Overwhelmed to Empowered

Case Study

Ana Thueson – Owner and Program Director
Kreative Kids Academy
Early Childhood Education

KKA is serving over 150 families in our local community. Ana had an expansion into a second location and with the immense growth, added overhead and responsibilities, it became too overwhelming.

Goal: Create financial health and a growth plan to create sustainability for the business.

Services Provided: Operations and Financial Strategy, 1:1 Coaching

Jamison: Let’s start here—before we started working together, what challenges were you experiencing in your business?

Ana: Kreative Kids Academy experienced quick growth with the expansion of the second location. I had always operated the business from a very day-to-day standpoint. But once the business reached a certain size, that approach didn’t work anymore. I started to feel very overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do.

I was trying to handle things day by day, but that meant I wasn’t addressing bigger issues that were happening or understanding how to get control of the business. Things felt disorganized and I was reacting to problems once they presented themselves, instead of seeing the issue coming and being prepared.

I needed guidance and support on how to make changes.

J: You’ve made immense progress. We’ve really worked on your finances, your projections and how to manage it all, down to the dollar. How has the structure helped you?

A: Having a plan has taken away a lot of the stress and uncertainty. I can now see things clearly.  Instead of thinking, “Is this going to work?” its now, “Ok, let’s find a solution.” It helps us see opportunities instead of just reacting to problems. And it allows us to be proactive instead of constantly catching up.

The business feels a lot more manageable and the numbers tell a story. We have a way to measure our progress versus just how it feels in the moment. As a business owner, every day has different stressors, so if you only go off emotions, it gets very intense.

J: What’s one breakthrough or shift that stands out?

A: The biggest shift came from getting clarity on the financial side and the long-term direction of the business. I have a big vision of what I want KKA to be for our community, but I didn’t know how to get there.

Through 1:1 coaching, goal setting, financial planning and projections, I finally have a clear understanding and roadmap of where the business is and where it needs to go.

Without that support, I honestly don’t think I would have had the tools to keep everything moving forward. Jamison gave me the clarity and structure I needed to not feel lost and to keep the doors open.

J: What specific results or changes have you seen in your business?

A:  My confidence as a business owner has increased a lot.

Having financial structure in place has changed everything. I can actually see the business now. I can see the numbers, the trends, and what needs to be adjusted. Even if we aren’t where we want to be, I can get excited about where we are headed and the progress we make each month.

There is also a higher level of professionalism with the business now. In our culture, our organization, and the way we do things.

J: What would you say is the biggest difference between where you were and where you are now?

A: The biggest difference is how I operate the business.

Before, I was deep in the day-to-day trying to keep up with growth without a clear long-term plan. The stress and worry I feel is still there, but on a lot smaller scale. In those moments of unsureness, there’s hope. That shift has completely changed how I show up as an owner.

J: What has your experience been like working with me as your coach?

A; My relationship with you is based on trust, honesty, and feeling safe in the process of growing this business. Our relationship has been really important, because without that trust, we wouldn’t have been able to go as deep, have the hard conversations, or solve the problems we needed to solve. You’ve taught me things about business I would have never known, and I am so grateful to work with you through this process.

The Bottom Line

Kreative Kids Academy didn’t need more daily effort and hours—Ana needed more clarity in strategy and a plan with finances and goal setting. She has gained that true owner level perspective.

Through coaching and guidance, she acquired real tools that help her feel less overwhelmed and more empowered in her business. If you are feeling overwhelmed in your business, this is your sign it doesn’t have to be this way.