I hate New Year’s resolutions. Why? Because they are about comparison, illusion, and hollow victories. Here’s what I’ll choose to do instead.

We treat New Year’s resolutions like a sprint—get to the destination as quickly as possible—rather than protecting our resources for a marathon of enduring results.

To enjoy true success, you need to establish a long-range vision that lasts beyond 12 months.

So, what’s an ambitious goal-setter to do? Let’s highlight what you should ask yourself to better spot those sabotaging short-sighted resolutions.

Overcoming those (inevitable) setbacks along your transformation journey.

 “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” said Olympic multi-champion swimmer Michael Phelps. When you decide you want to make a change in your life, it’s human nature to treat it like a race and try to accomplish it as smoothly and quickly as possible.

During our Summer of Change series, we’ve discussed many obstacles that keep you from setting and reaching your goals. And, whether it’s your desire for approval or your fear of the unknown, one thing all barriers have in common is mindset.

Henry Ford famously said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t—you’re right.”

As we continue our Summer of Change series, it’s time to focus on the long game. It might be scorching hot outside, but we’re slipping on our lab coats for this one. 

We’ve already established that fear is the monster that prevents us from pursuing change and that people-pleasing is our primary progress blocker.

So, habit formation (or lack thereof) is the endurance eliminator. Similar to how New Year’s resolutions are often quickly abandoned, many changes don’t stick because enthusiasm and motivation fizzle out.

Learning the art of saying “No.”

Change takes time, effort, and commitment. And one of the biggest obstacles of change is setting (and keeping) boundaries.

It’s human nature to want to be liked. After all, social media revolutionized our entire existence based on the concept of how much we crave approval.

Examining the personal and professional benefits caused by change.

A tiny caterpillar instinctually crawls into its cocoon trusting that life will improve for them on the other side, but things get significantly worse before they get better.

The little crawler thinks they're about to take a nap, but instead completely dissolves! That’s right—it becomes caterpillar soup!

Overcoming fear, embracing vulnerability, and cultivating gratitude.

Few words in the English language can rocket-launch emotions quite like the word “change.” Most people are creatures of habit, and change, regardless of whether it's positive or negative, elicits emotions anywhere from excitement to terror (and often every emotion in between).

You’ve played it out in your head a million times, tossed and turned, and talked your best friend’s ear off about it. The decision has finally been made, and you’re excited and terrified in equal parts.

But it’s settled, and you’re doing it even if you’re doing it scared. So, congratulations! Welcome to small business ownership!

The good, the bad, and the ugly about going into business with your family (Plus, tips for success!)

Few entrepreneurs start a company with an end date in mind. Instead, it’s usually quite the opposite—the dream is to create a business that carries on your legacy, an organization that outlives you and brings success to future generations.

What can go wrong? Well… a lot.

It’s been the demise of countless friendships. The brawl-causer between formerly cordial neighbors. The stimulus for family feuds (and timeless binge-worthy shows like Dynasty, Dallas, Succession, Yellowstone, etc.).

Although it’s common to blur the lines between your personal and professional self, there are inherent risks in mixing business with pleasure. And when it goes poorly, it can go really poorly, with serious consequences that reverberate throughout your entire life.

Appealing to the needs of both businesses and families.

In our previous article, we introduced you to the evolution of employee benefits and discussed how the childcare crisis impacts *everyone* and why organizations are now eager to offer corporate childcare to their staff.

For part two, we’re diving into how your agency can start selling corporate childcare. First, you’re going to sell to your existing clients, and then to organizations.

What is it and why do employers want to offer it? Part one in our month-long series dedicated to corporate care.

Our last batch of articles focused heavily on company culture and how to be the kind of nanny agency that attracts and retains a happy team.

Fittingly, it made a perfect segue into our new series, which also offers the opportunity to make your nanny agency a lot of money!

How to get your people invested in your long-term success.

Do you ever have those nights where you get together with a friend without any firm plans? Then, you end up trying something fun and new, everything unfolds perfectly, and you share this special time full of memories that you’ll laugh at for decades.

This is what happened with our spring kickoff series. Although we planned much of our content in advance, we didn’t realize the gold mine we dug up until one blog rolled into the other.

In our nanny agency community, Arise, we constantly discuss company culture and how important it is to weave your values into everything you do.

Of course, our blogs often discuss company culture as well. In the past two blogs, we explained the critical role company culture plays when trying to attract top talent. Then, at the other end of the spectrum, we addressed the importance of leading with your values when terminating with kindness.

So, what does company culture really mean anyway? Company culture is the experience that you as a business create for everyone who partners with you professionally.

Strategies for terminating professional relationships with dignity and grace.

You’ve given it time. You’ve lost sleep. You’ve tried every trick in the book. However, the reality is that it’s just not working out.

As a business owner, you know all about having to do difficult things, but THIS is likely the toughest one you’ll have to do. Yes, you guessed it: firing someone.

Handle with care.

Ending a professional relationship is never a simple decision, but it's often a necessary one for the health and success of your business.

Good help is hard to find. Good part-time help is even harder to find! Why? Because (1) there are more part-time jobs available, and (2) when talent is looking for a temporary position, they are often less motivated by passion.

Part-time job seekers expect their next position to be short-term and not their chosen career where they plan on spending the next “x” number of years.

That’s why their criteria may shift to be more about finances and flexibility, which means YOU, as the employer, will need to adjust your strategies to find quality part-time childcare.

It’s tax season! For many nanny agency owners, this can often be one of the most painful requirements of entrepreneurship.

Few (maybe none) of us enjoy doing our taxes, and if we’re being honest, even for those of us who adore our accountants, the word “dread” often bookmarks this annual fiscal responsibility.

However, there are ways to minimize the dread and stress when completing your taxes (and other required administrative tasks for that matter). And there are hidden benefits and tax credits that commonly go unclaimed by nanny agency owners.

Most nanny agency owners operate from a scarcity mindset; however, it’s also usually that mindset that keeps them from thinking outside the box to find a creative solution that gets them unstuck.

Well friends, to wrap up our Winter Series, this one’s from me, Megan, to you as the-nanny-agency-owner-turned consultant-that’s-still-a-nanny-agency-owner-first.

Yes, THAT Megan, and I know you’re struggling because I’m struggling too, and I’m not sugar-coating this one.

Coaches are business owners, too.

Entrepreneurship can be lonely. Humans are social animals, and there’s something special about collaborating with other professionals who also work in your field.

You recognize this when you finally experience it and miss it when it’s lacking. That magic from small business owners huddling together in a dedicated time and space—away from distractions and intentionally learning, sharing, commiserating, and laughing.

Okay, so every nanny agency owner knows the advantages of being an entrepreneur—HELLO creative autonomy and limitless earning potential. But what are the benefits that you miss out on when doing it alone?

Work less, create more: marketing edition.

The weather might be cold outside, but we’re about to set fire to your creativity.

Welcome to our four-part winter series where we will be giving you insider tips that we normally charge for, starting here and continuing all month long.

To kick us off, we’re demystifying marketing. Specifically—using plain language—we’ll give you a four-week mini-plan so you can level up your nanny agency to compete in today’s childcare industry.

The marketing trifecta = funnels, lead magnets, and email marketing.