Neshanta Linson is the owner of Hermes Enchanted Garden, a boutique early childhood program in Lower Alabama. Starting as a home-based daycare, her center has grown into a thriving, community-driven school that blends classical education, family values, and a strong sense of connection. Beyond her role as a business owner, Neshanta is deeply committed to servant leadership, fostering an environment where families, staff, and children feel like an extended family. In this episode, she shares how she built a family-centered school culture where staff and parents feel truly connected. Neshanta also talks with Kris about the power of mindset shifts and personal growth in leading a successful business, the ECE Mafia, and the importance of setting boundaries to avoid burnout and ensure sustainability.

Key Takeaways:

[7:42 ] Neshanta started her program as a home daycare and expanded into a boutique school due to growing demand.

[8:33 ] The name Hermes Enchanted Garden came from blending two meaningful influences — an early childhood program she admired and her family’s cloth diaper business.

[10:41 ] The culture of her school is laid-back yet structured, emphasizing Southern values, community, and support.

[12:50 ] Fun fact: Neshanta loves folding a hot towel and hates traveling home with dirty clothes!

[14:10 ] Neshanta is part of the mafia! Well, the ECE Mafia, a small group of accountable, high-performing child care leaders who challenge each other to grow.

[15:05 ] Joining the Freedom track of the Child Care Success Academy helped Neshanta implement systems, delegate leadership roles, and reclaim her time.

[19:01 ] For Neshanta, 2021 was a pivotal year — she battled personal losses, business struggles, and health challenges, but found strength through her team and accountability group.

[22:39 ] Working with Kris on mindset coaching and awakened leadership has helped Neshanta recognize the impact of ego, expectations, and balance in business and life.

[27:46 ] Rather than traditional tours, she hosts one-on-one “meet-and-greet” sessions to ensure a mutual fit and strong parent-school relationship.

[30:22 ] Her strong word-of-mouth reputation allows her school to stay fully enrolled without aggressive marketing.

[32:27 ] She learned to set boundaries to avoid over-giving and protect herself and her team from burnout.

[33:30 ] Hosting family events like Mom’s Night Out and private Facebook community discussions helps strengthen parent connections.

[37:32 ] A rare snow event in Alabama reminded her how much parents and communities rely on child care centers as a support system.

Quotes:

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