Week four of Sophomore year has been the most challenging week, both academically and emotionally. When times get tough, I do what I have always done: call my mom. In the midst of mid-term season, she has helped me battle the ups and downs of overbearing workloads, classes into the late hours of the night, and emotional displacement.

I have a renewed sense of appreciation for my mother; she makes my life so much easier. Throughout the week, she picked up the phone, even when it was my tenth call of the day. My mom truly is “Super-Mom.” Not only has she given up so much to raise my sister and me, but she has also worked to earn an extremely successful career. It has been inspiring to grow up watching her create and manage her own business.

I often take the driven and successful side of my mom for granted. For this reason, I decided to pick her brain about her career-path:

Tell me about your career path. Why are you where you are now?

“I always knew I wanted to be a teacher.  I can’t recall ever wanting to be anything else.  After working in a preschool in college I remember thinking it would be fun to own a preschool (I imagined it in an old house) and all that I could do there.  I have always enjoyed being around little children as well as organizing activities, events, and projects.  I love to be silly and animated and that always make a connection with children.”

What inspired you to own and operate your own business?

“As much as I imagined owning my own business, owing this business was a series of fortune events that fell into place perfectly and the perfect time.  It started with one of my daughters attending the preschool and becoming close friends with the owner.  She learned that my education was in Elementary and Early Childhood Education and we started talking.  She had started the business and run it for 20 years and was ready to retire.  I had just left corporate America and was looking for my next step career-wise and really wanted to utilize my education.”

What is the mission behind your business? Has this changed throughout the years?

“The mission behind young learners was offering creative learning to young children.  This mission itself has not changed, but the way we do it has.  In the last 9 years the rise of our diversity, the rise of children with special and medical needs has changed the way we do it.”

What were the biggest hurdles that you faced in building your own business? How do you work to overcome these?

“One of the biggest hurdles I faced building the business was all the business things outside of the functioning preschool program, like payroll, licensing, taxes, insurance, etc.  I was a teacher, not a business person.  I have a dedicated support system and reliable recourses to help me.  The only way I can overcome these is by constantly learning.  Every school year situations come up that I did not predict and I handle it the best I know how.  Many time it sparks new policies and procedures that I then put in place for future years.” 

What kind of qualities do you look for in employees?

“I look for individuals who are organized, outgoing and fun.  Responsible, trustworthy and punctual.  It is also important that they can communicate strongly with a wide variety of people and personalities.  I have found some of these traits are more important than their educational background.”

 How would you describe your work environment and what do you to maintain this?

“Our environment can be very stressful at times.  I try hard to make it fun and keep morale up.  Some of the ways I do this is:  Starbucks Days, Potlucks, Silly Contests (with prizes) like games, crazy sweater day, best costumes, spirit days, etc.  I also usually try to do an off-site staff event in the spring where we can all do something together out of the building.

Have there been any influential figures in your life that have facilitated your success?

I have many people in my life that have influenced me.  I have two teachers, one in high school and one in college who influenced my love of children, education, and teaching.  The former owner of my business was huge in the beginning and navigating owning this business.  My Dad and husband are also huge influences in helping with the business side of things.  To this day, I couldn’t do it without their guidance.”

 Looking back, what do you wish that you could have told your younger self?

• “Don’t rush to grow up. Don’t rush to get married and have a family.  There is time.
• You are not perfect. No matter how hard you try or no matter what you say or do, you will make mistakes. You are human.
• Stop trying to always please everyone. Not everyone will always be happy with you.  Please yourself first.
• Hard work and sacrifice towards anything WILL pay off.
• Trust your instincts; they have proven to be right more than wrong.
• Don’t worry so much.
• Be grateful for what you have and when.”