveled all over the world because of her father’s career as a Navy Seal.
[19:09] What sets My First Academy apart?
[28:19] Lessons from scaling and expanding.
[31:21] What technology does Maria find useful?
[34:35] What GYC services is Maria using?
[37:01] Maria talks about what we can expect from her in 2024 and beyond.
Quotes:
- “I feel like if we start with one child at a time, I can make a difference.” — Maria [13:19]
- “The key has been always to learn to grow and to seek help.” — Maria [29:54]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
My First Academy
This week, it’s all about making a positive impact on kids and their families, as Kris sits down with Matt Arnerich, the Director of Brand & Comms at Famly, a global software company supporting over 5,000 schools and centers across 18 different countries. In this interesting episode, Matt takes us on a journey through his personal journey into the childcare industry. He also discusses the power of parent engagement as a catalyst for the growth of early childhood businesses, shedding light on strategies for boosting enrollment through the magic of word-of-mouth and referrals from fellow parents.
Matt also unveils how Famly leverages the potential of AI to create connections between children, parents, and childcare leaders. He gives us a glimpse into the future, where Famly's software is set to extend its reach and touch the lives of even more communities on a global scale.
Key Takeaways:
[9:25] What is Famly and what does it do?
[13:03] How did Matt’s journey start?
[14:25] Kris talks about being featured in Famly’s blog, and Matt shares how his background in copywriting helps him in his role at Famly today.
[18:22] How Famly brings people in different countries together, yet also helps on a state-by-state basis.
[20:56] Fun Fact: Matt plays cricket and even has a loose tooth to prove it!
[23:09] How parent engagement can really make a difference for the business, and how Famly helps with parent engagement.
[28:00] Communication with parents during the two busiest times in every center and every parent’s day: drop off and pickup.
[31:08] The importance of emotional intelligence in children’s learning and how Famly can facilitate two-way communication between parents and teachers.
[33:18] Famly can provide live translation in multiple languages, making it more accessible to parents who speak English as an additional language.
[37:24] Matt’s advice for best practices of using Famly in and out of the classroom.
[40:04] How Famly uses AI.
[43:08] Matt’s advice to learn to say “no” a lot more.
Quotes:
- “There’s one reason why parent engagement matters, and it matters because of the children.” — Matt [24:40]
- “If you’re not being consistent in your approach with that child at home and the center, then you’re not going to give that child the best chance to flourish.” — Matt [25:07]
- “The business of early learning does cross all the borders of the countries. This is a global experience that we’re having, but at the same time, there are definitely nuances and differences between the countries and across the state.’ — Kris [27:33]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
Famly — use code rockstar for 15% off
The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth About Extraordinary Results, by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan
It’s an information-packed episode this week as Kris welcomes Nathan Kelly, an industry veteran and trusted figure from Founders Advisors. As the Director of the Consumer Practice at Founders, Nathan is responsible for business development, market process management, and coordinating the analyst team. In the conversation, Nathan talks with Kris about tips for business exits, expansion strategies, wealth building, key considerations for business owners, and the optimal timing for exiting your business. Plus, Nathan gives a sneak peek about an awesome new assessment tool that he will unveil when he takes the stage as one of the mainstage speakers at the upcoming Child Care Success Summit in Orlando!
Key Takeaways:
[7:42] Some fun in store for the Summit, so make sure you join the waitlist.
[11:57] More about Founders Advisors and the type of clients they serve.
[13:03] More about Nathan’s personal life and being a busy dad of three.
[14:34] Fun fact: Kris once competed in a mini ladies’ triathlon!
[15:21] Nathan’s fun fact is that he once hiked 70 miles through the wilderness while in the Boy Scouts.
[16:09] Tips for founders preparing for exit, and how long does the process usually take?
[18:11] What are the most common pitfalls of people who want to exit?
[21:49] The importance of measuring your KPIs.
[23:10] What are some strategies that founders can develop in the three-year period while they get ready to exit?
[25:35] The importance of market timing and personal timing.
[28:29] How inflation has changed things and how leaders can make their pricing strategy reflect the current state of the market.
[30:38] The two models in the childcare world: value-based and premium.
[37:54] More about the assessment tool Nathan has created that will provide a quick and easy way to evaluate a business’s financial health and prepare for exit.
Quotes:
- “The reason that you hire an investment banker or someone like us is to create leverage when it is time to exit or when it’s time to take on growth capital.” — Nathan [16:53]
- “You generally have a lot more leverage over the buyers when you’re running a competitive process than you do when you try to do it on your own.” — Nathan [17:25]
- “People are seeing now that childcare is becoming more and more hard to find. The good quality businesses are out there fetching higher prices than in prior markets.” — Nathan [24:25]
- “It’s all about the team. If you invest in your team, your team will invest in you.” — Nathan [31:40]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
Founders Advisors
Nathan Kelly on LinkedIn
It’s a crucial episode this week as Kris and guest Allyx Schiavone address head-on the challenges we face and the steps we must take to address the biggest issues in childcare. Allyx brings a wealth of expertise as the Executive Director of the Friends Center for Children, boasting a remarkable 30-year career solely dedicated to early learning. Allyx also chairs the Childcare for Connecticut’s Future Coalition, passionately advocating for change while managing her own center day in and day out. Kris and Allyx talk about how to make change, why we still struggle with the same issues year after year, and some incredibly creative ideas for affordable housing solutions. Allyx shares her passion to work with real childhood rockstars, and let them know how valuable they are, even when society may not reflect it back.
Key Takeaways:
[2:32] The average family who is in childcare with one or more children is spending 27% of their household income on childcare.
[8:42] Allyx discusses the mission and values of the Friends Center for Children.
[9:14] Because of their clear values and purpose, it makes the dynamic less transactional and more relationship-based.
[10:45] They currently serve 122 children across two sites and are in a growth phase. By 2027, they will be serving about 275 children by opening up two other sites.
[13:40] The challenges in access and affordability are systemic, so therefore, it requires a systemic solution.
[14:05] It does feel like fighting at the coalition level because we are fighting for disruption against what is currently being done.
[14:23] The focus of the coalition and their broad approach to creating healthy systems.
[15:46] The top pillars of where change needs to be affected.
[22:39] Using Vermont as a model of what it can look like when the business industry invests in our system.
[25:00] Why do we continue to have the same issues?
[30:02] Kris talks about her advocacy group, Child Care Champions.
[34:02] What can owners, directors, and parents do to work together to be part of a solution and make a difference?
[35:13] Planning group events and writing op-eds can help educate the public on what needs to be done to disrupt the system.
[36:43] How can we move forward in our industry with a labor shortage and burnout epidemic that leaves us more than 80K providers short?
[40:08] Allyx talks about the partnership with housing advocates and donors who invested in homes for teachers to live for free, which then opened up more money for all teachers to get a bigger raise.
[41:08] How do they determine which teachers get the home?
[47:05] Allyx talks about breaking the patterns from her own challenging childhood and how much of a blessing being a parent has been in her life.
[49:08] To Allyx, the real rock stars are the women who show up, fight, and give their all even when society tells them that they aren’t enough.
[50:56] The Emotional Wellbeing Program is where there is an advocate who thinks directly about the well-being of children, families, teachers, and staff. Not only is this created for culture, but for productivity as well.
Quotes:
- “27 to 7 guys is where we’d like to take it if we were going to have any help in providing childcare to everybody that needs it in this country and to continue to support the dual income and the workforce of men and women in this country.” — Kris [5:02]
- “We are fighting for disruption, and we must be part of the disruption to get the forces and the people that are at the table making the laws in this country and the decision makers to actually stand up and pay attention to us.” — Kris [6:32]
- “I get to be in partnership with amazing professionals and families and, of course, these amazing, eager, joyful, honest, and developing humans. What could be better?” — Allyx [8:32]
- “The fact that women are productive members in our economy and workforce, and the fact that we cannot adjust to that has to be about our socially ingrained belief.” — Allyx [10:08]
- “There’s a real access and affordability crisis in early education, and these challenges that are systemic require a systemic solution.” — Allyx [13:40]
- “We are really fighting at the coalition level, and I use that word fighting, because it feels like that a lot of the time. We are fighting for disruption in what is currently being done.” — Allyx [14:06]
- “That’s why the coalition is so critical because we cannot continue to carry the weight ourselves. We have been participating in our own rescue for hundreds of years, both as women and the industry.” — Allyx [29:08]
- “I look at the women that I work with and the amount of shame that we heap on them by putting them in positions where they can’t care for their own family, but they are caring for everyone else’s. To me, they are the rockstars and the heroes because they show up for those other children, even when society is saying to them that they aren’t enough.” — Allyx [49:08]
- “If you can get people to be their best selves, you are going to have better engagement from everyone involved, and that’s really the goal.” — Allyx [51:22]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
Friends Center for Children
Child Care for Connecticut’s Future
First Five Years Fund
Join Kris in an enlightening conversation this week with Dr. Donna Housman, a prominent figure in child emotional development. Dr. Donna discusses the vital role of emotional regulation for both children and educators in bolstering mental health and effective learning. Dr. Donna talks about her work in aiding emotionally challenged youth to integrate neuroscience into the innovative Housman Institute lab school. She talks about her intention behind getting the children's books aligned with curriculum and expert tips for emotional regulation, such as deep breathing. Kris and Donna address the current mental health landscape and the need for all of us to learn to identify and accept our big emotions, at any age.
Key Takeaways:
[2:20] Dr. Donna talks about starting as a psychologist working with children and adolescents struggling with issues around depression, anxiety, and trauma. She talks about the common threads she saw between them in managing and dealing with big emotions.
[3:10] Dr. Donna started her child development center in the ’80s, with emotional development at the core of the entire center.
[3:56] The importance of understanding that the educator is essential and foundational in helping children develop as they continue to grow and develop is critical.
[5:15] Developing the Housman Institute lab school, and tying in research in neuroscience, while addressing the needs of the children, families, and training needs of the educator.
[7:30] Why is it important for children to be exposed to emotional regulation skills and competencies?
[10:38] Dr. Donna talks about discerning between emotions and connecting our behavior to emotions.
[12:44] The four quadrants of our emotional regulations that help us identify, understand, express, and manage these big emotions.
[16:12] What are some of the resources that the Housman Institute provides for both children and educators?
[18:42] Dr. Donna talks about the children’s books they have created to align with their curriculum.
[23:02] Dr. Donna provides some great tips for emotional regulation including deep breathing to calm the nerves and accepting all your feelings and emotions, knowing that you don’t have to act on them.
[27:12] The training programs for both leaders and children.
[28:14] We are in a mental health pandemic and need to focus on helping each other and future generations.
[30:39] The “Make Peace Table” is a way to unite emotion and cognition.
[32:55] What is in the future for Dr. Donna and her team in 2024 and beyond?
Quotes:
- “It’s far better to prevent than repair.” — Dr. Donna [3:10]
- “Emotions, as we know, are so central in everything that we do.” — Dr. Donna [5:44]
- “There’s a direct connection between emotions and learning, and when feelings aren’t managed, it can really impair our thinking, problem-solving, grasping new concepts.” — Dr. Donna [7:51]
- “Anger is getting something we don’t want, whereas sadness is not getting something we do want.” — Dr. Donna [10:08]
- “We’re going to help you learn how to deal with these big emotions so that you can continue to engage with friends, learn, explore and discover and do all the things that you’d love to do.” — Dr. Donna [12:30]
- “All emotions are fine, it’s what we do with them that matters most.” — Dr. Donna [24:51]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
Housman Institute
The Little Engine That Could
Winnie The Pooh
Kris welcomes the husband and wife team, Solomon and Michelle Logan, of Logan’s Treehouse Childcare. Based out of Louisville, Kentucky, they are going on center number three and impacting close to 450 children a day. In the episode, they talk about the beauty of embracing the right timing, learning from mistakes, and their mission to solve problems in their community and commit to a family-focused brand. They discuss the actual features in their schools that help them differentiate and be top-notch and the benefits that come from building a family-like atmosphere.
Key Takeaways:
[3:54] Kris talks about her own Mamma Mia moment coming up, and where she will be on some of her fun upcoming travels!
[9:05] Solomon and Michelle talk about their play-based and family-centered atmosphere.
[11:48] Why did one of their locations close down, and when can we expect it to be back up?
[14:46] The vision behind Logan’s Treehouse and how they made it happen, step by step.
[16:56] Their commitment to strive to make that family-like atmosphere and build strong relationships with their families.
[19:25] Solomon and Michelle talk about their personal life and the need to be structured with so much going on!
[20:51] Fun fact! Solomon is the king of the BBQ and makes a mean brisket, and Michelle originally comes from sunny Miami.
[22:35] Tips to create an environment that is more relational than transactional.
[25:14] Strategies for working together as a husband-and-wife team.
[30:10] The challenge of opening a center right when COVID-19 hit in 2020 and how they dealt with losing families and staff, and instead turned it into a positive.
[34:10] How did they find the academy and decide to take it seriously?
[38:19] What is EOS and how can it help people know who does what and to bring clarity around job responsibilities and roles?
[39:18] What is a childcare rockstar to Solomon and Michelle?
[40:26] What is next for Solomon and Michelle in 2023 and beyond?
Quotes:
- “We thrive on basing everything around our family.” — Solomon [10:44]
- “A lot of people don’t talk about timing. You can’t jump in there right away and just expect things to bloom. You know, some things take time.” — Solomon [14:03]
- “More than anything, build strong relationships with your families and their children, and you will succeed.” — Solomon [17:37]
- “Go all in; don't hold back. Meet Your coaches. It’s been a game changer for us.” — Michelle (on the Academy) [35:33]
- “I will say a childcare rockstar is somebody that leaves a positive impact on whomever they come into contact with, whether it be the kids, whether it be the teachers, whether it be your program director.” — Michelle [39:45]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: Use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal.
Logan’s Treehouse
What the Heck is EOS
Don't miss this powerful and heartfelt episode, featuring the incredible Miss Robin Harris. Driven by her passion to empower and motivate teachers within the school system, Robin shares invaluable insights on making a lasting impact on students’ lives through effective strategies that surpass standard expectations, promoting constant improvement and excellence. Robin discusses finding her energy and drive in the early childhood world, the unwavering motivation that enables her to be a guiding light to others, and details about her Level Up program, two schools, and her fun alter ego. Tune in for one of Kris’s favorite episodes!
Key Takeaways:
[5:28] Robin talks about the Future Leaders Learning Academy, right outside of Houston in Spring, Texas. They have a capacity of 68; the Harris Academic Club has a capacity of 150.
[7:03] How they got into offering homeschooling, and the benefits that students receive including a lot of personalized attention.
[9:53] How Robin’s aunt and uncle helped her realize that she could be something more and make a big difference in the world.
[12:15] Kris shares the story of Mrs. Irish, the teacher who made the biggest impact in her life.
[15:55] Empowered teachers are the number one leverage point and the most important thing in education for children to fully thrive.
[17:20] Robin has an alter ego?! OMG!
[20:00] Robin talks about her interactive workbook, Success Looks Good On You.
[21:37] Unique selling points or differentiation of Robin’s schools, and how the word of mouth and results do the promoting and selling on their own.
[25:29] Robin helps teachers bring their energy and passion back for teaching, and big things happen.
[29:32] How the open concept teaching works, and why both the future leaders and parents love it.
[32:08] What strategy does Robin employ for the youngsters?
[33:25] Robin talks about her Level Up curriculum.
[43:01] What are Robin’s plans for 2023 and beyond, including the brilliant ABCDE awards?
Quotes:
- “From the moment I walked into the classroom, I knew that was my field.” — Robin [6:22]
- “I wanted to show the world that I was different.” — Robin [11:20 ]
- “Right now, the schools are promoting me.” — Robin [8:25]
- “When you do well, by families and children, your parents will love you so much that they will sing your praises to the world.” — Robin [27:40]
- “If you produce excellence, you have the power to change a student’s life. Multiple students’ lives.” — Robin [35:32]
- “That’s the thing about a great leader, you always want to continue to grow and to develop.” — Robin [43:42]
- “When you give excellence, you will always get excellence from your students, your staff, and teachers.” — Robin
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Level Up: 1-888-700-1017
Miss O.M.G. Blast from the Past
In this episode, Kris sits down with Rob Rubicco, the entrepreneurial founder of Anna and Jack’s Treehouse, a childcare business with a unique blend of corporate experience and a family feel. Rob shares the incredible journey of he and his wife Christina, starting with Anna's Treehouse in a basement and scaling it to multiple locations. With his background in management consulting for renowned companies like Disney and Coca-Cola, Rob brings a corporate approach to customer experience in the childcare industry. Rob talks about the selling points that set Anna and Jack’s Treehouse apart, including their amazing programs, wonderful teachers, and even their homemade fresh pasta sauce. Rob emphasizes the importance of traditional values as a leader and the significance of setting clear expectations for teachers. He also shares his journey with the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and how it has helped him scale his business with clarity and efficiency.
Key Takeaways:
[6:37] The daycare that started it all, called Anna’s Treehouse, that started in a basement, then Jack’s Treehouse, and how it evolved into a commercial space.
[11:01] Before getting into childcare, Rob was a management consultant, helping companies like Disney and Coca-Cola find ways to enhance their overall customer experience.
[13:53] Taking care of the children of first responders during the pandemic.
[17:19] We need less stigma around men in childcare and in leadership roles around childcare.
[18:11] Fun fact: Rob is actually a trained chef, and even studied at the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan and appeared on the Food Network.
[22:34] If their great programs and wonderful teachers don’t do the trick of enrollment, the fresh pasta sauce may just be the next best-selling point.
[24:17] Some of the great selling points at Anna and Jack’s Treehouse that set them apart and give them that family feel.
[29:33] Getting back to his traditional values as a leader.
[30:29] The importance of setting expectations and communicating them clearly to teachers.
[31:50] How Rob got into his EOS journey.
[34:56] The structure of what EOS brings allows you to scale much more quickly and more pain-free with more clarity.
[48:19] Using Trainual to systemize and build out their training platforms.
Quotes:
- “Every time we’ve grown and expanded, other than the Norwalk location, it’s been because of demand.” — Rob [9:19]
- “When I first joined Treehouse, I came from the boardroom to the classroom, really. And I had to adjust my way of thinking from every perspective you could possibly imagine.” — Rob [15:45]
- “Whether it's a parent or a teacher, I just want to get to know them and understand what their aspirations are, what they’re into, and not for any other reason than just to be a human.” — Rob [30:00]
- “The best sign of a super successful entrepreneur is somebody who is a fast implementer, from what we teach.” — Kris
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Anna and Jack’s Treehouse
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It, by Michael E. Gerber
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap… And Others Don't, by Jim Collins
The Finisher’s Journal: High Performance Planner
Rob Rubicco
As Kris gets ready to head to New Zealand for the ECC Conference, she sits down with Simon, Chief Executive at the Early Childhood Council of New Zealand. Simon brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in policy and advocacy for early learning in New Zealand. He discusses the current challenges facing early childhood education in the country and how he and his team are working to overcome them. Simon explores the nuances of New Zealand’s early education system and its impact on the global stage, and he opens up about the unique global perspective and innovative approaches to ECE in New Zealand, shedding light on their high-quality experiential curriculums for children. He and Kris also preview some of the “don’t miss” amazing offerings coming up at the conference so you can plan your schedule accordingly.
Key Takeaways:
[8:55] Simon joins the show from Wellington, New Zealand.
[9:35] The Early Childhood Council is membership-based with about 860 members across New Zealand. They run about 1500 centers across the country.
[13:50] More about Simon’s background in government policy and how it was a chance to specifically recruit someone with his skill set.
[14:22] One of the ways of dealing with a threat is to try and have someone who understands quite deeply how the other side works.
[15:18] Simon’s previous role at the Ministry of Education.
[17:39] What is really going on between the government and the early childhood community and industry?
[19:30] What politicians say doesn’t always match up with their actions when it comes to helping the childhood industry.
[25:19] How do we not only survive but stay positive during this time?
[29:56] The importance of keeping ourselves inspired for not only us, but the children, their families, and our staff.
[34:05] It is also important to be realistic, and when the going gets tough, you need to have an exit strategy.
[37:56] What can we expect from the ECC conference in July? Simon and Kris talk about some sessions and panelists to not miss.
Quotes:
- “My background is government policy. So that was a change of tack from the organization to specifically recruit someone with my skill set.” — Simon [11:05]
- “If you talk to any politician, they will tell you about the benefits of early childhood and how important that is. But, you know, actions speak louder than words. And if you follow the money, they might say that, but when it comes down to it, they make choices and they put their money into other things.” — Simon [19:30]
- “The quality of early childhood for the child can and does run parallel to the investment in business skills, and best practices, which then flow down a trickle down to the leaders which flow to the teachers, kids and the parents.” — Kris [24:19]
- “We need to also do this dance where we can continue to keep ourselves inspired and positive so that we don’t just fall into a rut of despair.” — Kris [29:45]
- “When the going gets really tough, you need to have an exit strategy.” — Simon [34:05]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Simon Laube
Early Childhood Council
ECC Conference
Kris welcomes Jennifer Conner, the Director of Coaching at the Child Care Success Company. She first gives an update on her move to Mexico and shares her inspiring story of exiting her business and transitioning to a full-time role as Director of Coaching. Jennifer’s natural talent for building operations manuals and systems, combined with her leadership skills, has allowed her to scale and grow the company’s processes and automation. She shares valuable insights on how she and her team valued the business, organized the necessary paperwork, and set her successor up for success. This episode is particularly relevant for those looking to build their businesses with an eye toward future sales and expansion. Lastly, Kris and Jennifer also discuss a transformative book that provides a framework for stepping out of the day-to-day operations and achieving maximum value when exiting your business.
Key Takeaways:
[5:50] We get to know Jennifer from her home office, just a little north of Tulum, Mexico. She gives a quick highlight of her background in early education and how it was not the path she expected.
[10:16] Jennifer’s decision to move to Mexico.
[13:47] Jennifer talks about the emotional highs and lows that come with changing ownership. If you are in the process of exiting or changing ownership structure, it’s very normal to ping pong back and forth.
[17:40] How did Jennifer structure the financial side of the buyout?
[21:47] The benefits of having a clear cut on the operating accounts.
[23:33] Fun Fact: the director opened up a second business, and Jennifer loves the idea that selling her business to her may have given her more confidence and the empowerment to go even bigger.
[28:33] Why she encouraged the new owner to rebrand and have her own name.
[29:05] Adopting video during the pandemic to keep connection with families.
[37:14] Subsidy vs. private pay and the lessons Jennifer learned.
[41:25] Creating systems that would make it easy for the next person, and making a video about them instead of having to repeat the same things.
[44:17] Why you may not want to be the one steam cleaning your carpets on a Saturday, and learning to have your business run without you needing to be the one working on it all the time.
Quotes:
- “I didn’t want to be an owner that has only been an owner and had no understanding of what goes on in the classroom.” — Jennifer [7:02]
- “Exiting your business is a ping pong. One minute I was all in, we’re going to sell. And the next day, I was like, Nope, I’m pulling it all back.” — Jennifer [13:28]
- “That was my goal to empower people, and I wanted them to have more and be able to be more.” — Jennifer [23:30]
- “I’m proud of what we accomplished together. Because it’s the legacy of what was built, and still being able to serve the families and children and the staff.” — Jennifer [27:10]
- “I do love systems. I did that because I felt like I trained people better than anybody else. And so I wanted to do it, but then I got tired of repeating it over and over. So I’m like, why don’t I just record it? So that was the brainchild behind that.” — Jennifer [42:13]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Jennifer Conner
Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You, by John Warrillow
@thejenventure
Are you ready to live a Limitless life? This week, Kris extends a warm welcome to Amir Zoghi, one of her mentors and a renowned coach whose impactful WTF talks have influenced thousands, while his transformative events provide a gateway to unlocking a higher, deeper, and more limitless version of oneself. Amir emphasizes the importance of creating space within and fostering an ethos of wisdom, truth, and freedom that forms the foundation of the Limitless experience. He talks about the rebranding of WTF to the Limitless events that take participants on a profound journey of self-discovery, helping them uncover their purpose and upgrade their perspective on the world. Prepare to be inspired as Amir empowers you to tap into your energy, intuition, and limitless potential, setting you on a path of remarkable personal growth and fulfillment.
Key Takeaways:
[7:37] Whether it’s working as a mindset coach, speaking, or flying as an aerobatic pilot, Amir’s work will get you out of your comfort zone.
[9:03] Our mindset is the program that we are running, but if you want to change your mindset, it sometimes requires an updated capacity.
[10:09] Our capacity has to grow sometimes in order to accomplish some of the goals and tasks we desire.
[10:33] Becoming the highest frequency of yourself can allow you to tap into your greatest potential.
[11:50] The greatest level of purpose is realized in who you are. When you improve the relationship that you have with yourself, you can become purposeful in everything you do.
[15:00] How to give yourself space and time when you have a busy and demanding schedule, a family/partner, etc.
[18:17] Where your attention goes, it grows.
[22:39] You’ve got nothing to give to others unless you’ve put yourself first.
[26:17] The importance of claiming your own time in partnerships so you can fill your own cup up.
[27:18] Who were the early influences that impacted Amir?
[31:17] His journey of embracing his gifts.
[32:11] Amir’s certainty, even at his younger age, when starting his WTF talks.
[33:55] What is a Limitless event and how has the brand grown over the years? What can people expect at a Limitless event?
[41:05] How entrepreneurs have the vision and gut instinct to change the world.
Quotes:
- “Once you expand your space, then suddenly you can run whatever mindset and pattern that you like.” — Amir [9:20]
- “The mindset is the program that we are running. But if you want to change your mindset, some mindsets require an updated capacity.” — Amir [9:40]
- “Our capacity has got to grow in order to accomplish some of those goals and tasks.” — Amir [10:11]
- “Who you need to be is the highest level of frequency. That’s what actually makes the change possible, and that’s what makes the change last.” — Amir [10:44]
- “I believe that entrepreneurial people with the right intentions can actually change the world.” — Amir [41:04]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Amir Zoghi
@amirzoghi
The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, by Eckhart Tolle
2 For 1 Special — Limitless Event
Kris welcomes a special guest, Miss Cindy Lehnhoff, the director of the National Child Care Association. With over four decades of experience in the industry, including various roles within the learning care group, Cindy is passionate about strengthening and professionalizing the field. Cindy and Kris explore the world of advocacy and how to be our own best advocates. They discuss the importance of staying informed about policy changes and share insights on leveraging our political power as business owners or leaders. Cindy addresses misconceptions and fears around advocacy, debunking the notion that it requires an excessive time commitment, along with the vital role of engaging parents and teachers in this journey.
Key Takeaways:
[10:48] Cindy’s background in child care and the path that got her into advocacy and the NCCA.
[14:40] Cindy is now the Director of the NCCA.
[16:49] Cindy and her high school sweetheart are still married and living in Florida, with three incredible adult children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren!
[18:40] Fun Fact: Cindy didn’t choose a career in child care — it chose her!
[21:02] How early childhood professionals aren’t often comfortable with advocating for themselves, and why it’s important.
[22:34] Advice for people to build up confidence towards advocating for themselves using the three Cs: collaborate, connect, and communicate.
[30:50] The CHIPS Act, and how we can do better with funding and creating a better ecosystem for education.
[37:52] How do we engage more people in our communities?
[39:20] What types of things does the National Child Care Association provide for its members?
[45:38] There’s no industry more essential than child care if we want to get America back to work fully.
[50:52] Options for accreditation, including NECPA.
Quotes:
- “We want our providers to be able to thrive so they can do their best work for families.” — Cindy [16:15]
- “I never really pursued a career in early care and education. It pursued me.” — Cindy [18:28]
- “For the most part, early childhood professionals, they simply just don’t get involved in advocating for themselves.” — Cindy [20:57]
- “We actually say there's three C’s in, in advocacy, and it’s to collaborate, connect and communicate.” — [Cindy 25:23]
- “There’s no industry more essential than childcare if we want to get America back to work fully.” — Kris [45:57]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
National Child Care Association
NECPA
Ashley Ryan is currently the Chief Operating Officer at Grow Your Center. She shares her super successful hiring formula based on extensive research and her personal experience. She and Kris talk about attracting great candidates, red flags to look for even before hiring someone, how to stand out and show your personality, and great tips for onboarding in an organized and methodical fashion. Ashley and Kris also emphasize the importance of calculating turnover rates and treating hiring as a sales and marketing process aligned with your brand. Lastly, the two explore the value of incorporating test tasks to provide a realistic preview of candidates’ capabilities.
Key Takeaways:
[7:18] How did Ashley make her way from starting her own web agency and working with other female entrepreneurs to Grow Your Center?
[11:18] Fun fact — Ashley is a motorcycle mama! She thinks Kris should get a bike too.
[13:36] The importance of knowing your company values and providing growth.
[15:04] Benefits can be more than just time off.
[16:56] Growth opportunities mean different things for different people.
[18:22] Having a good manager, good reviews, and competitive salaries are all crucial to succeed in hiring.
[20:57] Know how to calculate your turnover.
[21:44] Hiring is essentially sales and marketing. Whatever your brand is, be intentional and think through each piece in advance.
[27:52] What tools are best to stay organized and to keep following up?
[31:59] Ashley talks about her hiring rating system. A few of the measurements they discuss are:
- The ability to problem-solve.
- Reliability
- Motivation and the candidate being productive
- Personability and having a superpower
- Is the person coachable? Are they inquisitive?
[38:30] The importance of a test task to show what it will really be like working with them.
[40:29] When hiring, listen to your gut. Save yourself pain and payroll by not hiring the wrong person.
[46:09] Any tips for onboarding?
[49:52] How Grow Your Center has been revamped and what Ashley is excited about for the future.
Quotes:
- “Oftentimes, when we’re leading something, it’s like it’s those costly mistakes that kind of show us the way.” — Ashley [7:47]
- “People don’t leave a job, they leave a manager.” — Kris [18:50]
- “Whatever your brand is, be intentional and think through each piece in advance.” — Kris [25:02]
- “Another key tip to having a really solid hiring process is following up a lot.” — Ashley [28:42]
- “Fortune is really in the follow-up.” — Ashley [29:32]
- “Your hire should have some kind of superpower.” — Ashley [34:14]
- “A big red flag with hiring with whoever is the fact that you’re giving too many chances.” — Ashley [35:33]
- “If I could only do one thing to someone, and I had to eliminate everything, all I would do is some kind of test task.” — Ashley [38:00]
- “If it’s definitely a no and your gut is firing, don’t hire that person.” — Kris [48:32]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Ashley’s Scorecard
This week features Sue Kurtovich, all the way from New Zealand. Sue is a specialist in early childhood education (ECE) administration and management with over 30 years of sector experience. She shares her journey into Early Childhood, and how her extensive knowledge of the ECE regulatory environment helps others through her Early Childhood Management Consulting business. Sue talks about challenges in teacher staffing during the early years, her predictions for New Zealand’s regulations and teacher shortages in early childhood, and the qualities of generosity, kindness, and practicality that continue to serve her along the way.
Key Takeaways:
[1:25] Sue walks us through her journey into Early Childhood and how she got interested in the business, regulation, and compliance side.
[5:44] How Sue got involved with the Early Childhood Council.
[7:00] What does Sue’s consulting company provide?
[12:42 What is Sue’s home life like?
[13:36] What are some of the biggest differences in the culture of early childhood in New Zealand versus the U.S.?
[17:00] What are some of the issues that face childcare providers right now?
[26:33] Will New Zealand loosen the regulations in early childhood?
[30:54] What is the funding like for childcare in the community, and how can we do better?
[30:58] The importance of mentorship.
[40:00] Why hasn't Sue retired? Many reasons. First, she loves what she does and takes great pride in helping others.
[41:02] One of Sue’s proudest moments was achieving a turnaround in the government policy back in the 2000s when the government wanted to discriminate against privately-owned services.
Quotes:
- “We’re fairly tenacious sort of women, and we were determined to get a preschool going for our children. So, we thought we can’t be the only people that are looking for a preschool. And, a nice preschool.” — Sue [5:05]
- “I worry about burnout for those people who own the business and work in the business and the pressures on them.” — Sue [16:36]
- “The downside for the Early Childhood sector was that we probably didn’t have a true understanding of our reliance on immigration when it came to our teaching workforce.” — Sue [17:19]
- “We’re very mindful of what we need to put in place to keep the good teachers that we’ve got to ensure we look after them.” — Sue [19:39]
- “Sometimes people just want to know how they can do something better.” — Sue [38:13]
- “I feel quite proud every day because every day I help somebody. It’s like that’s the rewarding part about it.” — Sue [32:45]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Kurtovich Consulting
Kris welcomes Kaye Boehning of Tomorrow’s Promise Montessori Schools, located in the small community of Huntsville, Texas. Kaye talks about how she got into the child care industry, learning to delegate and elevate, and what practical steps she took to work on her business and not have to be in the business for every step. Kaye talks with Kris about what sets Tomorrow’s Promise apart, some fun Montessori school facts, and how she and her team are scaling for growth.
Key Takeaways:
[1:50] Kaye was nominated by the SBDC Small Business Development Center for the Small Business Owner of the Year Award for her district. She is the first person ever to get the award in the brand new category.
[4:50] Tomorrow’s Promise is located in the small community of Huntsville, Texas. The first location is licensed for 255 and the second for 81. She is still waiting for the city to approve her permit for the third location.
[7:26] Kaye talks about switching her major at 25 and what made her go from a CPA to knowing that she had to make a difference in a child’s life.
[10:44] Fun Fact! Kaye met her husband on Match.com and she is a car nut, which runs in her family.
[14:02] Besides being the only Montessori in town, Tomorrow’s Promise has the largest playgrounds in town and that are designed for each age group. They also have bathrooms in every classroom.
[18:02] Kaye talks about growing and scaling her locations.
[26:09] The importance of delegating and letting go, which for Kaye included hiring someone that is really good at hiring great talent. This saves her money in mistaken hires and staff turnover.
[27:02] Hire an extra person.
[28:24] Kaye talks about her administrative team structure.
[39:51] Kaye explains the inspiration and beautiful mission behind the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
[44:09] Fun fact: Ever heard of Amazon, Wikipedia, or Google? All three have been founded by Montessori students.
Quotes:
- “We have, gosh, over 200 years of experience with teachers.” — Kaye [15:10]
- “I didn’t think the school could live without me.” — Kaye [21:50]
- “I’ve sat in a closet and half listened to the Summit. That was my office in the supply closet. Now I have an office office.” — Kaye [22:01]
- “When I started the school, I wanted to be the kind of boss I always wanted.” — [Kaye] 23:23
- “Sometimes the speedboat needs to refuel and rest.” — Kaye [45:54]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Tomorrow’s Promise
In this lunch and learn, Kris welcomes Coach Ben Poswalk from Colorado to answer the first listener question from the amazing child care leader listeners. First up is Tomika Roberston of A Giant’s Playschool, who has a question about budgeting. She is wondering how to get started with budgeting as she transitions her home based preschool to her first brick and mortar center. And, how to take in consideration for events like parent’s night out, bonuses, grad events, etc. Ben shares some sage advice on measuring your information, accounting for fluctuations, and having support and a second pair of eyes.
Key Takeaways:
[7:00] Tomika calls in.
[8:19] Tomika is aware she needs to focus on creating a budget from scratch and to implement best money practices.
[10:33] Ben shares the importance of measuring and tracking data. Measure income first, then expenses.
[11:16] Make measuring and collecting data a habit, and have someone to help you on a regular basis.
[13:38] Get creative with ways to build parent relationships without breaking the bank, like potlucks or picnics.
[16:28] You don’t have to get stuck in just giving out bonuses to show appreciation. Think creatively, whether it’s visible notes where people can see the nice things you and others say about them, donuts once a quarter, etc.
[17:11] Getting your staff business cards also is an affordable way to make them feel more professional.
[17:50] How to use bonuses to build relationships with your team.
[18:20] What tools do most people use to create a budget?
[19:55] How to keep your business on track with your budget.
[22:00] Make the habit of actually looking at your numbers to ensure your business is going in the right direction.
Quotes:
- “What gets measured improves.” - Ben/Kris 10:49
- “People don't remember what you get them, they remember how you make them feel.” - Ben 15:29
- “You need to just be able to explain the anomalies in your budget when it's not at 100%, or close to. And that's really how I learned to track my business.” - Ben 21:00
- “Get support, get somebody else looking. Get a second set of eyes looking at your numbers.” Ben 21:40
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Coach Ben Poswlak
Kris welcomes Shonali Harrison, school owner and director of Eden Prairie Montessori in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Shonali talks about her journey from growing up in Sri Lanka to becoming the director of Eden Prairie in 1991, and what she fell in love with about the Montessori school system. Shonali discusses her leadership style and how she stays present and engaged with her team, leading with an open heart, what has made her the proudest about her time in early childhood, and what she has found challenging. Shonali and Kris highlight the importance of mentorship and marketing your strengths to the right audience. Then, Shonali also lets us in on a fun fact about her party-planning skills, and talks about what’s next for her team in 2023 and beyond.
Key Takeaways:
[7:50] Shonali discusses transforming a KinderCare building into her Montessori school and tells us a little more about Eden Prairie Montessori.
[8:20] What is the education system like in Sri Lanka, where Shonali grew up?
[11:31] Fun fact: Shonali is a great party planner and she can whip out an awesome event in a few hours. And… she can hula hoop while at the party!
[12:02] What was Shonali’s journey into purchasing her first school?
[18:37] Shonali discusses some of her program’s unique strengths including no screens, concrete learning, and teacher training.
[23:51] How do the staff get certified for Montessori training?
[25:15] What qualities and values does Shonali embody as a leader?
[30:53] The people that have had the biggest impact on Shonali.
[35:15] What has been the most challenging part of her journey?
[36:52] The tools that Shonali uses for success include Brightwheel and Intellikids.
[40:00] It’s a huge skill (and critical for success) to find ways to get along and jive, despite differing personalities.
Quotes:
- “Every time I walk into a Montessori school, I just love the energy of it, because I feel like it feels calmer, it feels less chaotic, and it feels more focused.” — Kris [10:41]
- “Teachers are so dedicated and truly have their heart in it.” — Shonali [19:53]
- “I love for my staff and people who have been with me, or coming into our programs to be able to learn from me, as a mentor. I feel like this is something that I can pass on to them. And I want to teach them what I know.” — Shonali [21:02]
- “I just love to show people what I think they could do, and to help them in certain situations.” — Shonali [26:09]
- “I can definitely say I’m an awesome teacher. I know that about me because I’ve been told it and I know I have the passion for that.” — Shonali [26:56]
- “You’re like a frog in the well. You don’t know what you can do when you have all these voices and people telling you how to do it.” — Shonali [30:27]
- “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” — Kris [32:49]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use the code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Eden Prairie Montessori
Beth Davis, Owner and Director of Kids for Kids in Miami, Florida, and the first Change the World winner in 2020 joins Kris to discuss team empowerment, employee engagement, and consistency in leadership. During the conversation, they highlight the importance of small gestures of appreciation for employees, as well as the significant impact they can have on overall team morale. Beth also shares insights on creating a safe and welcoming culture for parents, including the use of virtual tours and a state-of-the-art website.
Key Takeaways:
[6:44] Beth is the owner and director of Kids for Kids in Miami Florida. This year’s capacity is 175 with a really healthy waitlist.
[9:42] 18 years ago, Beth left the comforts of her classroom to purchase a little struggling child care center in a strip mall, and the rest is history.
[10:28] What are some of the things Beth has done that she feels have been the most important contributors or changemakers to improve school culture?
[12:09] Aside from school safety, there are a lot of little things you can do to make staff feel appreciated.
[13:42] Beth shares the little things she does to show gratitude to the teachers such as giving out a weekly gift card, providing an awesome coffee machine, and treating them to lunch. Professionally, she supports their growth and also gives them a business card so they know they are a childcare professional.
[20:13] How has Beth’s dedication to paying her teachers well and creating a great culture over the years transformed into actual energy in the classroom?
[24:29] Beth talks about her book and the credibility behind being an author. She also talks about a few tools she likes including a beautiful website, Brightwheel, and Intelli-Kids.
[35:42] Trust your team.
[46:28] Fun Fact: Beth loves clowning around. Her first job at 12 years old was to appear as a balloon puppet-making clown for children’s birthdays!
Quotes:
- “When I first opened the school, the reason I did so is because I was an underappreciated educator for 17 years.” — Beth [11:13]
- “My vision was to provide an environment where teachers love to teach and feel appreciated.” — Beth [11:46]
- “The little things turn into big things.” — Beth [15:36]
- “I paid my staff better than most people because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be successful.” — Beth [18:02]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Kids For Kids
Get ready to get pumped up this week, as Kris introduces us to her good friend and personal trainer, author, and entrepreneur Kyle Brown. He talks about his journey into the fitness industry and how he got into his current mission of working with heart-centered entrepreneurs on their self-mastery in every way. He and Kris talk about the importance of fitness inside and outside the classroom, having a fitness mindset, and how we can start to make little changes that have big results. Kyle talks about what’s next for his business, his new book, and Rapid Harmony.
Key Takeaways:
[3:15] What are some of the highlights of Kyle’s journey and how has it shifted over time?
[8:30] The importance of harmonizing the divine masculine and divine feminine within.
[9:04] How the idea of Rapid Harmony came about.
[11:35] Kyle talks about moving to Colorado and more about his personal life with his wife and kids.
[13:30] Kyle reveals a fun fact about seeing the Grateful Dead at a concert that Kris just happened to be at too!
[16:40] How does fitness contribute to one’s quality of life?
[17:36] Self-confidence comes from really having a powerful mind inside of a healthy fit body.
[18:25] When you are optimized, your brain is so fast that you think clearly and you think from a higher consciousness; a more elevated level.
[20:02] How can we optimize and create more time to take care of ourselves while we’re doing other things?
[26:07] How leaders can lead by example with their team that fitness is important and not just another task on their list. Meeting on the playground, anyone?
[30:29] We can only hold space and have the capacity to hold space for others, for the level of which we have gone through ourselves. Kyle talks about how his missions and values translate into parenthood.
[35:31] As a parent, you are a leader and you are leading your kids to the possibility of what their lives can be.
[39:44] Kyle shares his favorite core value for his business.
Quotes:
- “I would say the biggest highlight is the idea of waking up and creating what you do every day.” — Kyle [2:27]
- “If you can step back and breathe and step into harmony, then you realize with gratitude everything you have now, and then you can step into those levels by just simply opening up doors and boundaries and things that you’ve been blocking about yourself the entire time.” — Kyle [9:38]
- “The only thing that gets the attention is the meat suit.” — Kyle [17:07]
- “That’s the reason behind every one of your whys for the most part is we just all want to be happy and feel really good. And that is priceless. You can’t purchase that.” — Kyle [23:31]
- As a parent, you are a leader and you are leading your kids to the possibility of what their lives can be.” — Kris [35:31]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Kyle Brown LinkedIn
The Go-Giver
Man’s Search for Meaning
You Are Enough
Kris welcomes the current reigning 2022 Child Care Rockstar Winner, Tassia Araujo-Roper. Tassia takes us through her journey of growing a center from scratch and everything that she has learned over the last three years in the Child Care Success Academy. She talks to Kris about what helped her to get fully staffed, how she went from a home center to a thriving business during a pandemic, and mindset tips that help this young leader stay ahead of the game and give her best every day. Our community fell in love with Tassia, and we think you will too.
Key Takeaways:
[6:30] What are a few of the many prizes when you win Rockstar?
[12:09] Why did Tassia open a home-based preschool in the first place?
[15:04] Tassia shares a little about her personal life, her three children, and a bull mastiff, with center pets including snails and guinea pigs! She has many hobbies and used to do medieval sword fighting, belly dancing, and photography. She’s also a techie at heart and enjoys computer programming.
[16:54] Tassia talks about the mindset shifts in accountability over her three years in the Academy.
[19:50] Kris discusses being a confident, transparent, and empathetic leader and that comes with celebrating wins and setting structures in place from the very beginning.
[22:23] Tassia discusses having hard conversations and the importance of child care providers filling their own cups in order to help others.
[24:24] Tassia shares what she has done to improve on culture and how she handled growing and staying positive during the pandemic.
[26:08] Parents are your number one marketer.
[28:54] Tips for getting out of overwhelm.
[35:27] To Tassia, a rockstar is service-driven and open to learning and growing in every area. They are able to master conflict resolution and all the “scary” challenges that come up as you grow and scale.
[40:24] The Academy gives a lot professionally, but it also is very fun! In fact, Kris got voted “Biggest Partier” in her dorm in college, and nothing has changed.
Quotes:
- “I was a child starting in early childhood because my mom did it. She had a passion for working in early childhood and also traveling, and she did it all over the world.” — Tassia [12:39]
- “I knew children everywhere needed more individualized care and needed more accommodations here and there because none of us are perfectly normal. It doesn’t exist.” — Tassia [14:14]
- “I felt that it was important as a leader also to make sure accountability was something that was as important as connecting and loving on. Because otherwise, the bar for everyone just goes lower and lower.” — Tassia [18:50]
- “if you don’t put a lot into your cup, you’re not ready to do childcare if you’re not in a good mental place.” — Tassia [22:02]
- “What I’ve learned to do is to be unapologetic about closing down to work on our professional development, or our teachers, our mindsets, etc.” — Tassia [24:02]
- “When you really learn to have mastered all of those things that you were scared of, you are truly a rockstar.” — Tassia [36:02]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Tassia LinkedIn
Playful Learners Preschool
In the first Lunch and Learn mini-episode, Kris dives into some noteworthy and newsworthy economic outlook announcements in our world, and how they can affect the childcare industry. She covers the top three things (plus a bonus) that you must have to survive a more full-bodied recession. Before you get stuck living the same day over and over like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, pay attention to these three things!
Key Takeaways:
[4:55] Kris talks about the tech layoffs at companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, and Wayfair.
[5:27] Tech is the leading force that signals to any savvy business owner what could be coming up.
[7:16] Knowledge is power, and knowing that you may start finding it more challenging to stay fully enrolled is important information.
[8:24] When people start getting laid off, the first things to go are childcare and daycare.
Top Three Things + A Bonus to Know During this Time:
- You must have lead flow and lead data. You must be building your database of leads and know who those parents are, and as much data as you can gather.
- You need skilled people at enrollment. You need people that understand how to build rapport and trust and how to be friendly, knowledgeable, and trustworthy.
- You need a CRM system. Two are ChildCareCRM and IntelliKid System.
- Bonus: You need retention strategies. It actually costs you a lot more time and money to go out and get new families than it does to retain the ones you’ve got.
Quotes:
- “Tech is the leading force that signals to any savvy business owner what could be coming up.” — Kris [5:27]
- “You need people that understand how to build rapport and trust and how to be friendly, knowledgeable, and trustworthy.” — Kris [10:07]
- “It actually costs you a lot more time and money to go out and get new families than it does to retain the ones you’ve got.” — Kris [12:08]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
Groundhog Day
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Kris welcomes friend and Grow Your Center partner Bruce Spurr back to the show. They first talk about how they got to be co-founders and work partners, and the recent developments of Grow Your Center. Then, they jump into the topic of “boss mode”: what it really means to be in boss mode, and how to tell if you are in hustle or grind mode instead. Bruce and Kris share some practical tips for getting out of working tirelessly in your business and how to become a data-driven business so you are making the most of your time, energy, and money. At the end of the episode, Kris shares how you can join her and Bruce’s Boss Mode Book Club and level up within an active and successful community.
Key Takeaways:
[4:36] You can now ask Kris questions and join the podcast community!
[8:31] If you have an idea for the podcast tribe, let Kris know! Otherwise, it may also have to just be #podsquad.
[12:29] Kris and Bruce have been working together for 5-plus years.
[13:24] Bruce gives more details about Grow Your Center and who the target client is.
[14:15] GYC can also help you leverage and optimize your CRM software.
[17:21] Bruce defines “boss mode” and how we can work on our business instead of in it.
[19:02] How to gauge if you are moving towards boss mode, already there, or far away from it, using the hours of your work week.
[21:39] How can Kris’s puppy training class be a good example of doing the hard work upfront so that you can reap the benefits later?
[23:23] The faster you can get from fear to curiosity, the faster people succeed and flourish in their life.
[27:45] In order to ask the right questions, we need to look at the data.
[28:40] What behaviors do boss-mode people exemplify?
[36:57] How important a return on investment and time is when playing in boss mode.
[37:20] Ways you can set up your business to be data-driven from the start.
[38:49] If you fill up those last 10 spots, that’s six figures.
[39:31] Hire it out if you’re not good at technology!
[51:58] It may take more investment up front, but you can time block and put the hours in ahead, to free up more energy and time later.
[53:45] What is Boss Mode Book Club?
[56:16] Not exactly where you want to be? Forgive yourself right away, and then work quickly to turn it around. You can recommit yourself in a moment.
Quotes:
- “We have to recommit to best practice, excellence, and execution.” — Kris [21:40]
- “The faster you can get from fear to curiosity, the faster people succeed and flourish in their life.” — Bruce [23:23]
- “You want to start with the result and the goal that you’re aiming for.” — Bruce [35:01]
- “I set up my business to be a data-driven business from the very beginning, with a simple spreadsheet and CRM.” — Kris [37:20]
- “Forgive yourself right away, and then work quickly to turn it around. You can recommit yourself in a moment.” — Bruce [56:16]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
We Can Do Hard Things podcast
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Lisa Nichols brought down the house at the last Summit, and Kris was lucky enough to have her back on as a guest this week. She talks about her journey of becoming, the major influences along the way, and the key pieces that she embodies to elevate into a leader. Lisa and Kris talk about mindset issues, triumphing in the face of challenge, and the importance of speaking up even when your voice shakes. Lisa goes into more detail about how she built her team and leveraged her own success and the fact that you can create a world that reflects your inner vision and values. It’s a powerful and inspiring episode with a lot of great nuggets and takeaways, so thank you, Lisa.
Key Takeaways:
[9:57] Kris introduces Lisa and talks about how she really brought the house down at the last Summit.
[11:00] Lisa got fired from five different jobs and was the person that had a lot of talent, but it was hard to wrangle the energy into exactly where it should go. She also discusses being functionally dyslexic and the challenges that brought, along with how she turned that into a source of empowerment.
[14:12] You can pull pieces of things that you learn along your journey and fold them in to serve you as a business leader. From customer service to interior design, Lisa uses all of it. Kris does the same, even with her old door-to-door vacuum sales job!
[15:35] Don’t make “no” mean that you aren’t good enough. Make “no” mean that it’s not a fit for you right now.
[16:31] Lisa shares a few of the most influential people that she’s studied including Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, and Mother Teresa.
[17:08] Lisa talks about her learning style.
[19:36] Speak your truth, even when your voice shakes. Lisa’s mission is to turn ordinary conversations into extraordinary changemakers. She works with individuals designed to lead.
[23:08] Lisa opens up about doing the personal development work to elevate her life and heal her issues with money.
[27:29] What does your team need to do their job more efficiently and to stay in their zone of genius? Instead of trying to be in the parade, focus on designing the parade as best you can.
[32:25] Our humanity comes to work with us.
[34:40] Don’t let your future pay for your past.
[36:54] Make your decisions based on logic and facts versus emotion and longing.
[42:31] Lisa talks about her decision to be married for the first time in her 50s.
[45:44] Truth has a cellular energy to it.
Quotes:
- “I was the person that had a lot of talent that it was hard to point out.” — Lisa [11:00]
- “Don’t make no mean that you aren’t good enough. Make no mean that it’s not a fit for you right now.” — Lisa [15:35]
- “I’m an eclectic piece of work.” — Lisa [17:26]
- “I work to embody things.” — Lisa [18:22]
- “Speak your truth even when your voice shakes.” — Lisa [19:36]
- “I was a leader as I was a student.” — Lisa [24:53]
- “Our humanity comes to work with us.” — Lisa [32:25]
- “Don’t let your future pay for your past.” — Lisa [34:40]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Lisa Nichols
Lisa’s Special Offer! Register HERE
Viola Davis
Michelle Obama
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Intellectual Foreplay
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
It’s a beautiful episode this week as Kris connects with one of her mentors, Kirra Sherman. They first talk about how life pulls us in different ways emotionally throughout our human journey, and how we can learn to face both the joyful and negative heartbreaking things with courage and an open heart. Kris and Kirra talk about how setting aside just 5 minutes a day to feel your feelings can have a profound effect on your whole life, what a pain body is, and how carrying around feelings of trauma can have an impact on us that we may not even be aware of.
Key Takeaways:
[10:23] The importance of letting go of your projections of how things should be and accepting reality.
[10:42] We don't have to call it spiritual for anybody, we could call it “okayness”.
[14:20] When you start doing things that matter to you, your life as you know it may fall apart, and that’s okay. Kirra talks about someone that did the work and healed their marriage, but sometimes things can also go the other way.
[18:57] What are some ways that we can learn to be open in sitting with discomfort?
[24:29] Putting the awareness on the discomfort and on the feelings is life changing.
[34:16] When do you know that you have reached enlightenment? Is it real?
[34:22] There's no such thing as unworthiness.
[39:43] When you see through the story, the less you react to it.
[45:09] What really matters is your heart. One way to get into the habit of checking in with your heart is really asking yourself if this will matter years from now, and what your true feelings are in the moment.
[50:33] Happiness is not a fix, it’s a change.
Quotes:
[16:42] “Things that you worry about are the things that in your mind are so important, become less important, because what really becomes important are the things that truly matter.” - Kirra
[34:22] “There's no such thing as unworthiness.” - Kirra
[39:43] “When you see through the story, the less you react to it.” - Kirra
[50:33] “Happiness is not a fix, it’s a change.” - Kirra
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Now
A New Earth
Kirra Sherman
The Amir Zoghi App
Amir Zoghi
In this special solo episode, Kris dives into her recent experience while attending Eckhart Tolle’s “The Depths of Being” retreat, with his amazing wife and teaching partner Kim. Kris dives deep into learning to let go of outcomes and expectations and shares some key learnings and takeaways while embarking on this spiritual journey in the beautiful land of Maui, Hawaii. She opens up about some personal changes as well, and what she has learned about just letting go and relaxing into what is throughout the process. At the end, Kris shares a few easy ways that you can practice becoming more present in the moment and how doing so can help both your business and those around you, while bringing you a great amount of peace.
Key Takeaways:
[7:23] Kris talks about the five-day retreat (and overall eight-day trip) with the famed Eckhart himself, and his beautiful wife, spiritual teacher, and creator Kim Eng.
[12:44] Kris dives into the first topic: intuition and how to listen to your inner knowing.
[14:44] The universe actually wants to bring you whatever you want. You just have to learn how to manifest it.
[20:34] We need to remember that we are human beings, and not always human doings.
[25:45] The more you let the little triggers build, the more emotional stress and pain you are going to have, and the less happy you’re going to be.
[27:57] What are a “pain body” and a “pain body attack”?
[34:04] It is a lifelong practice to see what triggers you and reflect on the pain instead of just reacting. What are the people, places, and situations teaching you?
[38:38] The practice is about coming back to a place of neutrality. To come back to a place where you’re in a space of openness and acceptance and you’re not resistant to the “is-ness” that is.
[41:33] Kris talks about the ending of her personal relationship and the lessons she is practicing about letting go of attachment and expectations and going more with the flow. She opens up about the energetic shift that came with this practice.
[42:50] Once you let go of your attachment, the resistance usually goes away, and you get back to neutral.
[45:07] Notice where your mind is at this moment. Are you in the present moment?
[49:44] Kris got a message from the divine during a moment of stillness on the yoga mat. It told her: child care, and listening to that has certainly led her to the beautiful life she has now, with so many wonderful people in it.
Quotes:
- “The universe actually wants to bring you whatever you want. You just have to learn how to manifest it.” — Kris [14:44]
- “Incessant thinking keeps us from really feeling where we're supposed to go, what shift we're supposed to make, what decision is in front of us.” — Kris [17:11]
- “Practice of taking in and reflecting on pain instead of just reacting.” — Kris [34:30]
- “Presence is everything. That's where we live, that's where life happens.” — Kris [47:54]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Childcare Education Institute: use code CDARenewal22 to get $100 off your renewal
Eckhart Tolle
The Power of Now
A New Earth
Kris welcomes Mr. Ty’Heim, the Childcare Whisperer, for an insightful and lively talk on building relationships, connecting to your community, and setting a good policy that you continue to follow through on. Ty’Heim talks about his journey into childcare and the impacts on his professional success, the impact of the responsibility of men in child care, and how we can better lead with inspiration and passion. He and Kris talk about why men are crucial for the childcare industry and share an important thing to remember that leaders need to remember any time they have an issue with an employee.
Key Takeaways:
[3:03] The Childhood Whisperer is a brand that was created to be a safe space for directors, and to provide them with the tools, support, and community to learn and grow.
[4:08] Ty’Heim’s secret sauce is that he builds great relationships with families and connects with everyone.
[5:00] Fun Fact: Ty’Heim doesn’t like pulling locked doors. It gives him that “nails on a chalkboard” feeling!
[6:18] Ty’Heim talks about starting childcare while in college and helping his mom in Atlanta both in person and online. This is where he came to learn how to work with others and developed his early skills as a leader.
[9:33] Ty’Heim talks about the importance of accountability and creating and sticking to good policies.
[14:36] Men are crucial for the childcare industry, and one of Ty’Heim’s driving passions is to help other men realize their highest potential throughout their journey. Many children don’t have a father figure, and the male teacher can have a profound experience in their life.
[24:51] Make sure you uphold your policies and that you have good policies on all the different aspects of your center.
[27:51] Some may think Ty’Heim is mean, but it’s because he sticks to the policy and doesn’t relax his standards.
[29:17] We as leaders allow the behavior to happen because we let them.
[33:53] Ty’Heim teases his upcoming book, and Kris also shares some exciting book-related news!
Quotes:
- “I think my secret sauce is that I build really great relationships with families and connect with everyone.” — Ty’Heim [4:08]
- “Accountability is one of my favorite words that I preach. I am a policy man. — Ty’Heim [9:33]
- “To lead people effectively, you must be able to connect with those people and build work relationships.” — Ty’Heim [9:40]
- “Communication builds relationships and relationships build understanding.” — Ty’Heim [9:55]
- “You have to make sure that you keep your purpose ahead of you, and that you fight for it.” — Ty’Heim [20:30]
- “Any time you have an issue with the employee, it’s either a policy issue or training issue.” — Kris [24:55]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
The Childcare Whisperer
Kris first fills us in all about the Child Care Success Summit that just took place last month in Nashville, and what an amazing time that was had by all. She then welcomes Ellen Reynolds, the CEO of the Georgia Child Care Association. Ellen talks about her background in law and love of all things education, and how it got her into lobbying, advocacy, and effecting change at the policy level. She talks about the complexity of how regulated the childcare industry is, and how you can become more involved as an advocate in the world of ECE to impact positive change.
Key Takeaways:
[6:49] What an amazing summit! #bestsummitever. Special thanks to the incredible Lisa Nichols.
[10:40] The Georgia Child Care Association represents 3,200 licensed childcare providers in Georgia, with members all across the state. Ellen started lobbying on behalf of the association 20 years ago when it was just herself and just five people. In 2017, she took over as the CEO.
[12:59] Ellen was also a lawyer. Her role at GCCA represents her family upbringing: her mom was an award-winning educator and her dad was a small business owner.
[14:40] Ellen hopes at some point that GCCA can help other states grow their associations.
[16:52] Three ways that you can help get your voice heard and be an agent of change:
- Join organizations such as GCCA. They can’t survive, let alone thrive, without those membership dues.
- Attend a meeting that the organization has, training opportunities, or join the advocacy network.
- Get to know your state elected officials and representatives. Don’t be afraid of them!
[19:44] If you haven’t joined already, be sure to hop on and say hi on the new Child Care Champions Facebook Group page. It’s not just advocacy tips, but business success resources.
[21:51] Ellen gives her advice on if you have to start a group from scratch or when your state doesn’t have a strong association already.
[24:32] At GCCA, they look out for all members.
[30:40] Great childcare advocates know that you have to work with people on both sides of the aisle, and your main mission is to forward important issues for the growth and health of the childcare industry.
[31:12] Childcare is not a partisan issue.
[38:56] Childcare is one of the highest-regulated industries in the world, and we have a responsibility to make sure that those regulations, policies, and laws are in our best interest whenever we can impact that.
[42:41] How people can be best prepared for the future financially, especially with elections on the horizon.
Quotes:
- “I love the work that I do on behalf of providers, helping them have the very best environment possible that we can create so they can do what they do well and take care of babies.” — Ellen [12:21]
- “I believe that GCCA has been the strongest and most vibrant and engaged association I’ve worked with.” — Kris [13:44]
- “Organizations like ours can’t survive, let alone thrive, without those membership dues.” — Kris [16:52]
- “We look out for all of our members.” — Ellen [24:32]
- “Childcare is not a partisan issue. This is about caring for children, and making sure they maximize that brain development those first few years of life, and we don’t need this to become political.” — Ellen [32:12]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Georgia Child Care Association
Child Care Champions
Kris first fills us in all about the Child Care Success Summit that just took place last month in Nashville, and what an amazing time that was had by all. She then welcomes Ellen Reynolds, the CEO of the Georgia Child Care Association. Ellen talks about her background in law and love of all things education, and how it got her into lobbying, advocacy, and effecting change at the policy level. She talks about the complexity of how regulated the childcare industry is, and how you can become more involved as an advocate in the world of ECE to impact positive change.
Key Takeaways:
[6:49] What an amazing summit! #bestsummitever. Special thanks to the incredible Lisa Nichols.
[10:40] The Georgia Child Care Association represents 3,200 licensed childcare providers in Georgia, with members all across the state. Ellen started lobbying on behalf of the association 20 years ago when it was just herself and just five people. In 2017, she took over as the CEO.
[12:59] Ellen was also a lawyer. Her role at GCCA represents her family upbringing: her mom was an award-winning educator and her dad was a small business owner.
[14:40] Ellen hopes at some point that GCCA can help other states grow their associations.
[16:52] Three ways that you can help get your voice heard and be an agent of change:
- Join organizations such as GCCA. They can’t survive, let alone thrive, without those membership dues.
- Attend a meeting that the organization has, training opportunities, or join the advocacy network.
- Get to know your state elected officials and representatives. Don’t be afraid of them!
[19:44] If you haven’t joined already, be sure to hop on and say hi on the new Child Care Champions Facebook Group page. It’s not just advocacy tips, but business success resources.
[21:51] Ellen gives her advice on if you have to start a group from scratch or when your state doesn’t have a strong association already.
[24:32] At GCCA, they look out for all members.
[30:40] Great childcare advocates know that you have to work with people on both sides of the aisle, and your main mission is to forward important issues for the growth and health of the childcare industry.
[31:12] Childcare is not a partisan issue.
[38:56] Childcare is one of the highest-regulated industries in the world, and we have a responsibility to make sure that those regulations, policies, and laws are in our best interest whenever we can impact that.
[42:41] How people can be best prepared for the future financially, especially with elections on the horizon.
Quotes:
- “I love the work that I do on behalf of providers, helping them have the very best environment possible that we can create so they can do what they do well and take care of babies.” — Ellen [12:21]
- “I believe that GCCA has been the strongest and most vibrant and engaged association I’ve worked with.” — Kris [13:44]
- “Organizations like ours can’t survive, let alone thrive, without those membership dues.” — Kris [16:52]
- “We look out for all of our members.” — Ellen [24:32]
- “Childcare is not a partisan issue. This is about caring for children, and making sure they maximize that brain development those first few years of life, and we don’t need this to become political.” — Ellen [32:12]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Georgia Child Care Association
Child Care Champions
This week, Kris welcomes Tamara Jefferson, Director of Joyful Tots Childcare and Learning Center in the Detroit area. Tamara talks about finding her vision and executing, now to have three centers that are full and on waitlist, even at the top of market pricing. Tamara talks about the lessons she has learned in expanding, some tangible resources that have helped her with funding, and the ways she supports her team through dream boarding and financial education programs. Tamara and Kris also discuss the importance of a world-class website that can work for you even when you’re sleeping. Tamara has a beautiful definition of what a childcare rockstar is, so make sure you stay tuned for the whole episode to hear.
Key Takeaways:
[11:48] Tamara gives a history of the three centers, and how she learned to center herself around people who have a vision in moments when she couldn’t clearly see hers.
[21:11] Fun Fact: Tamara is a speed racer! She loves fast cars, and one day soon you will see her zipping by on someone’s track.
[23:23] Tamara talks about the resources and connections she has found since joining the Success Academy in May 2020. She is now up to the Empire level.
[25:23] Tamara sees challenges as learning opportunities.
[28:06] One of the true characteristics of servant leadership is making sure your people are okay first, and that they are supported fully before you worry about yourself.
[29:53] Tamara talks about two of the many ways she supports her staff: dream boarding so they dream big, and a home-buying program with financial education so they can actually attain those dreams.
[36:00] At Joyful, the children eat vegetarian and plant-based meals, and they learn the value of going to Farmer’s Markets and eating local seasonal produce.
[38:46] Tamara shares her plans for expansion and the funding that makes it possible.
[40:41] Don’t be afraid of taking on smart debt, but also make sure you know your numbers and are aware of all the details so you don’t get in over your head.
[43:46] Tamara wishes she had expanded sooner but was busy expanding the family in other ways!
[46:13] A true childcare rockstar is someone who has worked in a home or center, on the floor with the children. They are leaders of their space and they promote and encourage others. They are supportive of all children and have a deep passion for caring for all kids.
[48:30] It’s the number-one asset of any business, especially a childcare business, to have a beautiful world-class website. It will constantly work for you in the background while you’re sleeping.
Quotes:
- “I have learned to center myself around people who have the vision, even if I don’t have it.” — Tamara [16:38]
- “Challenges are like learning experiences. I don’t look at challenges like it’s a challenge.” — Tamara [25:43]
- “It seems like every time I became pregnant, we opened up another extension of Joyful.” — Tamara [43:46]
- “A childcare rockstar, in my opinion, is someone who has worked in a home or a center, on the floor with the children. They've done administrative work. They’re leaders inside of their space, the center or the home, and they promote others, encourage others.” — Tamara [46:13]
- “It’s the number one asset of any business, especially a childcare business, to have a beautiful world-class website. It will constantly work for you in the background while you’re sleeping.” — Tamara [48:30]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Joyful Tots
Everything is Figureoutable, by Marie Forleo
10,000 Small Businesses Goldman Sachs
This week, Kris welcomes Tamara Jefferson, Director of Joyful Tots Childcare and Learning Center in the Detroit area. Tamara talks about finding her vision and executing, now to have three centers that are full and on waitlist, even at the top of market pricing. Tamara talks about the lessons she has learned in expanding, some tangible resources that have helped her with funding, and the ways she supports her team through dream boarding and financial education programs. Tamara and Kris also discuss the importance of a world-class website that can work for you even when you’re sleeping. Tamara has a beautiful definition of what a childcare rockstar is, so make sure you stay tuned for the whole episode to hear.
Key Takeaways:
[11:48] Tamara gives a history of the three centers, and how she learned to center herself around people who have a vision in moments when she couldn’t clearly see hers.
[21:11] Fun Fact: Tamara is a speed racer! She loves fast cars, and one day soon you will see her zipping by on someone’s track.
[23:23] Tamara talks about the resources and connections she has found since joining the Success Academy in May 2020. She is now up to the Empire level.
[25:23] Tamara sees challenges as learning opportunities.
[28:06] One of the true characteristics of servant leadership is making sure your people are okay first, and that they are supported fully before you worry about yourself.
[29:53] Tamara talks about two of the many ways she supports her staff: dream boarding so they dream big, and a home-buying program with financial education so they can actually attain those dreams.
[36:00] At Joyful, the children eat vegetarian and plant-based meals, and they learn the value of going to Farmer’s Markets and eating local seasonal produce.
[38:46] Tamara shares her plans for expansion and the funding that makes it possible.
[40:41] Don’t be afraid of taking on smart debt, but also make sure you know your numbers and are aware of all the details so you don’t get in over your head.
[43:46] Tamara wishes she had expanded sooner but was busy expanding the family in other ways!
[46:13] A true childcare rockstar is someone who has worked in a home or center, on the floor with the children. They are leaders of their space and they promote and encourage others. They are supportive of all children and have a deep passion for caring for all kids.
[48:30] It’s the number-one asset of any business, especially a childcare business, to have a beautiful world-class website. It will constantly work for you in the background while you’re sleeping.
Quotes:
- “I have learned to center myself around people who have the vision, even if I don’t have it.” — Tamara [16:38]
- “Challenges are like learning experiences. I don’t look at challenges like it’s a challenge.” — Tamara [25:43]
- “It seems like every time I became pregnant, we opened up another extension of Joyful.” — Tamara [43:46]
- “A childcare rockstar, in my opinion, is someone who has worked in a home or a center, on the floor with the children. They've done administrative work. They’re leaders inside of their space, the center or the home, and they promote others, encourage others.” — Tamara [46:13]
- “It’s the number one asset of any business, especially a childcare business, to have a beautiful world-class website. It will constantly work for you in the background while you’re sleeping.” — Tamara [48:30]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Joyful Tots
Everything is Figureoutable, by Marie Forleo
10,000 Small Businesses Goldman Sachs
Kris welcomes very special guest Kim Walsh Phillips, founder of the business coaching and education company Powerful Professionals, best-selling author, and MBA-free self-made millionaire. Kim is the behind-the-scenes secret weapon of some of the biggest names in business, including Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank and Dan Kennedy, and went from 32 clients to over 11,000 clients in less than a year. Kim shares some six- and seven-figure tips for social media marketing, automation, and email copy. She and Kris discuss how to make sure your message goes out to the right people, and that it keeps them entertained and engaged throughout the whole process. Kim shares a great tool for creating weekly videos, and how you can both have a beautiful family that you spend time with and a highly successful career.
Key Takeaways:
[10:16] Kim talks about starting a coaching business and finding a way to scale it so that she can still get her kids off the bus each day.
[12:38] Kim shares great advice from a former Surgeon General to never tell your children you have to go to work but to instead frame it in a way that you get to go make an impact.
[19:30] There are certain brands that do a great job of email marketing, such as Disney.
[20:58] What is the difference between direct response and regular brand advertising?
[22:29] You can pull engaging and entertaining content, even into a sales pitch.
[23:21] A Dan Kennedyism: the number-one sin of marketing is being boring. Remember to bring forth your personality and fun, and get creative on how you can charm parents.
[24:40] Kim names some great tools to get inspiration: Swipe File and theSkimm.
[28:02] Kim discusses how her journey and relationship with social media have changed.
[29:41] Kim shares how to note what you don’t like, what you do, and the story to create a 10-video plan all at once, that will go out once a week.
[40:19] Kim explains the success she and her team has had hiring people based on personality type rather than just skill. This way, everyone can get to work in their zone of genius.
Quotes:
- “We can have both a lifestyle business and an empire business at the same time, meaning we can multiply our impact and our income and have a life that we truly love.” — Kim
- “You can pull engaging and entertaining content, even into a sales pitch.” — Kim
- “When you have a random thought, write it down because chances are it’s a thought that somebody else has had that no one admits.” — Kim
- “I hire people based on their personality type, and have them in a role that makes sense for the job we want them to do.” — Kim
- “Everybody in my firm gets to work in their zone of genius, which means we all get to do what we love.” — Kim
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Audience Builder Blueprint
Kim Walsh Phillips
Dan Kennedy
StreamYard
No B.S. Guide to Direct Response Social Media Marketing: The Ultimate No Holds Barred Guide to Producing Measurable, Monetizable Results with Social Media Marketing
Kris welcomes very special guest Kim Walsh Phillips, founder of the business coaching and education company Powerful Professionals, best-selling author, and MBA-free self-made millionaire. Kim is the behind-the-scenes secret weapon of some of the biggest names in business, including Kevin O’Leary from Shark Tank and Dan Kennedy, and went from 32 clients to over 11,000 clients in less than a year. Kim shares some six- and seven-figure tips for social media marketing, automation, and email copy. She and Kris discuss how to make sure your message goes out to the right people, and that it keeps them entertained and engaged throughout the whole process. Kim shares a great tool for creating weekly videos, and how you can both have a beautiful family that you spend time with and a highly successful career.
Key Takeaways:
[10:16] Kim talks about starting a coaching business and finding a way to scale it so that she can still get her kids off the bus each day.
[12:38] Kim shares great advice from a former Surgeon General to never tell your children you have to go to work but to instead frame it in a way that you get to go make an impact.
[19:30] There are certain brands that do a great job of email marketing, such as Disney.
[20:58] What is the difference between direct response and regular brand advertising?
[22:29] You can pull engaging and entertaining content, even into a sales pitch.
[23:21] A Dan Kennedyism: the number-one sin of marketing is being boring. Remember to bring forth your personality and fun, and get creative on how you can charm parents.
[24:40] Kim names some great tools to get inspiration: Swipe File and theSkimm.
[28:02] Kim discusses how her journey and relationship with social media have changed.
[29:41] Kim shares how to note what you don’t like, what you do, and the story to create a 10-video plan all at once, that will go out once a week.
[40:19] Kim explains the success she and her team has had hiring people based on personality type rather than just skill. This way, everyone can get to work in their zone of genius.
Quotes:
- “We can have both a lifestyle business and an empire business at the same time, meaning we can multiply our impact and our income and have a life that we truly love.” — Kim
- “You can pull engaging and entertaining content, even into a sales pitch.” — Kim
- “When you have a random thought, write it down because chances are it’s a thought that somebody else has had that no one admits.” — Kim
- “I hire people based on their personality type, and have them in a role that makes sense for the job we want them to do.” — Kim
- “Everybody in my firm gets to work in their zone of genius, which means we all get to do what we love.” — Kim
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Audience Builder Blueprint
Kim Walsh Phillips
Dan Kennedy
StreamYard
No B.S. Guide to Direct Response Social Media Marketing: The Ultimate No Holds Barred Guide to Producing Measurable, Monetizable Results with Social Media Marketing
Kris is joined this week by the incredible and accomplished Shana del Castillo, owner of a Growing Room Learning Center. Shana has two large locations with about 200 kids at each school and is dedicated to maintaining a high culture and leadership team that is engaged and on fire. Shana shares some tips for success in hiring the right people and keeping them, marketing to make your brand stick out, and getting in the right mindset to help yourself and support your team around you. Shana talks about overcoming challenges by pouring time and energy into herself, and she gives some great resources for other books and podcasts that have been super valuable to her professional and personal growth.
Key Takeaways:
[9:09] Growing Room is a small franchise, and Shana has been there for seven years and counting.
[9:38] Shana is a single mom and very busy with three teenage daughters! Soon, there will also be a cute puppy added to the mix.
[13:12] Shana talks about best practices in a hiring process that helps others stay passionate about their training and better define their goals and dreams.
[15:41] Shana’s team maintains a super high level of culture, so what makes it so good? Shana said a few of the things her team appreciates most is a quarterly bonus, competitive pay, and regular staff appreciation.
[25:55] Shana is also a pediatric sleep coach and has worked with parents all around the world.
[26:30] Shana talks about pouring a lot of time and energy into her self-growth and how it has all paid off. She also attributes part of her success to coaches.
[31:23] If teachers are excited about what’s going on outside the classroom, they’re going to bring that energy right back into the classroom.
[32:03] Fun Fact: Shana’s first job was at Magic Kingdom on Main Street, USA!
[35:26] You’ve gotta keep yourself strong, healthy, and in a positive place if you’re going to be a good parent, business owner, or even just a good friend.
[36:03] A child care rockstar to Shana is someone who is on the cutting edge of always learning, growing with new ideas and situations, and looking for new resources.
[36:56] At the end of the day for Shana, it’s about consistency, servant leadership, and love.
Quotes:
- “It is an honor to have so many people really want to work with our company.” — Shana [14:31]
- “It’s very important to me that the experience that the teachers have at work is one where they feel appreciated and loved.” — Shana [14:36]
- “I have to have people that I can trust with my eyes closed.” — Shana [18:12]
- “I’m kind of walking myself home. It’s like, to the person that I am, that I didn’t even know who I was.” — Shana [25:52]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Growing Room
Awaken Your Life
Kris welcomes Jodi McMaster, an incredible innovator, teacher, and the force behind Circus Vowels. Jodi talks about how she created Circus Vowels to help kids learn to read in an intuitive and interactive way. She talks about the real-world success she’s seen with the product and gives her advice on how you can add more value, celebrate the small wins, and play a bigger game. She and Kris also share some great takeaways on growth vs. fixed mindset and you will have to guess which one was able to fly at zero gravity without an issue!
Key Takeaways:
[13:00] Jodi talks about how she saw the need to create a strategy for reading and comprehension that ultimately led to Circus Vowels. She innovated to create something that kept kids engaged and could easily help other kids learn.
[13:54] If kids are engaged in their lesson and can move their bodies, they are going to learn and remember better than if they just had to sit still. If they can also teach others, they typically will remember 90% of what it is they taught.
[18:29] Fun fact: Jodi is an adrenaline rush junkie, and she loves outdoorsy and sporty challenges (including a zero-gravity flight!).
[20:50] Jodi talks about real-life tangible results from Circus Vowels, including her students growing an average of two years of reading growth in just one school year.
[23:40] It’s important to celebrate the small wins of children and show that you believe in them.
[34:10] With reports now showing that 1 in 10 children can be diagnosed with dyslexia, why are innovations like Circus Vowels important?
Quotes:
- “I wanted to create a reading strategy that was relatable to kids.” — Jodi [13:33]
- “My feeling is if kids are engaged in the lesson and their bodies are part of the lesson, they’re going to learn it.” — Jodi [13:54]
- “Students will remember 90% of what they can teach others.” — Jodi [14:10]
- “Kids just want to know that you believe in them.” — Jodi [23:40]
- “We just have to really be positive and celebrate them when we can for sure.” — Jodi [25:54]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Circus Vowels
Jodi McMaster
Parenting with Love and Logic, by Foster Cline and Jim Fay
Bucket Fillers
It’s all about money, finances, and recognizing your worth this week, with Rachelle Calina, CPA and Founder of Honest Buck Accounting. Rachelle shares her journey into starting a fantastic early learning accounting and financial metrics firm, and details some financial benchmarks and best practices to be set up for success no matter your size, capacity, or what’s happening in the outside world. Rachelle and Kris talk about how to add value to your customers, measuring your money metrics, and how to use simple math and forecasting tools to drive more profit into your business. Rachelle shines a light on a few critical key indicators you should be measuring to gauge financial success in your business.
Key Takeaways:
[9:01] Rachelle was a CPA for 12 years and focused primarily on early childhood education businesses. Honest Buck works with anything that has to do with education, which could be schools, daycare centers, music programs, etc.
[11:37] Fun fact: Rachelle is a cat mom to four fur babies and even has her very own Simba, just like Kris!
[14:20] Rachelle talks about the financial landscape post-pandemic, and the blessing and curse of government grant money.
[18:29] If you don’t have money in the bank account, you’re not going to make it. Rachelle would say have three months’ worth of expenses in the bank, ideally six months.
[20:07] Rachelle comes across two types of people in the childcare industry: those that know their value, and those that don’t.
[21:59] Rachelle explains why she thinks that it is challenging for childcare owners and leaders to be confident with their money and to have an eyes-wide-open approach versus a head-in-the-sand approach.
[25:44] Rachelle talks about some powerful tools you can use to monitor, report, and forecast your expenses and books, one being FathomHQ.
[29:19] Knowing how much is your fixed expenses is really powerful.
[30:20] Write this down: payroll plus rent needs to be at or below 70% of income revenue.
[40:27] How can we reframe our mindset to be excited to pay taxes?!
[41:08] What should you look for when reviewing monthly financial statements?
Quotes:
- “The thing that people don’t necessarily know about me is that I actually wanted to be a teacher.” — Rachelle [12:13]
- “If you don't have money in the bank account, you're not going to make it.” — Rachelle [18:29]
- “If you're not looking at the value you're creating, you're really not going to be focused on the financial repercussions.” — Rachelle [22:24]
- “Knowing how much your fixed expenses are is really powerful.” — Rachelle [29:19]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Honest Buck
This week, Kris welcomes Kate Lund, Psy.D., and author of Bounce: Help Your Child Build Resilience and Thrive in School, Sports, and Life. Kate shares her unique viewpoint on how to help children build resilience, deal with frustration, and negotiate better when things don’t go their way. Kate shares the Seven Pillars of Resilience that she has identified after 20 years of working with so many kids and families, and she and Kris talk through the specific strategies for how to be more tolerant of frustrating circumstances. Kate talks about the importance of this message as many children and adults are feeling their stress at a higher level these days.
Key Takeaways:
[12:49] Kate talks about how her book Bounce brings together her professional experience working with hundreds of families and children and also the personal challenges she had to grapple with in her own youth.
[15:13] Two fun facts about Kate: she has twin boys that are great buddies but very different, and she was an intern for Bill Clinton!
[16:34] Kate lists the Seven Pillars including:
- The ability to tolerate frustration and manage emotions
- Navigating friendships and social pressure
- Sustaining focus and attention
- Developing courage
- Building Motivation
- Finding Confidence
- Creating optimism
[22:01] Kate talks about some powerful daily mindfulness practices such as visualization and deep breathing.
[25:00] We are at all-time-high levels of anxiety and behavioral stress in kids coming out of the pandemic.
[30:00] We should try to get the words “fail” and “failure” out of our vocabulary and flip to learning and underperforming.
[33:47] When Kate isn’t writing, teaching, or golfing, you can find her training her cute therapy puppy.
Quotes:
- [25:35] “Globally across the continuum of kids, adults, parents, the stress is high out there, and people are struggling. And it’s very, very hard. And so that’s why it’s so important to focus on this idea of, you know, how to help folks manage their stress response.” — Kate
- [30:04] “It’s okay for things not to work out the first time.” — Kate
- [30:09] “Win or learn.” — Kris
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Bounce: Help Your Child Build Resilience and Thrive In School, Sports and Life
Kate Lund
Kris welcomes Maureen “Mo” Thompson, M.Ed., founder of the Rocky Mountain Kids Club, for the first live interview. Mo talks with Kris about creating a mobile learning space by outfitting her RV, how we can break barriers between children and adults, and how to help children embrace their weirdness. Mo discusses how reducing isolation might positively impact gun violence and how it’s up to the community to help children that have nowhere else to turn. It’s a powerful and insightful episode that is much needed in today’s world.
Key Takeaways:
[11:41] A statement stuck with Maureen early on that she has always embraced in her career: “Kids are not available to learn unless they are emotionally stable.”
[12:31] Maureen talks about creating a mobile meeting space during the pandemic, and how that has helped bring her fun and learning to more kids.
[16:31] We are all weird, and as adults, we can help children know that they are not alone.
[17:12] Parents should teach their children to invite the weirdos and when someone asks if they can join you, the answer is always yes.
[26:41] Maureen talks about her own challenging times in life and navigating loss. It’s important to ask for help and realize that we are all going through something.
[27:39] In today’s job market, employers are looking for adaptability and emotional intelligence.
[28:50] Kris and Maureen discuss the Sandy Hook Promises’s Start with Hello movement to teach empathy and reduce feelings of isolation, which in turn can reduce violence.
Quotes:
- “We’re all weird, right? I’m weird, you’re weird. Everybody is weird. Even as adults we can admit that we’re struggling with these uncomfortable feelings.” — Maureen [16:31]
- “Invite the weirdos.” — Maureen [17:12]
- “When someone asks if they can join you, the answer is always yes.” — Maureen [18:56]
- “You have to push through those challenging times.” — Maureen [26:41]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Social Thinking
DBT
Rocky Mountain Kids C.L.U.B.S.
Sandy Hook Promise — Start with Hello
Kris welcomes two outstanding ladies in the field of early childhood education, Donna Jensen, who owns The Learning Station and who many of you know as “Coach Donna,” along with Pallone-Bugeja, owner of Little Scholars Preparatory School. They dive into the hot topic of how to win the hiring war and how to keep, find, attract, and retain A-level staff in today’s environment. They each share their background in the child care industry and give examples of success stories in both hiring and finding their competitive edge. Donna and Audrey talk about the importance of treating your school like a business and not a hobby, why knowing your metrics matters, and how offering a competitive wage isn’t the only thing that matters, but it’s still of utmost importance.
Key Takeaways:
[1:29] Donna lives in Myrtle Beach and owns The Learning Station, which is growing by leaps and bounds. She started in the industry in 1981 and talks about her key to successful expansion.
[3:03] Audrey started with a small center in downtown Lansing and grew Little Scholars Preparatory School basically from the ground up.
[5:57] Fun fact! Both Donna and Audrey have funny husbands named Jeff!
[9:15] As a coach, Donna not only experiences what’s going on in her center but talks to people across the country almost on a daily basis.
[14:09] Child Care leaders have to run their business like a business, and not an expensive hobby.
[15:57] It’s not just about salary, but having a competitive wage does matter. School excellence is also about culture and leadership, and you’re not going to get a chance to show the applicants and new teachers what a great culture you have if you don’t even offer a wage that can be taken seriously in the market.
[18:39] We have to stop schools from being a revolving door because the children are who suffer most.
[25:35] Audrey talks about how her A-Team has pulled other A-Team players onto their team.
[27:05] How can we raise prices in a way other than just tuition?
[31:39] Donna talks about really learning that you have to watch your metrics and you have to know your numbers.
[32:22] We must be aware of how much it costs every time you bring in a new person. There’s the hiring, interview, background checks, training, onboarding, marketing, etc.
[40:23] Your staff is the most important asset that you have, and the quality of their work can make or break the program.
[44:26] Audrey talks about the collaboration of being enrolled in the group and how great it is to know that she has a network of other owners.
Quotes:
- “As a coach, not only do I experience what’s going on in my center, but I talk to people across the country almost on a daily basis.” — Donna [9:15]
- “I have to run my business like a business. It’s not an expensive hobby. And for some reason, in the childcare arena, we tend to have really big hearts.” — Audrey [14:09]
- “We’ve cherry-picked all the best players from our competitors. And it’s because our A players are pulling over all the good people they know.” — Audrey [25:35]
- “You have to watch your metrics, have to know your numbers. You have to know where you stand, you can’t just roll the dice and throw stuff out there. It keeps A players interested and weeds out those who don’t want to meet high expectations.” — Donna [31:39]
- “The biggest thing that I love is knowing that I have a network of a bunch of owners where we all collaborate.” — Audrey [44:26]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Leading the Future Leaders with Donna Jensen
The Learning Station
Little Scholars Prep
Hal Elrod is on a mission to elevate the consciousness of humanity, one morning at a time. As a keynote speaker, podcaster, and the author of best-sellers The Miracle Morning and The Miracle Equation, he has helped millions of people overcome their challenges and become who they need to be in order to create the life they truly deserve. He joins Kris this week to talk about his Miracle method, what he has learned from two near-death experiences, and how we can uplift our life just by focusing on what we can control and taking accountability for our own happiness and gratitude. Hal and Kris also talk about applying these principles to children and how we can learn to lead with empathy. It’s a life-changing conversation, so get ready to dig in.
Key Takeaways:
[13:22] Hal is not only joining us on this episode but will also be a keynote speaker in Nashville at the Summit in October!
[15:05] Hal talks about how two near-death experiences showed him the power of gratitude and pushing past your own limitations.
[23:46] Hal studied how top performers treated their morning. They all had at least one item from a list he compiled, which formed into the acronym of SAVERS: silence or meditation, affirmation, visualization, exercise, reading, and scribing (journaling).
[28:11] Hal talks about how Miracle Morning came about, and the mission behind it to elevate the consciousness of humanity, one morning at a time.
[28:25] Having a Miracle Morning can make you a better parent, partner, entrepreneur, and business owner.
[29:15] What about if you just aren’t a morning person? In just six minutes, you can have a giant impact on your short-term and long-term success.
[35:30] Give yourself five minutes and focus on what you CAN control.
[39:37] Resisting our reality is the source of all emotional pain.
[41:02] Hal talks about leading with empathy.
[42:21] How can spending time outside help kids?
Quotes:
- “I will not let my circumstances determine my emotional well-being.” [16:55]
- “We’ve been conditioned to think that we are at the mercy of our circumstances.” [19:10]
- “In less than two months, my entire life changed as a result of the morning routine.” [20:00]
- “The mission is to elevate the consciousness of humanity one morning at a time.” [28:11]
- “Your level of success will seldom exceed your level of personal development.” [Jim Rohn]
- “In six minutes, you can be in a completely different mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual state than when you started.” [30:16]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Hal Elrod: Website | Books | Podcast | Facebook
It’s all about the power of play this week as Kris welcomes Drew Vernon, the U.S. Marketing Lead at tonies, a popular European children’s audio system that has recently launched in the United States. Drew talks about his former experience as Brand Director at Lego and in marketing at Procter and Gamble, and how it helps him now in his role with tonies. Drew shares why he believes a child who is a strong player is also a strong learner, problem solver, and a more overall happy person. Drew explains how tonies provide an amazing learning tool for social and emotional wellness and screen-free enrichment. Let’s play!
Key Takeaways:
[7:45] Yes, Drew is a Denver Broncos fan!
[8:10] How did Drew’s path lead him to a role as the Marketing Director for tonies? He also explains how working for P&G and Lego, along with opening his own child care center, influenced how he blended marketing with knowing how important it is for good communication and quality service.
[12:17] Fun fact: Drew lived in Japan and was actually a Japanese tour guide. He also speaks enough Japanese to order at a restaurant, and get some nods from the chefs.
[16:15] Drew explains the mission behind tonies, an imagination-building, screen-free digital listening experience.
[18:25] Drew talks about the influencer marketing outreach to educators and childcare professionals and partnering with other companies to promote mindfulness and relaxation tools for children.
[26:54] Drew’s advice would be to realize and recognize the impact you can have upon future generations, and not to take it lightly.
Quotes:
- “I would have loved to have something like this when I was running my center.” — Drew
- “I fell in love with marketing at an early age. I think I was in high school and I really found it just to be the intersection of human psychology of understanding how the mind works and putting a product or service to that to what are the products and services that meet the needs and wants of different consumers.” — Drew
- “I've started to think of myself less as a marketer, and more as an advocate for children and early childhood development.” — Drew
- “My advice would be just to realize that the more we can remember that we have the ability to impact future generations.” — Drew
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
tonies — ENTER CODE “toniepodcast” for 15% off purchase of a starter set.
Hotel Nikko
Kiwi Co
Monti Kids
Kris welcomes Justin Black, founder of The Redefining Normal company. Between his book, podcast, speaking, and mentorship, Justin and his wife Alexis have impacted thousands of individuals and families with the work they are doing. Justin shares his unique story of coming up through the foster system, and how he now gives back to foster youths and foster parents, trainers, and advocates. He talks about how he and Alexis met and formed a common bond over their mission to help others identify generational patterns and reduce trauma. Kris and Justin dive into what it really means to redefine normal, and how we can challenge and support others to do the same. Key Takeaways:
[9:31] In Justin and Alexis’s book, Redefining Normal, they share their personal experiences but there are key takeaways for everyone, no matter what background or perspective they are coming from.
[9:49] One of the biggest passions that Justin has is to help people identify generational patterns and trauma, and turn them around to create generational success.
[13:37] Fun Fact: Not only is there a baby on the way, but that baby will be a world traveler! Justin and Alexis have done 13 studies abroad while in college and have been fortunate enough to travel to roughly 30 different countries.
[20:35] When they started with Redefining Normal, they soon saw it was bigger than just a book, so they also have a podcast to open up even more of the conversation and go deeper.
[22:30] They have sold roughly 8,000 books now as self-published authors. What have some of the learning lessons been for Justin and Alexis throughout their journey?
[23:00] Justin talks about his journey in foster care, and how they now support foster youths and train parents, advocates, and social workers.
[26:23] Understanding your why will help drive you and the work that you do. How can people start looking inside themselves to seek out what their why/whys may be? What keeps Justin and Alexis inspired, even during the challenging times?
[29:44] Along with the Redefining Normal book, Justin and Alexis have published the companion guide.
Quotes:
- “We started with the book Redefining Normal, to show how foster kids beat the odds and discovered healing, happiness, and love.” — Justin
- “We have so many themes and conversations and topics within this book, where we dive into our personal lives and talk about that process of redefining our normal, as well as challenging others to do the same.” — Justin
- “We have to help the parents and families that are taking these kids in as well and help them fill their cups, so it can be just a better, high-quality experience for these kids overall.” — Kris
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Redefining Normal
ROSE From Concrete
Justin Black
If you are feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, and under-appreciated, this episode is for you. Kris welcomes friend and client Joan Dillon with the Glassboro Child Development Centers in New Jersey. Joan is also the “Change the World Winner,” and after hearing her talk about her commitment to her core values, it’s quite clear why. Joan talks about the shift she made from feeling like she needed to do everything at her center to learning to trust her team and helping them feel empowered and on board with the company’s values. Joan talks about taking control of her own health and wellness, and how that freed her up to put more energy into building up her team, leadership, and culture. She discusses how Glassboro has grown from an early childhood center to a multifaceted agency, and how she hires in accordance with her mission and core values in mind. Key Takeaways:
[5:27] Kris gives an update on how she’s been “clearing out the junk” energetically, and making space for even more things to come with what she is aligned with at her highest level.
[10:26] Glassboro Child Development Center is a private nonprofit organization, and Joan has been there since 1988 when she started out doing school-aged child care.
[11:33] Joan is proud of the work they do to help families which they describe as ALICE (asset limited, income constrained, and employed). She was in an ALICE family herself and knows that they too deserve the highest quality of care and attention to detail.
[16:00] Fun fact! Joan would describe herself as an even-tempered dance mom. Yes, they do exist!
[21:54] Joan talks about driving to the Summit in 2017 because she had bad flight anxiety, and how the event changed her life and began to show her that she didn’t do everything all on her own.
[28:22] Instead of asking for permission or forgiveness, ask for support.
[29:05] You have to believe in yourself and believe in what could be, and then garner support for that.
[30:36] Joan talks about how her team and leadership and culture got stronger, as she learned to ask for support.
[33:20] Joan never knew life could be so much fun.
[38:55] How does Joan hire and train to her core values, and what about when they brought everyone back after COVID-19?
[42:14] Good leaders learn to take care of the managers in a way that helps them get what they need.
[49:08] Employees should know that they are working there because they want to be, not because they have to.
[50:11] Nonprofit doesn't have to mean reduced quality.
Quotes:
- “We find creative ways to help hardworking families afford childcare without decreasing our price and decreasing our value.” — Joan
- “Nonprofit doesn't have to mean reduced quality.” — Joan
- “Now I can't even fathom being in that space where I felt like I had to do everything.” — Joan
- “I never knew life could be so fun.” — Joan
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Glassboro Child Development Centers
Glassboro on Facebook
Joan Dillon
The 5 Love Languages
Kris welcomes Donna Naleway, Owner & Director of Kid Country Childcare, celebrating her 20th anniversary in business. In October 2015, Kid Country Childcare earned the Silver Circle of Quality designation from ExceleRate Illinois, the state’s quality recognition and improvement system for early learning and development providers. Donna was also the runner-up for the annual Child Care Rockstar Radio Contest this year. Since joining the Child Care Success Academy just two years ago at the height of the pandemic, Donna has learned and changed so much about her business. She shares her top enrollment strategies, how automation has changed her business, why mindset is everything, and much more. Key Takeaways:
[7:17] Donna gives an overview of how she got into the business of childcare, what her current enrollment looks like, and how she’ll be celebrating 20 years in business.
[12:36] Fun Fact about Donna: when she met her husband she laid out her entire business plan for him so her career goals were loud and clear.
[14:09] All about Donna’s ever-growing family life.
[15:32] How the Child Care Success Academy inspired Donna to expand her business.
[16:39] Donna has built a brand over the last two decades that includes putting the children first, getting outside, and getting high-quality certification.
[21:24] Getting her systems automated and using CRM are two of the biggest game-changers Donna has implemented since joining the Academy.
[22:35] How thinking outside the box with a virtual assistant has made a huge impact on Donna’s business.
[24:22] The Academy has taught Donna the art of delegating different tasks as well as other key improvements.
[26:46] Changing mindset and surrounding yourself with the right people can change everything.
[28:48] Donna’s investment in automation has paid off in dividends.
[30:38] Plain and simple; Donna made filling her enrollment spots the top priority.
[33:29] It’s okay to override the guilt in charging families knowing you’re giving them quality staff and quality offerings.
[36:31] What was it like for Donna to tell her story on stage at The Child Care Success Summit… and how you can too!
[40:51] How Donna defines a Child Care Rockstar.
[41:38] What books is Donna reading?
[42:53] A final reminder that mindset really is everything.
Quotes:
- “We truly do put the children first.” — Donna [17:28]
- “One of the things that we do is we over-staff our classrooms.” — Donna [18:37]
- “That’s one of the things that I love about the Academy; it’s people that are serious about childcare and doing the right thing.” — Donna [19:57]
- “I’m definitely looking at far more big-picture things than I had been doing the previous 18 years before I found you guys.” — Donna [26:11]
- “This can be done as a successful business and it doesn’t have to be a business that you’re just paycheck to paycheck.”— Donna [27:36]
- “I know we’re more expensive than our close competitors, but we have more to offer.” — Donna [35:24]
- “Mindset is powerful.” — Donna [43:00]
Sponsored By:
ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI)
Use code CCSC5 to claim a free course!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Kid Country Childcare
Rock Star Stories: Success Secrets of Preschool Leaders Around the Globe
The Ultimate Child Care Marketing Guide: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Success
The 77 Best Strategies to Grow Your Early Childhood Program
The Happiness Guide for Early Childhood Educators: Secrets to Living Your Best Life In and Out of the Classroom
Kris welcomes world-renowned coach and author Marshall Goldsmith for a fun conversation on learning to accept feedback, balancing achievement and aspirations, and the fact that we all need help. Marshall talks about his new book, The Earned Life: Lose Regret, Choose Fulfillment, and the reasons he sees people forgetting to be happy. Marshall gives a few practical and easy tips to get you out of the constant achievement mindset and into one of appreciation and joy. He and Kris also discuss how great leaders aren’t afraid to do any of the jobs around them. Tune in for a super great chat, as we learn from the man coaching many of the top leaders and executives today.
Key Takeaways:
[4:48] Most humans get stuck in a level of just living from day to day and being reactive instead of being intentional.
[5:08] When we are solely focused on achievement, we can forget to enjoy the day-to-day process of living. Marshall talks about working with top executives and leaders who have the accomplishment part down but are learning to enjoy the present moment every day.
[8:19] It’s hard to not get addicted to achievement. While it’s great to achieve for the sake of achieving, it’s important not to confuse it with happiness.
[11:29] One of the reasons people aren’t happy is because they forget to be happy!
[13:03] Everyone needs help, and that’s okay. Marshall discusses how even the top athletes and top performers need a coach, including him.
[15:21] Marshall reminds us to not worry so much, and not to get so fixated on the outcome of things that we enjoy the journey.
[17:04] Don’t wait and don’t hesitate!
[20:36] Marshall talks about adopting 15 people and teaching them all he knows, for zero cost. The expectation is that they move it forward and help someone else.
[23:43] Great leaders walk the talk and are willing to do any job in their organization. Marshall shares a great story about Frances Hesselbein.
[24:36] You have to have the courage to get the necessary feedback that will help you grow.
Quotes:
- “It’s hard not to get addicted to achievement.” — Marshall [8:19]
- “One of the reasons people aren’t happy is because they forget to be happy!” — Marshall [11:29]
- “We all need help. My clients are among the most distinguished people in the world.” — Marshall [13:03]
- “Don’t wait and don’t hesitate!” — Marshall [17:04]
- “Be willing to do the behaviors and do any job in your organization. There’s nothing too low or too small.” — Kris [24:18]
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Marshall Goldsmith
Michael Phelps
Albert Pfizer
Moonshots: Creating a World of Abundance
The Earned Life: Lose Regret, Choose Fulfillment
Kris welcomes nationally recognized productivity expert, Founder & CEO of inkWELL Press Productivity Co., bestselling author, speaker, and growth strategist, Tanya Dalton, this week. Tanya talks about a few of her most successful habits and hacks for getting out of overwhelm and harnessing your energy in a way that makes you productive, efficient, and refreshed. Tanya first talks about why so many of us are overwhelmed in both our professional and personal life, the beauty of boundaries, and more about the inspiration behind her first book, The Joy of Missing Out, and her new book On Purpose. Tanya and Kris also discuss how to not apologize for letting go of things that no longer serve you, following your unique vision, and why she decided to take a break from social media along with what she has gained from the experience. Key Takeaways:
[10:31] Tanya started her entrepreneurial journey back in 2008 and shares the conversation she had with her husband on an old-school wall phone that changed everything. She went from a stay-at-home mom with $50 to invest in a business to grow to seven figures in 18 months.
[14:02] It’s important first to believe in yourself and your mission before you expect anyone else to.
[16:10] As Tanya scaled and grew, she integrated a lot of the productivity principles into the business that she teaches today.
[18:41] It’s choosing not to do all the things and narrow in to focus on the end goal, the vision, and the purpose behind your business.
[19:29] Tanya discusses setting strong boundaries and how she focuses her energy on home and work at the appropriate times, without letting the two blend together as much as possible.
[22:08] Tanya tells us about JOMO — the JOY of missing out rather than the fear!
[31:29] Why did Tanya decide to go off social media on Jan 1? What has her experience been like?
[35:30] Tanya talks about the Pareto principle, which is the idea that small effort creates big results.
[40:34] If you feel stuck, just 15 minutes in action can create momentum. Take quick action on something you can do right at that moment, no matter how small it seems.
Quotes:
- “It’s choosing not to do all the things and narrow in to focus on the end goal, the vision, and the purpose behind your business.” — Tanya
- “It’s really about this big vision we have for our life, living on purpose and living each day for what truly matters most.” — Tanya
- “I really just wanted women to see that it’s possible to do the things that you loved without the guilt, to live your life to the fullest, and do it on your own terms.” — Tanya
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Tanya Dalton
On Purpose
Joy of Missing Out
Intentional Advantage Podcast
The Trust
Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill
Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t, by Simon Sinek
The Road Less Stupid, by Keith J. Cunningham
Kris welcomes Stephanie Parra, Executive Director of All In Education, a non-profit advocacy group for underserved communities and families, particularly the Latino communities. Stephanie talks about All In’s mission to focus on closing the performance gap of Latino students and the Latino community and how we can help parents be more confident partners in the education process alongside teachers. She and Kris talk about developing value-based leaders, why being a daring leader is important to shake up the status quo, and how early education leaders are the foundation of closing that gap for our children. Stephanie talks about some of the challenges she has overcome while building her team from scratch, and she shares some statistics about why the next generation of Latino students is so crucial to the success of Arizona and beyond.
Key Takeaways:
[8:59] Education advocacy organization, All In Education, is proudly serving communities across the state of Arizona. Stephanie talks about how she got involved, and how All In was created to focus on closing the opportunity gaps that exist for Latino students in the state.
[10:28] If we are going to close the opportunity gaps for students, we have to really focus on closing the representation gaps. What does that truly mean?
[12:00] Stephanie talks about her background as a first-generation American, coming from a Mexican immigrant family, with her father working in farm labor. Her education is in higher education, and while studying college students, she saw herself in the research.
[23:05] Stephanie talks about the Parent Educator Academy, and how this foundational leadership program builds bridges between the school and home.
[24:44] How does the Academy get such high engagement and get parents to understand the education system and support their kids?
[33:28] Stephanie talks about a recent article she wrote on developing values-based and daring education leaders. How can educators be better leaders?
[35:42] Daring leadership matters. The more we are willing to be bold, courageous, and daring, the more we can be fully connected to our community and get better outcomes for our kids.
[39:19] What can early education leaders do to help support the underserved gap?
[43:59] Early education is the foundation of helping the underserved communities thrive and gain equal footing.
Quotes:
- “We have to be the ones that create a better and more vibrant community for the generations that are coming up behind us.” — Stephanie
- “We can run from our challenges, or we can decide to be leaders and changemakers that our communities need.” — Stephanie
- “We’re willing to be bold and courageous and daring, and truly stay connected to our community in a way where we can be unapologetically independent.” — Stephanie
- “Daring leadership matters.” — Stephanie
- “For me, it’s about building a coalition of leaders who are willing to be bold, daring, and willing to try new things. We have both a moral and economic imperative.” — Stephanie
- “Be the change you want to see in the world.” — Gandhi
- “I know that educators probably feel this across the country, we tend to get caught up in being a political football and get tied into the push and pull of politics.” — Stephanie
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
All In Education
Developing Values-Based Daring Education Leaders
Teach for America
The New Teacher Project
Kris welcomes Early Education pioneer Carol Levins to the show. Carol created a school from nothing and ended up with a business that now has 14 locations, serving over 3,500 children. Carol talks about how a passion for learning sparked her path in education, how she crafted her teaching positions to elevate her teachers and keep them for 20‒35 years, how her door to door marketing led her to get to know the families on a personal level, and her advice for exiting a business. Carol and Kris also talk about how to know when it’s time to walk away vs. when to hang on, overcoming challenges that arise during growth, and why consistency in branding matters. Key Takeaways:
[10:16] Carol explains how it all started with a passion for learning.
[14:56] What was Carol’s journey like, exiting in February of 2017? What did she learn from that experience?
[15:15] Carol splits her time between Las Vegas and Park City and has traveled all over the world. She has eight grandchildren that are all boys, and she loves a good ski session!
[16:29] Fun fact: you would never believe it if you knew Carol today, but she was very shy as a child and worked hard to overcome it.
[17:21] Carol and Kris talk about the importance of branding.
[20:01] What has Carol done culturally and operationally to maintain consistency throughout her 14 different schools?
[23:30] Carol talks about overcoming the challenges and adjusting to growth and expansion.
[23:33] Why was Carol’s nickname, “the form master”?
[25:48] Carol remodeled her school inside and out, which first had a lot of pushback, but her team ultimately saw how it helped them.
[27:48] In coaching, that’s the big difference maker between people that can scale and who are successful and the people that stay small. They are unable to get out of the day-to-day because they’re not focused enough on the money side.
[29:00] What does Carol look for in a franchisee?
[33:40] The most important thing is to understand what your mission statement is. For Carol, it’s to provide the highest quality early childhood educational program available.
[34:44] How you build your culture and how you build your loyalty is what makes you successful as an owner.
[43:45] If you want loyal staff, you've got to be a loyal owner.
[50:12] Every child matters, even if you are full. Carol reminds us that every single person that inquires about your school is your first child.
Quotes:
- “It all started with a passion for learning.” — Carol
- “I believe that if you want loyal staff, you've got to be a loyal owner.” — Carol
- “Branding is very important. You want to have a strong brand.” — Carol
- You get one chance at a first impression.
- “In coaching, that’s the big difference maker between people that can scale and who are successful and the people that stay small. They are unable to get out of the day to day because they’re not focused enough on the money side.” — Kris
- “You don’t want to be desperate. You don’t want to get to a point where you have to sell because you can no longer run the business.” — Carol
- “Every single person that inquires about your school is your first child.” — Carol
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
How Children Learn
Intellikid
Creative Kids Learning Center
Christine McNally is a heartfelt leader and educator in our space and has been doing childcare for close to 25 years, since 1998. You may also recognize her from appearing on stage at the Child Care Success Summit, telling her story and sharing her amazing video for hundreds of engaged listeners. In this episode, Christine joins Kris to talk about her school, Under the Magic Pine Tree, a small Early Learning Center in Gardnerville, NV that is currently serving a waitlist with 92% enrollment. Christine talks about why she saw a need to open up her own daycare after a low-quality experience with another care center, how she keeps her positive mindset, and why she feels everyone is a rockstar in child care. Christine also provides some great resources for curriculum and marketing, and fills us in about her famous Great Dane that was a show dog!
Key Takeaways:
[6:02] Christine talks about opening Under the Magic Pine Tree, a small Early Learning Center in Gardnerville, NV. She has three classrooms licensed for 48 children and serves kids nine months of age until they go off to kindergarten. Currently, there is a waitlist and enrollment is at 92%.
[8:33] Christine has been in early childhood education since 1998 and started at 19 with her own in-home daycare after she felt her son wasn’t getting proper care. She tells a horrifying story about the low quality of care that a daycare tried to pass off on her son, and Christine knew it wasn’t good enough for her son or other parents.
[12:39] Christine and her husband have been together since they were teens and they still like each other even after working together and spending almost every waking moment together!
Her fun fact is that she loves going on an RV trip, and even went on an extended one for four weeks, getting to see many beautiful sights.
[13:57] Second fun fact: Christine used to raise and show champion Great Danes! You could catch one of her beauties, Shine, as the spokesdog for Pergo Flooring.
[16:33] What sets Under the Pine Tree apart from other learning centers? Great parent communication, a clean center, and commitment to excellence from every member of the staff.
[19:44] How does Christine keep her positive mindset and energy up?
[24:14] Christine was chosen as a finalist in the Childcare Rockstar Contest in Vegas and had an amazing entry and incredible video. What was it like to go on stage in front of 900 people and share her story? What other goodness came out of putting herself out there?
[27:00] Christine talks about the decision to foster and growing up with a foster brother.
[34:33] As a founder of the Nevada Child Care Association, Christine talks about what initiatives we can expect in the future.
[36:21] To Christine, if you are in the child care business and passionately making a difference, you are a rockstar. Every one of her team members is a rockstar, from her assistants to her leads to the kitchen staff.
Quotes:
- “I think what sets us apart is we have really high expectations of ourselves. That trickles down.” — Christine
- “One of our core values is quality.” — Christine
- “I am a positive person anyway. I just always see the cup half-full.” — Christine
- “I absolutely love being in this academy. I’ve met so many wonderful people that have opened so many different doors.” — Christine
- “Even when the world has us down for the moment, we’re not going to stay down for long.” — Kris
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Under the Magic Pine Tree
Best In Show
Becky Bailey
Frog Street
Havens of Hope
The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness, by Jeff Olson
Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul, by Howard Schultz and Joanne Gordon
Simon Sinek
Kris welcomes Dr. Lauren Starnes this week, VP of Early Childhood Education at Primrose Schools, where she supports curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation. Lauren’s new book, Big Conversations with Little Children, helps provide tools and techniques to help teachers and leaders overcome the stress and hurdles in education. Dr. Lauren talks with Kris about the incredible growth of the Primrose franchise, now with 500 locations, the many hats that teachers wear, how we can build trust with children and parents, and the difference between honest answers and oversharing. Key Takeaways:
[8:27] As the VP of Early Childhood Education, Dr. Lauren’s job is to oversee everything that happens educationally within the four walls of Primrose Schools. With over 500 franchise locations, Primrose currently serves infants through kindergarten as well as before and after school.
[10:02] Dr. Lauren’s team has many roles including diving deep into research and development of the curriculum, assessment accreditation, fixtures and equipment, and much more.
[11:30] Lauren is the mother of two sons, both of whom keep her very busy with travel baseball. She also has a house full of assorted animals.
[12:20] Fun fact: Lauren is a music lover of all genres, from country to R&B.
[13:41] What are a couple of the top issues Lauren has seen taking place with teacher teams? How can we best set ourselves up to succeed?
[14:28] We have to remember that teaching preschool is a difficult job already, and a stressful and multifaceted one.
[15:15] Dr. Lauren discusses the importance of finding ways to support early childhood teachers, engage them, offer professional development, and pull them out of isolation.
[17:30] The more we can relate to the family on a personal level, the more we’re going to be able to connect the chat on an educational level.
[19:02] How can we help both children and parents develop and maintain trust?
[20:19] Dr. Lauren discusses her book, Big Conversations with Little Children, and gives examples of a few questions children may have that warrants a conversation that is supportive and builds trust.
[27:02] How do we give honest answers without scaring the child?
[27:43] Teachers wear many hats. Families see teachers just beyond the classroom. Sometimes they are a physical therapist, behavioral counselor, personal therapist, doctor, and almost everything in between. Dr. Lauren’s book helps teachers develop a system where they can provide resources when the child or family needs a professional.
[29:51] Dr. Lauren and Kris are both strong believers in mentorship. Kris talks about how her third-grade teacher helped set her up on a path of believing in herself.
Quotes:
- “We have to remember that teaching preschool is a difficult job. It’s difficult, multifaceted, stressful, and that’s the work environment. We have all been living in a stressful environment in our personal lives as well as through the pandemic.” — Dr. Lauren [14:28]
- “I think it's really about finding ways to support early childhood teachers, engage them, offer professional development and pull them out of isolation.” — Dr. Lauren [15:15]
- “The more we can relate to the family on a personal level, the more we’re going to be able to connect the chat on an educational level.” — Dr. Lauren [17:30]
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Big Conversations with Little Children: Addressing Questions, Worries, and Fears, by Lauren Starnes Ed.D.
Primrose Schools
The Gift of Struggle: Life-Changing Lessons About Leading, by Bobby Herrera
The Importance of Being Little: What Young Children Really Need from Grownups, by Erika Christakis
Doing the Right Thing for Children: Eight Qualities of Leadership, by Maurice Sykes
Author, speaker, and leader Andre Norman truly exemplifies what it means to turn your life around and turn your blessings into gifts for others. This week, Andre joins Kris for an impactful and important episode about how we can shift our life to be something we are proud of and excited to live. He shares his story of going to prison and how he turned it around to create the Academy of Hope and show others support in everything from corporate training to one-on-one sessions. Andre talks about the fulfillment he personally feels while actively working with teens and young adults, helping them find their purpose and stay out of prison. He also talks with Kris about how to give from a place of abundance, why counseling is important, and his book Ambassador of Hope, out now. Key Takeaways:
[13:40] Andre shares his story of how he gave up passion and focus to fit in and ended up in a state penitentiary and became a gang leader inside. Then, he turned it all around and saw the ways he could influence and impact others. He taught himself to read, understand the law, and went on to attend Harvard and work with others on their substance abuse. Now he has worked for multiple presidents and Prime Ministers, helped to stop the Ferguson riots, and was instrumental in creating the faith-based initiative for George Bush.
[16:25] Andre shares how he found the inspiration to flip his script from one of despair to turning his life around.
[19:39] Andre shares why no one should ever be afraid to get help and judge the help that they get.
[21:36] Andre talks about the emotions he feels knowing that this work has a positive impact on others and they drive him each day.
[26:36] Andre shares where the inspiration for his new book, Ambassador of Hope, came from and how he combined his own skills with the skills of others to work to write/publish this book. Where did the inspiration for Andre’s book, Ambassador of Hope, come from?
[30:34] Andre and Kris discuss how to not allow ourselves to get taken advantage of as givers so we don’t reach the point of being broken down.
[33:02] Andre shares what some things are that we can give of ourselves besides money that can help make a positive impact in the life of someone struggling.
[36:46] Andre discusses Academy of Hope and how it started as prison-focused but has now expanded to anyone that needs it.
[45:20] Andre closes out the show by sharing what a main message/takeaway he wants everyone to remember.
Quotes:
- “Don’t be too busy for the people in your life that really matter.” — Kris
- “Relationships are forged with time spent.” — Andre
- “I’m a communication specialist. Whether you need to hear something or have something spoken to you, it’s what I do.” — Andre
- “You need to be in a place of stability, serenity, and financial responsibility to actually give.” — Andre
- “Counseling is okay. Self-care isn’t selfish.” — Andre
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
The Ultimate Childcare Marketing Guide: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Success, by Kris Murray
Grow Your Center
Andre Norman
Ambassador of Hope: Turning Poverty and Prison into a Purpose-Driven Life
Academy of Hope
Genius Network
Isobel Wheatcroft, Creative Director of Grow Your Center, joins us from snowy Ottawa to talk about GYC, embracing your marketing message, creativity in all its forms, and the elements of great design. Isobel shares how she melded her background in business as a former yoga studio owner and entrepreneur with being a mom and understanding preschool-aged children and infants. Kris and Isobel cover the important topics of branding, identifying your marketing message, what small businesses are missing, and how good marketing and branding is like going on a date. Isobel shares her passion behind taking branding off the page and into the heart of the essence of the client. Finally, Kris and Isobel talk about the services at GYC that schools and partners can take advantage of.
Key Takeaways:
[10:05] Isobel is the Creative Director for Grow Your Center (GYC), the top digital marketing agency and creative firm 100% dedicated to the child care industry that was created and founded by Kris and Bruce Spurr. She refers to her role as the behind-the-scenes extension of their clients’ brands.
[11:43] Whether it’s selling strawberries at 11 years old or reselling luxury jewelry and shoes, sales and connecting with others is second nature to Isobel.
[18:32] Isobel shares the number one thing schools to know and focus on when trying to reach and get across to parents.
[20:34] Isobel shares how at GYC the team helps people identify and streamline their main marketing message, highlighting the key selling points and key differentiators. Isobel talks more about their process of finding what matters to their preschool clients, and their local parents, and how they tie that into their specifically crafted branding for them.
[26:01] Isobel and Kris talk about the importance of communicating your values not only to your local parents, but also to potential team members so you can find teachers that bring the same type of energy and expertise to you that you are looking for.
[28:04] Isobel shares a few examples of good before and after rebrands.
[31:18] Isobel and Kris discuss what is cognitive ease vs. cognitive strain, and some examples of brands that provide cognitive ease in their logo?
[33:31] Kris talks about the concept of a message-to-market match.
[37:36] A now-not-so-secret best-kept secret about Grow Your Center is that they do offer branding support and help. They can help provide you with simple ways to bring your brand into your environment.
[40:21] Kris asks Isobel what her superpower is that makes her a rockstar.
[43:41] Isobel shares what she has learned as a female in leadership and offers some advice for other women entrepreneurs?
[44:10] Kris and Isobel talk about whether the or not if the client is always right.
https://growyourcenter.com/
Quotes:
- “I’m an extension of your primary aim, which is really for folks to support parents and elevate children.” — Isobel
- “I bring the intuition, the creativity, and the feeling-based aspect of the work.” — Isobel
- “My creativity is my superpower.” — Isobel
- “We go through the process of interviewing you to find out what matters to you, and most important, does that matter to the parents in your area?” — Isobel
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
The Ultimate Childcare Marketing Guide: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Success, by Kris Murray
Grow Your Center
Nike
The 5 Second Rule: Transform your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage, by Mel Robbins
The Life You Were Born To Live: A Guide to Finding Your Life Purpose, by Dan Millman
Kris wishes everyone a holiday season, whether this is your favorite time of year or you can’t wait to get to 2022. Then, she welcomes Janaki Patel of the Kiddie Academy. Janaki talks about how she went from one person at an open house and questioning what she was doing in child care to now having her dream team and close to 500 children served. Janaki shares the great story of how she and her husband Hemal met and continue to support one another’s biggest dreams. She talks about marketing and enrollment, why it’s important for leaders to support their teams yet have clear boundaries, and what type of leadership vibe she attributes Kiddie Academy’s success to.
Key Takeaways:
[9:16] The Kiddie Academy brand has three schools, with another one in construction and about to open soon. It’s located in the mid-central area of Maryland, 30 minutes from Baltimore and an hour from D.C. The peaceful and quiet neighborhood is something Janaki very much appreciates.
[14:06] Janaki shares how getting the first location in 2015 meant so much to her and was very much literally her “second” baby.
[18:02] Janaki talks about drawing the line on where you spend your time and the importance of spending time with loved ones as a leader. Your child will grow up and eventually move on, and your business might not be there, so it’s important to make memories with your children (or loved ones) while they are still around.
[19:07] Fun Fact: Janaki met her wonderful husband on an Indian Matrimonial Website! She has since said “OK” to their dreams and they bring the best out of each other.
[23:09] Coming from the corporate world at M&M, Janaki has learned several things to be a strong and effective leader. Your team will trust you when you show you trust them. Her team knows she has their back, and they have hers. Second, when your team knows the “why” behind what they are doing, they will be more likely to do it well and stay longer at their job.
[28:15] Janaki discusses how she kept several teachers on the payroll for COVID-19, and how they kept their culture going during challenging times.
Quotes:
- “It makes me proud that I made his dream a reality. I’m living his dream but it has also helped me build my own.” — Janaki
- “You get that dream team when you are there for them.” — Janaki
- “We are successful because we’re together.” — Janaki
- “You can be the face of the business, the celebrity of the brand, and be the owner that people want to have friendships with. Just like we like to know the chef at a restaurant, but we’re not expecting the chef to come out and clear the plates.” — Kris
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
The Ultimate Childcare Marketing Guide: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Success, by Kris Murray
The 77 Best Strategies to Grow Your Early Childcare Program - FREE!
Learning Beyond
Kiddie Academy
@KiddieAcademy
John Maxwell
Rachel Hollis
Kris kicks off this week with a fun new announcement about a recent purchase she made and then welcomes Jerzell Pierre-Louis, Founder of Sprout Early Education Center and Bloom Early Education Center. Ever since Kris heard Jerzell talking next to her table in Las Vegas, she knew she had to have her on. Jerzell shares her game-changing strategies for upping your marketing and enrollment, talks about leaving people better than we found them, and how to model the behavior you want to see to your team. Jerzell gets us jazzed about scaling bigger and better, and how she has overcome challenges by leaning in, asking for help, and surrounding herself with excellent people.
Key Takeaways:
[6:22] Kris checked off one of her big dreams and bucket list items, and bought herself a beautiful metallic blue Porsche 911!
[10:09] Jerzell has been an owner/operator for the past eight years but was also involved in the education field for over 20 years. She started Sprout in 2013 and officially opened the doors in 2014. Located in the Columbus area, they are full at a capacity of 71.
[13:41] Fun Fact! She grew up in Mississippi and can hunt and use a crossbow!
[14:07] What are the unique selling points that Jerzell and her team offer, and what does she feel sets her program apart from the competition?
[19:24] Jerzell talks about how the pandemic has been the biggest business challenge she has faced, and how she shifted her focus to lean into the academy, her pod, and the resources that are available.
[22:22] Sprout is intentional about developing leaders and sticking to Jerzell’s core values. Her life slogan is “It’s important for me to leave people better off than I found them.”
[25:25] Jerzell shows her leaders the level of quality she expects by showing them how to love on the children, and what good care looks like.
[30:00] What are the benefits of working within a pod? There are many, but some include execution, implementation, and accountability?
[33:10] What changed for Jerzell when she started to invest in herself. How was hiring a coach a game-changer?
[36:38] What is a rockstar to Jerzell? Someone that is an advocate, resilient, and understands their impact on our future generations.
Quotes:
- “I think the most important piece that we provide is community.” — Jerzell
- “I really found that what we were developing in terms of our culture was actually working.” — Jerzell
- “We've been tasked with a great responsibility of care, and that is not something that I take lightly.” — Jerzell
- “I want these children who are in our care to be treated as if they are my personal children.” — Jerzell
- “Because I’ve seen what success looks like in my business, and it’s not me doing everything.” — Jerzell
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
The Ultimate Childcare Marketing Guide: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Success, by Kris Murray
The 77 Best Strategies to Grow Your Early Childcare Program - FREE!
Sprout Early Education
Bloom Early Education
Jerzell: Facebook | LinkedIn
Lewis Howes
The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds, By Michael Lewis
Today’s episode will get you all “shook” up! It is all about the power of becoming a published author. Becoming an author is one of the three things that has changed my life the most. I wrote my first book, The Ultimate Childcare Marketing Guide, in 2012 and it has opened so many doors and propelled my career in numerous ways. My guest today, Mike Capuzzi, is a seasoned business owner turned author turned expert marketing strategist. He specializes in helping people of all industries around the world write books, particularly his trademark “shooks.” We talk all about creating the content, marketing your book, and leveraging your expertise. Even if you don’t want to become an author, this episode is full of useful tips for direct response marketing vs. branded marketing, selling by helping, becoming an elevated influencer in your industry, and other tools to get your name and business out there.
Key Takeaways:
[:52] How books changed Kris’s life and the books she has available.
[13:14] More about Mike and his role in the child care industry.
[14:43] What exactly is a direct response ad?
[17:20] What is a “shook” and how does it help Main Street Businesses?
[21:12] What other industries has Mike helped with creating a shook?
[22:57] More on the POWER of books.
[25:07] Discussing the Choosing a Child Care Center shook.
[28:06] What are some of the main ways our clients are using this shook?
[30:39] What about claiming authorship of a marketing tool that you didn’t necessarily write cover-to-cover?
[34:18] Mike’s program is so fast and simple that you can get published within weeks.
Quotes:
- “It is designed to elicit a response.” — Mike
- “A key differentiator with direct response marketing is that it’s measurable. And if it’s measurable, the good news is you can adjust when needed.” — Mike
- “If people are engaging with your advertising or marketing, by default they’re going to want more from you. They want information, they want the next step, and if you don’t make that offer for them to get that next thing, then shame on you!” — Mike
- “A ‘shook’ is designed to be read in about an hour so it gives the reader the opportunity to finish it and then hopefully take that next step.” — Mike
- “One of the things that these prospective clients are looking for or want is peace of mind. And in my opinion, a properly designed book, a properly written book, can really go a long way to creating that peace of mind, creating that trust, bringing down the stress level, and really positioning the person whose name is on the cover as the authority.” — Mike
- “The power of books is real!” — Kris
- “It’s like a calling card that opens doors but it’s way better than just a business card. It’s an actual book that has value and people will want to work with you just by the fact that you’ve got your name on the cover of a book.” — Kris
- “If someone’s listening to this, honestly, they could have their paperback copies in their center within a month of listening to this. It’s that fast.” — Mike
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
The Ultimate Childcare Marketing Guide
The 77 Best Strategies to Grow Your Early Childcare Program - FREE!
Rock Star Stories: Success Secrets of Preschool Leaders Around the Globe, by Kris Murray
Child Care Millionaire
Mike Capuzzi
Find this exclusive offer HERE from Mike Capuzzi to create your shook today!
The Child Care Success Summit in Las Vegas just wrapped up, and there was so much love, support, and fun! On this week’s solo episode, Kris shares three takeaways from the Summit, from leaders and keynote speakers Marshall Goldsmith, Stedman Graham, and Andre Norman. Kris also discusses The Great Resignation, along with just how many people in almost every industry are leaving to find different work, and what we can learn from it when it comes to new ways of staffing to bring in and keep the right staff. Kris talks about things you can do to inspire your staff, how to really listen when they give you feedback on how to be better, and why you should dare to be dangerous.
Key Takeaways:
[2:51] The Great Resignation is a term reflective of the record number of people quitting their jobs and looking for something different. The pandemic resulted in many employees looking at what they value, and shifting their work to find something more meaningful, possibly with more benefits, better wages, or more freedom.
[3:03] Kris shares shocking statistics regarding how many people have left the workforce since the COVID pandemic began, which industries were the hardest hit from it, and what the top reasons were behind those people leaving their positions.
[6:11] Kris explains the mindset shift that workers are having across all industries as a result of the pandemic.
[6:43] Kris shares a feel-good reason why those working in the early child care industry are so unique.
[12:06] Kris provides a few questions for us to reflect on in the upcoming weeks as we continue to look for A-player talent to join our teams and work to keep our current staff happy.
[12:40] Kris shares the three biggest takeaways from the keynote speakers that spoke on stage during this year's Child Care Success Summit; one from Marshall Goldsmith, one from Stedman Graham, and one from Andre Norman.
[20:01] Kris shoutouts and congratulates this year's Child Care Rockstar that was awarded the prestigious honor on stage earlier this month in Las Vegas in front of the Summit audience.
Quotes:
- “What’s happened as a result of the pandemic is human beings are looking at their lives intensively and wanting to shift their life into a different opportunity, a different vibe, a different energy.” — Kris
- “We have the ability to impact little lives and little humans. We have meaningfulness and making a difference built into what we do.” — Kris
- “Dare to become dangerous.” — Stedman
Sponsored By:
PB&J TV — Don’t forget to mention Kris Murray for a special offer!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Marshall Goldsmith
Stedman Graham
Triggers
Academy of Hope
Andre Norman
Kris welcomes back Vernon Mason to the show. Not only is he the first guest to return three times, but he is also a highly sought-after influential speaker and the Senior VP of Growth and Professional Development at the Nest Schools. Vernon and Kris discuss the importance of advocacy at a local and national level, building community, and the most important subject in child care right now — the staffing crisis. Vernon gives practical ways to attract and hire key talent that will stay, including benefits, building relationships, the right type of marketing, and an improved pay structure.
Key Takeaways:
[9:04] Vernon holds the record for being the first guest to appear three times on the podcast
[10:01] Kris and Vernon go back into the vault for the 2021 Summit, and look ahead to what is next.
[11:55] You can not talk about the child care world today without talking about the staffing crisis we are currently under. That is trumping everything. Also, owners are in denial about this, and the work that it takes to get the staffing crisis under control.
[13:14] There is not an industry Vernon knows of that works any harder than the child care industry, yet few industries have the liabilities and staffing crises that early education does.
[14:22] Vernon shares the imperative double-sided reason for child care owners to get their staffing issues under control.
[15:49] Vernon and Kris discuss their thoughts on President Biden’s plan for universal preschool and well-funded child care.
[21:09] Vernon and Kris discuss why advocacy in the ECE industry is so important at local, regional, and state levels.
[26:05] Vernon and his team currently operate 29 schools, with four more on the way.
[33:12] Vernon shares some practical ways for leaders to be visible on social media and helping out with the community.
[40:26] Vernon shares the importance of targeting to the right type of new employees that you are looking.
[47:01] Vernon shares why you must take care of your directors in order to have a successful child care business.
[47:16] Vernon and Kris reveal how long the training process of new hires should truly be.
Quotes:
- [11:55] You cannot talk about the child care world today without talking about the staffing crisis we are currently under. That is trumping everything. — Vernon
- [13:14] There is not an industry I know of that works any harder than the child care industry. — Vernon
- [35:06] One of the things you can do that won’t cost you a dime is being involved. As an owner, you need to support your leaders. — Vernon
- [47:01] Take care of your directors. They are taking care of your business. — Vernon
Sponsored By:
PB&J TV — Don’t forget to mention Kris Murray for a special offer!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Vernon Mason
NAEYC
NCCA
The Nest School
VernonDirectorsLeadership@gmail.com
Author and speaker Mike Michalowicz brings his wisdom and expertise to the podcast this week. Mike talks with Kris about his bestseller, Profit First, and his latest book, Get Different, created to inspire small business owners to get out of the sea of sameness and stand out. He and Kris talk about why being different is the first way to garner success, how we can be less fearful about being authentic, and Mike explains the passion behind his mission to eradicate entrepreneurial poverty.
Key Takeaways:
[8:45] Mike shares the setbacks that he has had throughout his career that have actually ended up acting as the setups to his success, and how he took the lessons he learned during those setbacks to create content that can help entrepreneurs learn to be permanently profitable.
[11:04] It’s almost impossible to change ourselves but it’s very possible to channel ourselves.
[13:39] Mike shares the most common mistakes that he sees small business owners fall prey to.
[14:50] When something different is present, we pay attention to it. Garnering attention is the first step to garnering business.
[16:22] Mike describes what he believes is the "ultimate act of kindness" as a small business owner/entrepreneur.
[17:05] Mike explains how the way we we treat our customers and do business is the best example of our marketing and the way we build trust with prospects.
[20:23] Mike shares some examples of businesses he has worked with that have gone from boring and basic to standing out.
[23:40] Standing out can be scary, but when we believe that what we offer can help people, it is our responsibility to get the word out.
Quotes:
- “It’s almost impossible to change ourselves, but it’s very possible to channel ourselves.” — Mike
- “I believe marketing now is the ultimate act of kindness.” — Mike
- “That’s the beautiful thing about being different, is it usually costs very little.” — Mike
Sponsored By:
PB&J TV — Don’t forget to mention Kris Murray for a special offer!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Profit First: Transform Your Business from a Cash-Eating Monster to a Money-Making Machine, by Mike Michalowicz
Get Different: Marketing That Can't Be Ignored! by Mike Michalowicz
Mike Michalowicz
Glennon Doyle
The Savannah Bananas
Christie Brinkley
In this incredibly powerful episode, Kris sits down with Shelley Smith, Culture Curator, Author, Speaker, and Consultant. Shelley has a passion for making the lives of others easier and less stressful and has created a world of incredible tools that serve as absolute game-changers. She talks about why culture matters and how to hire the right person and set them up for success, and shares some incredible stats around employee retention from some of her clients. Shelley and Kris talk about the return on investment that occurs when everyone is on board with the same mission and values, and the different tools she chooses to measure success and take action upon those results that really move the needle.
Key Takeaways:
- [7:22] Shelley describes herself as a generalist with an eye for holistic culture and profitability. She shares the aspects of her work that she is passionate about.
- [9:26] Shelley shares a bit about her background and what led to a having a career in business and education.
- [19:59] Shelley shares some of the main issues she sees child care business owners struggling with.
- [21:33] Shelley shares how a predictive index help us get smart about our process and measure effectiveness.
- [24:24] Shelley shares what should be included in our assessments so they are not only accurate but legal and fair.
- [29:40] Shelley shares what it means for a group of coworkers to be happy in today's world.
- [32:33] Kris shares what tasks she has currently partnered with Shelley on to help her complete it.
- [35:42] Shelley shares the most common issue that she has discovered with leaders surveying their team and clients.
- [43:32] Shelley reveals the one thing that we lose focus of when we are constantly putting are fires.
- [47:00] Shelley shares a new best practice that you can start to help you tackle your to-do list.
Quotes:
- “Mastery of anything just takes time.” — Kris
- “We do not do a good job of rewarding good behavior to our culture and values.” — Shelley
- “Pick one value for 30 days.” — Shelley
- “We are so focused on enrollment that we aren’t listening to what the teachers need and value.” — Shelley
Sponsored By:
PB&J TV — Don’t forget to mention Kris Murray for a special offer!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Glassdoor
StrengthsFinder
Shelley Smith
Kris welcomes Joy Clore Willis, aka Mama Joy, Director of A Kids Gym in Oviedo, Florida. In between cruising around Alaska and spending time with her children and grandchildren, Joy is the busy mind behind A Kids Gym, where they incorporate activity and play as well as traditional physically-oriented services. Joy talks about the changes that came about when she joined Kris’s community, and what she has done to grow her confidence and inspire her staff. Joy also talks about powerful marketing messages that have worked and finding structure during uncertain times.
Key Takeaways:
[10:57] Joy talks about opening A Kids Gym. She combined her background in PE and creative movement to open a special place where kids could come and feel welcome. She loves helping families see the many benefits that go just beyond the physical when kids enroll in the school.
[14:52] Joy opened the gym for physical fitness and within a few months, she had a half-day preschool that ran gym, art, and storytime. That also outgrew itself in a short amount of time, and now they are at an enrollment of 120 kids, with 156 being the perfect number.
[16:23] Fun Fact: Joy is not only a busy businesswoman, she is a mother and a grandmother! As she and her husband RV around Alaska, Joy talks about her past as a baton twirler. You may have even caught her twirling fire at the Polynesian Village at Disney World!
[20:08] Joy shares some of the insights she has learned over the pandemic, and how she and her team rose up during some of the most difficult challenges.
[24:57] How does Joy stay optimistic and keep her head on solid as a leader through the tough times? She credits her coaching with Kris and the community as a big help. Not only did she get the structures for success, but accountability buddies.
[33:46] Start managing your company’s core values, and share your why and purpose with staff. This will help you inspire the people already there, and find you new ones that align with the bigger vision.
[35:51] A natural celebrator and cheerleader, Joy elevated her culture with themed days and special time for the staff to fill up their cup.
[40:39] Joy and Kris talk about the top marketing assets that set Kids Gym apart.
[40:53] What is one thing Joy would have done differently in her life if she could?
[44:30] A rockstar to Joy is someone that shows up every day. They love what they do, and they know that it matters.
Quotes:
- “I’m looking forward to the biggest reset opportunity that we have.”
- “A rockstar loves what they do, and they know that it matters.”
Sponsored By:
PB&J TV — Don’t forget to mention Kris Murray for a special offer!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
A Kids Gym | Facebook
Simon Sinek
Today’s episode will inspire you to get out there and be the true badass that you are! My guest today, Karina Wyllie, is a motivated self-starter that owns two home daycares in New York, Koala Park Daycare. While an incredibly accomplished entrepreneur, Karina is still committed to being a forever student in the school of leadership. She takes cues from Tony Robbins, Simon Sinek, The Child Care Success Academy, and more, and it trickles down effortlessly to her staff. We talk about how she operates her schools, what her priorities and insights are coming out of COVID-19, the importance of a growth mindset, and some different ways to think about leadership. This is an authentic and raw conversation filled with so many resources to get you to believe in your biggest asset; you!
Key Takeaways:
- [7:08] Karina shares why she started out in the ECE industry and s brief history of her two Koala Park Daycare locations.
- [11:30] Karina shares the inspiration behind selecting the name "Koala Park" as the name of her daycare.
- [16:38] Karina shares some of the insights that she has gained throughout COVID-19.
- [21:12] Kris asks Karina how she divides her time between her two locations and her hiring strategies for both of them.
- [25:32] Kris asks Karina to share the licensing requirements that she has to meet in order to operate out of homes.
- [26:26] Karina shares where she is at in her journey of expanding her business.
- [30:32] Karina shares who her leadership role models are and what industry experts she follows.
- [38:47] Kris asks Karina to share one thing that she would do different in her ECE journey if she had to do it all over again.
- [42:17] Karina shares how she defines a Child Care Rockstar.
Quotes:
- “It’s all about mindset and really believing that you are a badass!” — Kris
- “Behind the scenes, I am a one-woman show.” — Karina
- “I love being a part of the Academy because obviously, we learn a lot, we get new techniques, ideas, and strategies, and so many things on marketing and advertising, but the best thing… is the community.” — Karina
- “Learn from others. They will show you the way.” — Karina
- “I think it’s important to every single day bring a little bit of joy into your life. Whatever joy means to you.” — Karina
- “How do you define a child care rockstar?” — Kris
“Me.” — Karina
- “I’m a rockstar!” — Karina
- “You have to believe in yourself. If you don’t believe then you can’t get anything done in your life.” — Karina
- “In order to go for it, in order to try new things, try new strategies, try new business partnerships. You really have to believe in who you are as a person and the value that you can bring to the table.” — Karina
Sponsored By:
PB&J TV — Don’t forget to mention Kris Murray for a special offer!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Koala Park Daycare
Karina Wyllie on Instagram
Tony Robbins: UPW
Luke Wren
Simon Sinek
Marie Forleo
Brendon Burchard
Man’s Search for Meaning, by Viktor Frankl
You Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, by Jen Sincero
I’m so pleased to welcome our new Chief Operating Officer and Integrator of the Child Care Success Company, Tom O’Connor, to the podcast. And welcome to the team, Tom! Tom brings 30 years of experience in education, after-school care, and early learning expertise. He’s also considered a bit of a master in acquisition and growth as he built his program to 44 locations across Colorado. Tom shares some fundamental and crucial steps for how to just GET STARTED, the ins-and-outs of deal acquisition and deal flow, how to set yourself to be a positive-mindset entrepreneur, leadership lessons, marketing tips, the magic of the seeds of influence, and more. Throughout his career, Tom has stuck to core values of Connect, Educate, and Inspire; with his staff, with his parents, and most importantly with the kids. This is a great episode for anyone who’s wondering how to get their start, how to expand and grow, or just wants to learn more about what makes our newest team member so great!
Key Takeaways:
- [7:45] Tom shares some highlights from his journey.
- [10:16] Tom shares some basics of starting out in the business in your area, such as how to get on an RFP for a city.
- [12:25] Tom provides some fun facts about her personal and home life.
- [9:54] Tom shares some of the things that most excites him about joining The Child Care Success Company.
- [12:38] Tom shares some of the biggest leadership lessons that he has learned throughout his 30 years in the ECE industry.
- [16:38] Kris and Tom run through some tips to finding deals when looking to acquire a new center.
- [29:20] Kris and Tom discuss some of their favored industry marketing tips.
- [38:17] Kris asks Tom to share what his biggest challenge has been throughout his ECE journey and how he overcame it.
- [41:06] Kris asks Tom to share what he would do differently during his journey if he could go back and do it over again.
- [45:01] Tom shares some of his favorite leadership books that he recommends.
Quotes:
- “I would knock on doors. I went out and shook hands.” — Tom
- “One of the first things I learned was: Don’t talk at, and try to get on the same level as.” — Tom
- “When you’re talking to a kid you should probably get down on one knee so you’re not imposing to them.” — Tom
- “Do something that the other person won’t do.” — Tom
- “My three things are connect, educate, and then inspire. And if you can do those three things well and at a high level and consistent level, your program is going to grow.” — Tom
- “I don’t think I’d be where I was if everything didn’t happen as is.” — Tom
- “What Tony Robbins does with adults, we wanted to do with kids.” — Tom
Sponsored By:
PB&J TV — Don’t forget to mention Kris Murray for a special offer!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Tom O’Connor — COO of the Child Care Success Company
BizBuySell.com
DealStream.com
Grant Cardone
Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill
Success Magazine
Go Giver Series, by Bob Burg
Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, by Dr. John Ratey
Today’s episode is one of my favorites that we’ve done. My guest Jody Zabriskie is an Empire level member here in the Child Care Success Academy with 23 years of experience in the industry. She’s based outside of Salt Lake City and recently expanded to five locations of her centers, A to Building Blocks, having started from a small center with just 27 enrollments. Our discussion really highlights the power of positivity and leadership; two of Jody’s greatest strengths. You’ll be amazed by the trust she has in her team along with her commitment to accountability and honest communication. We also talk about what her biggest challenge has been, what makes her brand unique, and what the name means. This episode will really inspire you to stop making excuses, lead by example, and grow your program!
Key Takeaways:
- [9:39] Jody shares the story of how she got started in child care at the age of 11 and how her journey in ECE has continued to evolve ever since.
- [11:22] Jody shares how many centers she currently has, and the capacity of each one and why they vary greatly in size.
- [15:29] Jody explains what makes A to Z Building Blocks’ program unique and how the name came to be.
- [19:37] Kris asks Jody about what her dreams and plans are for continued expansion and growth.
- [23:44] Jody shares when/how she discovered Kris and CCSC, and how long she has been following their practices.
- [25:25] Kris and Jody discuss the importance of networking and being involved in your community in order to help your brand grow.
- [30:02] Jody discusses how she felt like “the lonely entrepreneur at the top” and how it shifted Jody’s mindset.
- [35:47] Kris asks Jody to share what her biggest challenge has been during her journey in the industry so far.
- [39:51] Jody shares what she implements to promote a positive culture for staff.
- [44:49] Kris asks Jody to share how she defines a Child Care Rockstar.
- [46:00] Jody shares her favorite resources for learning more about how to grow your business.
Quotes:
- “I never thought I would be where I am today.” — Jody
- “The only thing that I wanted is to make sure that children had a great place to be.” — Jody
- “Before I started the Child Care Success Academy I was done. I was going to stop at my third one.” — Jody
- “Sometimes as an owner, it can be lonely at the top.” — Jody
- “You need to have deal flow. You need to have things going on and be a mover and a shaker.” — Kris
- “If your state does not have an association that promotes your facilities or childcare (the industry), you need to get on board. And you need to develop an association.” — Jody
- “My team… they’re amazing because I allowed them their lanes and I do my lane.” — Jody
- “It’s just amazing when you find your lane and you allow your people to flourish, it will shine. It will shine if you allow them to.” — Jody
- “It all starts with you. If there’s something going wrong in your company, you need to look at yourself first.” — Jody
- “Your attitude can make or break you.” — Jody
- “It’s all about putting people in the right seats and communicating that to your team.” — Jody
- “If you’re complaining about your employees, guess what? You’ve just told everyone that it’s okay to complain.” — Jody
- “It really is about the people.” — Jody
- “Put people where they need to be and they’ll flourish for you. I promise.” — Jody
- “The Child Care Rockstar does not necessarily mean one thing. The Child Care Rockstar is just… love what you do.” — Jody
Sponsored By:
PB&J TV — Don’t forget to mention Kris Murray for a special offer!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
The Child Care Startup Challenge with Kris Murray and Friends
A to Z Building Blocks
Clockwork: Design Your Business to Run Itself, by Mike Michalowicz
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman
5 Levels of Leadership: Proven Steps to Maximize Your Potential, by John C. Maxwell
We are pleased to bring you an episode focused on professional development with my wonderful guest Maria Taylor. Maria truly knows the child care industry inside and out as a 30-year veteran and CEO of ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI). CCEI is one of our newest partners and you’ll soon see me on their platform teaching about marketing and other topics. Also, they are the sponsor of our (drumroll) upcoming 5-Day Child Care Start-Up Challenge! More about that in the episode.
As we look behind the scenes of professional development, we talk about the importance of training and onboarding, career ladders and company visions, building strong structures, investing in your people, how the pandemic has caused so many of us to pivot and innovate, why CCEI has one of the industry’s leading platforms, and more. If you’ve been looking to take your center to the next level, this episode is really for you.
Key Takeaways:
[3:00] Kris shares details and information about their exciting new 5-Day Child Care Startup Challenge: How to Launch a Profitable Center in 5 Days!
[9:00] Maria shares what her role is within CCEI and what the company is all about
[9:45] Maria discusses how she got started in the child care industry and how her career has evolved over the years.
[15:46] Maria reveals a few statistics and specifics that CCEI offers to those in the industry, including what their most affordable options are.
[19:33] Maria shares what makes CCEI such a unique eLearning platform.
[23:59] Kris asks Maria if CCEI provides any courses that cover the career ladder in ECE businesses.
[24:59] Maria shares some of the industry trends that she has seen as ECE businesses emerge out of the pandemic.
[28:32] Maria provides details about their parent-focused eLearning platform ParentEducate.
[32:12] Kris and Maria discuss the reasons behind uptick in classroom behavioral problems that have resulted due to the pandemic.
[35:22] Maria shares what resources she has currently been utilizing.
[36:48] Kris asks Maria to share what message she would put on a billboard if she could.
Sponsored By:
GROW YOUR CENTER
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
The Child Care Startup Challenge with Kris Murray and Friends – Sign-ups starting May 4th
Leadership Mastery for the Early Educator
ChildCare Education Institute
ParentEducate
Carrie Underwood — “My Savior”
Falcon and the Winter Soldier
In today’s episode, I am pleased to share the positivity and inspiration of Mallorie Malloy-Coe. Mallorie is a childcare veteran, joining the industry when she was only 14, and the owner and founder of Inheritance Academy in Baltimore. She talks to us about her core values which she refers to as “SEED,” branding, attracting and retaining the right people, her unique events, building culture, her superpower, her plans to expand and help others grow, and more.
Key Takeaways:
- [3:58] Kris shares projects and events that the Child Care Success Company has planned for this year, provides a personal reflection her past year, and let’s listeners in on what her brief hiatus will entail.
- [8:53] Mallorie provides a little background info about herself, where her center is located, and how she started out in the field of early childhood education.
- [12:50] Mallorie shares a fun fact herself, and as far as Kris know, is also a record setting number.
- [13:56] Mallorie discusses her passion for licensing and her plan to consult with other child care business owners starting out to help them obtain their licenses.
- [17:00] Mallorie discusses her enrollment trends since entering the COVID-19 pandemic.
- [19:21] Mallroie shares what has been the inspiration and mold behind her consistent best practices that she has followed over the years.
- [21:43] Mallorie talks about some of the unique and fun events that her center has hosted.
- [25:19] Mallorie discusses what her commitment to her team looks like and what SEED stands for in her center.
- [30:26] Mallorie reveals what she believes her super power is and how she is planning on using it to help other ECE owners.
- [32:22] Kris asks Mallorie to share the biggest challenge that she has had to overcome throughout her ECE journey.
- [33:27] Mallorie walks through her onboarding and training processes.
- [36:50] Kris asks Mallorie to define what a Chid Care Rockstar is to her.
- [38:00] Mallorie shares the books and resources that she has found the most beneficial to her and her development.
- [39:19] Mallorie shares what she loves the most about being a member of the Child Care Success Academy.
Quotes:
- “Since I was 14, I knew that I wanted to own my own state-of-the-art childcare center.” — Mallorie
- “Your team is what’s driving your business.” — Mallorie
- “Things have definitely improved at Inheritance since we incorporated our core values. It makes it easier for everyone to understand and know what we stand for.” — Mallorie
- “The other thing that’s really driven the Academy to the next level is that we have started really focusing on ‘team.’” — Kris
- “The way to really impact the children is through the teachers and the leaders.” — Kris
- “I definitely want to continue to inspire aspiring childcare owners to follow their dreams and encourage people that it can be done.” — Mallorie
- “Being willing to train is one of the biggest things that we’ve had to learn to do recently.” — Mallorie
- “With the right tools and training in place, they can become one of the best early childhood educators in the industry.” — Mallorie
- “I would say a Child Care Rockstar is anyone in the industry — whether they’re a teacher, coach, janitor — anyone that is leading with passion and utilizing their passion to empower others.” — Mallorie
Sponsored By:
GROW YOUR CENTER
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Inheritance Academy
Inheritance Academy on Facebook
Inheritance Academy on Instagram
Mallorie Malloy-Coe on Facebook
The Academy Builder on Instagram
Ron Clark: Move Your Bus
The Maxwell Leadership Bible
TD Jakes
I am overjoyed and honored to bring you this episode today with one of the top entrepreneurial coaches in the world, best-selling author and speaker Cameron Herold. He has been coaching clients across the globe for 30 years to become multimillion-dollar businesses and is most notably behind the growth of 1-800-GOT-JUNK? He is also the founder of the wildly successful COO Alliance. Cameron has been featured many times in the media including on Oprah and Dr. Phil, and in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Fortune, The New York Times, and many more. In this episode, we talk about the power of confident leadership, how to run great meetings, Cameron’s signature concept of Vivid Vision, and so much more. This truly is like a mini boot camp on entrepreneurship. We share a lot of wisdom, laughs, and occasionally some adult language — for anyone that needs that disclaimer if you’re listening in mixed company!
Key Takeaways:
[4:00] Kris shares some of the exciting upcoming Child Care Success Academy mastermind events that the company has planned that will take place in their new Carbondale, CO office and reveals some of the upcoming training product and event launches that will be happening soon.
[6:05] Cameron shares and reflects on some of his top entrepreneurial achievements.
[10:06] Kris and Cameron discuss why they are such strong believers in mastermind groups and how being a part of them has transformed their businesses and lives.
[11:48] Cameron shares a surprising fun fact about himself that Kris would have never guessed.
[14:01] Kris and Cameron dive into what empathetic but confident leadership looks like.
[15:33] Cameron shares some of his pro tips on how to have meetings with your team that aren't a drag.
[19:58] Cameron reveals one of the most powerful habits that every business leader needs to make a best practice.
[23:50] Cameron shares what his concept "Vivid Vision" is around a three-year-forward look.
[27:38] Cameron shares more about the process from The Miracle Morning and SAVERS concept.
[31:27] Kris and Cameron talk more about what the COO Alliance is and what it means exactly to hold the position of being second-in-command to a business.
[36:13] Kris and Cameron both share what their focus is for the remainder of the year.
[39:01] Kris asks Cameron to share one thing that he would change along his journey if he had to do it all over again.
Quotes:
- “The more that I invest in myself, the more that I scale my companies. And it’s no longer about me learning all the information, it’s knowing the people that know the information.” — Cameron
- “I flip the org chart upside down.” — Cameron
- “The reality is meetings don’t suck at all. We suck at running meetings.” — Cameron
- “Every meeting has to have a clear purpose, just the one sentence of why we’re here.” — Cameron
- “Every meeting can have a maximum of three outcomes.” — Cameron
- “Every meeting has to have an agenda.” — Cameron
- “Every meeting has to start on time.” — Cameron
- “Every meeting should finish five minutes prior to the scheduled ending time.” — Cameron
- “No agenda, no attend-a!” — Cameron
- “I like to have the leader speaking last.” — Cameron
- “The CEO really is the Chief Energizing Officer.” — Cameron
- “Entrepreneurs are famous for saying, ‘I have such good intuition!’ Not really. The only reason your intuition is so good, is you’re the only one that sees the vision.” — Cameron
- “Just have more fun along the way.” — Cameron
Sponsored By:
GROW YOUR CENTER
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Leadership Mastery for Early Educators
Early Bird Tickets for the Child Care Success Summit in Vegas Fall 2021
Cameron Herold
Invest In Your Leaders Course
COO Alliance
Second In Command Podcast
Double Double: How to Double Your Revenue and Profit in 3 Years or Less, on Amazon
Meetings Suck: Turning One of The Most Loathed Elements of Business into One of the Most Valuable, on Amazon
The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM), by Hal Elrod on Amazon
Vivid Vision: A Remarkable Tool For Aligning Your Business Around a Shared Vision of the Future, on Amazon
Free PR: How to Get Chased By The Press Without Hiring a PR Firm, by Cameron Herold and Adrian Salamunovic on Amazon
Genius Network
The Trust
Mindshare Collaborative
I am so excited to welcome our guest today who has over FOUR DECADES of experience in early childhood education. Alix Hall has seven centers in California, Discovery Tree and Arista Schools, and is also partnered with Child Care Business Coach Rachel Supalla on multiple Montana locations of Discovery KidZone. Alix has developed a leadership style focused on uplifting women, promoting from within, and building a network of people who love to work and grow with her. Her eclectic curriculum philosophy is a unique blend that is mainly influenced by Piaget and RIE and encourages multi-age grouping. This episode will inspire you to have pride in the field of early childhood education, implement new technologies, strive for trickle-down leadership, and as Alix says, “Just go for it!”
Key Takeaways:
- [6:18] Kris shares an update on what The Child Care Success Company has been up to and has planned for this year.
- [9:55] Alix fills us in on her locations and where they are.
- [14:35] Alix shares how the enrollment in her schools has been throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
- [17:23] Alix provides us with the types of modifications and changes that she implemented in her schools throughout the pandemic.
- [21:10] Kris asks Alix to describe her leadership style and her method for developing her schools leaders from within.
- [29:23] Alix shares the philosophy behind her schools and curriculum that that they follow.
- [34:14] Kris asks Alix to share some tips and insights that she has for retaining a great staff.
- [38:26] Alix shares more about what exactly her role is at the Association for Early Learning Leaders.
- [42:28] Kris asks Alix to share one thing that she would do differently in her business if she could build it all over again.
- [44:50] Alix shares a few of the systems and applications that she is using in her centers.
- [47:27] Kris asks Alix to share how she defines a Child Care Rockstar.
- [51:48] Alix shares some of the resources and books that have been essential to her journey in early education.
Quotes:
-
“Promoting within is really important to me because I’ve only hired outside of Discovery Tree twice in our 41 years … and both times those people crashed and burned.” — Alix
-
“The long-timers help the newbies to see, ‘Yeah this can be successful.’” — Alix
- “Thank goodness for the mentors that I had. I’d never be where I am right now without those mentors.” — Alix
- “When you know you need to do something, jump in for a new system, a new technology, and don’t wait.” — Alix
- “Rip off the Bandaid, and go for it, and get it done!” — Alix
- “A child care rockstar is someone who just loves what they do, has heart for what they do, shows up every day, and just goes for it!” — Alix
- “I think we’re all rock stars just by what we do.” — Alix
- “I think this is a time in history in our field, in this industry, that we have a new recognition.” — Alix
- “I’ve never sat on a baby in my life. This isn’t daycare. I don’t take care of the day; I take care of children. We educate children. We don’t sit on babies. We don’t take care of days.” — Alix
- “We are essential for many reasons.” — Alix
- “We are as important as public-school teachers; probably more important because we all know zero-to-five is when all learning, all foundations take place.” — Alix
- “Be happy. Be good humans.” — Alix
- “We’re doing good work. We are creating humans.” — Alix
Sponsored By:
GROW YOUR CENTER
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Discovery Tree
Arista Preschools
Discovery KidZone
Coach Rachel Supalla
Episode 92 — Rachel Supalla
Episode 98 — Lori Buxton
Episode 86 — Nefertiti Poyner
Small Talk! With Ron & Lori
The Dream Manager, by Matthew Kelly
Leadership 101: What Every Leader Needs to Know, by John C. Maxwell
Good Leaders Ask Great Questions: Your Foundation for Successful Leadership, by John C. Maxwell
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, by Simon Sinek
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman
EOS Worldwide Website
YouTube: Six Key Components from EOS Worldwide
We did it! We made it to Episode 100! For this milestone episode, I am ecstatic to welcome Ali Brown to the podcast. Ali is one of the top female entrepreneurs and coaches in the world and host of the very successful podcast “Glambition Radio.” Ali also founded the emerging coaching and mastermind group, The Trust, which I am honored to be a member of. She provides some incredible insights around business, leadership, marketing, confidence, why 2021 is the year for women, and so much more. Join me as I reflect on the journey of the podcast and look forward to the ways we can all grow together in the future.
Key Takeaways:
- [03:10] Kris reflects on the journey of the Child Care Rockstar Radio podcast, takeaways from the recent live Child Care Success Academy mastermind meeting, success stories, and if you haven’t already done so, book your complimentary strategy call!
- [25:32] Ali shares what her home life is like right now and what life has been like for her and her family since the pandemic began.
- [32:02] Ali shares a fun fact about herself.
- [34:31] Ali shares the crossroads moment in her life that pushed her to take the leap to dive into the realm of digital marketing.
- [41:04] Kris and Ali discuss the evolution and power, both practically and energetically, that women hold in 2021.
- [48:47] Ali shares insights into what she has learned along her journey since becoming an influencer.
- [51:41] Ali and Kris discuss one of the key action items that entrepreneurs must first do in order to breed confidence.
- [56:05] Ali shares some of the self-care tips that have helped her get through this tough time.
Quotes:
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“There’s no other podcast like this.” — Kris
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“We do what we promise. We are here to help you. We are here to inspire your teams. We are here to help your directors feel confident and have happiness when they walk into those schools.” — Kris
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“Where do we really want to take our life and then also what do we want to do less of? Addition through subtraction.” — Kris
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“I’ve always made leaps out of a place of disenchantment.” — Ali
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“I think everyone leaps in different ways.” — Ali
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“If I stay in the same place too long, it means I’m not using my creativity and I’m not where I really should be.” — Ali
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“I think there’s a point that when we reach some of our goals and dreams we feel guilty about having more, especially as women.” — Ali
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“2021 is the year now to set that clear intention for who you want to be; what is your great work in the world? And just go for it.” — Ali
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“It’s going to be such an incredible time for us if we honor who we are.” — Ali
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“Right now, this year, all of the parents who work with you, your team, they need to hear your confidence.” — Ali
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“Your courage is contagious.” — Ali
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“Wins equal confidence.” — Kris
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“Not all money is good money.” — Kris
Sponsored By:
Grow Your Center
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Ali Brown
Ali Brown on Instagram
Glambition Radio
The Trust
In this episode, I am so happy to be joined by the wonderful Brittney Luther. Brittney is an early childhood education leader, owner of two Young Sprouts locations in Texas, and an Empire member in our Child Care Success Academy. During our time together, she shares so many valuable nuggets of knowledge and strategies that she’s learned throughout her journey in the ECE industry that she accredits to her expansion. Brittney also provides us with an inside look at how has been able to grow and retain her enrollment, how she's utilized e-packets to set her schools apart from the rest in her area, and the strategies that she uses to find the right people and parents. There's a takeaway for every listener in this episode!
We also have some exciting announcements! On our next episode, Episode 100, the surprise guest will be (drumroll) Ali Brown, one of the top female entrepreneurs and coaches in the world! Then we will be relaunching a new series of video content with short coaching tidbits at the whiteboard called “The Coaching Connection” on our YouTube channel. We are thrilled for these and lots of other great things to look forward to in 2021!
Key Takeaways:
[00:01] Kris shares some exciting Child Care Success Company updates and announcements.
[12:02] Brittney shares a bit about her background and what inspired her to get her start in the child care business.
[13:04] Brittney shares what her current enrollment looks like in both of her centers.
[15:25] Brittney shares how her centers set themselves apart from others in her area and what some of their unique benefits are.
[17:09] Brittney reveals the biggest business challenge that she has faced so far and how she's been able to overcome it.
[21:00] Kris asks Brittney if she has any more vision for expansion and if so what it looks like.
[21:42] Kris asks Brittany to share what marketing strategies she has found to work for her market regarding enrollment.
[23:24] Brittney shares what "must-have" qualities she looks for when hiring a director and an enrollment specialist.
[29:29] Kris asks Brittney to shares one thing that she would do differently if she had to begin her ECE journey all over again?
[31:08] Brittney shares how she defines a true Child Care Rockstar.
Quotes:
- “After I had my daughter, things changed. I realized quality preschool childcare was not available in our area and we needed it desperately.” — Brittany
- “When your Director turns over, it’s really the thing that pulls owners back into the business and managing the day-to-day which then makes it hard for you to elevate and focus on driving the business forward.” — Kris
- “Our ePacket; sending that out through email immediately when we make contact has had the biggest influence on those people who are just calling around.” — Brittany
- “The biggest thing has been having the right person to do that tour because you can have all the best marketing in the world, but if the person that’s giving that tour is a dud? You’re never going to enroll anybody!” — Brittany
- “Don’t give up.” — Brittany
- “Keep pushing forward. Last year was hard, but we’re all still here… we’re all still kicking.” – Brittany
Sponsored By:
Grow Your Center
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Young Sprouts
Young Sprouts on Facebook
In today’s episode, I’m joined by the incredible Lori Buxton — the managing director of the Association for Early Learning Leaders. Lori has been involved in early care and education in many different facets since 1995, and she is just so passionate about what she does. Lori is a national speaker and training specialist who brings her leadership advice and enthusiasm to thousands. We talk about culture, taking ownership, trickle-down leadership, organizing your life and time, and how experience over environment is what makes a school special. She also gives us some amazing resources that will be useful for years to come. Lastly, remember there is just one more episode before we get to Episode 100 which will feature a very special, surprise guest!
Key Takeaways:
- [10:28] Lori shares the Reader's Digest version of her background and journey through early education and getting to where she is now.
- [12:47] Lori explains why she transitioned from being a center owner to working in the role she is in today.
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[15:39] Lori gives us an inside look at her current home and personal life.
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[17:38] Kris asks Lori to share some of the recent trends that she has seen this year in the ECE community due to the pandemic.
- [24:54] Lori shares more about what her role entails at the Association for Early Learning Leaders and what her company does to support ECE leaders.
- [29:45] Kris and Lori discuss what their personal leadership journeys have been like and some of the realizations and lessons they've learned along the way.
- [35:23] Lori shares what it means to take ownership of the culture that you set in your organization.
- [40:41] Lori shares a leadership best practices that she regularly follows to sharpen her leadership saw.
- [42:40] Kris asks Lori what the one thing is that she would do differently in her career if she had to do it over again.
- [45:28] Lori shares her favorite resources - her favorite books, podcasts, and even her own webinar!
- [51:18] Lori shares how you can find out more about AELL and their membership and how you can contact Lori directly.
Quotes:
- “I’ve worn every hat, every apron, every T-shirt known to man, in a variety of sizes, to get where I am today.” — Lori
- “Don’t get stuck! Because ‘stuck’ stinks.” — Lori
- “I don’t care who you are and where you are, life is about pivot. Life is about adapting. And if you’re going to be successful in whatever your role is, you’re going to have to embrace that.” — Lori
- “My role is not a manager; it is a leader.” — Lori
- “Culture is not about an environment. It’s not about how much money you can spend. It’s about the experience that every person that engages, every stakeholder has, from top to bottom.” — Lori
- “It’s not about the stuff; it’s about the people. The stuff should support what the people do, not the other way around.” — Lori
- “Leaders don’t have to tell you they’re leaders.” — Lori
- “It really is about who you are not what you do.” — Lori
- “You attract who you are, not who you want.” — Lori/John Maxwell
- “Your team cannot evolve any further than your leadership does.” — Lori
- “When you’re a leader a whisper becomes a shout.” — Kris/Simon Sinek
- “The larger your influence field is, the louder the message becomes. And that can be a good thing that empowers and gives life. And it can be a destructive thing that tears people down. And you have the control.” — Lori
- “It is never too late to start taking care of you.” — Lori
Sponsored By:
Grow Your Center
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Apply for the Academy here.
Lori Buxton
Association for Early Learning Leaders
Small Talk! with Ron & Lori
Lead with LUV on Amazon
The Way We Work: What You Know about Working Styles Can Increase Your Efficiency, Productivity and Job Satisfaction, by Cynthia Ulrich Tobias on Amazon
I am thrilled to welcome Danielle Paige back to the podcast! She first appeared in episode 60 and today we are going to talk all about licensing. Danielle now owns two centers, Academic Explorers, in New York and she talks us through how she expanded to her second location. She shares some of the challenges she overcame during licensing, what she might have done differently, how she chose her second location, what sets her brand apart, and more. Danielle also shares how she can help YOU with your licensing goals.
Key Takeaways:
[1:31] Danielle shares what it's like being an offsite owner to her two New York-based schools.
[3:47] Danielle discusses what the jump has been like going from owning one school to two.
[6:16] Kris asks Danielle if there is anything she would do differently during her opening process if she could do it over again.
[9:35] Danielle shares what she believes sets her centers apart from the rest in her area in terms of branding.
[16:15] Danielle gives a personal scoop on what's going on at home with her.
[19:22] Danielle shares her story of how she overcame a troubling relationship with her licensing rep.
[29:09] Kris asks Danielle what features she was looking for while looking for a second location and how she was able to get it up and running so quickly after closing on the deal.
[35:05] Danielle talks about her journey to becoming a child care licensing consultant, how she can help child care owners with their licensing goals, and how you can reach out to her directly for questions and help.
[40:10] Danielle shares some of her favorite go-to websites for business and market research news.
Quotes:
- “Instead of using binder systems we put everything on the computer in a Cloud so we can all access it.” — Danielle
- “Making a phone call or trying to reach out to get known in the community before stepping in is something I would have done a little differently.” — Danielle
- “Every decision we make as owners is done with love in our hearts and that makes tough decisions really hard for us.” — Danielle
- “You want to pull those heartstrings into your marketing and leverage what you’re already doing.” — Kris
- “We’re not scared of licensing anymore.” — Danielle
- “Just pointing people in the right direction is what I do because when I first started, I didn’t have anybody to do that for me.” — Danielle
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
ChildCareSites.Com
Danielle’s YouTube Channel
Academic Explorers
Academic Explorers on Instagram
Academic Explorers on Facebook
BizBuySell
Child Care Deserts
In this new episode, I am joined by Jamarrion Tabor of Madalyn’s House Childcare in Georgia. I couldn’t think of a more heartfelt, fun, and creative thinker to speak to than Jamarrion. She is bringing her vision of high-quality early child care and education to inner-city, minority, and underserved children, as well as single parents. She tells us about her background in the inner city, her approach to pampering and appreciating her teachers, her financial growth, and her fast journey to becoming an Empire Level member of The Child Care Success Academy. Enjoy and Happy New Year, everyone!
Key Takeaways:
- [1:19] Kris gives an update on how her first challenge of year is going, 6 Figures in 7 Days Challenge: From Fear to Financial Freedom, and shares some of the amazing results that participating challengers are seeing.
- [7:23] Jamarrion shares her background and how she got into the world of early childhood education.
- [10:15] Jamarrion dives into what inspired her to transition from running a home-based learning program to opening a brick-and-mortar center.
- [12:05] Kris asks Jamarrion to share how her enrollment has been affected throughout the pandemic.
- [15:14] Jamarrion shares a fun fact about herself.
- [16:27] Jamarrion shares the tactics she uses to keep her staff motivated, increase staff retention, and improve her hiring process.
- [24:50] Jamarrion shares her passion and her "why" behind the work that she does each day.
- [34:26] Kris and Jamarrion discuss how being a part of the Child Care Success Academy has helped her throughout her journey, and specially how Coach Tameenah Adams has helped her.
- [38:34] Kris and Jamarrion discuss the importance of maintaining a good credit score and knowing your financials.
- [44:02] Jamarrion shares her definition of a Child Care Rockstar.
- [46:10] Jamarrion shares some of her most loved resources that has helped her grow into the owner and leader that she is today.
- [49:06] Jamarrion provides some specific insight on the growth that she has experienced since joining the Child Care Success Academy.
Quotes:
- “I was raised by a single mom and most of my friends are single parents.” — Jamarrion
- “Just seeing the struggles single parents have as I was growing up and as I became an adult, it just really made me want to help in all ways.” — Jamarrion
- “If you don’t know your numbers, you’re just spinning your wheels.” — Jamarrion
- “With everything we do, I try to make it fun.” — Jamarrion
- “With childcare, we’re not always able to pay our staff what we want to pay them, and so I try to make it up in other ways and make them feel appreciated.” — Jamarrion
- “People talk in the community.” — Kris
- “A lot of our members are still feeling like they’re pushing a boulder uphill when it comes to hiring, and I think a lot of it is sowing those seeds, planting those seeds of what we’re talking about here.” — Kris
- “I truly believe that childcare is the foundation of education.” — Jamarrion
- “I want to change the perspective of childcare in urban areas.” — Jamarrion
- “We have to get back to ‘it takes a village’ to raise a child.” — Jamarrion
- “When you treat your money good, your money will treat you good.” — Jamarrion
- “If you’re listening to this podcast now and your doors are still open, then you are a Child Care Rockstar.” — Jamarrion
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Madalyn’s House Childcare
Madalyn’s House on Facebook
Tulip’s Learning Academy on Facebook
Jamarrion Tabor on Facebook
M House Childcare on Instagram
Tameenah Adams
Child Care Millionaire (on Amazon)
48 Laws of Power (on Amazon)
Think and Grow Rich (on Amazon)
Kris digs in this week to recap the crazy year of 2020 and reflect on her biggest accomplishments and challenges, both personally and professionally. She gives a roundup of the best moments of 2020, the top three insights from the year that we can take into 2021 and beyond, and even shares something controversial as well. This has been a year of strength, innovation, and challenge for many of us, but Kris fully believes the growth of 2021 will be something to uplift us and provide us with even more gratitude for the things we love to do and for the people that we love to do them with.
Key Takeaways:
[3:35] Kris begins with January 2020, where the New Decade, New You Masterclass, and Goal Setting process were underway. Little did she know what a huge shift we were about to have, but in some ways, this was setting the stage for all the strength and character we would have to possess in the months to come. She also talks about the best Academy Live Meeting in Atlanta, with a great three-day meeting for the members.
[8:42] Kris discusses what it was like for herself and the staff during the beginning of the lockdown in March. She jumped into helping secure their PPP funds and even worked around the red tape of large corporate banks by going to a smaller community bank for her own loans.
[12:00] Kris accomplished a professional dream: landing number 3,764 on the INC. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in America.
[13:17] There were also some major personal accomplishments and events, including getting engaged, a new dream lake house, and watching her son graduate from high school.
[16:39] The Child Care Summit was the first virtual one, and so far also held the highest number of attendees.
[22:07] In a very tumultuous year, Child Care Success Company grew by 35% and was able to hire some great new team members.
[27:21] Kris admits to an “oopsie” moment on a webinar where her predictions about the pandemic were off.
[30:19] The three insights Kris has had in 2020:
- We are way tougher than we thought and full of resilience and grit.
- The world may have and likely needed to hit the reset button. Not only just for humans but wildlife and the environment in general.
- 2021 is going to be epic and we will see unprecedented levels of enrollment in a slow but upward curve.
[39:37] Controversial statement: Kris will be getting the vaccine and at this time doesn’t believe it’s all a ploy for Bill Gates to track us and microchip us. But, she respects all opinions.
Quotes:
- “I don’t hold onto anything that doesn’t serve me for very long.”
- “We doubled down. We worked really hard, and you guys showed up.”
- “We are a lot tougher than we realize.”
- “Unprecedented levels of growth are available for you; all you have to do is tap into it.”
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
INC5000 Fastest Growing Companies in 2020
Jim Kwick
Marshall Goldsmith
Six Figures In Seven Days
Mecca Johnson is an incredible and heartfelt speaker, trainer, and founder of the professional development consulting company My Joy Speaks. Her long and very successful career in early childhood education with Primrose Schools plus corporate experience led her to develop The Five Guardians of Life, which she shares in this week’s episode. Mecca and Kris also talk about finding gratitude in times of stress, why a healthy body matters to a positive mindset, and a few of their favorite resources for sharpening your leadership skills.
Key Takeaways:
[13:50] Mecca found her calling working with kids and, while doing so, recognized a strong need for leadership. Her passion for both education and leadership led her to develop training for educators and directors.
[14:05] Mecca discusses the professional and personal gains she got from working with Primrose Schools for 19 years and from her mentor Dr. Mary Zurn.
[18:03] Kris and Mecca are both Maxwell Certified, and that also had a big impact on both their leadership today.
[18:33] Mecca’s mother is the wittiest and sharpest 97-year-old you will meet. Taking care of her has been a blessing for Mecca, showing her true compassion and patience. Although this pandemic has provided major setbacks for just about everyone, spending more time with her mother has been a blessing.
[22:27] Respect the cook at your school! Take it from Mecca, who will be fine if she never cooks scrambled eggs for 400 kids at a time again.
[26:38] We need to have just as much respect and dedication to customer service for the teachers as we ask them to have for the parents.
[30:47] Tough love doesn’t always mean doing exactly what the people around us want. It means doing what will be best for them in the long run.
[33:28] These are the Five Guardians of Life that Mecca developed from her extensive experience of developing and training top directors.
- Guard Your Mind First.
- Protect Your Mouth.
- Protect Your Heart.
- Choose Gratitude.
- Guard Your Spirit.
[48:05] We can almost always find something to be grateful for. Mecca and Kris share the joy that comes from developing a consistent practice of writing in a gratitude journal.
[50:14] Focus on hope.
Quotes:
- “I think I was born with teaching in the blood. I think that’s where I’m happiest and most fulfilled.” — M
- “When something unusual happens, it brings out the creativity in us.” — M
- “We either encourage or discourage either other with every word we speak.” — M
- “You can’t be offended and do everything you’re meant to do.” — M
- “In every circumstance, choose gratitude.” — M
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
Kris Murray Challenge - starts December 28th!
Hope Rises: Make Your Life, Love & Leadership Soar, by Dr. Randy Ross
John Maxwell
Minute with Maxwell
My Joy Speaks
Dr. Mary Zurn
Primrose Schools
I am thrilled to have Bari Baumgardner on the podcast to share her truly inspiring journey. Bari is the founder of SAGE Event Management; a boutique event production company best known for creating a purpose-driven payday for speakers, authors, and influencers with her “Sales IS Service” approach. If you’re ready to take your own personal leap, this episode will really resonate with you. Get ready to take some notes on Bari’s sales approach, enrollment theory, and her infectious belief in trusting in yourself.
Key Takeaways:
[4:45] Highlights of Bari’s professional journey in event planning, including pivoting to a tech company during the pandemic, and how it parallels with Kris’ journey.
[8:51] What Bari does for fun where she lives in Murrells Inlet, SC.
[12:19] Fun fact about Bari: She wants to be a drummer (even though she has no rhythm)!
[14:55] Bari’s Broadway vs. Basement story; how she took a big leap at a critical time, said yes to herself, and moved to NYC. It ended up being the most important thing she’s ever done.
[27:43] Tips Bari has on enrollment theory, more on her mantra “Sales IS Service,” and digging into the hierarchy of objections.
[37:41] The importance of applying the “tell me more” approach when talking to families interested in your child care centers. Make it more about the connection than the “sale.”
[41:25] The hierarchy of enrollment is as important as the hierarchy of objections.
[44:03] How the vibe and success of The Child Care Success Academy has changed since Kris laid out the Guiding Principles two years ago.
[45:45] What Bari has learned about successfully running a business with her spouse without it affecting her marriage; especially division of labor and asking for support, not permission.
[52:14] What Bari is watching and reading to stay inspired.
Quotes:
- “Sometimes it’s just about walking through an open door and seeing what happens next.” — Bari
- “It never would have happened if I hadn't said ‘yes’ and taken that journey and trusted that intuition.” — Bari
- “I chose commitment over convenience and I was rewarded for that.” — Bari
- “It’s difficult, and I think dangerous, to give your power away; … to give your decision away to someone else.” — Bari
- “Selling something you don’t believe in is damn near impossible.” — Bari
- “The trust business is founded on getting to the question behind the question.” — Bari
- “Just show that you care and ask those loving questions about that family, and you will earn the enrollment.” — Kris
- “Every day is an enrollment game.” — Bari
- “Little hinges swing big doors.” — Kris
- “As women whenever we ask permission for something, we’re giving away our power.” — Bari
- “You can’t give away your power to someone who’s not qualified to make the decision. And you shouldn’t give away your power to make your own decisions.” — Bari
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
The Child Care Success Academy
The Child Care Success Summit
SAGE Event Management
The Crown on Netflix
Believe IT
Mastering the Rockefeller Habits
On Writing
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
The Big Leap
This week I am joined by rockstar Rachel Supalla. Rachel is a multi-site owner of Discovery Kidzone in Montana as well as one of the newest coaches here at The Child Care Success Company. She has shared her expertise as a national speaker at Association for Early Learning Leaders, NAEYC, and more. We dive into Rachel’s unique strengths, her creative quest to culture building (and budgeting!), a special curriculum she developed that’s a blend of Montessori, Reggio, and mindfulness, as well as some savvy financial planning.
Key Takeaways:
[7:43] Rachel is now officially one of the coaches here at The Child Care Success Company. She discusses some of her goals and integrating her personal approaches to clients.
[9:54] Rachel has been in the industry for 24 years and has an extensive background, complete with multiple certifications and degrees.
[12:27] Discovery Kidzone also has branches in California that Rachel’s partner, Alex, runs.
[14:55] Taking advantage of PPP and grants were part of the best practices that Rachel used to stay financially viable through the pandemic.
[19:00] Specific ways Rachel kept culture really high for staff, parents, and the community, during the pains of the pandemic.
[22:30] Rachel shares how she has developed her Zoom preschool model.
[27:00] Diving into the unique curriculum Rachel developed that blends Montessori, Reggio, and brain-based learning around mindfulness.
[30:59] More about the training that Rachel does for AELL, NAEYC, regionally, and possibly for The Child Care Success Company.
[33:40] Ways Rachel wants to expand in 2021 including new centers, summer camps, & books.
[34:45] Rachel just started doing EOS. So… What the Heck Is EOS?
[36:29] Rachel and Kris both dive deeper into the financial piece of the business.
[42:02] How does Rachel define a Child Care Rockstar?
[43:18] Some things Rachel is into right now including Tony Robbins, The Happiness Guide, Leadershift, and Free to Focus.
[45:42] Fun fact about Rachel: She went to high school with John Maxwell’s (Leadershift author) daughter. Now that she’s a Child Care Success coach, she’ll become John Maxwell certified!
Quotes:
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“In a time when you’re facing unprecedented sadness, anxiety, and fear — such as 2020 with the pandemic — how can you shift your team into a place of abundance, happiness, and gratitude?” — Kris
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“I’ll do whatever it takes, but I just don’t want to have a big layoff.” — Rachel
- “The company culture was really the biggest thing because it was keeping the staff happy and feeling important.” — Rachel
- “I wanted to be on offense; for the entire pandemic that was my goal. I didn’t want to play defense.” — Rachel
- “Know your numbers.” — Kris
- “Child care owners and leaders are special not only because they have incredible strength and drive, but also have giant hearts. And sometimes those giant hearts can get in the way!” — Rachel
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Rachel Supalla Instagram
Discovery Kidzone
John Maxwell
Tony Robbins
The Happiness Guide for Early Childhood Educators: Secrets to Living Your Best Life In and Out of the Classroom, by Brian Duprey and Kris Murray
Leadershift: The 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace, by John C. Maxwell
Free to Focus: A Total Productivity System to Achieve More by Doing Less, by Michael Hyatt
Association for Early Learning Leaders
NAEYC
What the Heck Is EOS?: A Complete Guide for Employees in Companies Running on EOS, by Gino Wickman and Tom Bouwer
This week Kris is joined by Chantel and Zack Pettengill; a husband-wife duo and owners of the Pettengill Academy in Maine. They placed second in our Child Care Rockstar 2020 contest and have managed to keep their center nearly full during the pandemic. They also talk about overcoming the pitfalls they’ve had from licensing, parents, social media, and more that almost shut their doors.
Key Takeaways:
[3:03] Kris shares some personal goals for 2021 and encourages you to set yours.
[10:15] Some of the things that set Pettengill Academy apart include being Certified Eco-Healthy (pre-COVID-19), fresh foods, an education background, and a natural-based playground.
[11:38] Chantel has been working in daycare for 20 years; starting with 10 kids in a basement to a 10,000 sq. foot facility with 144 capacity.
[16:26] Fun fact about Chantel: She has a black belt in karate! Fun fact about Zack: He met Chantel in karate class.
[19:04] Chantel talks about some initial problems she had with staff, parents, grandparents, licensing, turnover, and even child injuries reported, and what they learned from them.
[24:14] In 2018 they started to turn things around when they developed a relationship with a new licensor and they met with Coach Brian.
[25:13] Chantel and Zack share the way their systems and mindsets changed after meeting with the Child Care Success Academy and specific rewards they use for staff in their center.
[30:47] Zack uses meditation, planners, and books to improve mindset.
[34:48] So many of us have faced depression and difficult times during the pandemic; Kris talks with Chantel and Zack about the importance of community.
[36:54] The biggest tips Chantel has for Marketing Enrollment are always paying attention to it, always advertising, and consistently following up. Personality is a big one as well as personalization, extra effort, and paying attention to the details.
[44:28] A Child Care Rockstar to them means someone with perseverance, who can create a positive growth mindset in a tenacious and enthusiastic way.
Quotes:
-
“Let’s look at our lives and figure out what we really, really want because this is not a dress rehearsal and I want you to not be stuck in your life.”
-
“It can be super fun but also super challenging to work with family.”
-
“Keep working on it, keep going, don’t give up.”
-
“Tenacity is what has carried us through; being able to not give up and not give in.”
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Pettengill Academy
Straight Up: Honest, Unfiltered, As-Real-As-I-Can-Put-It Advice for Life’s Biggest Challenges, by Trent Shelton
Raise the Bar: An Action-Based Method for Maximum Customer Reactions, by Jon Taffer
In this episode, Kris is joined by the mother-daughter team and owners of Kids In Action, Heather Jensen and Diane Havens, located in Kingwood Texas. They share their stories of having a business survive two natural disasters, how they were able to still stay positive, and the importance of building strong relationships. Because of their strength and resilience, they were crowned this year’s winners of the Child Care Rockstar 2020 contest.
Key Takeaways:
[9:40] Diane started the center in 1998 and it has come a long way. Now, Heather and Diane are able to use their facility seven days a week through birthday parties, classes, and private rentals.
[15:00] Fun fact reveal: Diane is a washboard player, and Heather is a huge Harry Potter fan (and even has a Potter tattoo on her wrist!).
[17:35] Kids In Action was hit by two natural disasters. The first was a flood that scarily left children stranded on the second floor.
[19:45] The women immediately sprung into action looking for an alternate location for their center and were fortunate to lease a local church.
[22:55] The only thing more critical than flood insurance to Kids In Action’s survival was the relationships they had built over the years. After about four months of rebuilding, they were able to get the center back to full enrollment. A month after being open; a hurricane hit the center.
[27:06] Their relationships with the local schools and the Child Care Success Academy were a big element in feeling supported and getting back on track.
[28:30] They lost quite a few families after the second disaster and decided they had to flood-proof their building to reassure parents and staff. Giving up and closing the business was never an option for them.
[35:13] Their biggest goal was to keep paying the teachers and to maintain the culture they had built. They got a lot of ideas and support from the Child Care Success Academy Facebook group.
[38:02] Kris couldn’t be happier that Heather and Diane won the Child Care Rockstar contest. They are shining examples of leadership, getting back on your feet, and connecting with your community.
[42:45] One thing they would have done differently? Taken a business course. Thankfully, they learned a lot from the Child Care Success Academy.
Quotes:
- “Your relationships you develop along the way of the business are so critical.”
- “Sometimes enduring adversity together makes a team stronger.”
- “One of our core values is fun.”
- “That’s it. We’re going to be rockstars!”
- “We never once thought that we wouldn’t keep going.”
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Kids In Action
Move Your Bus: An Extraordinary New Approach to Accelerating Success in Work and Life, by Ron Clark
Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals, by Rachel Hollis
Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, by Simon Sinek
Child Care Millionaire: Secrets to Building a Profitable 7 or 8 Figure Child Care Business, by Brian Duprey
Patti Komara on YouTube
Child Care Rockstar returns this week for the first time since the Child Care Success Summit. Kris is joined by Jim Dew, CEO of Dew Wealth Management and creator of the Functional Wealth Management process. Jim has 23 years of experience building wealth management for entrepreneurs and has been featured in Inc., Entrepreneur, Huffington Post, and more. He is also a sought-after speaker and author of Beyond a Million. Jim shares a few of the valuable lessons he learned while working as a door-to-door salesman that still apply to running a business. Jim dives deeper into his Protect, Manage and Grow approach to managing wealth and Kris shares a deeply personal story about wealth protection in her own family.
Key Takeaways:
[:51] Kris reveals some highlights from the virtual Child Care Success Summit 2020 including meeting with one of her heroes; Simon Sinek.
[6:51] The daycare business is essential and continues to thrive despite the challenges presented during the pandemic.
[10:42] Jim and his wife, Mimi, help entrepreneurs like Kris that are generating more than $1M revenue to create virtual family offices.
[13:03] In between his time being a public-school math teacher and his current career, Jim was a door-to-door salesperson. From that experience, he learned the importance of knowing your numbers; a lesson that applies to all entrepreneurs.
[16:37] Jim’s approach focuses on three key outcomes; a compelling focus, wealth discovery, and an impeccable infrastructure. The three main areas he coordinates advice for his clients are Protect, Manage, and Grow.
[18:08] Jim discusses common pitfalls he sees from his entrepreneurs and how his wealth management approach, including outsourcing to the right professionals, helps combat them.
[25:08] The concept of the Family Wealth Office comes from observing billionaire strategy, but Jim adapts this structure for his entrepreneur clients and dives more thoroughly into his approach of Protect, Manage, and Grow.
[28:43] Kris used Dew to help her to launch an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) and talked about how it can be a game-changer for centers. Jim covers the key benefits of an ESOP and who it may be right for.
[33:17] In regard to the Grow aspect, the first thing Jim talks about is tax planning. Another piece is investing outside of and diversifying your business.
[36:23] Kris shares a deeply personal story about wealth management and protection in her own family that she encourages listeners to learn from, as well.
[38:41] Jim tells an anecdote about a compelling focus technique that he learned from his personal trainer as it relates to entrepreneurs.
Quotes:
- “We are essential. We are the true heroes. You guys are the unsung heroes.” — Kris
- “We are surviving and thriving.” — Kris
- “You have to know your numbers to really be good at what you do; whether you’re doing door-to-door sales or whether you’re running a multimillion-dollar childcare center.” — Jim
- “Professional mountain climbers get to the top by taking small steps, not big steps. Think about that lesson.” — Jim
- “Often there are all kinds of things that entrepreneurs are not doing that they could do.” — Jim
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — Watch Summit Highlights!
Grow Your Center
Dew Wealth Management
Make Rich Real Quiz
Beyond a Million: The Entrepreneur’s Playbook for Expanding Wealth, Freedom and Time
Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek’s TED Talk
Business Lunch Podcast
Genius Network Podcast
EO Fire Podcast
The Road Less Stupid
Love Yourself Like Your Life Depends On It
The Automatic Millionaire
This week, Kris is joined by Brian Duprey, Certified Child Care Coach and the Director of Business Development at The Child Care Success Company. He is a 20-year veteran who came to his first Child Care Success Summit in 2015 and became a coach in 2017. Last year, Brian wrote his first book, Child Care Millionaire, for early childhood business owners wanting to grow their business into a (multi) million-dollar company, and he also co-authored The Happiness Guide for Early Childhood Education with Kris. Kris and Brian discuss surviving COVID-19 as a child care center owner, money managing, marketing, expanding business, tour tips, escaping to Jamaica, and more.
Key Takeaways:
[6:55] Brian talks about how his five locations, Little Angels, are operating during COVID-19. From closures to lowered capacity, to utilizing funding programs; he is now operating at a higher occupancy than pre-pandemic.
[9:44] Brian shares his best tips for how his businesses survived the pandemic, including transparency with his employees, outreach to his competitors, donuts, and pizza.
[12:45] Why anyone interested in expanding their business needs to (virtually) attend Brian’s breakout workshop “Innovation Expansion Opportunities” at The Child Care Reimagined Success Summit and why he recommends people should strive to be salmon. Yes, salmon.
[14:33] Brian opened nine schools and has never borrowed from a bank; he owns four of his five buildings and he opened his first center with only $5,000.
[16:20] Having multiple schools gives you more flexibility and helps you leverage staffing, productivity, profits, and more. Five schools are much easier to run than one. The hardest school to open is #2 because people are so emotionally invested in their first school and don’t want to relinquish control.
[19:00] Buy in cash and quickly pay off debt so you, too, can spend half the year in Jamaica!
[20:42] Thanks to the strategies learned from the Child Care Success Summit, Brian has done more with his business in the last five years than in the 15 years prior to the summit.
[23:23] Brian talks about how a strategy session/coaching call works. Schedule your free call here!
[28:12] The three major “pain points” Brian finds when coaching clients are enrollment, staffing, and the daily overwhelm. He dives deeper into how he approaches overcoming these and why there are tips he only teaches on these phone calls.
[30:18] Treat tours like a sales call and other tour tips.
[35:26] Brian is most proud of the book he co-authored with Kris; The Happiness Guide for Early Childhood Educators. He values his educators and their happiness and wants to change the mindset to a place where they want to make a difference. Owners need to read this, too!
Quotes:
- “When you focus on helping other people, and not just yourself, you get helped in the process.” — Brian
- “Five schools are much easier to run than one.” — Brian
- “A tour is a sales call.” — Brian
- “The most important person in a team is the person watching the children.” — Brian
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Brian Duprey
Little Angels
Schedule a Coaching Call
Child Care Millionaire (Brian’s book on Amazon)
The Happiness Guide for Early Childhood Educators (Kris and Brian’s book on Amazon)
Kris couldn’t think of a better time to bring in the wonderful Dr. Nefertiti Poyner, to talk about resilience and the right protective factors that will serve us through the storms of life. In this episode, Dr. Poyner shares her unique insights for staying resilient in times of crisis and stress, how we can let go of toxic people and patterns in our lives, and advice for directors and leaders to get through the pandemic with a little more grace and sanity.
Key Takeaways:
[12:20] Dr. Poyner always wanted to be a teacher and had great role models in her family and throughout her own upbringing. She loved teaching but could have used the knowledge she knows now about socio-emotional health and why some children struggle with balance.
[14:30] The Devereux Center for Resilient Children provides assessments and reports for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. They also lead workshops and programs for helping adults learn how to fill their own cup, so they show up in the world with more empathy and compassion for others.
[27:16] There is strength in asking for help.
[29:13] Fun Fact: Dr. Poyner loves the Golden Girls and definitely would be a Sophia.
[30:21] Having empathy for your team doesn’t mean you always have to agree with them. It means you are walking in their shoes because you would want them to do the same.
[32:56] Teachers still have to prove all the time that they work hard and that their job and industry should be taken just as seriously as any other profession.
[36:44] Protective factors don’t make challenging times go away, but they do buffer our experience. Examples of protective factors include:
- The Umbrella — one or two close friends that protect us through the rainy days of life.
- A Sense of Internal Belief About Ourselves — when we like the person we see in the mirror, we are more resilient.
- Protective Self-Control — we can learn to be vulnerable about our emotional ups and downs, and see that others won’t judge us or think of us as weak.
Quotes:
- “If you do have to do virtual learning, keep it interesting.” — Nefertiti
- “Nobody can make you feel any way. You allow that to happen.” — Nefertiti
- “It takes a healthy village to raise a healthy child.” — Nefertiti
- “Give yourself permission to waste a little bit of time.” — Nefertiti
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Devereux Center for Resilient Children
Nataly Kogan
Gretchen Rubin
This week Kris is joined with Dave Vasen, founder and CEO of brightwheel, one of the leading parent management software platforms that features best-in-class parent communication. Dave shares his journey into developing and launching brightwheel and gives us an exclusive behind the scenes story of appearing on Shark Tank and striking a deal with Mark Cuban. Kris and Dave also talk about transparency in leadership, how providers can feel more confident in sharing their unique gifts, and how to obsessively focus on customers and clients.
Key Takeaways:
[9:28] Dave’s parents were immigrants from South America, and their emphasis on getting an education and building their career fueled a lot of his own focus and passion.
[13:19] Dave launched the initial version, called KidCasa, while he was a new parent with an infant at home. They got to know the users at a deep level, rebranded, and changed it to brightwheel for a launch on June 15.
[14:18] There are more than 25K users of brightwheel now, with most of the business coming from word of mouth.
[15:49] Fun fact: Dave would spend Fridays with 4th and 5th graders in challenging neighborhoods where he saw firsthand what an impact and change could happen when great education meets great software.
[20:22] Setting big goals means big opportunities.
[23:13] The big surprise for Dave on his Shark Tank appearance was how real and serious it was. It aired for 12 minutes, but it was condensed from a very intense and interesting 90 minutes. And yes, it was so secret that Dave couldn’t even tell his mother-in-law.
[27:23] Dave/brightwheel got a deal on Shark Tank with Mark Cuban and Chris Sacca, and is thoroughly impressed with how attentive and engaged the sharks and their business teams are.
[29:13] Brightwheel has measured that they have freed up one hour per person per day, which makes for more time to innovate and think about the big picture. They are also adapting to the new model for the pandemic by offering touchless options and identifying opportunities where technology can help.
[35:30] Two of the best features that brightwheel users appreciate are how easy it is to use, and the ways it helps them get digitally creative.
[39:24] People want you to be transparent, especially when it comes to the people they are trusting with their children.
[41:33] Instead of hiring based upon if someone has already done something, Dave finds identifying values and work ethic is just as important.
[44:09] Dave would describe a rockstar as someone that has empathy, pride, and is curious about how they could be of service.
Quotes:
- “The goals that you set in so many ways determine where you get to.”
- “Success means we are making each of our providers better in measurable ways.”
- “We were born out of hundreds of hours in the classroom.”
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
brightwheel
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:
- “Being real as an owner empowered my team.” — Tameenah
- “I had to relinquish power, control, and fear.” — Tameenah
- “The only way to be successful is to fight these fears, relinquish control to my team, and let them know when they make a mistake we will work through it together.”
— Tameenah
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
Early Learning Leaders
Happy Faces
Water Babies
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:
- Self Awareness. Daily check-ins and keeping tabs of how we are really doing.
- Biases — Uncovering our biases and working on what’s really driving our behavior.
- Scientific Knowledge
- Self Care
[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:
- “It’s never a child’s job to get calm for us, it’s our job to get calm for the child.” — Alyssa
- “When we are using these tools it’s not just going to affect how you show up with the tiny humans or at work, it affects how you show up in relationships with others because it affects how you show up with yourself.” — Alyssa
- “Good is good enough.” — Kris
- “Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful.” — Kris’s new magnet
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
Voices of Your Village
Seed and Sew
Implicit Association Test
Lori Goodrich
Dr. Willis
LatinX Parenting
Self Reg
Mind in the Making
Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
How to Be Anti-Racist
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:
- “People were looking for ways to connect in this crisis, and we were glad to provide them with an outlet, information, and skill set.” — Calvin
- “No matter what your budget is, you should not spend an inordinate amount for child care.” — Calvin
- “Let’s get every child care professional a CDA. It will allow us to have a base level of confidence in the ECE field.” — Calvin
- “I really believe the CDA catapulted me into life-long learning about child development that I might not have discovered otherwise.” — Calvin
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
The Culture Code
calvinm@cdacouncil.org
CDA Council
Men Do Stay
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:
- “Parents of young children need a lot of support and understanding. Not only do we do that with children, but also with parents.” — Sarah
- “Nothing makes a parent happier than to feel like someone is excited about their kid, and that is the way our teachers are.” — Sarah
- “I just want our teachers to love work and to absolutely love coming to work.” — Sarah
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
Kids’ Work
Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek Books
Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable, by Patrick Lencioni
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:
- “The kids were the definition of rockstars.” — Linda
- “I want to change the mindset of the general public on how they look at early childhood.” — Linda
- “High-quality early learning is interconnected with being able to have an economy with working parents.” — Kris
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
Magical Beginnings LLC
Your World-Class Assistant, by Michael Hyatt
The Power of a Positive Team: Proven Principles and Practices that Make Great Teams Great,
by Jon Gordon
Simon Sinek
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:
- “If it wasn’t for coaches and mastermind groups, I never would have come this far.”
— Kris - “I could still pause and take care of myself in a way I hadn’t been able to do before.”
— Pamela - “I knew that by teaching teachers, I could impact more children.” — Pamela
- “I’m only able to do today from what I learned yesterday.” — Pamela
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
HiMama
Core Advantage
Exploring Minds Academy
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:
- “People that did better had a grasp of the rule book.”
- “You want to understand the rule, not just understand previous actions.”
- “Visit day is test day.”
- “Parents know child care, but they don’t really know quality.”
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
The 5-Day Crush Your Fall Enrollment Challenge
KinderCare
1Place
Kids4Kids
EntreLeadership
The Magic (Secret), by Rhonda Byrne
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:
- “It’s about running your business, so your business doesn’t run you.”
- “You can’t show up for your business and really drive it forward as a leader if you are just fighting fires all day.”
- “It starts on getting a handle and commitment on where the time robbers are in your life.”
- “Cash flow is the oxygen that runs your business.”
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
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”
The 77 Best Strategies to Grow Your Early Childhood Program: Proven, Cutting-Edge Strategies Your Competitors Are Probably Not Using, by Kris Murray
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:
- “We can only give back to children what we have within ourselves.”
- “We all have the ability to be coaches for others.”
- “The definition of courage is when fear and love collide, and love wins.” — Jack Russell
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
Bruce Lipton
Brené Brown
Happy for No Reason
The Energy Codes
Conscious Leadership Group
Self-Sustaining Leadership
chanceforchangevt@gmail.com
Jody Marquis Facebook
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:
- “When you were talking about leads and funnels, this is my world!” — Alvin
- “I thought I would be leaving that world I love for the last seven years of my life, and now I’m able to do it in my own business, which is why it’s so thrilling for me.” — Alvin
- “With this crisis comes amazing innovation if you look for it and you implement it.” — Kris
- “When you empower them [your staff] to have their own skin in the game for their own leadership journey but you support them, it’s an amazing thing.” — Kris
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
Just 4 Kids Preschool
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:
- “Our main goal is to help get children and their families the skills they need when the world doesn’t go their way.”
- “I’m actually super excited for our industry and what’s ahead of us.”
- “We are going to take better care of the things that are most important to us moving forward, both personally and professionally.”
- “If you don’t adapt, you get left behind.”
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
Tym the Trainer
National Child Care Association
Dr. Becky Bailey
Frog Street
Texas Licensed Childcare Association
Madonna — “Truth or Dare”
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
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:
- This is a special happy-hour celebratory episode because your fearless leader Kris is newly engaged!
- Vernon is a consultant, trainer, and keynote speaker. He is loved for his authentic and inspiring way of delivering speeches, and always injects humor and a fresh perspective in his talks.
- In 2015, Vernon launched Directors Leadership Solutions to help directors on their path to success. He helps leaders with everything, including having difficult conversations, smoothing out clear communication, how to handle parent complaints, and developing a culture that stays loyal and engaged.
- You can’t shoulder the stress of keeping your school alive and vibrant on your own.
- Three pieces of financial advice to survive and thrive during this time: use your EDD wisely, take a good look at your payroll to see if it’s too high, don’t apologize or feel guilty for going up on your rates in the fall.
- Even if you don’t know exactly all the answers, parents appreciate the communication of just touching base to let them know what you are working on, and what is, at least, coming next.
- Your team needs to know how important enrollment is, and leaders can communicate that in a sensitive yet clear way.
- The better you treat your employees, the better they treat the children.
Quotes:
- “If you are tired of being a victim, take action.”
- “Without connection, there is suffering.” — Brene Brown
- “The fuller the program, the better the quality will be.”
- “Treat your employees as well as you want the kids treated.”
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
Directors Leadership Solutions
Vernon Mason, Jr
Bari Baumgardner
Palm Beach Preschool
vernondirectorsleadership@gmail.com
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:
- Communication. If you are the owner or director, communication with your parents is so essential right now.
- Decentralization of decision making/teacher empowerment and giving teachers more choices
- Creativity and Innovation. When we let teachers make decisions, cool things can happen like busy bags and car parades.
- More openness and adoption to screen time and technology in the classroom
- Focusing on not what just is expected in health and safety, but how to stand out and provide a quality environment
[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.
Quotes:
- “It’s your responsibility to look after your community, your employees, and your customers.”
- “Social impact is good for business.”
- “Even if you have no answers, it doesn’t matter. You still have to stay in touch.”
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
The Dream Manager
Simon Sinek
HiMama
The Preschool Podcast
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
Zappos
Hopes & Dreams
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams & Reaching Your Destiny, by Robin Sharma
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
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:
- “One of the coolest aspects of hosting is a show is that you have the opportunity to build real relationships with your heroes.”
- “The bad bosses or coaches were the ones who knew it all and had it all figured out. They knew all the answers.”
- “Part of leadership is showing up. Your presence is required.”
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
The Learning Leader Show
Welcome to Management: How to Grow From Top Performer to Excellent Leader, by Ryan Hawk
Miami University
Todd Wagner
John Maxwell
Admiral Lloyd Mustin
Stan McChrystal
Les Brown
Tony Robbins
Tim Ferriss
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
Simon Sinek
Dan Sullivan
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:
- “Our system is all about continuous improvement.”
- Quality in health and safety is going to be one of the key things that will differentiate your centers from other centers.”
- “Part of being a happy human is having work that fulfills you.”
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
Grow Your Center
Health and Safety Checklists
1Place
Lizard’s Tale
Ep 4: Evan Goldman
Martin Bing
The Lean Start-Up
The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right
Every Good Endeavor: Connecting Your Work to God's Work
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:
- “If you are not being proactive with your families and showing you love them, you are missing the boat.”
- “This is a time for goodwill, as well as a time for innovation.”
- “It’s amazing the things that early educators, that the general public does not know.”
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
Grow Your Center
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Child Care Authority
Child Care Exchange
SBA Loans
Trent Sheldon
Will Bowen
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Mis Amigos Spanish Immersion Preschool
Mis Amigos Facebook
Ep 34: “Giving Children the World with Dawn Uribe”
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:
-
- Start an online preschool free to existing parents or with a small fee to new parents.
-
- Take all the blog posts and content you have already written and pull them together to write a book.
-
- Work on the outdoor appearance of your school so that by the time we are back in session, it’s even more beautiful and landscaped!
- [35:43] Just some of the successful and innovative companies that were created in economic downtime include: Pinterest, Uber, Airbnb, Slack, Venmo, and Square.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit — offering $1 ticket
Grow Your Center
Treasury
Camp Gladiator
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Child Time, Inc.
Child Provider Law
Model Child Care Health Policies
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Child Time, Inc.
Small Wonders Discovery and Learning Center
The 77 Best Strategies to Grow Your Early Childhood Program: Proven, Cutting-Edge Strategies Your Competitors Are Probably Not Using, by Kris Murray
Grow Your 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
Perry Marshall
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Child Time, Inc.
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Palm Beach Preschool
Intellikids
ChildCare CRM
Conscious Discipline
Ep 1: “The Beauty of Persistence”
Dare To Lead, by Brené Brown
The E-Myth Revisited, by Michael E. Gerber
Church for Entrepreneurs Podcast
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Family First with Steve Lloyd
Get Out! But Before You Go...: Practical Steps to Turn Your Zero into a Hero or Set Them Free!by Vernon H. Mason Jr.
Built on Values: Creating an Enviable Culture that Outperforms the Competition, by Ann Rhoades
YouTube.com/danichristine
Academic Explorers
info@danichristine.com
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Magic Memories
@MagicMemories
The Slight Edge
Grow Your Center
Think and Grow Rich
Atomic Habits
EntreLeadership
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.
- Gather the facts so you can operate from fact rather than from speculation.
- No one should do it alone. Have others around to help.
- Be calm, clear, and confident as you move into communication. Effective communication is what makes the listener feel heard and understood.
- Open the lines of communication and make staff aware that they can funnel all questions to the appropriate contact.
- Remind staff to act in a way that reflects the mission of the center, and that they model good behavior.
- Leaders should lead with empathy, and learn to communicate in a tone that comes across and calm and deliberate.
- If a procedure did not go as it is intended to, the institution must take responsibility.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
The Jane Group
McDonald’s University
Jane@TheJaneGroup.biz
Sir Ken Robinson TED Talk
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
First Discovery Children’s Academy
EOS Worldwide
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
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:
- Creating training videos for staff so they could understand policies and procedures.
- Share events and accomplishments on Facebook.
- Reward the staff for their hard work and dedication.
Nina’s mindset shifted when she understood her value, worth, and what she brought to her community.
A true child care rockstar to Nina is someone that is always learning and growing and uses their power to also motivate and help others.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Lemon Tree Academy
LemonTree Academy on Facebook
Property Brothers | HGTV
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It,
by Michael E. Gerber
Traction: How Any Startup Can Achieve Explosive Customer Growth, by Gabriel Weinberg
and Justin Mares
Move Your Bus: An Extraordinary New Approach to Accelerating Success in Work and Life,by Ron Clark
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Bar Rescue
LeaRN Lily
Contact Judy: jcbradby@gmail.com
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:
- Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire.
- Decide exactly what you will offer for that money?
- Select a date to possess the money.
- Create a definite plan and implement it immediately.
- Summarize 1-4 into a clear written statement.
- Read this statement 2X daily out loud (once before you go to bed and once in the morning), and see/feel yourself already possessing the money.
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
The Genius Network Annual Conference
Les Brown
Ep #001: The Beauty of Persistence
Kids for Kids Academy
The Ron Clark Academy
Rockstar Stories — click on link to get the book for free
Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill
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:
- Never stop learning about the business and immersing yourself in the industry.
- A happy family and happy staff build the business and foster high retention.
- Be open to the outside-of-the-box ideas from all people on your team.
- Don’t resist growth and change or advice from others who have done it before you.
[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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Over the Rainbow
Ann Rhoades
ChildCare CRM
The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace: Empowering Organizations by Encouraging People, by Gary Chapman and Paul White
Child Care Millionaire: Secrets to Building a Profitable 7 or 8 Figure Child Care Business,
by Brian Duprey
StrengthsFinder
ProCare
KidReports
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Secure Education Consultants
Milestones Child Development Center
ChildCare CRM
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
jason.russell@secureed.com
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
National Accreditation Commission
Sinach — “I Know Who I Am”
The Circle Maker, by Mark Batterson
Les Brown
John Maxwell
Simon Sinek
Bright Start Early Care
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:
-
Mindset. Celebrate the wins, and share out loud about what’s going right in your business. Note your progress and write it down. Track your data and note improvement in numbers. Child Care Success Method members greatly sharpen their winning mindset. You also get to hear other people’s wins, and how they broke through a huge accomplishment in case it’s something you can implement yourself.
-
Full enrollment. When you have full enrollment, you are able to get out of survival mode and drive revenue back into the business.
-
Culture of Excellence. You gain freedom when you work with an incredible team of A-players that are all aligned with the values and vision of the company. This is where we also systematically automate the business so we are able to level up and the team is able to work on the business, not in it.
-
Building your Empire. This is the level of expansion, high-level freedom, and wealth planning. You work on building your empire long-term, and whatever type of legacy is important to you.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman
EOS Worldwide
Episode 30 – “Implementing the EOS Model with Heart — Stuart Robertson” | Nov 22, 2018
The Four Hour Workweek
Appletree Academy
The Teaching Tree
Leap2Learn
Episode 41 – “Creating a Culture Where Children Come First | Jennifer Vazquez” | April 25, 2019
Sunny Start Preschool
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
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
Springview Academy
VPK
Grow Your Center
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman
Florida Early Learning Coalitions
Brian Duprey
The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness, by Jeff Olson and John David Mann
Child Care Millionaire: Secrets to Building a Profitable 7 or 8 Figure Child Care Business, by Brian Duprey
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
pb&j TV
WatchMeGrow
Childcare Association of Louisiana
Kiddie Academy
Classroom Hero
Gary Vaynerchuk
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.
Mentioned in This Episode:
- Kris Murray
- The Child Care Success Company
- Child Care Success Academy
- Child Care Success Summit
- Glenn Morshower
- Glenn Morshower Facebook
- Dallas Theatre Center
- Kalita Humphreys Theatre
- Embracing Your Story with Les Brown
- budipity@aol.com
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:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Growing Kids
The E-Myth Revisited, by Michael E. Gerber
Childcare CRM
The Slight Edge, by Jeff Olson and John David Mann
Built on Values, by Ann Rhoades
Simon Sinek
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:
- Surround yourself both personally and professionally with OQPs (Only Quality People).
- Set aside time to center yourself and work on your mind.
- Don’t make other people’s problems your own.
- Give to yourself first, and once your cup overflows you can give to others.
- Laughter is truly the best medicine.
- Be intentional about your happiness.
- Get enough rest, and fill your day with high-quality content from what you read to what you listen to.
[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.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
The Child Care Success Company
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Les Brown
Les Brown You Got to Be Hungry Tour
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.
- Mentioned in This Episode:
- Kris Murray
- The Child Care Success Company
- Child Care Success Academy
- Child Care Success Summit
- Janet Lansbury
- Ohio Voices for Learning
- Kent State
- Designs for Living and Learning: Transforming Early Childhood Environments, by Deb Curtis
and Margie Carter - TLC Academy
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:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Brighton Montessori
Tony Robbins Cold Plunge
The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness, by Jeff Olson
and John David Mann
Rachel Hollis
Built on Values: Creating an Enviable Culture that Outperforms the Competition, by Ann Rhoades with Nancy Shepherdson
Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead,
by Brené Brown
Doing Today Podcast
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:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
HiMama.com/benchmark
Dr. Moine
Michael Gerber
Eric Lofholm
Eric Lofholm LinkedIn
Jennifer Vazquez, Owner of A Sunny Start Preschool, joins the show today. She talks about the culture of caring, how she sets herself apart from the competition in her three full locations in the Miami area, attracting great employees, and marketing techniques that have made the biggest changes in her enrollment growth.
Key Takeaways:
[3:41] A Sunny Start Preschool has three locations in Florida, with all three schools being full at capacity. Jennifer prides her entire team on offering a great experience that focuses on the child first.
[7:46] Jennifer looks to hire great people and offers them further training, education, and support to grow both professionally and personally.
[12:21] A Sunny Start stays top-of-mind with existing and potential clients through social media posts and monthly newsletters.
[18:33] It is extremely valuable to have someone solely focused on maintaining great quality social media and SEO within the school. They can help administrative staff stay focused while making sure communication is consistent and engaging.
[19:44] A child care leader must have a belief in the quality of their school and not be afraid to market, hire and increase rates appropriately without fear.
[28:16] Jennifer was in the mortgage and investment industry prior to child care and learned about owning a preschool through a friend in her professional network. When the real estate market crashed she lost almost everything and knew she needed to make a change in order to provide for her family.
[31:47] Jennifer’s advice for business owners that want to grow and expand: don’t give up, keep a positive mindset, and stay focused on your goals. The success story of A Sunny Start’s three locations didn’t happen overnight, and much of the success was due to the great experience of the families plus the consistent marketing and outreach.
[41:54] Learning to understand people and see failure as an opportunity is a large part of having a positive and winning mindset. We all have our weak moments but we grow and succeed when we move forward and focus on the importance of relationships and open dialogue.
[43:54] Jennifer defines a Child Care Rockstar as “anyone that has a passion for molding a child and impacting their life.”
[47:32] Jennifer’s words of wisdom from her experience:
- Do your own research.
- Join a group of others that have done before what you are trying to do.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
HiMama.com/benchmark
A Sunny Start Preschool
Born to Learn Preschool
The Secret
Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill
Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life: Living the Wisdom of the Tao, by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
The Power of Intention, by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, by Simon Sinek
Jenny@sunnystartpreschool.com
Troy Howard, with the customer reviews and referrals system SoTellUs, joins the show to talk about his passion for combining technology and marketing and how it led him to become an entrepreneur and industry disruptor in the online review space. He and Kris talk about creating social proof, why reviews are so important to us in marketing, reviews and referrals, how to handle negative reviews, and the most powerful elements inside a review.
Key Takeaways:
[12:25] SoTellUs started as a website design company and then became more of an online ad agency. In 2009, they decided they wanted to make a shift in the business and differentiate themselves from the rest of the agencies. They started developing their own software that they would sell to customers, and the rest is history.
[14:56] SoTellUs serves a vast number of industries, with child care being one of the largest.
[17:09] For three years, Troy was a commercial airline pilot and flew a $50 million jet for three different companies.
[19:14] Social proof is defined by how we make decisions based on what others around us are doing and giving us proof that they are good decisions.
[20:35] 88% of consumers will believe a review as a though a friend has told them the information. Reviews are right behind referrals because we tend to fall into the group mindset of expecting the same outcome as those around it.
[22:32] You want the reviews to be as personal as possible and put a face to the words. You also want people to share an experience or story.
[27:14] There is an inherent distrust in testimonials because people know they could be made up directly from the owner or employees. Reviews with real people, pictures and videos create more trust.
[30:17] How to handle negative reviews:
-
- Try to be aware of problems before they become a negative review.
-
- Have a bunch of positive reviews already in place.
-
- Take a 24-hour cooling off period, and don’t respond from an emotional state. Approach it from the perspective of a potential client instead of being defensive.
- [34:35] Automation frees up time and energy and also helps keep the recency going. You want to have either an email marketing system or text message system that will constantly be reaching out asking for reviews. Also, in your email signatures, put a link for parents to click one link to leave a review.
- [36:43] You have a 20-30% chance of getting a review by text, and up to a 50-70% chance by asking the parent personally.
- [46:37] Troy brings up superstar Carla’s success story from the Palm Beach Pre-School.
- [49:04] Instead of talking about the facts, talk about the stories and the challenges that have been overcome.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
HiMama.com/benchmark
SoTellUs/Kris — 30free
Dr. Robert Cialdini
Bright Local
Marketing Secrets Podcast
Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It, by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz
Knowing what insurance policies to have and making sure your coverage is the highest quality is of the utmost importance for a child care business owner. Today, Kris talks with Samantha Phillips of Aleaf Insurance about the three top biggest insurance mistakes she sees in the child care field that are common or very concerning in insurance policies and how we can best address them. They also talk about what policies you should have — no matter the size of your school, case studies of actual child care owners changing their insurance to provide better coverage, and how to avoid situations that cause financial ruin and loss.
Key Takeaways:
[10:38] Samantha serves around 100 preschools nationwide while pursuing her passion at Aleaf, located in Frisco, Texas.
[14:08] Samantha worked her way up from receptionist and self-studied her way to become a branch manager. She was doing great at work but needed to take care of her physical health and spend more time with her family. She then got an opportunity to create a unit strictly dedicated to child care for Aleaf, and this gave her the work/life balance at a place that represented her values.
[16:02] The values important to Samantha that she gets to represent at Aleaf are transparency, punctuality, fairness, integrity, and friendship.
[22:26] One of the biggest mistakes that Samantha sees is folks not knowing what their business income limit for interruption is. She recommends an amount of up to 12 months of revenue plus expenses. Another mistake is owners paying parents out of pocket instead of using an accident medical policy.
[30:47] The foundational policies that Samantha recommends, regardless of school size are accident medical, business auto liability and a commercial package policy.
[34:29] Samantha gives an example from New Wonders Learning Center in New York where they increased certain policies and saved money overall.
[43:37] Three takeaways from Samantha:
-
- When it comes to insurance, quality over quantity.
-
- As a child care center, if you are charging premium prices for enrollment, why wouldn’t you apply that to the business insurance you get as well?
-
- If you are premium is not even, then you are most likely in surplus lines, which should really just be a backup and not your first choice.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
HiMama.com/benchmark
Camp Gladiator
Child Care Millionaire: Secrets to Building a Profitable 7 or 8 Figure Child Care Business,
by Brian Duprey
Early Childhood Investigations
samantha@aleaf.com
Aleaf Insurance
Michelle Smith-Lank has been in the Child Care Success Academy for several years and a true definition of a Child Care Rockstar. She talks about how she got into the field and came to open Kids World Learning Center and the lessons in growth, marketing, and expansion she has learned throughout her career.
Key Takeaways:
[1:32] When Michelle purchased Kids World originally, they were licensed for 69 children; now they are licensed for 156.
[5:25] Michelle had a strong business background in Scholastic items and as a college representative and brought that knowledge to opening her preschool.
[9:23] In this industry it is important to have a mentor. Find someone that supports your growth and helps you dream big and develop a road map to get there.
[10:17] Michelle is fully enrolled and looking at a building adjacent to her that will possibly take them into 200.
[13:38] Michelle builds in flexibility to adapt to the situation and the needs in the community.
[14:22] Kids World is part of the Early Learning and Literacy Grant and healthy grants to support fresh and organic food for the children. It is truly a family affair, as Michelle’s daughter, son, and mother are all involved in the school.
[17:02] Michelle was born in Germany and can’t be still too long before embarking on her next travel. Her family was in the military and it taught her to embrace different cultures so everyone can benefit.
[19:58] Michelle joined the State Association and found out about grants they wanted to apply to. She also is part of the Quality Rated System in Georgia and the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet. It is important to put yourself in a space where you find out grants that may be available to you.
[25:48] When she got back from the Summit in Orlando, Michelle was so inspired that she wrote down everything she and her team needed to implement (over 70!) and got to work on every single item.
[33:35] A clean environment helps with workflow and productivity.
[35:11] Michelle is all about #experiences this year. She works 1-2 days a week out of the center, and practices self-care to keep herself fresh and rejuvenated.
[38:44] Michelle found strong resources and support when joining up with Kris and the Child Care Success Academy, and it showed her just how much help other people can offer.
[44:20] Take action. You can learn the best material but unless you put it into action you won’t see the results that are possible.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Kids World Learning Center
Don’t Go!
Slight Edge
Simon Sinek
In this week’s episode, we flip the podcast and replay the conversation Kris recently had with Ron Spreeuwenburg from The Preschool Podcast. They discuss why marketing strategies are important for child care, the change in the landscape of how people should market, and the two main buckets to be sure your strategy is covering. Kris also discusses how to build trust and rapport with potential and existing parents, and why it’s okay to show the whole world how cool and innovative your work is.
Key Takeaways:
[1:22] The Preschool Podcast is brought to you by HiMama, a platform for learning from leading professionals in early childhood education.
[7:28] The North American Child Care Benchmark Study is here, and would love your help in providing a broader base to the sample size. The more data, the better.
[13:59] Any business needs to market so they can be found by the best clients and maximize their enrollment.
[15:34] Even at 90% enrolled, you are still leaving thousands of dollars on the table.
[16:30] The two buckets that Kris feels are important to cover in digital marketing are researching and social media.
[19:34] Visibility on Google is key to enrollment. When parents are googling “child care” or “daycare” in your location, it is important to be one of the top results.
[24:48] Schools should have a business page, and it is more about engagement now than likes. While targeted ads can be more direct, we should think of Facebook as a tool to bolster human engagement and connection. Pictures, videos, and comments are great ways to start a conversation and add texture to the community.
[30:58] The more real and human a business is on Facebook, the more it will build trust from Millennial parents.
[37:58] Many business owners just want to focus on their business and not dive into social media. That is fine, just make sure you have an expert such as Kris Murray’s team on board to make sure you have your bases covered.
[38:10] Don’t be shy about sharing all the great and exciting stuff you are doing on your website and social media!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
The Preschool Podcast
HiMama
Digital Marketing and Social Media Strategies for Child Care
HiMama/Benchmark
Ann Rhoades joins the show to discuss her extremely important and successful careers at Southwest Airlines and JetBlue, and shares more about the extraordinary service she and her team at People Ink provide for leaders looking to shape and define their culture. A highly sought-after speaker and author behind the book Built on Values, she provides inspiration and strategic direction for many companies around the world. Ann talks about why core values are integral to the success of the culture, how we define and determine a great culture, interviewing tips for hiring players aligned with the company value systems, and the qualities of good leadership.
Key Takeaways:
[2:48] Ann speaks about the development of her interest in working with people and leadership. She noticed the consistencies around organizations that were successful in creating a productive and accountable culture and sought to help others create and execute sustainable well-defined core values.
[6:48] Ann lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico and loves being in the mountain air. She loves to travel herself and is extremely excited to announce a new model to bring the cost of travel back to basics with values from the onset.
[11:36] We can determine if our culture is working by talking openly with our existing employees, looking at the data, turnover, and customer satisfaction.
[14:34] When building a culture from scratch, it’s imperative to get the right people in the room. We define the behaviors, and look at how the A players behave as a model for all to emulate.
[18:40] Values and language that a company chooses to align with may change over time due to growth and global expansion.
[20:55] Ann’s advice for interviewing is to ask more about past behaviors as they relate to values than about why someone wants to work for your particular company.
[27:53] If you are the CEO and leader, you have to be visible and engaged.
[31:08] One of Ann’s future goals is to learn more languages and immerse herself in other cultures.
[32:08] Ann defines a leadership rockstar as someone that leads by example and is very confident but not arrogant.
[33:52] Ann wrote her book Built on Values as a prescriptive to help people understand the science and methodology of building a culture. This is a great resource for smaller companies who also may not be able to afford someone to come in and has practical action items that make a measured difference.
[39:52] Core value shout outs are great for highlighting employees that live and breathe a particular value.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Built on Values: Creating an Enviable Culture that Outperforms the Competition, by Ann Rhoades and Nancy Shepherdson
Ann Rhoades
Peopleink
21 Lessons for the 21st Century, by Yuval Noah Harari
Beating the Midas Curse, by Perry L. Cochell and Rodney C. Zeeb
Jennifer Slavin is the Vice President of Operations at Magic Memories Child Development Centers. She has been working with children and entrepreneurial since she started her own business at age 11, “Best Babysitter.” Today, she discusses her path from starting as Director to growing with the company in the now three locations. She and Kris talk about the importance of having a director that holds everything together like glue, hiring based on core values, how her strategy of onboarding evolved, and how they have developed their culture. Jennifer leads with positivity and connection and shares how she manages conflict resolution and tips on how to have hard conversations.
Key Takeaways:
[3:42] Even at a young age Jennifer loved combining her business talents and desire to work with children. When she was 11 she started her first business, “Best Babysitter.”
[5:07] Jennifer is the high-level glue that holds it all together at Magic Memories. The key parts of her day include working on essential pieces of the operational side. She works directly with the Directors and Assistant Directors to make sure they are meeting their mark and sticking to their set standards.
[8:04] Jennifer has a dedicated and loving family, all which help her in the work/life balance. As of this fall, her kids are enrolled in the Magic Memories Center.
[12:33] They take a thoughtful approach to hiring at Magic Memories. They ask questions based on core values, look for how a candidate engages with other teachers, and take their time rather than hiring in a rapid-fire or desperate manner. They also hire within and keep A-list candidates always at the forefront of possible recruits.
[21:44] Jennifer and her team at Magic Memories are always evolving the onboarding process. Currently, it is a 3-5 day training process that manages consistency and leads to the ultimate level of customer service for both parents and kids.
[28:20] Jennifer leads with empathy and humility and it is apparent in the way she hands conflict resolution. She first looks to get to the root of the problem and connect heart-to-heart. She also encourages herself and others to cool down and get a handle on their own emotions to bring clarity and calm into the situation. She helps others remove their own blinders and shows her staff that to err is human but good learning lessons come out of the process.
[33:57] Great cultures have a team that supports one another on the good days, and the not-so-good. [37:32] Jennifer describes a Rock Star as someone that finds joy in everything they do.
[43:42] Find people that inspire you to mentor and coach you.
[46:49] When you have fun with your culture and provide rewards and shout-outs, it creates a fabric of trust woven deep within the company.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Episode 32 – “Margins, Culture, and Servant Leadership with Tony D’Agostino” Dec 20, 2018
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, by Patrick Lencioni
How To Talk So Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7,
by Joanna Faber and Julie King
DiscoverEd Consulting
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman
Magic Memories
Dawn Uribe, the owner of Mis Amigos Spanish Immersion Preschool, joins Kris today to talk about her vast expansion mode and how she came to the vision of owning a Spanish immersion school. Dawn is a game changer in her marketplace and she has some great golden nuggets on how to drive your vision forward with a system for freedom, why it’s necessary to schedule in time to focus on goals, how to finance your expansion, delegate to your team, and break through fear. She also discusses challenges that are unique to her situation and gives some practical tips for owning your inner rockstar.
Key Takeaways:
[2:56] While much of the Child Care Success Team is remote, Kris recommends using Slack and Zoom as communication platforms.
[8:31] Dawn purchased the first Mis Amigos in 2005. At the time she wanted a way for her son to learn Spanish and ended up developing a passion for both business and leadership. It has grown into two locations — one in Hopkins with seven rooms and a capacity of 92, and another in St. Paul with a location of their own and a capacity of 85. There are also new locations on the horizon, as Dawn and her team are certainly in growth mode.
[16:21] Donna has two boys, ages 19 and 16 and her husband Gary helps out in numerous ways.
[18:03] Fun fact: singing is a lifelong passion of Dawn’s, and she has been at it since she was 2.
[20:07] Dawn had a strong interest in teaching herself and her children more about the world and different cultures. There are a host of benefits that come with children learning new languages — research has shown it sparks an interest in lifelong learning and a wider world perspective.
[25:46] Communication is a challenge for any early child care business, but Dawn has even more to work with. While the majority of her staff are from a different country, and the fact that they hold staff meetings in Spanish, she is always focused on communication between both between management staff and teachers, and also between parents and teachers.
[31:39] While Dawn is in fast expansion mode, she also stays open to opportunities that come up along the way.
[37:32] There is much to be gained from community involvement, and developing a strong network.
[45:28] Trust, but verify. It is important to empower and delegate your team and to give them the freedom to handle situations with them trusting that you are there as a coach and mentor if needed.
[48:35] Dawn defines a rockstar as someone improving the industry with professionalism.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Mis Amigos
“How Great Leaders Inspire Action”
This week, Kris shares a tried and true roadmap for exactly how she sets and achieves goals. If you are looking to make 2019 the best year yet, listen in, as you will get concrete examples to apply to your personal and professional life. Kris gives great insight on how to get traction towards actually accomplishing your goals, the importance of a tribe, and ways to stay accountable once things are in motion.
Key Takeaways:
[2:12] Thank you for all your support in this podcast in 2018; we are growing big in 2019! We are the top podcast in the business of child care, and it’s because of your support and sharing. This year was fantastic for the Child Care Success Academy. We grew by 45%, and are now strong with 140 motivated and successful members.
[5:55] Many of us have weight loss and fitness goals but fail to stick with them or we have no clue where to begin. One way to build in accountability is to join a tribe or mastermind with a community that will support you and help you keep on track. For Kris, 2019 is going to be about fitness, both physically and financially.
[14:20] Acti0n Item: Write out five to six goals you want to achieve that are specific, time-bound, measurable, attainable, and somewhat realistic.
[17:53] What are you leaving behind in 2019 that doesn’t serve your highest calling? Negative self-talk, mindset patterns, toxic relationships — all can be left behind in the new year to make a path toward moving forward.
[19:38] By Jan 15, 75% of people abandon their resolutions. Writing down your dreams and resolutions is the difference between people making progress in their lives, and those sitting idly on the sidelines.
[28:13] A simple piece of paper with three columns: Goal, Why/Motivation, and Progress is an inexpensive and efficient way to begin.
[29:10] When we read the statement as though it happens, our brain tells our body that this is possible.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
The Dream Manager, by Matthew Kelly
Do you have people that show up inspired by your vision? Questions to ask yourself as you build a business and a legacy that stands for excellence in the field. Kris welcomes the Director of Marketing and Child Care Extraordinaire Sindye Alexander, who started out as a client and then grew her center in Michigan from the beginning of doing home daycare. They talk about how Sindye started the business as a way to earn income while spending time with her kids, the impact culture has on both its own business and the community around it, and a peek into her brand new book Relationship Roadmap, chock full of strategies on how to create a culture of excellence.
Key Takeaways:
[4:53] The holiday season can be one of joy and merriment, but it can also be a struggle. Kris reminds us that we aren’t alone, and on the Child Care Success website, you can find ways not only to grow your business but also to work on your mindset and live a happier life.
[8:28] Sindye started in child care after having her first daughter and seeing how much she was making a difference in the families around her. She combined her business savvy and high-value childcare skills into making a full-blown new career for herself and it wasn’t long before she was full and turning clients away. She then opened a small center which filled up and moved up to a larger center licensed with a capacity of 120.
[12:25] Sindye loves her job as the Director of Marketing and sees it an opportunity to impact and touch as many lives as possible.
[14:52] Sindye shares the most heartwarming and adorable (sorry Sindye’s husband!) story about how a school dance in 1988 led to them being each other’s soul mates for life.
[19:54] Culture affects everything from the turnover of staff and employee hiring and retention to corporate engagement. Sindye explains how quality care in our teachers affects emotional aspects, financial opportunities, and even a child’s brain development.
[24:13] If you have a positive and caring culture in your childcare environment, your team will be helpful and positive. They will be solution based, and excited to contribute because of a mutual trust and respect.
[26:48] It takes time to develop a collaborative culture but there are some steps to begin right away. Sindye’s answer might not be super popular or easy to hear — the culture reflects the leadership. Also, no matter what level of status an employee has, they could always actively strive to communicate in an approachable and positive way.
[30:02] It is important for leaders to be aware of how they communicate with their team, their mindset, and how they manage stress effectively.
[36:36] While the staff will probably eat all the donuts you get them, Sindye shares that real inspiration comes providing structure and a strong foundation. Appreciation and connection are two huge things that cost no money but make a big difference.
[47:38] Sindye recommends finding a financial advisor to help you, no matter where you are in your journey.
[53:08] Sindye defines a child care rockstar as someone that works to positively impact the early years, and in turn, makes a lifelong difference.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Patrick M. Lencioni
Relationship Roadmap: Real-World Strategies for Building a Positive, Collaborative Culture in Your Preschool, by Sindye Alexander
Child Care Millionaire: Secrets to Building a Profitable 7 or 8 Figure Child Care Business, by Brian Duprey
Stuart Robinson is a brilliant yet heart-centered entrepreneur and business coach. Today, Stuart talks with Kris about forming his tech company at the age of 27, selling it in 2015 and his new path as an EOS Professional Implementer. He first had experience with EOS as a business owner before he made it his full-time passion. They talk about the EOS model and why it makes businesses more scalable, profitable and effective, the Six Components, case studies of clients he has helped and ideas for business owners to effectively solve critical issues.
Key Takeaways:
[1:44] EOS stands for Entrepreneurial Operating System.
[3:44] Stuart got into this business as a result of the success he had implementing the EOS at his own company, and experienced how life-changing it was for him and those around him. He found it through a leadership peer group and discovered that helping others was really his passion.
[5:41] Stuart grew up in Colorado, and now lives in Boulder. He loves the outdoors and all the experiences Colorado has to offer.
[9:30] Gino Wickman founded EOS based on the discovery that when strengthening six key components, many of the day-to-day issues that pop up are resolved. The EOS model is a framework and a way to see your business at its very root.
[10:11] The Six Key Components of EOS covered in Traction:
-
The Vision Component — making sure you are clear on where you want to take your business and how you want to get there.
-
The People Component — the right people in your organization that share the vision and can help you execute daily upon that vision.
-
The Data Component — running the business on numbers and true data, rather than egos or opinions.
-
The Issues Component — getting issues from every level out on paper and making sure you are working towards a real solution.
-
The Process Component — this is the component that is most neglected, but is extremely important to focus on. Knowing what exactly makes their business unique, the process behind how it runs, and what value each sector brings to the whole.
-
The Traction Component — creating a laser focus on the important initiatives (“rocks”) as a company and proper execution of the vision.
[14:39] The components are tied together in a meeting pulse, to make sure everyone is spending their time wisely and effectively in meetings.
[16:01] EOS Implementation has become a global initiative, and Stuart says there are about 200 implementers around the world currently.
[19:11] In the EOS process, everyone in the organization has a number and a scorecard. The 1, 2, or 3 measurables (KPI’s) are what is expected of that individual on a weekly basis to keep track of measurable goals.
[23:42] The first day Stuart meets with a client is called their “focus day.” This is where they implement all the foundational tools into their business and get everyone on the same page of the vision.
[26:08] IDS stands for Identify, Discuss, and Solve. This helps to uncover the root cause of an issue, so it can be solved for good instead of just putting a band-aid over the symptoms.
[32:55] If he could do it all over again, Stuart would have looked for help and support from others earlier in his journey.
- Mentioned in This Episode:
- Kris Murray
- Child Care Marketing Solutions
- Child Care Success Academy
- Child Care Success Summit
- Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman
- Focus: The Future Of Your Company Depends on It, by Al Ries
- Next Level Traction
- EOS Worldwide
- Organizational Checkup
- The Dream Manager, by Matthew Kelly
- The Tim Ferriss Show
Arike Aiyetigbo, Founder and Director of Fountain Montessori Preschool, joins the show from her office and home of the school in London, England. Originally, from Nigeria, Arike is a passionate educator whose mission is to grow her influence by partnering with like-minded parents. She shares her journey how she got into the business of nurseries as a mom herself and saw a gap in what she needed, how she has expanded and grown in the business over the past 11 years, and what she would do differently. Arike also speaks about her branding, the nursery and childcare market in the UK, and the shifts she has experienced as an owner to get her name out there in a bigger way.
Key Takeaways:
[2:05] When Arike herself was looking for a preschool for her daughter, she knew she needed somewhere that would run longer than the average two-and-a-half-to-three-hour day. She started to research the Montessori structure and mission and soon realized there was a gap in the market for the Montessori type of nursery. She embarked on attaining the proper education and set up in a church hall in 2007.
[3:19] Arike has two facilities, one in Colindale and the other in Edgware, with a combined enrollment of 126 students.
[4:46] Knowledge of and attendance at Montessori schools had a spike in London when the Prince of Wales enrolled his grandson in a Montessori school!
[8:03] Arike has recruited a team of highly-skilled staff, and they all take feedback from parents very seriously to learn and see what they could do even better.
[13:10] Simplifying and streamlining prices are key. Choosing fewer options and only keeping the logical ones has been a real eye-opener for Arike and her team.
[17:13] In the UK, childcare provided by the government starts at the age of two, and makes up only about 10% of the market share.
[24:01] Arike is looking to grow the business to at least five locations, and streamlining her team and process even more as she scales.
[27:51] Fun Fact! Arike loves traveling with her family, especially deep sea diving with her daughter. She does scuba diving and one of her favorite experiences was diving in Egypt.
[28:58] To Arike, a rockstar is someone who feels no mountain is too high and no valley is too deep. Their work serves not only themselves but those around them with generations in the future in mind.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Fountain Montessori Preschool
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman
The Secret of Happy Children: Why Children Behave the Way They Do — and What You Can Do to Help Them to be Optimistic, Loving, Capable and Happy, by Steve Biddulph
Clearly Outstanding: A practical guide to creating outstanding practice in Early Years Settings, by Becky Miller
Charlie Marcotty and Marcy Lee, co-owners of the First Circle Learning Center in Lexington, Mass, join the show today to discuss the key lessons they have learned from over 21 years in early childhood expertise. They bring the excitement, enthusiasm, and partnership in everything they do, and have gone from a school with artificial plants hanging from the ceiling to a school with full enrollment and a waitlist. Today, they talk about filling a gap of adding more education and administration to the child care aspect, how they divide and conquer in their partnership, and the action items and goals they prioritize the highest.
Key Takeaways:
[2:07] Charlie and Marcy first started working together at a non-profit and loved working together so much they wanted to explore other options that had both social impact and flexibility. A neighbor mentioned her child care center was for sale, and although they both thought it was a joke at first, they took it seriously and it opened up a whole new world.
[5:56] Their expertise was the administration end of things and it took them close to 10 years to feel their culture, materials, team, and structure in place.
[7:20] One learning lesson: network and look outside yourself for help while you are building a program. You never know where and when you may find support.
[10:40] Always have your eyes moving on the future, and the past to learn from your mistakes.
[12:40] Charlie and Marcy take pride in the great relationship with their staff and have made it through tough financial times through the support of their staff.
[17:17] Despite their different backgrounds, Charlie and Marcy have shared values and work ethic and their partnership is so strong they even have a celebrity name: Charcy.
[18:44] As an actress and improviser, Marcy can speak on the spot about difficult things and resolve emotional things. Charlie is always looking to see what needs to be done and keeps the business organized and on track.
[25:08] Charlie and Marcy share their journey into joining Child Care Success Academy and how finding a coach and support group helped them develop a tribe of like-minded and successful individuals.
[32:21] Their perspective is that where they are now is a stepping stone for more, and they are actively working on closing in locations for future space(s).
[36:08] Charlie’s and Marcy’s goals to make things done right, from the smallest detail to a large implementation, are expected of everyone on the team. They also have been prioritizing and effectively accomplishing their goals and turning thoughts and ideas into action.
[41:35] Growth takes time, especially for teachers. Charlie and Marcy find success when they implement changes at a slow and structured pace.
[43:29] A child care rockstar is someone who is making use of all the resources that are available. They are open and receptive to change and growth, and even the idea that they may not have all the answers.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
First Circle Learning Center
Shawn Stevenson
Simon Sinek
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful, By Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter Calm
Andrea Wortman is all about doing things from a non-traditional and slow but steady approach. She runs an after-school program in the Portland, Oregon area with 11 locations, and has worked with the school systems to forge a relationship where she is contracted to take space and run her after-school programs out of the schools.
We talk about a different model of how to do effective, fun and profitable early learning in an after-school program that doesn’t require you to buy any real estate. We also discuss the challenges that come with this model; how Andrea reduced her staff turnover and doubled her revenue and number of locations in the recent years.
Key Takeaways:
[6:29] Andrea’s school is the Club K After School Zone, a full after-school daycare service for families with 60 employees and over 500 kids served. She discusses how she fell into child care and education, and never saw herself as an owner and operator of a successful company. This fall, Club K will have 11 locations in three districts spread out in the metropolitan Portland area.
[12:05] Andrea enjoyed her job at working at a Montessori school, and that began her path of many years and energy spent in childcare.
[13:39] Andrea discusses the conveniences and challenges of her stand-alone program. They have anywhere from 30-60 kids in a gym or cafeteria, and everything must be portable, flexible (and cheerful) in case they need to be moved. There are responsibilities of the traditional model that Andrea and her team are free from, including no maintenance and bussing.
[17:44] They have added more Club K locations every year, and the process is different depending on the particular district.
[21:34] Andrea has a pretty natural fit for her marketing, as she has access to the kids that attend the school. They do have families that attend her program that do not attend the school, so at some point, they may be doing bussing programs.
[22:34] Andrea is figuring out how to serve lower socioeconomic communities better, including scholarships.
[25:01] Club K’s revenue has doubled since joining the Child Care Success Academy, and she is serving twice as many kids.
[27:15] It is imperative for the staff to roll with the older kids and keep one step ahead of them so they aren’t always standing in line waiting. Andrea ensures her staff is connected with the kids and ready to have fun with a sense of humor.
[28:09] Club K’s employees range from age 16-year-old high school student to adults in their early 70’s. The commonality is they all love kids and come together to provide a service for working families.
[31:52] Culture is very important at Club K. Andrea has built a team focused on solutions, with a bright and sunny optimistic attitude. They still have challenges, but they handle it with a team mentality with kind and thoughtful actions instead of ruminating on something out of their control. She has a leadership team that is in charge of social events and gives achievement points for additional pay.
[42:52] Learning how to speak up and confidently voice her opinion was one of the biggest shifts Andrea has made professionally over the past several years.
[45:13] To Andrea, a rock star is the whole package of someone that has fun, sees the humor in life, and gets their job done while encouraging their team.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Grow Your Center
The Ultimate Child Care Marketing Guide: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Success, by Kris Murray
Enrollment Bootcamp
Club K After School Zone
Club K After School Facebook
Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It…and Why the Rest Don’t, by Verne Harnish
A Complaint is a Gift: Using Customer Feedback as a Strategic Tool, by Janelle Barlow
and Claus Møller
The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness, by Jeff Olson
and John David Mann
Success for Teens: Real Teens Talk About Using the Slight Edge, by John Fleming
You may think of it as a dirty word, but really, it can be the key to peace of mind, freedom, and clarity in your business. It’s Math. Today, Kris will inspire you to get started tracking so you can live a lifestyle of abundance and make your teachers happier by giving them more benefits, which in turn equals happy kids and happy parents. She gives specific examples and real-world case studies of simple equations to put your money and time into the business where it’s most needed and gives the four categories of metrics. Enjoy the episode and we promise not to make you do any calculus.
Key Takeaways:
[2:25] Kris recaps some insights and inspirations from recent episodes. Past guests have shed an interesting light on taking risks, amazing video marketing techniques and how to survive and thrive after negative parent reviews. For the full episode list, click here.
[6:13] Math provides a proper measuring system and metric to help us focus on the right things in our business, rather than blindly throwing stuff at the wall without actually fixing the problem.
[9:29] In her book The Ultimate Child Care Marketing Guide, Kris lays out the four categories of metrics:
-
- Customer value and acquisition.
-
- Enrollment Funnel
-
- Marketing ROI
-
- Staff and Parent Retention
[10:40] Enrollment funnel metrics are based on lead flow and conversion. The first thing she does with clients is to help them set up the tools and structures for consistent tracking. From that, they look at the conversions compared to the leads and put the core concepts into place to restructure and get on track to higher enrollments.
[18:06] Kris gives a case study example of Gold Star member Nina using her math to take some extra funds and bonus her staff, set up some fun marketing to drive more enrollments and add value to the relationships of her existing parents.
- Mentioned in This Episode:
- Kris Murray
- Child Care Marketing Solutions
- Child Care Success Academy
- Child Care Success Summit
- Grow Your Center
- The Ultimate Child Care Marketing Guide
- Enrollment Bootcamp
- Child Care Success Summit Contest
Today’s guest is Josh Visser, a proponent of education and play within an active learning environment. Josh and Kris talk about his school, De Kinderen Huis, and its mission to provide growth through movement and play-based discovery. He also talks about his cool hobbies including his impressive Rubik’s Cube and school bus renovating skills, his process for getting inspired and inspiring his team around him, and how he saw and decided to pursue a child-care opportunity. Josh and his team have set themselves apart in the market and built a vibrant and abundant school with over 50 children enrolled in less than five months.
Key Takeaways:
[4:23] Kris will be the keynote speaker and host of a breakout workshop at the Georgia Child Care Association Fall Owners & Directors Conference on September 27.
[6:45] Josh shares his journey from a high school math teacher to a business owner. He came full circle a few months ago when he combined his experience in education and knowledge in sales and corporate business.
[8:35] Josh decided to go forth and embark on his business venture when witnessing the lack of child care in his area. He had the available space and declared that within one month he would open a child-care facility.
[11:35] Josh makes great use of his spare time and loves to stay busy. He also owns and runs a longtime DJ business, flips houses, and is currently converting a school bus into an RV with his children.
[16:22] It’s important to make connections with people both personally and professionally that have done before what you are wanting to do, so they can help guide you down the path.
[16:57] De Kinderen Huis is a wide-open 25,000-square-foot facility and 17,000 square feet of that is an indoor turf football field. They utilize this for their classroom centers so the children can be active and provides a way for him and his team to stand out in the community.
[19:57] Once Josh got his vision in place, it was time to build his team. It wasn’t all smooth sailing and luckily Josh had the right support and knowledge to make the right choices to overcome the challenges.
[24:30] Josh is matched with Coach Jennifer, who also was featured on the podcast in Ep #13. He has surrounded himself with others in growth mode and in turn, gives back what he learns to his team.
[27:01] Josh’s licensed capacity is 90. In just a few months they went from 8 to 45 kids. Acquiring them was a mix of word of mouth, personal connections, and marketing. Josh’s goal is to be at 80% capacity by the end of October, so stay tuned! Open houses, Facebook ads, and email marketing were all tactics that served them to meet and connect with community members who also may be potential families. Josh finds that he is able to target those in the community with a big pull, they will be the best and biggest advocates and can also provide valuable feedback.
[32:38] Kris and Josh talk pricing, and how even one dollar makes a difference when it comes to their pricing strategies.
[35:32] All of Josh’s business are an ode to his Dutch background, and Pella, Iowa is a Dutch community.
[39:40] There are no failures as long as you learn a lesson, have the right attitude, and communicate with your team and staff.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
WORK SMART, Not Hard!, by Jane Schulte
Kick Ass — Mel Robbins
Simply Brilliant: How Great Organizations Do Ordinary Things in Extraordinary Ways,
by William C. Taylor
De Kinderen Huis
@De Kinderen Huis
Joe and Lucy, owners and founders of Little Sprouts in Wisconsin, have an intentionality in everything they do, whether it’s their international flavor, their passion for staying mindful for eco-consciousness, or how they develop their team to show consistent leadership and cohesive culture. They talk with Kris today about working together successfully as a married couple, challenges they have faced and overcome as entrepreneurs, and what’s next on the horizon for their team.
Key Takeaways:
[3:31] Leading up to building their center, Joe and Lucy were putting in 18-hour days themselves making sure the foundation and structure were set in place.
[4:02] Joe and Lucy share their story of how they met, their long-distance relationship, and the decision to get married.
[7:50] Fun facts! Joe’s life became complete on the day that he swam with a group of sea turtles in Malaysia. Lucy has been surprising herself with some solid gardening skills.
[9:54] Joe and Lucy have always seen a slow and steady growth in their schools, which gives them ample space and time to re-adjust and strategize how to get things even better.
[13:04] Joe and Lucy’s purpose of building people up so they can serve others provides a solid reason for their “why.” From that, they developed a vision of exactly what their culture means to them and started integrating it into everything they did.
[17:09] Finding a balance between work and personal life is certainly tough but Joe and Lucy intentionally make it a priority to put their marriage first. They went on a marriage retreat a few months ago and found it very beneficial to unplug and spend quality time together. Trust in decision-making and clear boundaries are two critical components of any successful team, especially a married one.
[21:38] Joe enjoys building operations and procedures, while Lucy enjoys doing bookkeeping, tax, and payroll.
[25:20] Joining a Mastermind group has turned up the heat on Joe and Lucy’s confidence, passion, and belief in themselves. Supporting yourself with others helps you find resources you may never have thought possible, and brings solutions that would be tough to tackle on your own.
[27:23] The Four C’s that Kris learned from Dan Sullivan: Commitment, Courage, Capability, and Confidence. Rinse and repeat!
[28:43] Balancing the big-picture vision with the day-to-day details is a very common challenge, and one Joe and Lucy work on daily. Communication is key; strategic planning and finding a great coach or mentor are all ways to stay on track.
[33:09] Joe and Lucy define a rockstar as someone that pushes ahead with the trials we are faced with while making a difference for the better.
- Mentioned in This Episode:
- Kris Murray
- Child Care Marketing Solutions
- Child Care Success Academy
- Child Care Success Summit
- Little Sprouts Academy
- Dan Sullivan’s Four C’s
- The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It,
by Michael E. Gerber - The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines Into Massive Success, by Jeff Olson
Lucy Cook, Co-Owner of Amaze Education Group, calls in from Australia as the special first international Child Care Rockstar Radio guest. Lucy talks about how she stays sane in running and growing her business to nine locations, the creative way her team communicates with the families, what her corporate office looks like, and the importance of a rock star team and a strong staff culture to keep you going. Lucy is also an expert in outdoor education, and how to stay connected with your staff and clients as you scale.
Key Takeaways:
[8:10] Lucy was a Physical Education and Science Teacher, and while working her way up as a decision-maker and school board member, she found a preschool and took on the lease. After spending some time running that school, she realized that children needed a place to run around and spend time in nature vs. sitting idly at a desk.
[11:27] Lucy speaks about her life and home and how she manages her four boys as a single (and eligible) working and busy mom.
[13:42] Fun fact — Lucy has the license to drive a truck or 22 seat bus!
[16:07] Lucy’s school has grown to four preschool locations and five outdoor locations. Her vision originally was to have great connections with families and grow children in a way that sets them up for success in primary school and their continuing education.
[19:22] How does one keep the personal touch within a school when scaling up and adding locations? First, it’s important to remain connected to your staff and families and maintain consistency when creating the culture. Staff desires to be validated for their hard work, and families want to interface with the school leaders. Even upon hiring, the staff is aware of the company culture and philosophy.
[22:37] Lucy expects her Facebook admins to post photos, videos, and social media engagement at least once a week. Even though Lucy has multiple locations, she keeps her social media aligned with one brand. She also uses several different ways to contact her families and potential clients including Child Care CRM, texts, email, and phone calls.
[31:04] Lucy walks us through the administrative side of Amaze and how they are set up for scaling and growth. Fun fact: there is an even a Mel B and Mel C in her team, leading to being aptly nicknamed the “Spice Girls.” She makes sure there are backup and support for managing staff and found it reassuring to find such an amazing group of people.
[35:02] After periods of growth you need a period of stability to make sure all systems are in working order and that the goals and “why” are in focus and streamlined.
[41:02] Lucy looks back on the year that she lost 17 families at her school, and realizes that she can get through pretty much anything. She also faced a recent challenge head-on in the form of needing to part with a long time employee that had previously been a large part of her journey.
[45:05] No matter where you live, you can learn from Lucy’s passion and innovation of outdoor education. Your Outdoor Childcare focuses on the Bush Kindy philosophy of forest schools in Scandinavian and the importance of taking children outdoors.
[47:46] A real rockstar to Lucy is someone that thinks bigger than just themselves and is open to changing the status quo to make a real difference in the life of kids.
Quotes:
- “You need a rock star team if you are going to grow.”
- “Parenting is hard work, and I can empathize and relate to all the families we serve.”
- “We are shaping little people’s futures, and I never take that lightly.”
- “I wanted to be personal, and part a family, so Amaze Education was born.”
- “It takes a village to grow a child, and to support a family.”
- “You can never over communicate.”
- “You can always see when a child is learning, you never have to ask.”
- “Surround yourself with amazing people.”
- “Being able to recognize opportunities is a skill, but so is turning things down.”
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Child Care Success Summit
Carbondale Wild West Radio
AMAZE
KindyHub
Amaze Kids Conference and Event Care
Your Outdoor Child Care
@AmazeEducation
The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results, by Gary Keller
and Jay Papasan
Childcare Design Facebook Page
Under The Tuscan Sun
The Power of One: A Novel, by Bryce Courtenay
In today’s episode, Digital Marketing Expert and real-life Rocket Scientist Bruce Spurr joins Kris for a talk on how to win the digital marketing game using Facebook ads, Google Maps, and Google Search. They touch upon how to get your school to stand out, even above the “big boys” of advertising, ways to leverage your ad no matter how small your budget, what consists of a great ad, and how to use digital marketing to keep your enrollment high or fill the empty spaces.
He and Kris reminisce of the olden days before social media, and ways that they have learned to adapt and work together in the current landscape to help child care owners overcome their challenges in the field. Strap in, and get ready to launch into the digital marketing stratosphere!
Key Takeaways:
[4:22] Special announcement! The Child Care Success Summit announces their celebrity speaker, Les Brown. Les is one of the world’s top motivational speakers, and he himself has a tie in the child care market, so this is one experience not to miss. They are almost at 80% full, so be sure to get the tickets while they last, using promo code: ROCKSTAR to get a $100 discount off the full price.
[7:31] Bruce and Kris met while at the Frank Kern Mastermind Group.
[8:52] Fun Fact: Bruce has some Lebanese ties in his family, and traveling with his wife is one of his favorite parts of the way he has set up his life. He calls into today’s episode from Beirut, Lebanon and gives us an update on the current political climate and perspective there.
[10:52] Bruce shares how he went from a physical labor job as a construction worker, to entrepreneur building e-commerce sites, then marketing and advertising. He has a Degree in Physics and Engineering and is a rocket scientist by education.
[11:40] He was at the Web 2.0 Conference when Twitter was launched, and one of the first thousand people to open up a Twitter account.
[15:42] All the owners Bruce has had the chance to meet are kind and loving people, driven by a purpose to help. They are in it for the passion of making a difference in the lives of children and leaving a legacy, but often are run by their business, instead of running their business. When Kris and Bruce work with the owner together, they win the battle of hiring in a tight labor market and the battle of filling up the school in a competitive community.
[21:54] Bruce explains why people need to do Facebook ads, and how it’s important for people both just indirectly scrolling and also searching in a focused manner for child care centers geographically close to them.
[25:54] SEO used to be about getting listed on a page, now it’s about getting listed in Places and Maps. Google is smart and figured out the search algorithm on a specific school in general, and organic articles and information on how to pick a school in general. It is a huge game changer and Kris and Bruce have even seen people triple their results once they get the Google Maps piece of the puzzle figured out.
[30:00] When Bruce works with clients to determine the lifetime value of the customer, it is clear spending the initial marketing money to attract them is a drop in the bucket to secure them long-term.
[33:40] The “Insights” tab on Facebook is a magical place, where you can look for your most popular posts, what gets the highest engagement (aka hunting for unicorns) and what gets the normal or not so big response (the donkey). Bruce explains how to drill down to hit your target market in a Boosted Post and why you may want to use Targeted Ads for an even more specific reach.
[38:28] Even just $5-$10 can be a great budget to start Boosting and Re-Boosting your post. When something works, keep doing the same.
[40:41] Bruce explains the difference between the two different types of ads. For an ad that is simple and straightforward with an offer or incentive for enrollment, they call it a “tuition credit” instead of a discount.
[47:59] The biggest challenge Bruce has had is focusing on one thing and not getting too distracted by opportunity.
[53:59] Your school’s success depends on getting yourself in the digital marketing game. It is a fun journey to play around and see what part of it you like best, whether it’s creating videos, managing the back end of ads or posting photos and captions.
[56:05] Invest in some tools such as a selfie stick and mic to enhance the quality of your videos and audio.
- Mentioned in This Episode:
- Kris Murray
- Child Care Marketing Solutions
- Child Care Success Academy
- Child Care Success Summit
- Les Brown
- Frank Kern
- Google Maps
- Google Business
- Preschool Podcast
Don Alley is the owner of Center Stage Preschool in Ashburn, VA, and is an example of the results that unfold when you focus and dream big. Don has 30 years of experience in martial arts and has been running his three karate schools successfully for the last twenty years. He built his preschool from scratch in 2016 and quickly filled his location. He joins Kris for a great chat including ways to use playfulness and personality to stand out of the crowd and set yourself apart with high-level marketing assets, expert tips on how to delegate successfully, his future plans of expansion and growth within his schools, and how he manages running multiple brands.
This episode is chock full of action items you can use to shift your business right away, so be sure to take some notes of what changes you can begin to implement immediately.
Key Takeaways:
[2:40] Fun Fact: A Facebook ad with video usually outperforms a regular post with just a photo by double the amount. A professionally edited video is great, but even just a homemade one from your phone still does the trick.
[3:29] Don is our newest Platinum Plus member in the Child Care Success Academy.
[4:35] As a special thank you, Kris will be choosing comments left on the podcast page, blog or iTunes and mentioning them on this show! If you want your school to be mentioned, be sure to write it in the comment. You can check out the podcast page on the website here. And, just for listening to this episode, you can save $100 off when you use the code “rockstar” for the Child Care Success Summit.
[7:41] Don merged his passion for karate, child care, and theater to create a place for children to experience a unique and challenging curriculum.
[11:28] Don married his elementary school crush after he randomly bumped into her years later, and had the courage to ask her out.
[12:58] Pick up the pen and journal. It’s therapeutic, and even just writing one page a day is a great way to get the flow moving. Don cites the book The Artist’s Way as a great way to get started.
[16:52] Don leverages both of his businesses, and uses the customer base and geographic proximity as supportive tools for recommending the other.
[19:14] To have ten locations by the end of 2020 is Don’s goal for the next several years. He also loves helping people figure out their “aha” moments, so consulting and some business-to-business endeavors may be on the horizon as well.
[25:57] Don may be the owner of Center Stage, but he thinks of himself and his business assistant/partner Heather as the co-founders. Heather has been instrumental in helping him run his life and business in an organized fashion, so he felt great about both of them working in tandem to create their dreams from scratch with her as Director. He gave her a ton of autonomy within a structure, and she ran with it and is a leader herself while taking a lot off Don’s plate.
[30:01] New hires and potential team members must have the right attitude and energy first, as that is something that is next to impossible to train into someone.
[30:43] Center Stage’s capacity is 54 and they are currently full, especially thanks to the Enrollment Boot Camp.
[32:58] Don uses person-to-person marketing for his karate schools. They will attend events, festivals and give away a guest pass to bring people in. He realized quickly that he needed a different strategy for preschool, and the internet was the best way to make it happen. He first created a flashcard video, and within a short time he had over 30,000 views and was getting recognized in the community as the “preschool guy”!
[38:33] If you feel too shy or introverted to put yourself on camera, there are still many workarounds for making great videos, including using kids, another employee that would love to be the face of the business, or taking acting or coaching classes to develop on-camera skills.
[45:50] Don’s karate training and mentors taught him to always learn, find solutions, and level up. He uses that mindset for growth in his own profession and the way he inspires others to think of bigger solutions to big problems.
[46:56] Don’s definition of a rockstar is someone who is trying to add a tremendous amount of value to their communities with their business, at a level where they themselves have delegated the role of Director.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Center Stage Preschool
Don Alley
The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron
Super Kicks Karate
Rich Dad Poor Dad: What The Rich Teach Their Kids About Money — That The Poor And Middle Class Do Not!, by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Flash Card Video Marketing
Rich Dad's CASHFLOW Quadrant: Rich Dad's Guide to Financial Freedom, by Robert T. Kiyosaki
Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill
John Maxwell
Sharon Foster, owner and operator of Bells Ferry Learning Center, joins Kris today for a conversation on how to build positive parent relationships, customer service, and how owners and staff can protect themselves during bad reviews or negative social media comments. They discuss strategies on enforcing policies, the proper mindset regarding payment, and when it’s okay to respond to a negative review, and tips of what to say so you stay responsive and professional, yet firm in your own values and vision. Sharon also shares the ways she has had to pivot her vision as both a leader and business owner over the years to make sure her product was meeting the needs of the market.
Key Takeaways:
[2:52] As a special thank you, Kris will be choosing comments left on the podcast page, blog or iTunes and mentioning them on this show! If you want your school to be mentioned, be sure to write it in the comment. You can check out the podcast page on the website here.
[6:24] Another special thank you gift! Just for listening to this episode, you can save $100 off when you use the code “rockstar” for the Child Care Success Summit.
[7:33] Sharon entered the field with Kinder Care in 1979 and became a Kids R Kids franchisee in 2001, and is now the owner and operator of Bells Ferry Learning Center, which has two locations. She is also working with a partner on a new venture called Georgia Afterschool Program. Sharon is the author of Ready? Set? Kindergarten!, a month-by-month guide for preparing your child for Kindergarten. She is currently serving as the President-Elect of the Georgia Child Care Association. Sharon’s schools are in the suburbs of Atlanta, within a four-mile radius.
[10:07] At the age of 12, Sharon volunteered at KinderCare, where her younger brother attended. She kept at it and was earning a paycheck by the young age of only 13. She continued on to other jobs but always knew that her heart was in child care. Flash to a few years later, when she became a franchise owner for Kids R Kids, which then became rebranded Bells Ferry Learning Center. Rebranding made a huge difference due to the location she was in, as many of her potential customers were intimidated by the prices of a large national chain.
[14:42] Sharon is a huge fan of the Zac Brown Band, has been to three different countries to see them, and celebrated her 50th birthday by seeing them in Austin, Texas!
[16:12] The tagline for Bells Ferry is “Love is Spoken Here.”
[17:24] Your message and product both need to match what your market wants, the results they are interested in, and what they are able to afford.
[19:19] The original location stays at about 175, year round, as they have three state-funded Pre-K programs that keep summer attendance up. The Marietta location is about 60% of their 198 enrollment.
[21:39] Sharon’s first coping mechanism for a negative review or feedback is to contact Kris. Finding a trusted colleague or mentor to rationally talk things over can help immensely.
[22:38] A common thread of Sharon’s negative reviews has been with the family has owed money. They may even try to use a bad review as a type of blackmail to have their debt lowered or erased. Sharon and Kris recommend enforcing the payment rule and continuing to work on the mindset that you deserve to be paid in full and on time.
[24:52] Surround yourself with the people that love you and your business, and they will help you through the negative reviews. Also, the energy around the reviews tends to dwindle off after about 48 hours.
[27:02] Sharon shares a story on how responding to one negative review ended up gaining her 12 new enrollments.
[28:45] Sharon does not try to spend time and energy online pleading the case of an invalid review. One suggestion of how to model good customer service language is to look at hotels’ responses that are proactive and positive towards their customer concerns and complaints.
[33:41] While Sharon jumps in and helps out in almost every aspect of the business, she focuses on the payroll, online advertising and supporting the directors and delegating the rest. She is always available to her staff as a sounding board but takes pride in setting them up to be self-sufficient and confident in their own independent leadership decisions.
[37:14] Sharon and Kris recommend being sure you have at least six months of operating capital and three cycles of payroll before starting the business officially. Start marketing earlier and more than you think to get a good flow of enrollment within the first six months. If you need help finding a business and marketing resource, check out the Child Care Marketing Boot Camp.
[40:29] Sharon sees a rockstar as someone that dedicates themselves day in and day out to child care, no matter what position or level they are at!
[46:19] Sharon wrote Ready? Set? Kindergarten! with her teachers as a month-by-month hands-on activity guide for parents.
Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Sign Up for Enrollment Bootcamp Waiting List
KinderCare
Kids R Kids
Bells Ferry Learning Center
Ready? Set? Kindergarten!: A month-by-month guide for preparing your child for Kindergarten,
by Sharon Foster
Georgia Child Care Association
Zac Brown Band
Child Care Marketing Boot Camp
Move Your Bus: An Extraordinary New Approach to Accelerating Success in Work and Life, by Ron Clark
Canva
Steve Lloyd, visionary and co-owner of Busy Little Hands Learning Center, is a model of growing by leaps and bounds when you apply the right mindset, practices, and leadership in your school. Steve talks with Kris about his unconventional journey into child care, and how he and his mother Jessica have morphed and expanded Busy Little Hands with the help of some amazing and highly engaged staff. It’s a deep dive into the culture, core values, service standards, employee retention, motivating millennials, healthy communication habits, and how to create a pleasurable atmosphere with everyone involved being empowered and accountable.
Key Takeaways:
[1:05] The Child Care Success Summit in Dallas is soon upon us. For those that have not registered yet, it has sold out over the past several years, so don’t sleep on it! It is October 25-27, and you can expect amazing speakers, new content, and over 700 owners and industry leaders sharing their tips for success in running schools.
[5:09] And wait — there’s more! Kris has offered a special promo for podcast listeners only! When you purchase your Summit tickets at: Childcaresuccesssummit.com, enter the code: rockstar at checkout and receive an extra $100 off your ticket. The offer is good until the tickets sell out.
[6:25] Busy Little Hands Learning Center in Centennial, CO has expanded to 131 kids and 33 team members. Steve Lloyd is co-owner along with his mom Jessica and her sister back in 2008. Steve and his wife have three kids. Steve in his third year of Platinum membership of the Child Care Success Academy.
[9:45] Steve’s brother Sam inspired him with his mission to make a difference in people’s lives, and make his work really matter. He started studying medicine and worked as an ambulance paramedic. After a few years when his mother Jessica offered him work running the school, he followed that calling and is grateful now for making the right choice. They knew that investing in themselves first was of utmost importance to running a good business, and attended the Child Care Summit.
[14:00] Steve also spends time with adolescents, as a dedicated volunteer Scout Master.
[16:41] Their five-year plan: to have three to five schools in the Denver area over the next several years and for his mother Jessica to retire.
[18:45] Defining your “why” with core values helps employees understand and respect the decisions and actions asked of them.
[20:42] The five core values of Busy Little Hands that they hire upon and live by every day:
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- Family First
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- Fun
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- Respect
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- Integrity
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- Progressive
[24:02] Millenials are highly motivated by a sense of purpose, belonging and impact. The more they feel their work matters, the more invested they will be to live the core values of their school.
[28:24] Core values define why you do what you do, but your service standards define how you do what you do.
[29:39] Steve is very excited about Busy Little Hands service standards.
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- Safety
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- Consistency and Reliability
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- Responsiveness
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- Friendliness
[37:34] Shaping your core values and service standards is a long-term process. It’s a marathon, not a sprint and takes time for everyone to adapt and agree but it’s worth the work it takes to implement them.
[43:18] Steve is shifting towards the idea of a weekly Zoom meeting with his staff and compensating them for a casual evening meeting where staff get to be home and in the comfort of their own home.
[48:42] When your boss is also your mother, the bar for creating an environment of excellence is set even higher. Steve feels that despite the challenges that have popped up along the way, they have made him an even better leader and decision maker.
[51:21] Steve defines a rock star as someone that knows their vision, and takes steps towards it every day.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Sign Up for Enrollment Bootcamp Waiting List
Busy Little Hands Early Learning Center
The Book of Mormon
The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines Into Massive Success, by Jeff Olson
The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work, by Shawn Achor
steve@busylittlehandselc.com
Nan Rikard, owner and founder of Big Blue Marble Academy, is an incredible powerhouse with an instinct for good business and a big, giving heart. She talks with Kris about her journey of over 30 years in the EEC industry, her passion on giving back in her own family, how she grew to 24 childcare locations in just a few years and assembled such a strong team with a bonded mission and vision in making a positive impact on the world. She shares the three things that are a must when looking for a new site and tips and tricks for making the deal of your dreams.
Key Takeaways:
[5:17] E-mail Kris directly at Kris@childcare-marketing.com to get her resources on wilderness therapy and therapeutic boarding school.
[7:42] In 2012, Nan founded Big Blue Marble Academy. Her curriculum, Passport to Learning, focuses on the importance of cultural awareness, language immersion and giving back through heart projects.
[9:15] Nan always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and originally taught dance to upwards of 200 children at a time. She combined her love for dance and teaching children with her passion for business and first sought out a job in preschool. That burst the childcare concept for her of people just needing help in the morning for a few hours, and the rest was history.
[11:15] Nan shares her journey of roles in going from Regional Director to a team leader, operations, CEO and COO.
[13:37] Nan has four children. She recently adopted one of her daughters and is an advocate for adoption; her whole family has grown with love.
[17:16] One of Nan’s inspirations when starting Big Blue Marble was to create a brand that appreciates diversity in language, religion, and upbringing.
[25:04] Nan credits a lot of her success with having solid and trustworthy connections in the industry. When the opportunity came to grow, she got creative and thought about who she already had relationships with that could help be part of the team.
[28:24] The three things Nan takes into account for when possibly pursuing an acquisition:
- Is it good for the children?
- Is it good for the company as a whole and our bottom line?
- Is it going to make a difference with the staff?
[34:02] Nan goes on a deep dive on what she looks for when making a deal and building out her team, enrollment, and infrastructure. She combines a solid business strategy that is tried and true, integrated with heart-centered leadership.
[39:45] Nan’s target is a 15% to 20% profit margin in a year.
[43:36] One of the biggest challenges Nan has overcome throughout her career was living and staying in front of the economic downturn in 2008. That shaped the versatility and flexibility of how she prepares for the future.
[47:05] Nan defines a child care rockstar: a people person that puts others first.
Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Sign Up for Enrollment Bootcamp Waiting List
Big Blue Marble Academy
The Disney Way: Harnessing the Management Secrets of Disney in Your Company, by Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson
From Good To Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap.And Others Don't, by Jim Collins
Julie Roy joins Kris today to share her experience of how she started as an educator in Canada and went on to own nine centers of the Montessori Educational Centers in Omaha, Nebraska. They talk about concrete strategies for how to grow your business, as Julie’s now has a waiting list and is looking to expand into even more locations in the upcoming years. Kris and Julie also share how to structure your corporate office to give you support to grow, how often you really need to be in your location, mindset traps to be careful to avoid, and getting everyone on board with your vision and mission. Julie truly leads by example and empowers those around her while maintaining a presence as the personal face of her brand. Enjoy!
Key Takeaways:
[1:04] It is possible to both grow your business and also feel as though you have personal freedom.
[2:20]Our guest today is Julie Roy. Julie owns nine centers — all part of her Montessori Educational Centers brand in Omaha, Nebraska.
[5:50] Julie was going to school for law, but took a job in childcare and fell in love with the Montessori classroom model and philosophy and the education industry. She grew a school in Canada and loved it so much she was up for the challenge of growing a school on her own. After owning and selling six schools in Canada she decided she couldn’t live without doing her passion for owning and directing a Montessori and ended up moving herself and her family to Omaha, Nebraska.
[11:35] Julie attributes her strong drive to growing up with a single mom and seeing that she needed to work hard to get anything she wanted.
[12:55] Her vision is to touch the lives of 1,000 kids every day with the Montessori philosophy.
[14:42] Julie explains the different roles inside her teams and the structure of leadership as it relates to day-to-day communication internally and with parents.
[21:06] Julie is sure from the beginning that she clearly communicates her values, vision, and mission so her directors know how to react and manage certain situations that arise. She shows her personality from an ownership level from the beginning; she has empowered her employees to be responsible yet is there to coach them and give them guidance when needed.
[29:23] When Julie bought the schools, they were at about 50% of their current enrollment. The insights she gained at the Summit shifted her to a mindset of enrollment and adding unique quality and exceptional experiences in their marketplace.
[34:29] Julie has her eye on building a school where they can have a corporate office out of, implement a childcare staffing solutions agency, and grow to 15 locations.
[38:41] Finding the available resources and cash flow to start and grow in the first years were the biggest challenges Julie and her husband had when first starting.
[41:23] Every hurdle we face as a business owner is an opportunity to grow and change our model.
Mentioned in This Episode: Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Sign Up for Enrollment Bootcamp Waiting List
Simon Sinek
The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups, by Daniel Coyle
H3 Leadership: Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle. by Brad Lomenick
Today’s episode features a great talk with Ben Poswalk, Executive Director of Paradise Place Preschool. Ben
came to Kris as her only local client in Crested Butte, Colorado, with some challenges in the enrollment, marketing, and staffing departments. Once Ben got rolling he not only doubled his enrollment and increased his income by 70%, but won Marketer of the Year and now is making a huge impact in the lives of his children, his staff, and school. Kris talks with Ben about his own mindset shift, how he communicates his own “why” and how it impacted the energy and passion of his teachers. Ben also shares his advice for those about to go into the nonprofit realm, his challenges as an Executive Director, and why Space Mountain in Disneyland will always be a memorable ride for him.
Key Takeaways:
[7:51] Kris is joined by her guest, Ben Poswalk, Executive Director of Paradise Place Preschool. He and Kris are neighbors, both located in the beautiful and small community of Crested Butte, Colorado.
[8:23] Fun fact: Crested Butte is the wildflower capital of Colorado!
[9:12] Ben shares his background from going to the Air Force ROTC, to teaching preschool, and then running a nonprofit.
[11:36] He met Kris at a time when he was feeling very challenged with some of the aspects of raising money, marketing, and handling his staff. He found the coaching to help him “unsink the Titanic” and find happiness in his career again.
[17:04] Joining a peer group where the members are at a level where you want to be can help you level up in your career and mindset way quicker than doing it on your own.
[21:29] When you share your ‘why’ and your vision, that’s what attracts people to want to work with you and do business with you. One of Ben’s greatest visions is to help children reveal their kindness to one another, their own community, and the entire planet. Once he got clear and communicated that to his staff, they understood the driving force and the pieces started to align better.
[25:26] Ben gets to know the human side of his teachers first and foremost. He invests time and energy in both group and one-on-one settings. He pulls his core values of integrity, kindness, and passion in the interview process, and looks for someone that aligns with the “tribe” of his school and their company culture.
[35:36] As an Executive Director, Ben finds his relationship with the Board very important and one that needs fostering, especially as a nonprofit.
[38:51] You should have enough in the bank so that you could pay three payrolls in case an emergency happens.
[39:25] Ben defines a rockstar as somebody that just naturally lives and breathes the passion that comes from working with children.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Sign Up for Enrollment Bootcamp Waiting List
Paradise Place
Start with Why
Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t, by Simon Sinek
Driving Leaders: Lessons in high-performance leadership drawn from endurance racing, by Chris Cappy
and Scott Good
Get Off Your “But”: How to End Self-Sabotage and Stand Up for Yourself, by Sean Stephenson
In today’s episode, Kris features Ron Spreeuwenberg. Ron is the co-founder and CEO of HiMama, an app for daycares that allows parents to better connect with their children during the day. Ron is a heart-centered leader serving the early childhood education industry with technology and interconnecting his community. He talks with Kris about what inspired him to get into early childhood and create the HiMama app, the balance between visibility and empowerment, the innovation of his benchmark survey, his own adventures in podcasting, and how he is committed to the vision of helping childhood education get more support and resources.
Key Takeaways:
[1:34] Kris just returned from Orlando from a behind-the-scenes experience for child care leaders at a Disney Service Bootcamp. If you missed out, don’t worry, as we are hoping to do another trip in the spring of 2020.
[4:04] Child Care Marketing is in the middle of Enrollment Bootcamp. If you did not get to sign up for the Enrollment Bootcamp challenge this time, we are taking a waiting list for the next one.
[8:06] Kris welcomes her guest Ron Spreeuwenberg. He is on the software side of early education. He shares his journey from a corporate engineering and business background to consulting and then taking a leap in starting HiMama.
[11:33] Ron learned about the gap in investment and challenges within the child care area and it stood out to him that he could make a difference.
[12:20] Ron is based in Toronto and is a new father. Fun fact: he comes from a long line of mushroom farmers in both the Netherlands and Canada.
[17:05] They are very particular about how they design their HiMama app. The three core ideals that drive their development are the educational component, empowering educators, and a simple and easy to use interface.
[19:51] HiMama is supporting the community in many ways, including the weekly podcast, the benchmark survey, the ECE of the year award, driving forward positive core values, or having their 25% of their employees possess a background in the early childcare field.
[27:01] HiMama provides a tool to support teachers and ensures they get proper training to make the process as simplistic as possible. Reporting and organizing information should be made easier through the app, not something that adds an extra source of stress.
[31:32] Kris highly recommends engaging in the Benchmark Report. The survey comes out in the fall, and they keep it open until February. If you participate in the survey you get first access when it comes out, and data customized to your own needs.
[34:07] With over 100 episodes of The Preschool Podcast, Ron is on the leading edge of understanding trends and knowing what qualities of leadership from others can emerge when given the correct resources and support.
[38:47] Ron would cite one of his biggest challenges is creating and maintaining an engaged team.
[41:20] A true rockstar to Ron is a leader that is authentic, always learning, open minded, action-oriented, compassionate and not afraid to make change happen.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Sign Up for Enrollment Bootcamp Waiting List
HiMama
ChildCare Benchmark Report
The Preschool Podcast
Today, Kris and special guest, Jennifer Conner from AppleTree Kids, uncover the secret sauce on how to manage your preschools from the beach, or wherever your dream life may take you. They give the inside scoop how to delegate appropriately, grow from within, empower your teams and have backup systems in place so that you can have the freedom to grow your business and just work on the things that you love. Jennifer is a master of delegation, a model of business success, and now proudly has two locations with a waiting list and a very committed and dedicated staff. Find out how she decided to define her dream life, make the move to Mexico, and how it has positively impacted her work and personal life. As a coach and leader, she strives to keep learning and sharpening her own saw, which leads to a great impact on her staff and leadership team, and ripples out to many children and their lives.
Key Takeaways:
[3:16] The inspiring and extraordinary Jennifer Connor is today’s guest. She is the owner of Appletree Kids, which has two locations in Louisiana. In 2012, she took a leap and flew to Denver to attend her first ever Child Care Summit event. There, Kris helped her triple her enrollment and expand to her second location and eventually hired her to be a coach.
[4:28 Jennifer was doing outside sales when approached with the offer to purchase the childcare center her children went to. She was hesitant at first but prayed with her husband about it and the signs were clear that it was the right decision where they should start to make a difference. This location was a challenge for many reasons, and set Jennifer on the path for her mission and knew she had to work hard and make a difference.
[11:46] Jennifer and her husband found love at a point in their life when they knew that they wanted and what was important to them.
[14:29] Jennifer shares how she decided to take a chance and attend the Child Care Summit in 2012, leading her to the Bootcamp as well. She felt encouraged and empowered to demonstrate her original connection to marketing and sales, and also rediscovered her “why” and main purpose.
[17:58] In a mystery call, Kris and her team found that Jennifer was the poster child for following the phone script that Kris gave her, yet another reason she gets results from implementing the system already set out in place.
[19:17] She decided to play a bigger game and expand to two locations after joining the Summit and finding herself surrounded by others that are also in major growth mode. There was a center down the road going out of business, and she took advantage of the situation to make that location her next venture.
[25:50] Jennifer’s ripple effect got larger when she joined the coaching program, and now impacts many children through her leadership team and staff.
[28:09] They started vacationing in Mexico and liked the way the general lifestyle naturally changed both herself and her family. She finds more of a traditional value culture than an entitlement culture.
[36:03] Learning how to delegate properly herself and to find ways to empower her team has been an invaluable skill Jennifer has learned.
[48:02] Jennifer’s blog is Barefoot Bikini Beach Life, follow her adventures here!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Appletree Kids
Built to Sell
80/20 Sales and Marketing
Barefoot Bikini Beach Life
Today, Kris has the pleasure of talking with Tameenah Adams, owner and leader of Happy Faces Early Learning Academy. Tameenah is a true rock star and shares her core values, vision, and how she has become a transparent and empowered leader that people want to follow. Between her family at Happy Faces and her own seven children, Tameenah plays with some game-changing strategies, high values and a vision that is open to adapt to her environment. She loves promoting herself and her business out in the community and commits herself to being of service and sharing her gifts to lift up herself and those around her.
Key Takeaways:
[4:14] Kris welcomes today’s guest, Tameenah Adams, owner and leader of Happy Faces Early Learning Academy in the DC area. Her mom got into the business in 1987 and Tameenah joined her to help grow the brand and business with now up to 168 children in their primary location.
[7:57] Tameenah compares herself to Mother Hubbard, taking children in to care for them. She loves to play roulette and has a winning strategy she likes to keep to herself!
[11:03] She recently had a personal tragedy that took her away from the business for 6-8 months. Her staff jumped in and helped run the business, which she found to be a blessing.
[13:26] Tameenah opened up a second employer-sponsored location.
[19:06] Even with a staff of over 55 people, Tameenah still makes sure it has the family feel where everyone involved feels part of something big and important.
[20:53] Happy Faces is 97% subsidized. She shares how this makes her extra vigilant about making sure her budget and business matters are all tightened up and on point.
[27:56] Always keep your business cards out and available. You never know who you will come across that is a potential client or resource.
[28:45] She was never a book reader until she came to the Summit! Now she also enjoys listening to Audible books on her commute and throughout her day.
[31:38] Tameenah defines a child care rockstar as the person that comes into the field and keeps looking for a way to make their vision work, no matter what the challenges or obstacles. They are committed to their goals and are not afraid to put in the effort and personal development and share their gifts with the world.
[33:32] One of the biggest challenges Tameenah has faced is keeping herself motivated. She overcomes a plateau by feeding herself new uplifting information and surrounding herself with inspiring people.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Enrollment Bootcamp
The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon, by Brad Stone
Principles: Life and Work, by Ray Dalio
Happy Faces LA
Kris is joined by very special guest, friend, skiing buddy, and founder of ChildCare CRM software, Chuck Gibbs. Kris and Chuck have much in common. They both started their businesses around early 2010 and are here eight years later, still great friends with a love for Colorado, working hand-in-hand on impacting the childcare industry and helping others toward their goals and dreams. In this episode, they do a deep dive on what you should be measuring in your business, some game-changing resources you can apply to your business, case studies and success stories on CRM, the specifics of how business owners can utilize ChildCare CRM to provide clarity around the enrollment funnel, as well as the use of automation so one can be enrolling people as they sleep or are on vacation!
Now ChildCare CRM has the niche of providing the best software to improve enrollment and retention within childcare centers. Chuck’s software is now in over 2,500 schools in multiple countries, so he also shares an interesting take on childcare between countries and how his vision for his own business has grown and changed over time. He has started 19 companies, so he has some great and sound advice on challenges as an entrepreneur at every level.
Key Takeaways:
[3:37] Kris welcomes her guest, Chuck Gibbs. He shares his background and involvement in software in the childcare industries.
[6:26] When Chuck first started, he reached out to over 100 different centers, and visited many of them personally. Only 37% of the time did they take his contact information and then only 20% of the time did he get followed up with.
[13:48] Chuck speaks on how the original passion and dedication for changing the world and making a deep impact has stayed the same, but their goal has changed. At first, it was to improve communication and build a business that was a lifestyle business. Once he reached that goal he expanded his vision to impact more globally.
[17:26] Both Kris and Chuck find being in a mastermind group with other entrepreneurs crucial to self-development personally and professionally.
[30:01] Chuck shares some of his travel experiences as they relate to the childcare industry. He is surprised at how similar the experiences are. He cites New Zealand and Australia as having some of the most child-centered curricula. One of the key differences, however, is the tolerance for risk in the play areas.
[32:14] Finding great people, knowing your metrics, focus, and perseverance are some of the top factors of success that Chuck has learned along the way.
[43:02] Exciting new announcement! Kris has decided to bring back the Enrollment Bootcamp Challenge live training. It’s a five-week course that is the bread and butter of what she teaches and will be updated in 2018. More information on Enrollment Bootcamp.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Enrollment Bootcamp
Chuck Gibbs
Blue Ocean Strategy, Expanded Edition: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant, by W. Chan Kim, Renée Mauborgne
Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman
Conversational Capacity: The Secret to Building Successful Teams That Perform When the Pressure Is On,
by Craig Weber
Kris opens up today’s episode with a thank you to all of her past guests and a fun recap of the amazing conversations over the past nine episodes. Next, she gives tips and keys on how to financially protect yourself and become recession proof. Then, she gives the top two essential tips on how to have a full house, and why you need to get started today. Finally, an exciting new announcement regarding the Enrollment Bootcamp Challenge!
Key Takeaways:
[1:47] Kris gives a thank you to all of her past guests in 2017 and gives a quick overview of all the fun happenings over the past nine episodes.
[5:07] Her aim is twofold: Protect early childhood business owners from threats and risks and help you strengthen your business. The second is innovation and growth in a way that is prosperous and fun for all involved.
[18:02] Three rules to protect yourself financially and being recession-proof:
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Know your cash situation, and how much you have access to. Make a list and do some financial housekeeping so you are aware of your total access to cash and liquidity.
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Look at your financial decisions and take them seriously, whether it’s hiring and employee expansion, taxes; save more and live below your means.
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Have a full house (full enrollment) now. This gives you the power to do rate increases and possibly charge a waitlist fee and summer holding fee.
[29:28] Kris gives the top two essential tips on how to have a full house.
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To be found.
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To build trust.
[39:32] Exciting new announcement! Kris has decided to bring back the Enrollment Bootcamp Challenge live training. It’s a five-week course that is the bread and butter of what she teaches and will be updated in 2018. More information on Enrollment Bootcamp.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Enrollment Bootcamp
In today’s episode, Kris is joined with one of her favorite friends in the industry, Vernon Mason. Vernon has over 25 years of experience in early childhood. He shares with us his journey of how he started and some of the key points that allowed him to grow from a school of 30 into now five locations. Vernon is an inspiration as a leader and rockstar! Vernon makes it fun and open, from making the snacks in a classroom to helping directors find the confidence and skills to be great leaders themselves. They also cover hiring and letting employees go, his rewards and motivation systems, and what’s next in his career!
Key Takeaways:
[:52] Today’s guest is Vernon Mason. He has been in early childhood for over 25 years, and with a $5,000 credit card in 1991, he and his mom opened a small child care center that grew to 125 children. In 1999, it was destroyed by a natural disaster, and he rebuilt and has since grown into 5 locations.
[5:28] One of Vernon’s original schools grew and expanded, but then got flooded due to a hurricane. They were closed for 2 days then moved to a downtown location for a year, where the parents would drive out of their way just to go to the school. Within two years he doubled the attendance, and grew the number of teachers he hired, as well.
[7:27] Vernon thanks Kris for helping to rejuvenate him in a time of burnout from the stress of expansion. Getting clear on his to do list and his day became a way to get him more focused with an efficient strategy to work on high-payoff activities.
[11:54] Loyalty, openness, and incentives are very big to Vernon when hiring and working with his directors.
[16:25] They are focusing a lot of attention on good attendance, and he has a great rewards program for those with great and near perfect attendance. They also give a reward for going above and beyond with a sense of enthusiasm and energy.
[22:19] Vernon gives tips and shares his own experiences on being able to let someone go that isn’t a fit for the company in a respectful and professional manner.
[29:52] Having a “three strikes rule” is a good tool to maintain core values within the company.
[43:26] A key to good leadership is vulnerability and letting people see your imperfections.
[45:24] Vernon has done 16 keynote talks this year, so he may be taking a little keynote break! His second book will also be out soon.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It, by Michael E. Gerber
Don’t Go!: A Practical Guide for Tackling Employee Turnover, by Vernon H Mason
The Freak Factor: Discovering Uniqueness by Flaunting Weakness, by David J. Rendall
The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin
The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel Your Life, Work, and Team with Positive Energy, by Jon Gordon
Directors Leadership Solutions
Today Kris is joined with very special and inspiring guests, Brian and Carol Duprey! Brian Duprey is a seasoned 20-year veteran in the childcare industry. Along with his wife Carol, they have opened and operated eight different childcare centers in central Maine and currently, own five schools. They have been married for over 26 years and have five children and four grandchildren. We talk with Brian and Carol about their very inspiring mindset and attitude, overcoming challenges along the way of becoming business leaders, strategies they use when hiring great teachers, and how after all these years of working together they still end each night holding hands! Success and a winning attitude are woven into everything they do, and it is their mission to help others and inspire them to live the best life possible.
Key Takeaways:
[4:24] Our guests today are Brian and Carol Duprey. They are seasoned veterans of over 20 years in the childcare industry, and just happen to be married! Together they have opened and operated eight child care centers in Maine. Brian helps Kris in the Child Care Success Academy, and both are amazing and inspirational human beings!
[6:14] Brian and Carol met while they were in the Navy, and tried a few different businesses before child care. They moved to Maine with no money or jobs and just a dream of becoming business owners together. Carol was the one with her foot first in the child care door, with opening their first daycare. This lead to them opening their first center and proved to people why they should get the necessary help in order to get funded.
[9:46] During the recession they had seven centers open, and they had some funding cut along with losing a lot of children. In eight years of business, they have only had to lay off one person.
[12:39] They have been married for 26 years, and have done every business venture together, including one where Carol was the Mayor of their town for one year!
[17:50] Carol tends to deal with the peacekeeping between staff and the parents, addressing their concerns and overall customer service. Brian deals a little more with the money and sales, negotiations and strategic component.
[20:35] They discuss how their children help run their business and how fulfilling it is to have such great and compassionate children that share the passion for great childcare.
[25:41] They have a pretty low turnover but find that when someone leaves another great person arrives. A lot of their workforce has even left and then returned back to work with them.
[32:14] Brian has a gratitude journal that he writes things he is thankful for and this helps put him in a mindset of positive gratitude for the entire day.
[36:56] Brian manifested working with Kris! He dreamt himself speaking and working with Kris, and sure enough, it came true!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines Into Massive Success, by Jeff Olson
His Needs, Her Needs: Building an Affair-Proof Marriage, by Willard F. Jr. Harley
John Maxwell
Get Off Your “But”: How to End Self-Sabotage and Stand Up for Yourself, by Sean Stephenson
Little Angels Early Learning Center
Almighty Beginnings
Child Care Mindset Academy
Kym Pomares has blossomed into an amazing force as the owner of Courthouse Academy in Virginia Beach. She is an inspiration, always combining work and play and is now leading her school as a culture of excellence and doing great things. Courthouse Academy is a traditional & Spanish Immersion Preschool and Elementary School. She is always growing and making a bigger impact in the world, and opens up in an honest and candid conversation about the challenges she has overcome throughout her time in this industry, and how she handled them and persevered like a true rockstar.
Key Takeaways:
[1:37] Kym was also the winner of the Child Care Rockstar 2017 Award that took place at the Child Care Summit. Congrats to her!
[2:50] Kym got her Masters in Audiology and Speech Pathology, and at one point swore she wouldn’t work with children! She then followed a path of working at a Preschool and then opened Courthouse Academy 25 years ago. It has grown immensely and now has over 230 children enrolled.
[5:30] Adding Spanish immersion classes was the idea of her daughter, and her family is very strong in Cuban heritage and has spent time traveling around there taking in the customs.
[8:22] Kym recounts time spent in Cuba with her daughter, and some of the lessons they learned that she put into play within building Courthouse Academy.
[12:27] When building a business it’s not always completely a skyrocket of money and success from the start. Kym has had some trying times and feels it’s crucial to stay positive and work hard no matter what the challenges.
[14:38] The very first step after her first Summit was changing the way incoming phone calls were organized.
[18:10] Sometimes showing vulnerability doesn’t always result in the exact outcome you are hoping for, but it’s important to keep going and working within your values.
[35:03] Kym defines a rockstar as someone that has a vision for the future, isn’t afraid of hard work, and is willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Courthouse Academy
Courthouse Academy Team and Background
DuoLingo
The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines Into Massive Success, by Jeff Olson
I am thrilled to bring you Holly Elissa Bruno on today’s episode. She has a huge heart and has seven decades of wisdom to bring to you in times of change. She is an expert in legal issues as a “recovering attorney,” and has great advice on how to run a business with clear policies that protect you. We talk to Holly about persistence through challenges, the curved line of our paths, how knowing the law manages our expectations, trends and innovation within the industry, and being of support to the unique and authentic leaders making a difference in our future.
Key Takeaways:
[8:13] Holly began in education and discovered that she would love to work with children while they are still open and forming their attitudes in early childhood. Along the way, she became a professor, attorney, and taught a course called “The Human Side of Management.” She had a great blessing of meeting and networking with early childhood leaders and felt inspired to continue on the path of changing lives.
[13:37] Holly feels most passionate and inspired when working with leaders that work with children. Even though the work is so powerful, a lot of times we are seen as glorified babysitters, caregivers, or lucky to get paid to work with children.
[18:41] Holly’s intention is to keep learning always and she has a fascination with life, travel and education.
[21:49] One of the things she did to change her life immensely was to take her experience with law and travel and bring it into co-writing her book Managing Legal Risks in Early Childhood Programs.
[29:07] Holly gives examples of when the law can be facilitative rather than restrictive, and how certain policies can help get an honest reference for a potential employee.
[39:51] Children should get outdoors and have a free and fun environment. We don’t recommend eating dirt but there is something fun to making a mud pie or splashing in a puddle.
[43:10] Holly defines herself as a recovering work addict. She is much less focused now on her accomplishments and to do list and more on being present.
[45:57] It’s about the four L’s: living, loving, learning and laughing. Holly pulls it into one practice each day by asking “How much today was my life touched by love, and how much did I open my heart?”
[52:16] If a child doesn’t feel safe the child can’t relax enough to learn. Until a child feels safe he/she can’t feel love and absorb any type of education.
[56:03] Holly defines a rockstar as someone that is so true to themselves that they can use all of their unique and authentic self to make a difference.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Holly Elissa Bruno
ChildCareExchange — Articles are titled “Hold the Phone” / “Hold Harmless for Babysitting”
Julie Bartkus
Quotes:
“I saw that if I wanted to make a difference on earth, early childhood was the place to be.”
“You change a child’s life — you change the world.”
“We are a field of wisdom and a field of building relationships.”
“When you are present with a child, there is something beautiful that comes about.”
More About Holly Elissa Bruno:
Holly Elissa Bruno, MA, JD, is an award-winning, best-selling author, international keynote speaker, ground-breaking radio host, and seasoned team builder. She served as Assistant Attorney General for the state of Maine and Assistant Dean at the University of Maine School of Law. While working as Associate Professor and Dean of Faculty at the University of Maine-Augusta, Holly Elissa was selected “Outstanding Professor.”
An alumna of Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management, she taught leadership courses for The McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership and Wheelock College. iTunes has ranked Holly Elissa’s radio programs in its top 200 K-12 podcasts. Tune in to Holly Elissa’s online radio program, Heart to Heart Conversations on Leadership: Your guide to making a difference at BAMRadioNetwork.com.
My guest today is an early childhood business powerhouse, whom I have yet to meet in person but who has inspired me and many others in the field. Marnie Forestieri is Chief Learning Officer and Co-Founder at Amazing Explorers Academy in Florida, which she helped build from the ground up and now has two busy and thriving locations. She tells us about her journey, how STEM folds into her mission of innovation and problem-solving in early childhood, and the group approach and empowerment process of hiring new teachers, all the way up to the onboarding process. Marnie brought her professional expertise outside of early childhood and embraced it to start her own game and ultimately change some of the rules. I love how Marnie promotes from within and helps groom her own for more leadership and success.
Key Takeaways:
[3:02] Marnie moved to the United States 10 years ago as an investor, and first purchased a franchise for almost a decade. She found three things that told her she had a different calling: the need to innovate, to introduce STEM toys, and the opportunity to bridge a gap between the educators and business people.
[5:34] Her first step to opening Amazing Explorers Academy was a lot of research and travel to try to come up with comparisons in other countries. She knew it had to be tailored to the needs and standards of our countries. Her reporter background helped in creating the framework of what needed to be done.
[13:18] STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) is becoming the new trend in education. By the time children are in third grade, one-third of the boys and girls have lost their interest in these topics.
[16:09] They are opening nine more schools this year. Marnie shares how their innovative and group approach to the interview process and intensive training for new hires makes sure they are empowered and held accountable.
[24:07] Every part of what Amazing Explorers Academy does needs to have accountability, children’s assessments, or a KPI.
[30:46] Marnie believes in leading by example and that their biggest asset is the people that make up the business.
[34:32] Amazing Explorers Academy has a bright future and is on the path to growing into new states and markets. They are opening their first prototype in Lake Nona, Florida, which is an area known for innovation.
[37:45] According to Marnie, teachers are rockstars. Anyone that spends a whole day with a bunch of two-year-olds knows it’s not an easy job!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Amazing Explorers Academy
The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon, by Brad Stone
STEM Play: Integrating Inquiry into Learning Centers, by Deirdre Sheridan Englehart, EdD Debby Mitchell, Junie Albers-Biddle, Kelly Jennings-Towle, and Marnie Forestieri
Growing Up Wild
Dale Carnegie
More About Marnie:
Marnie is an entrepreneur with a passion for education and innovation with an ability to translate market trends into successful business models and innovations. Marnie and the education team have been recognized nationally and collaborated to design a line of STEM toys for Kaplan Early Learning and write books for Gryphon House. Marnie has been recognized in the industry nationally, including finalist of the award “Director of the Year” and the winner of the “Center of the Year” award by FACCM. Prior to starting her career in education, she was a reporter for CNN Spanish and later became the VP of marketing of a telecommunications company. Marnie holds a BS in business administration, a Director’s credential, CDA (Child Development Associate) and is a graduate of Stanford University Latino Entrepreneurs Leaders Program.
Our episode this week is chock full of industry insights, innovative ideas, and nuggets of wisdom that you can plug right into your child care or preschool business! We are joined by the amazing Evan Goldman from Early Education Group. Evan is a true veteran in the industry and his take on the growth and change in the landscape is truly inspiring. He shares his family’s impressive background in high-quality early education and then he and Kris do a deep dive on several topics related to the business of early learning. Tune in to hear Evan’s advice on how to find your unique messaging in such a competitive field, an insider view on how funding and regulations could be improved and what a true rock star is to him. We think Evan is a rock star himself, and maybe we'll even have him as a return guest one day as he and Kris hike up Machu Picchu!
Key Takeaways:
[1:02] Kris gives a wrapup of a very successful Child Care Success Summit 2017 Conference in Chicago. Thank you to everyone that helped make this transformative and amazing event a success.
[6:43] Evan was influenced by his parents at a young age to make a difference in the education world. His parents were educational entrepreneurs and pioneers in the industry for over 40 years. His father was the provost of all the graduate education at Nova Southeastern University. His mother was a second-grade teacher and really valued early childhood education. Together they started a large chain in the early 80’s called Another Generation Preschool. Evan learned from the ground up and learned all aspects of the industry, including education, funding, organization, etc.
[8:07] During Evan’s time at Kaplan he identified partnerships and funding streams and helped organizations meet their highest needs.
[9:33] Evan lists a few of the changes he has seen in the industry over his many years of expertise and experience: massive consolidation and growth, state-funded Pre-K and subsidized child care, quality improvement systems, rating scales, and blended funding. It’s a much more competitive landscape with many more choices.
[12:17] Evan is very tied to both Florida to North Carolina. He loves extreme travel and shares some of his recent amazing trips!
[15:18] Evan’s current venture that he has been doing for the last decade is the Early Education Group. He shares his mission, clients and partners he works closely within all different industries. It is clear he is passionate about developing relationships with companies that have a mission to better education.
[20:47] Strategic and high-quality messaging is something very important to both Evan and Kris.
[28:33] Kris and Evan take a look at funding streams and how the model has changed over the past decades, with new challenges in both politics and technology.
[36:59] Evan shares his thoughts on common misconceptions within education and the value and experience of smaller neighborhood-based environments.
[43:24] Evan describes the qualities a true rockstar has for him, using his experience of over three decades in the industry.
[48:38] Evan gives the resources he would recommend people should get into right away to educate and inform yourself.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Holly Elissa Bruno
Evan Goldman
Kaplan
Amazing Explorers Academy
Zero to Three
Childcare Aware
How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character, by Paul Tough
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap...And Others Don’t, by Jim Collins
About Evan:
Evan Goldman is an early childhood business development consultant with twenty years of experience at the national, regional, state, and local levels. His strengths include a vast network of business relationships among federal, state, and local policymakers, in-depth knowledge of federal and state early childhood initiatives and funding streams, and an abundance of successes in negotiating and implementing important partnerships and collaborations at all levels. Mr. Goldman developed his own company in 2007, The Early Education Group, specializing in identifying and linking partners across public and private businesses, organizations, and governing bodies. Since its inception, The Early Education Group has brokered relationships for national e-learning, publishing, non-profit, and for-profit companies, as well as developed partnerships for higher education, state governments, and private foundations.
In today’s episode we are joined by child care rockstar Donna Jensen, owner of the Learning Station. Donna’s passion for creating an enriching, safe, and supportive environment is inspiring and the reason why she is always full with a long waiting list of potential families. We hear Donna’s background from working at a local preschool to owning a franchise and ultimately leading to what has become the Learning Station. She and Kris also discuss why a large team works for her, the importance of lists and tracking data, and finding a great mentor. Finally, she shares resources that she loves and that are captivating enough to break her away a game of Candy Crush!
Key Takeaways:
[2:08] Donna is from New Jersey and moved to South Carolina in 1987. She accepted a position at a local preschool. She only lasted six weeks and knew she needed to provide in-home care. She did that until 1992, and then expanded her business as a director of center with 250 kids. In 2000 she and her husband tried out a Gymboree Play & Music franchise and it wasn’t a fit with the culture of their location at the time. In 2002 they started a small center and the Learning Station was born!
[5:38] They had an opportunity to move to a facility built to be a child care center, licensed for 175 children, and that is where they presently are today.
[7:20] Donna and her husband Jeff are business partners, as well, and we hear about her amazing and large family! They inspired Kris to go on her first ever cruise and become a “boat person.” Kind of.
[13:19] She loves providing a happy workplace for her employees to show they are valued. This is done through weekly one-on-one meetings, words of encouragement, and support in continuing education on a consistent basis.
[15:53] Donna breaks down the staff at the Learning Station and each of their positions within the overall structure of the organization.
[21:30] Her enrollment growth is partly due to customer service, switching to better software, knowing their metrics, and never turning down a family right off the bat.
[27:43] Keeping in touch and open communication with parents even during challenging times is very important.
[29:25] Donna discusses some of the challenges relating to staffing and finding excellent employees willing to work at a common child care wage.
[33:05] Continuing to read inspiring and insightful material is important to a leadership mindset. Donna gives some of her top picks.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Learning Station
Learning Station Facebook
Gymboree
ChildCare CRM
The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines Into Massive Success, by Jeff Olson
Turn the Ship Around! A True Story of Turning Followers into Leaders, by L. David Marquet
Think and Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill
Simon Sinek
The Fish Philosophy
This week’s episode features Child Care Rockstar Radio’s first guest interview — the awesome Summer Picha and Katie Wagoner, Peaceful Valley Montessori! Summer and Katie have been partners together for about eight years and have increased their business by 10x, going from a small but mighty 30-child Montessori to two school locations with almost 300 children. They represent the type of child care rockstar that impact the community from a place of authentic education and intent and are proof positive that you can manifest your dreams. We hear how they went from teachers themselves to business owners, their mission to impact children, families, and teachers and what the future holds for more growth and expansion.
Key Takeaways:
[2:55] Summer and Katie started the business 8 years ago. They were two teachers and were inspired after attending a conference. They started with 30 students and expanded their business by 10 by expanding into two campuses.
[5:09] They hire primarily young women of many different backgrounds and levels of education. They highly encourage their staff to continue with education.
[7:49] They looked at other successful leaders in different industries and fields and applied them to their own personal model.
[11:02] Summer and Katie share an insight on hustle, and how an accidental email led to a giant opportunity.
[14:28] They lean on people in their network who have a positive mindset and prior experiences for support. Honesty is key.
[17:01] Joining a mastermind can really help connect you with skills and a mindset of success and friendship. Local experts can help mentor you, or if there is not one locally, check out ones such as the Child Care Success Academy!
[20:05] Summer and Katie touch upon their leadership philosophy of attracting the best talent in their teachers, and then encouraging them to grow. They set the tone at the beginning so everyone is aware of their values and expectations in the professional culture.
[26:04] The Montessori approach is unique and Summer and Katie both have worked all the positions within the Montessori world, so they can handle all issues with a sense of perspective and experience.
[30:13] The ladies discuss the challenges and pressures of expanding into two larger schools, and maintaining personal relationships when they are busy and stretched thin.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
Peaceful Valley Montessori
6 Months to 6 Figures, by Peter Voogd
The 10x Rule
Children: The Challenge: The Classic Work on Improving Parent-Child Relations — Intelligent, Humane & Eminently Practical, by Rudolf Dreikurs and Vicki Stolz
The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children, by Ross W. Greene PhD
Positive Discipline: The Classic Guide to Helping Children Develop Self-Discipline, Responsibility, Cooperation, and Problem-Solving Skills, by Jane Nelsen Ed.D.
What Got You Here Won't Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful,
by Marshall Goldsmith and Mark Reiter
Dale Carnegie
Welcome to our very first episode of Childcare Rockstar Radio! Your host is Kris Murray, President of Child Care Marketing Solutions and founder and leader of the Childcare Success Academy. The Academy is the world’s largest and most comprehensive business coaching program for early childhood entrepreneurs and leaders. We kick off the first episode and lay a foundation to talk about the importance of persistence in both professional and personal paths to success. Each week we invite you to join us for an interview with child care leaders and experts that inspire us and shine a spotlight on these unsung heroes in our community. We will be featuring practitioners, owners, and directors, those who provide cutting edge tools and services to our industry and innovators. We are so happy you are joining us on Episode 1 and welcome your personal stories of a time that you persisted against all odds!
Key Takeaways:
[1:47] This podcast is a great way for Kris to blend her love of radio with her love of coaching and teaching on a personal level. The reason why she started this podcast is that she wanted a new media and format to share the stories of people doing great things in the childcare industry.
[4:29] Kris has two children, ages 15 and 12. She recently moved to Carbondale, Colorado, and loves all the beauty surrounding her environments.
[7:29] We dive into the idea that success is not linear. Any owner or leader should prepare to experience extreme highs and lows. Two challenges child-care practitioners face in current times include getting proper funding and setting parents’ expectations.
[8:58] The meetups for the Child Care Success Academy have been very successful so far and the group is growing with members and leadership. Meetups provide platinum, platinum plus, and gold members a mastermind to share what has and has not worked.
[13:26] Kris gives great examples of what it means to persist in the face of a challenge. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett both named persistence as the most important quality to possess in order to be successful.
[15:23] Kris mentions ways and examples people can protect themselves while serving best the people close to you in your life.
[18:16] Kris journals out her thoughts and emotions, and she finds it shifts her mindset to one of gratitude and awareness.
[21:28] The Four Circles of Success: marketing, team, systems, and mindset.
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kris Murray
Child Care Marketing Solutions
Child Care Success Academy
KBUT FM
Carbondale, CO
Child Care Success Summit
The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness, by Jeff Olson
and John David Mann
Kris Murray on Amazon
Quotes:
“Sometimes we have to make a leap and change up our pattern to better suit who we are for ourselves and our family.”
“There is one thing that will get you through all the challenges. And that is to persist.”
“Nature has a very calming effect. Try a daily practice of writing three things you are grateful for every day.”
“Sometimes you have to welcome the ‘breakdown.’ It usually means you are at the beginning of a personal shift.”