{"id":8494,"date":"2026-09-02T17:49:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T17:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iownadaycare.com\/blogs\/?p=8494"},"modified":"2026-09-02T17:49:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T17:49:17","slug":"what-does-a-childcare-ceo-actually-do-every-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iownadaycare.com\/blogs\/what-does-a-childcare-ceo-actually-do-every-day\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does a Childcare CEO Actually Do Every Day?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"What Does a Childcare CEO Actually Do Every Day?\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_WU5qPLuzo8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most childcare CEOs are looking at numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Enrollment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Payroll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bank accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But as your organization grows, those numbers are no longer enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because eventually, reading your company means much more than knowing how many children are enrolled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It means understanding what your data is telling you about the health of your organization, your leadership, your operations, and your systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You cannot lead a company that you do not understand and read.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this Work-It Wednesday executive briefing, Dr. Andrea Dickerson explains why data, daily closeouts, interconnected systems, and CEO discipline are essential for childcare CEOs who want to lead their organizations without being physically present every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Point #1 \u2014 You Need Data to Read Your Company<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Dr. Andrea first started in childcare, she knew to watch enrollment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She watched tours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">She watched her bank account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But as she evolved as an executive, she realized that reading a company goes far beyond those basic numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A CEO needs to understand the data that actually drives the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That means knowing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is happening across each department<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What happened yesterday<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where problems are developing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Which locations require attention<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whether leaders are executing their responsibilities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What information is necessary to make CEO decisions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Data isn&#8217;t simply something you collect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Data is what allows you to lead.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you don&#8217;t know what your numbers mean, you&#8217;ll constantly find yourself walking into the business to figure out what&#8217;s happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Point #2 \u2014 The Visible Problem Is the Closeout System<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the first places a CEO should look is the daily closeout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your closeout should be connected to your workflow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each department should know:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What information must be submitted?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>When must it be submitted?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Who reviews it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>What happens when something is missing?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A closeout isn&#8217;t just another report.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It should give the CEO a daily view into the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But Dr. Andrea sees a common problem:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some CEOs don&#8217;t receive reports every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some receive reports but don&#8217;t read them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And some receive reports, read them, but don&#8217;t connect the information to their decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s where the system breaks down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re not retrieving the information you need, how can you read your company?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Key Point #3 \u2014 Your Systems Must Be Connected<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many childcare organizations have plenty of systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Binders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Manuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Software.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Checklists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dashboards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But having systems doesn&#8217;t mean you have an operating system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If those systems aren&#8217;t connected, your information becomes fragmented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The classroom operates one way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compliance operates another way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Operations operates another way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And the CEO is left trying to piece everything together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The result?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Activity without visibility.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your systems need to work together so information moves from the location to the leadership team and ultimately into the CEO&#8217;s decision-making process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, if enrollment decisions depend on knowing how many tours are happening, that information needs to reach the CEO consistently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Otherwise, the CEO is making decisions without the information required to make them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Root Problem \u2014 No Closeout Discipline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When closeout discipline doesn&#8217;t exist, inconsistency becomes normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A department misses its closeout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A classroom doesn&#8217;t submit the required information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Compliance documentation isn&#8217;t completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Operations doesn&#8217;t report an issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And nobody catches it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Eventually, the CEO finds out when the problem becomes much bigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe there&#8217;s a state write-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe attendance records are incomplete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe food program documentation is missing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe enrollment is declining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Maybe parents are disenrolling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The information that could have helped prevent the problem was there\u2014or should have been there\u2014but the system wasn&#8217;t disciplined enough to capture and act on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s the cost of disconnected systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Happens When CEOs Ignore the Data?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When CEOs don&#8217;t have real-time data, they don&#8217;t have a real-time understanding of the health of their organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead, they rely on what they can physically see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clutter in classrooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An office assistant missing deadlines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A stalled CRM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Declining enrollment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cash flow problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Staffing issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Parent concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the time the CEO can see the problem physically, the problem may have already existed for weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s why CEOs need visibility before the problem becomes an emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>You shouldn&#8217;t have to walk into the building to discover what&#8217;s happening inside the building.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your systems should tell you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The CEO Must Develop a Data-Driven Identity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fixing the closeout process isn&#8217;t simply about creating another checklist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It requires an identity shift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The CEO has to decide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Data is a priority.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Closeouts are a priority.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Verification is a priority.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Understanding my company is a priority.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your closeouts must connect directly to the information you need to make CEO decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Otherwise, you&#8217;re collecting information without using it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And information on top of information on top of information only creates more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goal is execution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goal is installation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goal is clarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Start With a CEO Audit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Before adding another system, another dashboard, or another report, take a step back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Where is the actual breakdown?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What information are you missing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which departments aren&#8217;t closing out?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where are systems disconnected?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What data should you be reviewing every day?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Which problems are you discovering too late?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And what CEO decisions are currently being made without reliable information?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s where your CEO audit begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because if you don&#8217;t identify the gap first, you can continue adding systems and information without actually solving the problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lead Your Company While Your Team Executes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ultimate goal isn&#8217;t for the CEO to become better at chasing reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s for the CEO to build an organization where the team executes and the CEO leads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That requires:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Integrated processes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consistent closeouts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Real-time data<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Daily CEO review<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clear departmental accountability<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Verification<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strong leadership systems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When those pieces work together, you can begin leading your company from wherever you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You don&#8217;t need to physically walk through every location every day just to understand what&#8217;s happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your organization should be communicating with you through its systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Your company is always talking.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The question is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Are you reading it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Take Your Free CEO Growth Audit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;re ready to identify where the breakdown is happening inside your organization, start with a CEO audit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The CEO Growth Audit can help you recognize the gaps in your current operating structure and determine what needs to be addressed before you continue adding more information and more systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take your free audit here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ceojumpstartsystems.com\">https:\/\/www.ceojumpstartsystems.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then use what you discover to determine what needs to be installed, connected, and strengthened inside your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because the goal isn&#8217;t to give you more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The goal is to help you execute.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And remember:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you manage the childcare business that you love, you will love the childcare business that you manage.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Most childcare CEOs are looking at numbers. Enrollment. Tours. Payroll. Bank accounts. But as your organization grows, those numbers are<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8492,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[368],"tags":[65,251,80,145,314,69,163,343,24,16],"class_list":["post-8494","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-work-it-wednesday","tag-andrea-dickerson","tag-being-a-child-care-ceo","tag-business","tag-ceo","tag-childcare-boss","tag-childcare-business","tag-childcare-owners","tag-consultation","tag-daycare-business","tag-daycare-success"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iownadaycare.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iownadaycare.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iownadaycare.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iownadaycare.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iownadaycare.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8494"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/iownadaycare.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8494\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8495,"href":"https:\/\/iownadaycare.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8494\/revisions\/8495"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iownadaycare.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8492"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iownadaycare.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iownadaycare.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8494"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iownadaycare.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}