Sail These Seven Cs to Build a Business That Won’t Break You

This is the third blog in our mini wellness series for ECE professionals. I strongly encourage you to go back and read the last two blogs.

You are a person first. Before you were a spouse, homeowner, parent, customer, employee, or business owner, you were a person. Why am I stating the glaringly obvious? To remind you that you should have things — things should not have you. As a person who owns a business, your business should not own you—and if you do it right, it doesn’t have to.

Before you started your business, you envisioned creating something that elevated your life, not consumed it. Somewhere along the line, you put that thing down, flipped it, and reversed it. But slow your roll, Missy Elliot—yes, it’s worth it if you know how to work it.

All hip-hop references aside, hustle culture lied to you! You do not have to work hard to be successful. A captain doesn't have to work hard to get to their destination—they just have to know where they’re going, how to get there, and who to take with them. Building a business does not have to drain you of everything you are as a person.

Here are seven ways to build a business with balance:

1. Community

I know it’s common business terminology, but the truth is—unless you are playing a game, you don’t really have competitors. The only person you should be competing with is the person you are now, to become a better version of yourself. If you consistently focus on out-besting yourself, you will realize that you can learn so much more from people when you stop seeing them as competitors, and grow so much faster when you start seeing them as your community.

I had the privilege of visiting an amazing client in person a few weeks ago. Her program was one of my personal favorites that I’ve worked with so far. They have a gardening program and cooking classes, among other enrichment programs, and their team raved about the program. Unfortunately, it’s not too often that I see teachers beam from ear to ear when talking about their centers.

I spoke very highly of her program, and her response is why I’m standing on this hill. She told me she’s the “baby” of her professional friend group, but she’s about to open her second center. She was able to build and grow her spectacular program because she started by finding a community of other childcare providers who freely shared resources with each other because they did not see each other as competitors.

Turns out, another client I’ve been raving about is also in that group! That is the power of community.

2. Collaboration

Fulfilling your mission will come with more side quests than you can ever imagine.

I never expected to become an ECE professional. When I did, I never imagined I would be led to start a staffing agency. When I started DreamHire Express, it never crossed my mind that I would be writing this blog one day. I never thought about billing, contracts, HR work, or any of that. These are experiences I’m developing as a result of my mission.

Network, network, network—because you never know who you’ll need and who you’ll impact. This is more nuanced than just keeping in contact with other preschool business owners. You need connections for everything!

Collaborations don’t have to be super formal and complicated. For example, you can collaborate with your photographer friend to host a family portrait day and split the profits. You can show your friend who’s launching a clothing brand how to apply for funding and, in return, get information about the best manufacturers for your uniforms.

It’s not just about making new friends - it’s about liaising with people who enrich and fortify your mission. The possibilities are absolutely limitless when you figure out who to work with and how.

3. Connection

When was the last time you actually felt like you were doing something meaningful?

I know we look back on our accomplishments and pat ourselves on the back every once in a while, but when was the last time you acknowledged that you were making an impact in the present moment? Acknowledgment is not about ego or bragging rights—it’s about staying connected to your divine mission. It’s not boasting; it’s making an intentional declaration.

When you decided to open your preschool, you knew it would fulfill some greater purpose. You were passionate and eager, walking down the yellow brick road on your mission. Don’t let the fearsome and burdensome parts of the journey make you forget what you’re doing and who you’re doing it for. Stay grounded and connected to the mission.

4. Character

Your business should reflect you - not define you. The paper trails the purpose.

When your identity becomes "successful business owner" instead of "person who accomplished their purpose through opening a child care center," you will chase enrollment over impact. Putting the money before the mission will cause you to stake your identity in the financial state of your business, and you will become obsessed with material representations of your success.

This is why so many people get caught up in schemes, scams, and shortcuts that aren’t really shortcuts. If your only indicator of success is money, you are a failure. Each new level of success should come with new character development, not just new clothes.

Every time you enter a new tax bracket, you should be leveling up on your mission. To whom much is given, much is required. This isn’t just about your financial increase, but the increase of your impact.

5. Creativity

Why did companies that have been around for generations like Blockbuster, Sears, and Toys R Us go bankrupt after Netflix, Walmart, and Amazon became popular? Because they lacked the creative direction to quickly adapt to changes within their industries.

This is why it’s important to never stop working on your business. Keep creating, innovating, and improving. What could you do better right now? What additional services could you offer? Who can you partner with?

Never stop learning about your industry. I’m not telling you to become a trend-hopper, but you do need to stay informed about legislation, trends, and changes that may impact you.

You might be thinking, "I don’t have the money to keep up." Some of the best advice I’ve ever heard was: “Start with what you have.” Lately, “aesthetics” are the thing (thanks, TikTok and Instagram). You may not have the funds for an Instagram-worthy preschool makeover, but you probably have lots of items that you can repurpose. Maybe you can’t afford to offer a full benefits package, but you can offer other bonuses and incentives to be on your team.

Creativity is paramount to keeping your business viable long-term.

6. Charisma

Creativity is what keeps your business going, but charisma is what makes your business stand out. That natural charm that you have—that thing you do that no one else does, that quirky thing that makes you authentically you—is why people like you and trust you.

In a world where people create fake personas and fabricate their lifestyles to impress others, authenticity is so refreshing.

This is something I personally struggle with. I am SILLY. I mean just downright goofy for no reason at all. I’m also a fully grown adult woman, so it’s pretty awkward to see me carrying on like I do sometimes. When I’m around other people, it’s a conscious battle to just be serious—but that’s not who I am.

When I meet people in person, I’m usually serious for all of 23 minutes, and then something slips out—a dance move, a facial expression, a funny statement. But what I’ve noticed is this: being myself helps me to communicate my message better because I’m in a state of being genuine.

None of my clients have ever called me out on my personality. Stop worrying about being awkward or trying to be likable. Just be you. Being you is what got you here because this is your mission. Being someone you’re not will knock you off your path.

7. Courage

So many of us practice backward thinking when it comes to confidence. We believe that we have to build our confidence before we do the thing.

The truth is we have to build our courage first—and the confidence will come. Confidence is not something you develop in your mind. Confidence is something you build through your actions.

The longer you hold out on doing the thing because you’re “not confident enough yet,” the scarier the thing becomes in your mind and the less likely you are to do it. Remember, this is how your brain is wired to keep you safe.

The way you train your brain to be confident is by showing yourself the thing you want to do is scary—but it won’t kill you (most of the time). The more you practice a thing, the more you’ll become desensitized to it, and the more confident you’ll become.

Courage is the catalyst for competence, and competence is the catalyst for confidence.

If you feel like your business has taken over your life, it’s not too late to make a change. By focusing on these Seven Cs—community, collaboration, connection, character, creativity, charisma, and courage—you can build a business that reflects your mission and supports the life you want to live. That is far more fulfilling than you can put any dollar amount on.