By April Bender

In the business world—and especially in child care—it’s easy to feel like we should already have all the answers. We’re responsible for children, staff, families, payroll, licensing, and about a hundred other things every single day. But what if the most dangerous thing isn’t what we do know… but what we don’t?

Let me take you back to 1962. A major record label, Decca Records, was on the hunt for the next big music act. Their executives were seasoned pros—experts who prided themselves on spotting talent. They knew what would sell… or so they thought.

A small band from Liverpool traveled to London to audition. Young. Raw. Hungry. They played their hearts out—cover songs, originals, everything they had. Their manager believed in them. They believed in themselves. But the verdict came in: “Guitar groups are on the way out. You’re not what we’re looking for.”

Decca passed.

The band they turned down? The Beatles.

That decision has gone down as one of the biggest blunders in music history. And the reason they missed it? They didn’t know what they didn’t know.

Now, you may not be running a record label—but you are leading a business. And the question is: What opportunities might be right in front of you that you’re not seeing? What blind spots could be holding you back, and what’s the cost of missing them?

“Help!” – You Can’t Do It Alone

As child care owners, we often operate in survival mode. We feel like we should be able to figure it out on our own—because that’s what strong leaders do, right?

But here’s the truth: even the Beatles needed a guide. They had George Martin, their producer, helping them turn raw talent into timeless hits. Running your center without coaching, mentorship, or support is like trying to produce a hit record without a producer.

I’ve seen it over and over. Talented, passionate center owners who are exhausted, overwhelmed, and quietly drowning. They don’t ask for help, not because they’re too proud—but because they don’t know where to start. Or they assume everyone else has it together.

But the minute you open up? That’s when the real help shows up. I’ve had people tell me they struggled with something for months—then brought it to office hours or a peer group, and someone solved it in 30 seconds. Not because they were smarter—just because they’d already been through it.

You don’t have to figure it all out yourself. But you do have to be willing to ask.

“With a Little Help from My Friends” – The Power of Collective Knowledge and Accountability

One of the best things I’ve ever done for my business is create a small, trusted accountability group.

I met two of my closest business friends at a conference. Every week, we meet on FaceTime or Messenger. We talk about life and business—what’s working, what’s not, what we’re learning, what’s frustrating us. Sometimes it’s about a staffing issue, sometimes it’s about Canva templates. We’ve even been known to vent about the director who ghosted us and tanked our enrollment that week.

But here’s what I’ve learned: accountability is more than just checking in. It’s about community. It’s about having people who will lift you up when you’re deep in the weeds. In child care, there are seasons that feel like walking through the desert—dry, lonely, overwhelming. And in those moments, the best thing you can do is surround yourself with others who will carry you when you feel like you can’t keep going.

Biblical symbolism often uses the wilderness to represent testing. And honestly? That’s exactly how business can feel—like a wilderness. A dry season where you’re unsure, exhausted, and tempted to give up. But as the saying goes, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor… a cord of three strands is not easily broken.”

Whether or not those words hold personal meaning for you, the truth behind them holds strong in leadership: we are better together.

Business can feel isolating. I’ve had seasons where I felt like a hostage to my center. Trapped. Exhausted. Unable to talk to anyone in my circle who truly understood. My husband? Supportive, yes—but he’s the guy fixing the broken doors and unclogging toilets. He doesn’t live in the day-to-day like I do. My friends outside the industry? They think I spend my days babysitting and making Play-Doh cakes.

But when I found my people—people who get it—everything changed. I could share my struggles and not feel judged. I could hear someone else’s win and feel hope again. Sometimes the only difference between burnout and breakthrough is a single conversation with someone who’s been there. That level of connection is powerful. And practical, too.

Because let’s be real: it’s one thing to come home from a conference inspired and full of ideas. It’s another thing to take action. Without accountability, all those notes and plans have a way of ending up in a filing cabinet, collecting dust. But when someone checks in and says, “Hey—I just finished updating my onboarding packet. Where are you with yours?” it nudges you forward. It keeps you from staying stuck.

You don’t need a massive group. Just one or two people. People who are willing to be real, ask the hard questions, and walk beside you.

If there’s one thing—just one thing—I hope you take from my story, it’s this: find an accountability group. Start one. Join one. Reach out to a fellow center owner. Exchange contact info. Make the commitment.

“Can’t Buy Me Love” – It’s Not Just About the Money

Let’s be honest—money matters. We need to support our families, pay our staff, and keep our doors open. But for most of us in child care, success isn’t measured by a bank account. It’s about helping people. It’s about making a difference. It’s about building something that lasts—something that aligns with our values and purpose.

That’s why coaching changed everything for me. Not just financially, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. It gave me the clarity to lead better, the space to rest, and the freedom to be present for the people who matter most.

And I’ll be totally honest—I am cheap. Coupon-hunting, clearance-shopping, “don’t-buy-it-unless-it-comes-with-a-free-gift” kind of cheap. So when I first considered coaching, I resisted. Hard. I went into it kicking and screaming. I told myself, “I can’t spend that kind of money. Even if I have it, I don’t want to spend it. I’d rather put that money toward something tangible—something I can see.”

But I was drowning. I had a big old mess on my hands, and I couldn’t dig myself out of it—not without burning myself out completely. I was already exhausted. Coaching wasn’t a splurge—it became a lifeline.

What I got in return was my sanity. My time. My peace. The freedom to leave early and go to my kid’s soccer game. The capacity to support other women coming out of hard places—because I’ve been there. The ability to lead without feeling completely depleted.

That kind of freedom? You can’t put a price tag on it.

“We Can Work It Out” – Seeing Beyond Your Blind Spots

Coaching helps you catch the things you can’t see on your own. But it also gives you something even more valuable: vision for the future.

It’s easy to think, “I’ve been doing this for years—I’ve got this.” But just like Decca Records sitting in the room with the Beatles and not seeing their potential, even experienced professionals can miss what’s right in front of them. That’s the risk of leading alone. You only see what you can see.

Blind spots show up in all kinds of places. Maybe it’s in your finances, your staffing process, your systems, or how you’re preparing to expand. You might be thinking about opening a second location, adding a new program, or investing in a building—but you don’t know what you don’t know. And that blind spot can cost you time, money, energy, or even your reputation.

I’ve heard stories from center owners who struggled for months—or even years—on a single issue. One owner told me she was stuck trying to fix a policy that just wasn’t working. Then she hopped on a group call, asked the question, and someone shared exactly what she needed. She said, “I’ve been losing sleep over this, and you just handed me the answer. I’m putting it in the vault.” That’s the power of shared knowledge. You don’t have to recreate the wheel when someone else has already figured it out.

Sometimes we’re so deep in the weeds that we can’t see the full picture. We’re emotionally attached to a staff member who isn’t performing, or we’re so close to a decision that we can’t see the downside. That’s where coaching and mentorship make the biggest difference—not to pat you on the back, but to push you forward. To say the hard thing you might not want to hear—but need to hear to move to the next level.

When you’re in the thick of it—when it’s your building, your team, your heart on the line—it’s hard to stay objective. Having someone outside your bubble say, “Here’s what I’d do,” or, “Here’s what I tried and why it didn’t work,” can save you from a costly mistake or years of stress. Sometimes it’s not even about what to do—it’s about how to do it differently.

That’s why I believe so strongly in surrounding yourself with people who’ve been there. The right insight, at the right moment, from someone just a few steps ahead of you? That can be the thing that pulls you out of burnout and into breakthrough.

“Here Comes the Sun” – The Future You Haven’t Even Imagined Yet

The Beatles went from rejection to global success because they didn’t quit. They kept showing up. They found the right people. They got the support they needed. And they surrounded themselves with people who believed in them, even when others didn’t.

You can do the same.

No matter where you are in your child care journey—whether you’re expanding, struggling, rebuilding, or dreaming—having the right people around you can change everything.

So here’s your invitation: choose connection. Choose support. Choose growth.
Find your people—whether it’s a mastermind group, a coaching program, a mentor, or just one person you can call when things feel hard.

“You don’t know what you don’t know—but now that you do, you don’t have to stay stuck.”

You’re not alone—even if it sometimes feels like you are. You were never meant to do this by yourself.

Want to connect with others who get it? Let’s talk.  https://childcaregenius.com/free-coaching-call/