Thank you for listening to The Champion Forum Podcast! Entrepreneurs face various challenges, from growing a business to leading people. Today, I sit down with friend and CEO of Tippi Toes, Sarah Nuse. Famous for her appearance on Shark Tank, Sarah Nuse has grown her business from one studio to over 80 franchises! We talk about the influences on her life and business, her leadership style, and how to lead people well while enforcing your standards.
About Sarah Nuse
Sarah is a seasoned entrepreneur, devoted wife, and mother of three. Over 20 years ago, Sarah launched Tippi Toes while she was still in college. Today, her business has over 80 franchises! She’s also the author of Destined for Greatness, a dynamic speaker, podcaster, accountability coach, shoe designer, and the creative force behind seven children's music albums. Sarah and her business partner appeared on Shark Tank (Season 2), showcasing their passion for empowering women to successfully grow their businesses while maintaining a fulfilling family life.
Q: When did you decide to franchise, and how did you make that decision?
My most significant piece of advice is to let your failures make you who you’re meant to be. I went out to California with the idea of a children’s television show. I was inspired by Barney and loved the idea of creating a kids' TV show that would teach them how to dance. We met with some animators, and it was way too much money for us. It didn’t feel like it was a viable option. One of my mentors was there with me, and they suggested franchising and building my base. The failure of the TV show allowed us to shift into developing the franchise model. We only had one franchisee the first year, and she was good about working closely with us to ensure the process worked and would work for others.
“Many people want to wait until it is perfect to move forward when you just need to start with what you have.”
Q: What advice would you give someone who wants to franchise?
We have built a great team around us that understands that we all make mistakes. In the beginning, there’s a honeymoon phase, but then you realize that they will make a mistake, and you will make mistakes. I see the most success when people work with our rules and guidelines but use their personalities within them. You need to connect people with your vision, mission, and values and be willing to walk with them.
Q: What challenges did you face in your first 5 years?
I wasn’t as consistent as I needed to be. Because I wasn’t sure of myself, I kept changing my approach. I didn’t do everything right, but I succeeded most when I did things consistently. Every time I push through and stay consistent, I’m thankful I did. Whether it was because I succeeded or because I learned through something that wasn’t working, consistency helped me know how to move forward.
Q: How do I get the business right?
I had some great mentors, but I also had some really bad ones. I learned best by reading a lot of books, especially in areas where I was weak. I also learned a lot by just doing what needed to be done. I learned a lot from sitting on finance calls or meeting with my team to develop processes to help the team grow. You will make mistakes, but as you go you will learn from the process of doing. As you grow, bring people around you who can fill in your weaknesses.
Q: What moment helped shape how you lead?
My husband worked for the president of a minor-league baseball team. He was so good about getting to know people and getting out of his office or box to focus on the people. My team keeps telling me I can’t keep connecting with all these franchisees, but I know it’s what I do best, and I know it is so valuable. Our staff and our franchisees make Tippie Toes work! We have nothing without them. So, I want to ensure they know I am fully invested in them. Where you feel loved and valued is where you grow. I want my franchisees to feel that our company cares and is committed to helping them grow.
Q: How do you balance your approach of caring for people with also holding people accountable?
There have been times when people have taken advantage of our kindness or tried to get away with doing things against our policies. In those situations, I ask myself how big is the disappointment. Are they breaking our rules and standards? Because if they are, it’s unfair to us and everyone following those standards. Then, I had to have the hard conversation, and we have had people who had to exit the company. But loving people well on the front end and being transparent about my expectations means there are fewer mistakes.
Application Activities:
What areas do you msot want to grow as a leader/entrepreneur? Make a list of 3-5 resources you can engage with this year to help you grow in that area. You can include books, podcasts, mentorship and networking opportunities, courses, and/or conferences in your list. If you have a boss, share you list with them and see if they have any resources or connections that can help.
One of the keys to successfully franchising is to ensure you have a strong culture. How would you currently describe the culture of your company/team? What do you think you could do to make that culture stronger? What practices do you use to ensure that you are reinforcing your culture regularly?
Connect With Sarah Nuse:
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