The Importance of Goal Setting

Hi Everyone:

The only way of achieving anything in life is by setting goals. But a few years ago I learned that I really had no idea on how to set a goal. It’s not just about saying, I need to loose 20 pounds. We all have things that we want to do but some how we kick them to the curb after a few days or weeks.

So what makes the difference between people who say they want to do something, and those who really achieve their dreams? Let’s go over a few hallmark concepts that separate those people who just sit and talk to those who actually achieve what they put their minds to.

1. People who are successful listen to their intuition and let their inner desires guide them. Did you ever have a feeling about something not being right and just go ahead with it anyways? It is a small voice that is not guided by past failures, other people’s opinions, logic, and history. I’ve found that intuition is strongest when my environment is quite. I keep music, television, and other items to a minimum. Keeping in tune with yourself means that you need to keep the noise around you at bay. Another helpful item is a journal, write down what your intuition tells you.

2. Develop your plan of action. Be sure to write down your goals, if you don’t they won’t be real. Place your goals somewhere that you will see them on a daily basis. Realize that the difference between a wish and a goal is visualizing what you want, once you have a clear picture in your mind you can place that thought in your subconscious. This will allow you to focus on the duty at hand. Visualize yourself loosing 20 pounds; see yourself confidently talking in front of a group of people.

3. Most importantly, create a deadline. Deadlines are a magical way of motivating yourself to get the job done. I’ve found that when I miss a deadline I feel poorly about myself. Goals also should be written with the ending thought in mind. For example, I wish to loose 20 pounds in one year. But I also wish to loose 5 pounds each month for the first 6 months. With this thought in mind it is easier to reach your final goal with a series of steps.

Writing you goals as if they have already occurred helps you achieve your goals. For example, I now weight 145 pounds. I now am able to talk in front of 50 people. Staying sold on yourself motivates yourself to complete all your goals. Fill your mind with positive information, listen to motivational tapes and read books that are based on positive thinking and improvement. Turn off the T.V. and especially do not watch the morning news. Start out your day with viewing your goals that you have written. Be grateful for all that you have and realize that you have the ability for achieving so much more.

Love and Blessings,

Christine Groth
Daycare Diva



The “Daycare Diva”, Christine G. Groth, is the creator of “The Guide to Instant Daycare Profits”. To learn more about this step-by-step program and to sign-up for her FREE “How to Start a Daycare” tips and articles, visit www.ExpertsAtDaycare.com

What Do Rich People Have That You Don't?

Tax season is finally over, which meant I had the grand opportunity of going down to Chicago with my hubby for a small business, internet marketing seminar.

It was fantastic, and I met some really interesting people. Some of you may remember “The Mayflower Madam”. She was very well published in the late 80’s and 90’s due to her gentleman’s service. Well, anyways I got to sit next to her at a round table discussion on online teleseminars. I also met other business owners from as far away as Singapore and Australia. I really love going to conferences and meeting so many interesting people. Many of you maybe wondering, so what exactly did you learn?

So here it goes a profound comment and it applies to any business – daycare or not. And yes it also applies to your personal life.

“Success Leaves Traces”.

Many of you may say to me, yeah what’s the big deal.

This is a big deal, and what I’m trying to get at is so many of us are so busy running around we forget to look at the big picture. We aren’t paying attention at what’s really going on. Work, children, cleaning, busy, busy, busy.

If you watch people who are successful they are because of a reason and they leave plenty of evidence around on how they got to where they are. These people are not any smarter than you or I. But they do have qualities that many people lack. Some of those qualities they have are goal setting, desire, faith, and most of all persistence.

They don’t quit when things get rough. Everyone has challenges and failures.

And by the way, there is no such thing as a failure. A failure is you just realizing that something didn’t work.

Just some food for thought. So starting a daycare was indeed the best thing I’ve ever done. Was it easy? Not always, but totally worth it.

We will be raising the price of our ebook in one week, so if you want to save yourself money and not pay the extra $40.00 then don’t delay. Go to http://www.ExpertsatDaycare.com


Love and Blessings,

Christine Groth
Daycare Diva

What's Most Important in Any Daycare?


The key to any effective, positive, quality childcare program is …… you guessed it the “teacher”.

Over the years it has completely amazed me how parents are so in tune with what’s going on at your daycare even though they spend so little time there. Perhaps 5 minutes when they drop off their child or 5 minutes while picking up. Many parents use their intuition and gut feelings to determine if your daycare is a good place for their child.

With this in mind, I decided to list some characteristics of an effective child care teacher. Keep these points in mind for future evaluation.

Effective childcare teachers have specialized training in early childhood. They have completed all their competencies and consistently educate themselves regarding their field. They love children and continue to find new ways to nurture children and their families.

Effective childcare teachers understand that child care ratios are important and need to be maintained in order to provide a quality program. Teachers who run over their numbers often become stressed-out and struggle to provide loving care to those children they care for.

Effective teachers break-up their classes/centers into small activity based areas. For example: Small Motor, Large Motor, Kitchen Area, Computer, Dramatic Play, Arts and Crafts, Sand Table. The list goes on. Children have the ability to select which activity they want to engage in.

Effective teachers have warmth, communicate warmly with children and their families, allow children to express their feelings, and in general work with parents in a partnership.

Love and Blessings,

Christine Groth

http://www.ExpertsAtDaycare.com

Are You a Giving Person?

It’s finally spring here in Wisconsin, or at least it’s trying to be. I spent my Sunday afternoon planting Pansy flowers that I had received from one of my good friends, “The Polish Basement Lady”.

You can meet her at: http://expertsatdaycare.com/interviews.html

She came over on Saturday night to enjoy dinner with us and see my new daycare. She loved it and of course being the expert she is even had a few ideas for the other expert, the daycare diva.

You could divide this area into a baby area or you could knock out this wall and make it into a separate area for sleeping. She had a boat load of ideas, but most importantly there was one thing I learned about her that evening.

Her unbelievable generosity to people and her daughters.

Her daughters just graduated from college. One is a chemist and the other is continuing studying on a master’s degree in Social Work. She continues to pay for their education and their loans so that they do not have any financial burdens. She also wishes to pay $5000.00 for one of the daughter’s weddings happening next fall.

When I got married my mother gave me a check for $69.00 so I could go out and buy a vacuum cleaner. That’s it. No flowers, no pictures, no nothing. But I’m married 12 years later and there is so much more to say about that then flowers, pictures, and everything else.

So I’m so grateful for all the generous ladies out there. And I think that a lot of them are daycare providers and owners.

Love and Blessings,

Christine Groth
Daycare Diva
http://www.ExpertsAtDaycare.com

What Does American Idol Have to Do with Daycare?



Hi Everyone:

Like everyone else, I enjoy watching American Idol, but this year it’s been rather interesting. Yes, you say keep your comments to your self and what does this have to do with daycare? Well, just hold on a minute.

My speculations were that Gina would stick around until the end and people like Sanjaya would be voted off in a quick hurry. It’s obvious that he cannot sing nearly as well as the other well deserving contestants. So what gives?

It’s a world we all remember from the days of high school, those dreaded days I remember. It’s defined as:

Popularity.

It does not matter that Sanjaya can’t sing because he entertains . It also remains to be the same with other pop icons such as Britney Spears, Madonna, and who every else you can think of. People like to be entertained, and made important.

So what the heck does this have to do with daycare? Simple. There are daycare centers out there that look beautiful on the outside and inside but suffer from many of the problems that everyone else has. And unfortunately parents flock to these beautiful centers because they look good. Maybe not the greatest teachers, curriculum, but they’ve got the most fandangeled equipment. I can think of one right down the block, that daycare has got a swimming pool and swim lessons. It’s great for the children, but the reality of this is most daycare centers do not have the financial ability to pull this off.

It also goes to show you the idea that people move in packs and in herds. They all do the same thing and also believe that if their neighbors are doing it is must be ok.

The simple fact is don’t worry about the other daycare’s of the world. Do what you love and do it well. And they will come to you.

This is just a snip-it of great information from the Daycare Diva. Start your own Daycare by going to http://www.ExpertsAtDaycare.com

Love and Blessings,

Christine Groth
Daycare Diva

Cheap Daycare Could Mean Lousy Care

A couple of day’s ago I got a call from a lady who I mentored and she had a very interesting question for me. One that many of you will come across as consumers and sellers of business.

As consumers we are always concerned about the price of things and whether it’s worth the higher price or shall we say the cheap price. This applies to all things from toothpaste to the car we purchase. And I think we have realized that sometimes it’s worth the cheap price and sometimes it’s really not. The same old montra still applies, “you pay what you get for”. So a lot of people really think that the cheap items will lend a “cheap result”.

So back to what I was saying in the first place. I got this call from a lady who was becoming a new daycare provider and her question was, “What if everyone else ( fellow competitors) have a cheaper price than I do?”. Great question.

I firmly believe that providers who undercharge are representing themselves in a manner that does not lend to professionalism in childcare. I also may assume that some of those providers may have issues with enrolling children and charge the cheap price to lure them into their door.

My other thought is if you have a great daycare, provide great quality care, and love what you do you should charge the maximum price for your time out of respect for you and your commitment for care for both the children and their families.

Sorry, this is not a blue light special and we are not talking about toothpaste, but about the most valued, loved, irreplaceable individual in the parents life- their child.

In essence, I would not compare prices, but keep in mind a general idea of the value of your business and time. And what ever you do don’t be the cheapest. Or you will attract clients who want cheap and not quality care. One food for thought, clients who want cheap tend not to be good clients who want to pay.

Love and Blessings,

Christine Groth
Daycare Diva
http://www.ExpertsAtDaycare.com

P.S. We have just launched the Experts and Daycare Inner Circle! Each month you will receive a live tele-conference which you will call into. Meet an expert at daycare each month in the comfort of your own home. Special introductory rate of $9.95 per month.
For more information mailto:christine@instantdaycareprofits.com

The Pursuit of Happyness

I just got done watching the movie, “The Pursuit of Happyness”. Yes, it’s spelled wrong on purpose or so they say in the movie.

I can’t say more than enough about this movie, and what really stood out for me was the fact that one day this man slept in the subway bathroom with his child and several years later he became a multi-millionaire. Almost overnight.

So I guess I have something to confide in all of you. Eleven years ago I was on welfare and social assistance. I had just gotten married and given birth to twin girls and I was not working. My husband Robert had just graduated from college and began working in accounting. Newly married, new parents, new house, and very poor. You may have heard the bits and pieces of our story in my bio at http://www.ExpertsAtDaycare.com

So I really related to this story, I was no different and continue to move onward at the same pace of Chris Gardner (main character in the movie).

What set’s people apart from going from a dismal depressing situation to becoming a winner?

PERSISTANCE

Never giving up on your dreams and never letting anyone take them away from you. There will always be someone out there to shoot you down.

There really is much opportunity I this country we live in and I know you have all heard this before. Blah, blah, blah. But the fact remains, you just have to go to the buffet line and get what you want.

Don’t be shy and don’t think small. It’s all there for the taking. It’s the way God wanted it.

So in lew of his death for us we celebrate that he has risen. And forgiven us for all sins we have committed.

Happy Easter to you and your families,

Love and Blessings,

Christine Groth
Daycare Diva