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