This special episode is an Inner Circle retreat sneak-peek, where keynote speaker Dan Martell shares how to strategically buy back your time to unlock painless growth and to scale a studio you don’t grow to hate one day.

You don’t have time to do everything; only time to do what matters! As professionals and leaders, we wear many hats and it is easy to be constantly distracted, overwhelmed and not achieving the results we want and need to grow our business.

If we develop systems to increase our productivity and streamline our businesses we can focus on growing our sales and teams. This exclusive Inner Circle retreat sneak-peek is perfect for leaders who want more control so they can manage their time, focus their attention and manage their energy.

It's the FINAL week of our 'Work Less, Make More' series with the incredible Annie Leese Thistle, and in this week's podcast Annie shares the impact that working less has had on her life, both at the studio and outside of it in her personal life.

In this heartfelt and value-packed episode, Annie shares:

About the Work Less, Make More podcast series, with guest host Annie Leese Thistle.

For the next 6 weeks, we couldn't be more excited to be introducing a brand new host here on the podcast. Annie Leese Thistle is an extraordinary Studio Owner and Inner Circle member who will be leading from behind the microphone for a 6-part podcast series, ‘Work Less, Make More”

Annie is the CEO and Artistic Director of Performing Arts Academy of Marin - also known as PAAM - in Mill Valley, California.  Annie established PAAM in the summer of 2009, facilitating its growth with the help of dedicated faculty and staff from humble beginnings in a church hall to a thriving community with state-of-the-art facilities and premier training in dance and the performing arts.

In this limited series, Annie will be your guide to achieving more freedom and balance in your studio life as she walks you through her 6 Secrets to a Profitable 20 Hour Work Week.

This week we are going to talk about the 4 key people you need to assemble as you build your Rally Team for 2023 and beyond!

Throughout our journey's as Dance Studio Owners, we need people by our sides who can support us, love us, and be our biggest cheerleaders . So how do we find those crucial and amazing friends and confidants that really keep the wheels turning in our lives, and bring us happiness and joy in this journey so that we don't feel quite so alone?

Over the next 30 minutes, Annie Leese Thistle shares;

• What happens when you don't surround yourself by people that mirror, support and uplift you
• Where to find people who are like-minded in motivating themselves, and wanting the best not only for themselves, but for you as well
• The mentors and communities that have supported her in various way throughout her business journey
• How she discovered that it had to be HER decision to be inspired and move forward in order to achieve her version of success

Sometimes, being a dance studio owner can feel like an island, and Annie knows first-hand how critical your Rally Team is to your success and longevity in business.

"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." Jim Rohn 

About the Work Less, Make More podcast series, with Annie Leese Thistle

For the next 6 weeks, we couldn't be more excited to be introducing a brand new host here on the podcast. Annie Leese Thistle is an extraordinary Studio Owner and Inner Circle member who will be leading from behind the microphone for a 6-part podcast series, ‘Work Less, Make More”

Annie is the CEO and Artistic Director of Performing Arts Academy of Marin - also known as PAAM - in Mill Valley, California.  Annie established PAAM in the summer of 2009, facilitating its growth with the help of dedicated faculty and staff from humble beginnings in a church hall to a thriving community with state-of-the-art facilities and premier training in dance and the performing arts.

In this limited series, Annie will be your guide to achieving more freedom and balance in your studio life as she walks you through her 6 Secrets to a Profitable 20 Hour Work Week.

When you look at the day and week ahead, are you paying close attention to your natural energy peaks?

How about your preferred activity or satisfaction levels?

Annie is the CEO and Artistic Director of Performing Arts Academy of Marin - also known as PAAM - in Mill Valley, California.  Annie established PAAM in the summer of 2009, facilitating its growth with the help of dedicated faculty and staff from humble beginnings in a church hall to a thriving community with state-of-the-art facilities and premier training in dance and the performing arts.

In this limited series, Annie will be your guide to achieving more freedom and balance in your studio life as she walks you through her 6 Secrets to a Profitable 20 Hour Work Week.

"Freedom" is a word that Dance Studio Owner, Annie Leese Thistle can get behind - and we know its one you can get behind too!

This week's episode is all about the 4 key ways that Annie has achieved more freedom and balance in her studio and life as she strives towards the 20 hour work week that enables her to Work Less, Make More. 

This week, Annie walks you through:

1. Why you need to create clear job descriptions for your team.
2. Empowering your team to be thinkers and come up with new ideas.
3. Planning for your team’s productivity as well as your own.
4. Discovering what are your "loss leaders".

Annie also shares her tips for laying out your days and weeks for maximum producitivity and freedom, AND the #1 financial tip that has transcended into her leadership and empowered her employees to take initiative confidently in their roles. 

We hope you enjoy this week's episode of Work Less, Make More with Annie Leese Thistle, powered by the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast. 

About your Host, Annie Leese Thistle!

For the next 6 weeks, we couldn't be more excited to be introducing a brand new host here on the podcast. Annie Leese Thistle is an extraordinary Studio Owner and Inner Circle member who will be leading from behind the microphone for a 6-part podcast series, ‘Work Less, Make More”

Annie is the CEO and Artistic Director of Performing Arts Academy of Marin - also known as PAAM - in Mill Valley, California.

Annie established PAAM in the summer of 2009, facilitating its growth with the help of dedicated faculty and staff from humble beginnings in a church hall to a thriving community with state-of-the-art facilities and premier training in dance and the performing arts. 

In this limited series, Annie will be your guide to achieving more freedom and balance in your studio life as she walks you through her 6 Secrets to a Profitable 20 Hour Work Week.

What are the things that are currently holding you back from reaching your full potential?

If you are a studio owner who wants change; if you want more, if you want better than your average; you need to change some things in order to get different results.

And that is exactly what this week's episode of "Work Less, Make More"on the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast with guest host, Annie Leese Thistle.

In this episode, you'll unlock:

• How to define what you really want in life so that you can be empowered to go after it
• Practical strategies for taking inventory of your current work week
• Tasks can you offload right now, and those you can look forward to offloading in the near future
• The importance of having clear training processes and systems in place

"You have to start with YOU in order to fix anything in your business or quality of life."

For the next 6 weeks, we couldn't be more excited to be introducing a brand new host here on the podcast. Annie Leese Thistle is an extraordinary Studio Owner and Inner Circle member who will be leading from behind the microphone for a 6-part podcast series, ‘Work Less, Make More”

Annie is the CEO and Artistic Director of Performing Arts Academy of Marin - also known as PAAM - in Mill Valley, California.

Annie established PAAM in the summer of 2009, facilitating its growth with the help of dedicated faculty and staff from humble beginnings in a church hall to a thriving community with state-of-the-art facilities and premier training in dance and the performing arts. 

In this limited series, Annie will be your guide to achieving more freedom and balance in your studio life as she walks you through her 6 Secrets to a Profitable 20 Hour Work Week.

In this six part podcast series 'Work Less, Make More', workaholic studio owner Annie Lesse Thistle discovers her true values and transforms her life to achieve a balance of work, family, and self that she never thought possible.

During this podcast mini-series, Annie will be your guide to achieving more freedom and balance in your studio life as she walks you through her six secrets to achieving the highly profitable 20 hour work week.

In this series premiere, you'll discover:
1. How Annie Leese Thistle went from working 72 hours a week to a 20 hour work week
2. What it was like for Annie during the pandemic and how it changed her perspective
3. How to identify and let go of things in your life that are holding you back

And SO much more.

"Everything you want is on the other side of fear."

About Your Host: Annie Leese Thistle is an extraordinary studio owner and Inner Circle member who will be leading a six-part series on working less and making more.

Annie is the CEO and artistic director of Performing Arts Academy of Marin (PAM) in Mill Valley, California. She established Pam in 2009 and has grown it from humble beginnings in a church hall to a thriving community with state-of-the-art facilities and premier training in dance and the performing arts. 

Candace Nelson, founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes, shares her insights on entrepreneurship, failure, and team building, providing the jolt of creativity and clarity dance studio owners need to take their studio to the next level.

If you want to learn how to be a successful studio CEO, take some lessons from Candace Nelson's successes and failures with her businesses.

Candace Nelson is the founder of Sprinkles Cupcakes, the world's first cupcake bakery. She is also a judge on the competition series Cupcake Wars and Sugar Rush.

This is Candace Nelson's story...

Candace Nelson is a successful entrepreneur and business owner who has built several businesses from the ground up. One of the things she is most proud of is her ability to maintain a beginner's mindset throughout her journey. This quality has allowed her to continue learning and growing, even as the landscape around her has changed. She is also a strong advocate for normalizing failure and believes that it is through failure that we learn the most valuable lessons.

In this episode, you'll discover:

1. How Candace consistently comes up with innovative new concepts and ideas (even knowing that some of them won't be successful)
2. What qualities Candace possesses as an entrepreneur that has fueled her continued success
3. What Candace has learned about team building, mentoring, and retaining great staff during her journey as a business owner

And SO much more! 

We hope you enjoy this exclusive interview, and unlock the confidence, courage & motivation you need to be a successful studio CEO.

Last month, Clint Salter hosted a live interview to celebrate the launch of Candace Nelson’s new book ‘Sweet Success’, and the insights shared during their hour together was so valuable that we simply had to bring it to you here on the podcast!

Over this 2-part mini series, you’ll learn how Sprinkles founder, Candace Nelson turned her passion into a profitable business, one cupcake at a time while getting the jolt of creativity and clarity you need to take your studio to the next level. 

We hope you enjoy this exclusive interview, and unlock the confidence, courage & motivation you need to be a successful studio CEO.

In the Inner Circle, we believe that studio ownership doesn’t need to be stressful for you to be successful.

In this special interview, our guests will show you how to stop running around putting out fires in your business, and return to the passionate, confident leader you were when you first started out - with a lot more cash in the bank and way more time to spend doing the things you love.

In the grand finale of the Studio Empire Formula, Hillary Parnell shares the 12 biggest business and life lessons she has learned as a 7-figure dance studio CEO (and wishes she had learned sooner!)

In the first episode of the Studio Empire Formula series, guest host Hillary Parnell talked a lot about overwhelm - and today she's back behind the mic to talk about the ugly cousin of overwhelm.

No matter how much you love your job, no matter how efficient and productive you tend to be by nature, everyone has done this at least once.

Can you guess what it is?

Of course, We’re talking about procrastination!

Pretty much everyone else can admit they procrastinate sometimes and it stalls out their work and keeps them from getting that list finally complete - and in this episode Hillary is not only going to walk you through the WHY of procrastination, but also how to make it work FOR you and not against you. 

We’re taking a dive deep into some topics that might be a little taboo this week! Some things that you might not quite understand right away, or might feel immediately opposed to.  But my hope is that I can change your mind. I hope you can see another point of view and then eventually, change your opinion on these subjects. 

Here are my big bold statements for the day- 

#1- Competition is beneficial to your business in EVERY way. (studio competition, not comp for your dancers.

#2- Negative Reviews are one of the BEST things that can happen to your business.

#3- EVERY customer issue is an opportunity to be awesome.

Do you think people should get paid for doing a job? Do you think people should get paid less for doing a poor job? What about people who do an exceptional job? 

The obvious answer is yes, to all of the above. But the reality is, lots of people do a job without getting paid. Probably some of you don’t pay yourself. Or sometimes people get hired for one job and end up doing another or a bigger job and not getting paid more or any differently. What about the people who barely do their job, or aren't’ keeping up with everyone else and dragging down the team?

Just like the last episode, if you don’t have a team yet, no problem. Stick with us and learn a few lessons so you don’t make the same mistakes everyone else does when they first start hiring people.

This episode of The Empire Formula series could also be called "Tough Love, With Hillary Parnell", as our host dives into how you might be getting in your own way of success - and it all comes down to leaderhsip. 

Over the next 30 minutes, Hillary takes a deep dive into:

• Why your desire to be in control of everything is hurting your business
• What will happen when you decide to stop putting out fires in your studio
• How to get better at delegating
• The best ways to hire an incentivize the best people for the job
• The biggest limiting belief that could be holding you back from ever reaching your potential

And so much more!

Over the next six weeks we are thrilled to be welcoming the one and only Hillary Parnell as our guest host for a brand new series: The Empire Formula!

Hillary Parnell is one of the Studio Growth Coaches inside the Inner Circle, the owner of Academy For The Performing Arts in North Carolina, and the owner and founder of Dance Photo Pro! This very special series will give you an inside-look into how Hillary has grown her dance studio into an Empire as she shares her strategies that will help you unleash your inner CEO.

In this season Hillary will be diving into: measuring and managing your success; limiting beliefs and grand gestures; letting go of the day-to-day; debunking delegation myths, and so much more!

As a growth coach inside the DSOA Inner Circle, Hillary Parnell works with Dance Studio Owners around the world to level up their businesses while continuing to find balance in their lives.

This week, Hillary is back behind the microphone to debut our brand new 6-episode series: The Empire Formula.

Many of the Studio Owners that we work with here in the DSOA have access to all of the tips, tricks and strategies to make changes in their studios.

But not everyone is taking action.

You can listen to all the podcasts in the world pay, for all the training manuals, read all the articles, but not everyone puts them into practice.

In this series, Hillary is approaching things from a brand new angle. She will be sharing her stories as well as the stories from our Inner Circle community that will help you see why it's so important to take action, AND give you the inspiration to take action.

Together we will be making the connection between action and consequence so we can go back and look at studio growth strategies with an entirely new energy levels of excitement.

In this series Hillary will be showing you:

- Ways to remove yourself from the day to day of your studio not have every decision weigh heavily on your shoulders
- How to find the right level balance in your life
- What it takes wake up feeling calm and have purpose every day

And most importantly, how to make money doing what you love!

Buckle up as Hillary shares the most important lessons she has learned that has helped studio owners achieve true success - just financial success.

In this series premiere, Hillary is taking a deep-dive into one of the most common challenges that Studio Owners face no matter how long they have been running their business, or how big they have become - OVERWHELM.

In the final episode of this thought-provoking 3-part series, Phil M Jones shares his 5-step sales process that you can plug and play into your studio to see drastic increases in your new student enrollments.

Often, the fear of being a salesperson means that you stand in the way of success and this week Phil is sharing his magical words that will help you avoid losing those important sales. 

Enjoy the ride as you discover the power that language has over the subconscious brain, and gain practical examples that you can apply instantly as you learn how the “Magic Words” from Phil’s best-selling book, EXACTLY What To Say, are applied to your dance studio.

"One of the most underrated skills when it comes to influencing people to take action, is to truly LISTEN to them." - Phil M Jones.

This thought-provoking 3-part series will have you enthralled as you learn how the “Magic Words” from Phil’s best-selling book, EXACTLY What To Say, are applied to your specific business-critical situations.

This mini-series delivers immediate actionable outcomes, where you can expect to be keen to work on your new word choices as early as the next break that follows!

Over the next 3 weeks, you’ll have your own front row ticket into our Inner Circle retreats, where we are sharing with you some of the best moments from one of our world-class speakers, Phil M. Jones.

In Part One of this limited series, you'll discover the #1 thing that could be holding you back from reaching your goals in business - fear of rejection - and the exact words you need to overcome it to drastically increase your enrollments and retention. 

Phil is a crowd-favorite inside the Inner Circle, and over the course of this 3-episode special you’ll find out why! This retreat exclusive will have you enthralled from the very start as you discover the power of language in your dance studio, and gain practical examples that you can apply instantly in business and life. 

This thought-provoking 3-part series will have you enthralled from the very start as you discover the power that language has over the subconscious brain, gain practical examples that you can apply instantly and learn how the “Magic Words” from Phil’s best-selling book, EXACTLY What To Say, are applied to your specific business-critical situations.

This mini-series delivers immediate actionable outcomes, where you can expect to be keen to work on your new word choices as early as the next break that follows!

What would YOU do if you had just one week to define your legacy?

In her final week as guest host, Kim McSwain answers this question as she breaks down the 5 core elements of YOUR 'Win-Win' dance studio machine. 

Kim reflects on this 6-part series as she dives into her experiences and expertise when it comes to: instilling excellence at all times; addressing what's missing in your training; valuing your customers; uniting your studio family; and the importance of continuing your professional development.

This week, guest host Kim McSwain is talking about the #1 thing you need to invest in for your studio's future: continuing education.

Kim believes that we can ALL be better at what we do, but so many of us neglect professional or professional development because we're simply too busy. 

Over the next 20 minutes, Kim will share her priorities for YOUR investment in the future, and the future of your dancers.  

We hope you love this week's episode of the Win-Win Machine, powered by the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast as much as we do!

The great news for YOU is that the doors are now open to join the Dance Studio Owners Inner Circle.

The bad news?

They are only open for a very limited time.

So if you are ready to take your studio to the next level, make sure to apply for the Dance Studio Owners Inner Circle today, at dsoa.com/innercircle.

This week's episode is all about breaking down walls and uniting your studio family - and who better to bring you actionable tips that you can implement into your studio than guest host and DSOA Inner Circle Coach, Kim McSwain!

We hope you love this week's episode of the Win-Win Machine, powered by the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast as much as we do!

The great news for YOU is that the doors are now open to join the Dance Studio Owners Inner Circle.

The bad news?

They are only open for a very limited time.

So if you are ready to take your studio to the next level, make sure to apply for the Dance Studio Owners Inner Circle today, at dsoa.com/innercircle.

Guest host, Kim McSwain is channeling her inner 'Fresh Prince' this week, as she shares her insights into managing parents and relationships inside your studio. 

Every time we ask our global community of studio owners, 'What is the biggest challenge you face in business'? the most common answer can be summed up in one word: PARENTS. 

In this not-to-be-missed episode, Kim lays it all out on the table to help you manage the expectations and boundaries with your dance moms and dads so that you can have the thriving and harmonious business you deserve. 

The focus of this week’s episode is critical for the survival of your dance studio, and that is to answer the question “what's missing in your training”?

No matter how big or small your studio is, no matter whether you have been operating for 5 months or 5 decades, in order to continue growing and thriving in business it’s imperative that we all continue to learn and not get “stuck” in what we know works.

Nobody knows this better than our ‘Win-Win Machine’ host, Kim McSwain, who has dedicated her career to empowering studio owners, teachers, parents and students to pursue excellence in every aspect of dance, business and life. 

In this no-holds-barred episode, Kim shares:

• How you can set yourself up to win in your personal and professional development goals by delegating efficiently and committing only to what serves YOU and your goals best
  
  
• The importance of continual growth, and the dangers of getting stuck in your ways
  
  
• Everyday hacks for prioritizing your most important tasks in order to enhance your performance and results
  
  

She also gives you the 3 self-reflections questions you need to ask yourself regularly that will keep you moving forward and accountable to your growth. 

To help you prepare for your upcoming season, the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast  and Changing Lives Founder, Kim McSwain are coming together to host this extraordinary 6-week special for Dance Studio Owners to become the ultimate Win-Win Studio!

In the grand finale of our Inner Circle Retreat Sneak Peek, Jesse Cole hosts a Q&A all about standing out, creating attention, and cultivating an amazing customer experience. 

Jesse is the founder of Fans First Entertainment, owner of the Savannah Bananas and author of Find Your Yellow Tux. He has welcomed more than 1 million fans to his ballpark and been featured on MSNBC, CNN and ESPN. 🌟

Listen to the 3-part podcast series with Jesse, if you’ve missed it!

In the second part of our Inner Circle Retreat Sneak Peek, Jesse Cole shares how to develop his “fans first” mentality that will earn you both attention and word of mouth referrals. 🙌

Plus, discover how to never lose a customer again with his step-by-step plan to impress customers after the sale.

This week we’re kicking off a brand new podcast series! For the next 3 weeks, you’ll be getting an Inner Circle Retreat Sneak Peek with Jesse Cole. ☀️

Our first episode is all about perfecting the customer experience in your studio. Using his trademark Raving Fans and Customer for Life techniques, Jesse walks our listeners through the strategy that transforms ordinary customers into loyal ones.

As a mom of 4, Kelli shares that she somehow finds her creativity and innovation amongst the chaos (which may or may not include hiding in the closet from her 3 year old twins 😅). Instead of fighting the chaos, Kelli encourages us to embrace it and use it as our secret weapon.

Innovation is what distinguishes between a leader and a follower 💡

In the Episode 5 of 6: Innovate To Thrive Podcast, Kelli Leighton tells us about the most successful new role she’s created on her team that helped change their mindset on approaching challenges, finding solutions, and never using the words "but that's how we've always done it".

• What it really took for studio owners to constantly pivot and innovate every single day through the pandemic, and the lessons we can take into the future.
• How to keep the innovative mindset that we have each been forced to create, and how to flex and reshape it into a muscle that is an asset to our business.
• What could happen if we allow ourselves to continue breaking out of our established patterns in order to look at things in a new way.

Kelli also shares the unlimited thinking strategies she has used in a way that ensures she is always managing change on her own terms.

“Innovation is change that unlocks new value.”

Or is it a collection of other people's opinions and definitions of success? 🤔

In part 2 of her podcast series, Innovate to Thrive, Kelli Leighton is sharing 3 big, scary questions she asked herself, her staff, and her most loyal clients that lead to a decision to rebuild her entire business.

In this week’s grand finale of our 3-part Inner Circle Retreat special, our extraordinary guest speaker Laurieann Gibson is answering our Inner Circle member’s most pressing questions in a never-before shared Q&A panel!

Laurieann shares her insights into:

• How to ensure that new hires and guest teachers in your studio are aligned with your vision and follow your studio rules (especially those who might be higher-status or higher-maintenance than others!
  
  
• Recognizing when it is time to collaborate and diversify when you experience stagnation in your studio’s growth
  
  
• Helping your competitive dancers to navigate negative feedback and adopting a warrior mindset as a group
  
  

Laurieann also shares her tips for understanding and facing adversity in a productive way, and digging deep into what your challenges really mean.

You're invited into the Dance Studio Owners Inner Circle Retreat with this podcast exclusive - a sneak peak into Laurieann Gibson's powerful session: Dance Your Dance - Part Two.

Your dream, your dance, is unique to you.

No matter your calling, Laurieann wants you to seize your passion and use it to propel you to your best life.

Drawing on her fascinating artistic experiences and the faith that sustained her through her biggest challenges, Laurieann will discuss ways to encourage the dreamer in you and your teachers and students.

ABOUT LAURIEANN: One of the most important pop culture influencers in the entertainment today, director/choreographer/artist Laurieann Gibson is a force to be reckoned with.

Counting numerous international superstars such as Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Diddy, Akon, K-pop's Big Bang, and Nicki Minaj among her clients, Gibson brings a unique brand, blending traditional artist development with movement and dance training to their collaborations.

Combined with a distinctive creative eye and an artist in her own right, she is one of the most sought-after creative directors and choreographers in the music and film industries today. 

She was the creative visionary, director, and choreographer behind Gaga’s “The Fame Monster World Tour 2010”, receiving a 2011 Creative Emmy nomination for directing the HBO special taped at Madison Square Garden.

She was a choreographer for MTV’s hit television show “Making the Band”, and since then, she has appeared as a judge on several reality shows.

She is also the published author of Dance Your Dance: 8 Steps to Unleash Your Passion and Live Your Dream.

You're invited into the Dance Studio Owners Inner Circle Retreat with this podcast exclusive - a sneak peak into Laurieann Gibson's powerful session: Dance Your Dance - Part One.

Your dream, your dance, is unique to you.

No matter your calling, Laurieann wants you to seize your passion and use it to propel you to your best life.

Drawing on her fascinating artistic experiences and the faith that sustained her through her biggest challenges, Laurieann will discuss ways to encourage the dreamer in you and your teachers and students.

Studio Growth Week is here, and what better way to kick things off than with our EPIC final episode of the Connection To Creation series with your guest host, Cara Poppitt!

In the C2C grand finale, Cara is here to shed some light on building your thriving business so that you can enjoy a fulfilling life personally, professionally, creatively AND financially. She also shares her actionable tips that will empower you to make a significant impact in your community along the way.

This week you’ll discover:

• How to shift your mindset from ‘director’ to ‘leader’ and why it matters
• The tools you need to become a problem-solver and the changes you can expect to see when you being responding instead of reacting 
• Tips for managing the unexpected in your business and life, and seeing opportunities in every conflict
• The power of accountability and celebration when bonding your team 

And so much more!

DON’T FORGET - Studio Growth Week is happening this week, and it’s not too late to register! Click here to save your free space in this value-packed training ⇒ dsoa.com/growthweek

Don't forget - Studio Growth Week starts TODAY!

In case you missed the 411, this is a full week of FREE and unique studio sessions designed to make your life easier and allow you to run a smoother studio.

We’re covering strategies to help you:

• Increase your new student numbers over the next 90 days
• Automate key systems & save time with fully integrated studio software from Jackrabbit Dance
• Foster authenticity & connection among your team to keep top talent happy & motivated
• Re-enroll & retain more students with our proven processes
• Peek behind the curtain to see real data and industry benchmarks from 4,000+ studios
  
  It’s not too late to register >> https://dsoa.com/growthweek

One of the topics that a lot of Dance Studio Owners from all over the world are struggling with in 2022 is the leadership role they play in their studio.

Leading your team takes a lot of time to refine, and if this is an area you feel insecure about in your business then there are 2 pieces of great news in today’s podcast episode:

1/ You’re not alone, and
2/ It’s not too late!

Great leadership takes experience, and the only way you’re going to get there is by DOING, and in this week’s episode of Connection To Creation Cara will walk you through the action steps you can take to drastically improve your leadership confidence, including:

• The importance of showing up - not just for your team, but also for yourself.
• How tapping into your confidence will result in more intention decision-making and calmer conversations
  
• The key factors in reducing pressure, stress and anxiety when leading from your higher level
  
• Why you need to flex your confidence muscle every single day in order for it to grow
  
• The empowering questions you should be asking yourself as part of your daily routine

Cara also gives you the roadmap to confidence by sharing the steps you can start taking right now to lead with confidence and connection.

“As studio owners we are teaching young girls how to show up in life. And if you can start really being dedicated to showing up for yourself, making yourself a priority, and showing women that it's okay to do that. We all rise up a little bit higher together.”

In this week's value-packed episode, guest host Cara Poppitt is sharing her hottest tips and tools to help you empower your team through connection.

As studio owners, to empower our team it's important to come from an authentic place in order to achieve the results that we desire while minimizing some of the common frustrations that we come up against when it comes to our TEAMS.

In this episode, Cara dives into:

• Why it's important to care for your team members in order for them to reach their potential
• The risks that you come up against when beng reactive, and operating out of fear in your business
• What it means to really 'see' someone and the impact of small, simple acts in your business and life
• The connection between delegation and empowerment in your team
• The key questions you should be asking your team regularly (not just at their hiring interview!)

Cara also shares how to set clear and reasonable expectations with your team that will empower them to live up to their potential and stick with you through the ups and downs of studio life.

PS - Did you hear that The doors are officially open to apply to join the Dance Studio Owners Inner Circle - but they are only open for a very limited time.

So if you are ready to take your studio to the next level and join our team of coaches and guest experts in the world’s leading program for Dance Studio Owners, make sure to apply for the Dance Studio Owners Inner Circle today, at dsoa.com/apply.

As studio owners, it’s not uncommon to feel stuck, or to battle with simply having too much on our plate at any given time.

But as leaders, we're also always evolving.

So how can we truly make the most out of our growing curiosity and ambition, if we’re also frequently finding ourselves in a state of overwhelm?

That’s exactly where Transform My Dance Studio guest host, Cara Poppitt comes in this week as she shares her simple but effective strategies that will help you to approach growing your business and upleveling your life the right way for you.

In this week’s episode of our Dance Studio Connection To Creation podcast series, Cara shares:

• Why it’s important to look beyond the end result of your goals
• The most important questions you can ask yourself and your team when it comes to goal-setting
• The art of active listening and the unbelievable results you will see by making one simple change in your communication

Cara also dives into the methods she has used to tap into her ‘higher self’ to make positive, lasting changes to grow her business in a way that has served her goals.

“Inspiration alone is not enough. We also need the application.” - Cara Poppitt.


Over the next 6 weeks, we are delighted to be introducing guest host Cara Poppit for our unmissable ‘Connection To Creation' series.  Cara is not only one of the DSOA's industry leading coaches inside the dance studio owners Inner Circle, she is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Soul Connexion in Calgary, and the founder and CEO of the Studio Fine Arts Club. 

In this podcast series, Cara will be sharing the tools and strategies that have helped to launch her business ventures into empires, and the connections that have changed her life.

Over the next 6 weeks, we are delighted to be introducing guest host Cara Poppit for our unmissable ‘Connection To Creation' series. 

Cara is not only one of the DSOA's industry leading coaches inside the dance studio owners Inner Circle, she is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Soul Connexion in Calgary, and the founder and CEO of the Studio Fine Arts Club. 

In this podcast series, Cara will be sharing the tools and strategies that have helped to launch her business ventures into empires, and the connections that have changed her life.

Over the next 6 weeks, we are delighted to be introducing guest host Cara Poppit for our unmissable ‘Connection To Creation' series. 

Cara is not only one of the DSOA's industry leading coaches inside the dance studio owners Inner Circle, she is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Soul Connexion in Calgary, and the founder and CEO of the Studio Fine Arts Club. 

In this podcast series, Cara will be sharing the tools and strategies that have helped to launch her business ventures into empires, and the connections that have changed her life.

This week is part 2 of our super exciting sneak peek inside the Inner Circle, and we can’t wait to share this with you. 

We’re back with Elise Mitchell, who is sharing more of her leadership expertise with us. This episode is all about how to get your team on-board with your bigger-picture goals by honing in on your leadership skills, gaining confidence from others and embracing uncertainty.

This week is part 1 of a super exciting sneak peek inside the Dance Studio Owners Inner Circle. 

Part 1 all about “Leading Through the Turn” with the spectacular Elise Mitchell. Elise shares her leadership strategies to get the most out of your leadership journey, plus how to enjoy the ride, find greater work/life balance and much more.

Like most Dance Studio Owners, you probably know what it feels like to have a rough couple days (or weeks, or months if you look over the last 2 years!)

But you also know the feeling that pushes you through to the other side - the feeling and the knowledge that things are gonna get better soon.

Here in the Dance Studio Owners Inner Circle, it’s what is commonly known as the ‘Studio Rollercoaster’, and riding the highs and the lows of business is exactly what Angela and Jodi are diving into in this week’s episode of the Elevate Your Studio podcast.

Over the next powerful 20 minutes, join our hosts for their honest and powerful insights into:

- Staying in your own lane without getting distracted or tempted to compare your own journey to that of others.

- The importance of training your ‘resilience’ muscle to keep yourself from crashing every time you hit a bump in the road.

- How to harness your own ‘hardcore mindset’ in order to thrive in the face of adversity

- Sharing your ‘Studio Rollercoaster’ strategies with your students to help prepare them for the highs and lows of the dance industry

PLUS discovering the silver-lining that you never expected to see!

Enjoy this week’s episode in full right here, and make sure to subscribe to the Transform My Dance Studio podcast for over 400 episodes of pure Dance Studio gold.

This week’s episode is all about how to tackle those challenges and step into your role gracefully.

In this week's episode of the Transform My Dance Studio, our dynamic duo share how to build trust – a must-have for all studio owners – by embracing vulnerability with clients, paying attention, asking questions and always having an attitude of service.

They also cover the strategies they used to increase enrollments (and PROFITS) by expanding to schools and daycare centers.

Cultivating team players in your studio is a huge part of your growth as a business owners for one simple reason: you just can’t do it alone.


Sure, in the first few months and maybe even years of launching the dance studio you dreamed about, you can wear every hat. You might even enjoy doing everything, or perhaps you’re scared that if you start to bring more people in, things will start to go wrong.

It’s scary to bring more people into your studio, because let’s face it - it’s more than just a business to you. It’s your baby, your home. Your life.

But while bringing more people into the studio can be scary, bringing the right people into your studio can be transformational beyond anything you could have dreamed or planned on your own.

In this week’s episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast, guest hosts Angela and Jodi share their own experiences in cultivating a dream team the right way, including:

• How to assess the cost of new hires, and when you know the time is right to make place for a new employee in your team and your budget.
  
  
• Baby-steps you can take to comfortably begin delegating, training and introducing new team members into your world without fear or overwhelm.
  
  
• Common hiring mistakes and red-flag moments that they are desperate for YOU to avoid!
  
  

PLUS how to navigate the not-so-fun elements of leading your team when staying true to your studio vision and values. 

This week you're invited to do something that's becoming increasingly RARE for a studio owner…

You see, so often we just keep going … and going ….and going….  and never really stop and give ourselves permission to pause. Or to give ourselves a break.

So often, we fall into the mindset that the harder we work, the more we'll achieve.

The show must go on, right?

Well…not quite.

In today's episode of the Elevate Your Studio series, you'll discover simple, healthy ways that you can reset and recharge (no, you don't need to take a holiday - unless you want to of course) so that you can be the best YOU for your studio, your family, and most importantly, for yourself.

What can YOU do on a daily basis to reset and recharge?

Find out on this week's episode of the Transform My Dance Studio Podcast!

Hi there Dance Studio Owners, and welcome to a brand new week here at the ‘Transform My Dance Studio’ podcast!

To kick off 2022 , we are delighted to be welcoming back Jodi Shilling and Angela Mannella-Hoffman as our guest hosts for the next 6 weeks in a brand new season of ‘Elevate Your Studio’

In their fourth season together behind the microphone, Jodi and Angela are laying it all on the table as they share the highs, lows and in-betweens of studio life, as well as value-packed tips and insights into how to create YOUR studio, YOUR way.

Jodi and Angela are the owners of Releve Studios in California, and Moore Than Dance in Minnesota and in this season we will be sharing their expertise on the evolution of studio owner into CEO, how to dream big and deliver on those dreams, cultivating a studio culture that thrives, and so much more!