Go Gold with Katie Cannon

Shelley Otway Wood shares the real story behind building a performing arts school for 15 years including the career highs, the business lows, and the personal chapters that shaped her leadership. This episode is a masterclass in resilience, rebuilding, and what changes when you stop “winging it” and start running your business like a CEO inside mentorship.

Key Takeaways

• There’s never a “right time.”
• Your first team won’t be your forever team (and that’s normal).
• A business can survive anything… if the owner has a plan. 
• Delegation without oversight is expensive. 
• You can rebuild fast when you’re decisive. 
• Mentorship isn’t just business strategy, it upgrades your standards. The shift affects who you hire, who you keep close, and how you lead.
• Success isn’t only revenue.

Guest Bio (Shelley Otway Wood)

Shelley Otway Wood is a performing arts business owner with 15 years’ experience in building her business and a professional theatre background. She’s built Steppin' Out Stars of Tomorrow through major personal and business challenges and is known for fast action, high standards, and deeply inclusive culture. Shelley is also Gold Medal Business’ in-house Performing Arts Expert, supporting performing arts owners to scale sustainably with systems, team, and CEO leadership.

If you loved this episode, subscribe to Go Gold with Katie and visit our website to learn more about Gold Medal Business mentorships,  and if you’re a children’s performing arts school owner and want to book a call with Shelley, click here: https://link.goldmedalcoaching.info/widget/groups/book-a-call-with-gold-medal-team

Stay Connected With Gold Medal Business and Katie Cannon:

Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | LinkedIn |Youtube

Website: https://www.goldmedalcoaching.info/

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In this episode, Katie shares the Top 10 mistakes she made in her first decade as a children’s activity business owner, from hiring too fast to overcomplicating the model and ignoring cashflow. If you’re building towards consistent six figures (or beyond), this is your shortcut: steal the lessons, skip the pain, move faster with fewer setbacks.

Key Takeaways 

• If you’re not failing, you’re not pushing hard enough.
• Pick ONE core offer and nail it before adding extras. Complexity kills, simplicity scales.
• Choose your business model early so you stop spreading your team and quality too thin.
• Don’t recruit just because someone is available or cheap.
• Growing too fast can slow you down because you spend years cleaning up the mess.
• Delegate, but don’t abdicate. 
• Stop overspending on branding early.

Mistake #1: The wrong kind of mentor (not niche-specific)

Mistake #2: Business too complicated

Mistake #3: No clear model

Mistake #4: Hiring without a real process

Mistake #5: Scaling too fast

Mistake #6: Delegating the numbers

Mistake #7–#8: Eye off the foundations + wrong roles

Mistake #9–#10: Cashflow + overspending on branding

Host Bio (Katie Cannon)

Katie Cannon is the founder of Gold Medal Business and a former five-time British Gymnastics Champion turned seven-figure children’s activity entrepreneur. With 20+ years in the industry, she helps children’s activity and sports business owners grow their teams, students, and venues and build scalable, sustainable businesses with strong systems and leadership.

Subscribe to Go Gold with Katie for weekly scaling strategies, and visit Gold Medal Business to learn more about our mentorships and book your free business audit! 

Stay Connected With Gold Medal Business and Katie Cannon:

Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | LinkedIn |Youtube

Website: https://www.goldmedalcoaching.info/

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What happens when a non-entrepreneur buys a children’s activity franchise… weeks before COVID hits?

In this powerful episode, Emily Little shares how she went from performer to business owner, navigated lockdown, motherhood, and her partner’s cancer diagnosis — all while launching and scaling performing arts territories.

If you’ve ever thought “it’s not the right time”, this episode will change that.

Key Takeaways

• Speed of action is often the difference between steady growth and stalled potential.
• There is no perfect time to scale.
• Systems create freedom.
• Your identity must shift from operator to owner.
• Hard seasons can fuel growth. 

About Emily Little

Emily Little is a performing arts entrepreneur and franchise owner with Jigsaw Arts, running two territories across South London. Originally trained in performing arts, Emily transitioned from performer to business owner in 2020 — navigating COVID, motherhood, and personal adversity while building a fast-growing children’s performing arts business. A Gold Mentorship client, she’s known for one thing above all: decisive implementation and bold action.

If you’re serious about scaling your children’s activity or sports business, subscribe to Go Gold with Katie and visit Gold Medal Business to learn how our mentorships help you build structure, scale confidently, and step fully into your CEO role.

Learn more about our offers here - https://goldmedalbusiness.org/

Stay Connected With Gold Medal Business and Katie Cannon:

Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | LinkedIn |Youtube

Website: https://www.goldmedalcoaching.info/

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In this episode, Katie shares her full journey from five-time British Gymnastics Champion to building a seven-figure children’s activity business, including the mindset, discipline, and hard-earned lessons that shaped it all. If you’re building your business while juggling life, family, and big ambitions, this is for you!

Key Takeaways

• Don’t learn from someone who’s “successful” but has the opposite lifestyle to what you want (time, freedom, family presence).
• Entrepreneurship is a roller coaster—plan for it.
• Investing in your business (coaching, team, marketing) fuels growth.
• The reason you’re building has to carry you through the hard days.
• Passion first, money follows.
• What got you here may not get you there. Scaling often requires tough decisions and a new structure.

About Katie Cannon

Katie Cannon is the founder of Gold Medal Business and a former five-time British Gymnastics Champion who went on to build a seven-figure children’s activity business. With 20+ years in the children’s activity industry, Katie now coaches business owners to grow profitable, sustainable businesses with strong systems, teams, and scalable models without sacrificing their family life and freedom.

If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to Go Gold with Katie and visit the Gold Medal Business website to learn more about how our mentorships help children’s activity & sports business owners grow and scale with confidence. 

Stay Connected With Gold Medal Business and Katie Cannon:

Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | LinkedIn |Youtube

Website: https://www.goldmedalcoaching.info/

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What does “having it all” actually look like when you’ve got three children under five and you’re scaling a children’s activity business? In this episode, Katie Hillcoat shares the real behind-the-scenes of building a business with a young family. What she’s dropped, what she’s protected, and the mindset shifts that keep her moving forward. If you’re a children’s activity or sports business owner trying to grow without burning out, this one will hit home.

Key Takeaways:

• How to stop chasing “balance” and start choosing your season
• A clear vision cuts through the noise
• Build a business model that rewards effort
• Mentorship matters early. One belief-filled conversation can change your trajectory, especially when you’re doubting yourself.
• Don’t wait for perfect timing. The key is momentum, not perfection.
• Work with your personality, not against it.

About Katie Hillcoat

Katie Hillcoat is a performing arts professional turned children’s activity business owner, now running four territories within the Jigsaw Performing Arts franchise. After training in acting and musical theatre and working in performance roles, Katie chose a more sustainable path—building a business model that matched her long-term vision of family life, stability, and growth. She shares candidly about leadership, expansion, and what it really takes to run a thriving children’s business while raising three young children.

If this episode gave you a reality-check and a boost 🙌, subscribe to Go Gold with Katie and visit our website to learn how our mentorships help children’s activity & sports business owners like Katie Hillcoat scale with confidence and sustainability. 🎙️💪

Stay Connected With Gold Medal Business and Katie Cannon:

Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | LinkedIn | Youtube

Website: https://www.goldmedalcoaching.info/

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As we approach the end of the year, it’s the perfect time to review, refine, and decide what you really want to focus on in 2026. In this episode, Katie dives into one of the most powerful strategies for children’s activity entrepreneurs: finding your one thing. 

Katie shares how being laser-focused on one area whether it’s increasing student numbers, running standout classes, or refining your systems can naturally improve other parts of your business. She uses examples from her gymnastics business and Gold Medal Business to show how spreading yourself too thin can hold you back, and why mastering your core offering is the fastest path to success.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why being a jack-of-all-trades can hurt your business.
• How focusing on one thing can grow your team, revenue, and systems naturally.
• The power of daily focus.
• Examples from gymnastics, camps, and parties on staying true to your expertise.
• How Gold Medal Business supports you in being the expert in your field without trying to do everything.

If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and get laser clear on your one thing, this episode is for you.

Next steps to take your focus further:

Book a free 15-minute strategy call with Katie or her team to identify your one thing and create a focused plan for growth in 2026 - https://link.goldmedalcoaching.info/widget/booking/XZEFocSbwTwzcA1IIXOw

Join the Bronze Mentorship Programme for ongoing guidance, tools, and support to master your core business offering and scale strategically - https://goldmedalbusiness.org/bronze-mentorship

Questions? Reach us at [email protected]

Stay Connected With Gold Medal Business and Katie Cannon:

Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Youtube

Website: https://www.goldmedalcoaching.info/

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Running a children's activity business can feel like a constant race against targets and cash flow. In this episode, Katie Cannon reminds us that success isn’t just about hitting revenue goals, it’s about what your business gives you beyond the numbers.

Katie breaks down the five key areas every entrepreneur should reflect on:

1) Time – Are you gaining freedom to spend your days doing what matters most?

2) Passion – Are you loving what you do and feeling fulfilled, even on challenging days?

3) Money – Sure, profits are important, but they’re just one part of the picture.

4) Network – How has your business expanded the people and circles around you?

5) New Friends – What meaningful connections and relationships has your business helped you build?

Through real-life stories and 18 years of personal experience, Katie explains why celebrating wins and learning from lows is essential for long-term success. This episode is packed with encouragement for those days when nothing seems to work, showing you how to find comfort and perspective in your journey.

Whether you’re running a gymnastics school, a sports programme, or activity classes, this episode will help you see your business in a new light – and remember, it’s never just about the money.

Loved this episode? Take it further:

Book a free 30-minute strategy call with our team - https://link.goldmedalcoaching.info/widget/booking/XZEFocSbwTwzcA1IIXOw

Or join our Bronze Mentorship Programme to get ongoing support, tools, and coaching to celebrate every win and keep your business thriving beyond just the money - https://goldmedalbusiness.org/bronze-mentorship

Questions? Reach us at [email protected]

Stay Connected With Gold Medal Business and Katie Cannon:

Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Youtube

Website: https://www.goldmedalcoaching.info/

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Building a strong team is one of the hardest parts of running a children’s activity or sports business but it’s also the key to growth, freedom, and a business you love. In this episode, Katie shares her 18-year journey of hiring, learning from mistakes, and discovering what really works when it comes to building a winning team.

You’ll hear Katie’s real-world experiences from her gyms and classes, including what she’s learned about personality, energy, and enthusiasm, three qualities she believes are far more important than skill when it comes to teaching children. She also dives into:

• Why your mindset is everything before you start hiring
• How to recover and learn from bad hires
• The exact attributes to look for when recruiting teachers, coaches, and instructors
• Tips on building a team that supports a great culture, keeps your business running smoothly, and gives you the freedom to focus on growth

If you’re ready to stop bootstrapping, stop doing everything yourself, and start building a team that helps your business grow while keeping your classes fun and your customers happy, this episode is for you.

If you’re ready to get hands-on support with hiring & managing your team, numbers, pricing, and strategy, join Bronze Mentorship for just £59 and start learning the systems that actually move your business forward - https://goldmedalbusiness.org/bronze-mentorship

Questions? Reach us anytime at [email protected]

Stay Connected With Gold Medal Business and Katie Cannon:

Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Youtube

Website: https://www.goldmedalcoaching.info/

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If you’ve ever thought, “I’m just not a numbers person,” this episode is for you. Katie breaks down the one number that will scale your children’s activity or sports business faster than anything else — your Lifetime Value (LTV) vs. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC).

In simple terms, it’s knowing how much a customer is worth to your business over time, compared to how much it costs to bring them in.

This isn’t about spreadsheets or finance degrees; this is about finally understanding what’s driving your growth and where money might be slipping through the cracks.

Inside this episode, Katie walks you through:

• The difference between your lifetime value and your monthly revenue (and why most business owners confuse the two)
• How to work out what it actually costs you to serve each student
• The reason you can’t make good marketing decisions without knowing this number
• Simple ways to improve your LTV without adding more classes or students
• What ads agencies often get wrong when helping children’s activity businesses grow

Whether you’re just starting or already managing multiple venues, this is one of those episodes that’ll make you rethink how you grow. 

Once you understand this number, you’ll never look at your marketing or pricing the same way again.

Listen now and start building a more profitable, scalable business.

Or if you’re ready to get hands-on support with your numbers, pricing, and strategy, join Bronze Mentorship for just £59 and start learning the systems that actually move your business forward - https://goldmedalbusiness.org/bronze-mentorship

Questions? Reach us anytime at [email protected]

Stay Connected With Gold Medal Business and Katie Cannon:

Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Youtube

Website: https://www.goldmedalcoaching.info/

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If you’re running ads, posting on socials, or wondering why your marketing feels hit and miss, this episode will be a game changer.

In this week’s episode, Katie Cannon breaks down one of the most misunderstood parts of marketing in the children’s activity industry: front-end marketing and how to use it properly to grow.

You’ll finally get clear on the difference between brand awareness and active marketing, and how to make both work together so your business stops relying on luck and starts running on data.

Katie shares:

• The difference between showing up and selling out your classes
• Why every children’s activity business needs both brand awareness and active campaigns
• How to build a marketing system that collects names, emails, and phone numbers — not just likes
• What to ask your ad expert (and why you should lead, not hand over control)
• How to track what’s actually working so you stop wasting time and money

She also explains why delegation isn’t the same as disappearing and how to stay the leader of your ship when working with marketing experts.

This episode will help you make smarter, more confident marketing decisions that actually bring in new students.

Listen now and learn how to use front-end marketing to grow your classes, fill your venues, and scale your children’s activity business the smart way.

💬 Want help turning your marketing into consistent enrolments? Book a free call with our Strategic Team and get personalised advice for your children’s activity or sports business - https://link.goldmedalcoaching.info/widget/booking/XZEFocSbwTwzcA1IIXOw

JOIN BRONZE MENTORSHIP HERE - https://goldmedalbusiness.org/bronze-mentorship

Questions? Reach us anytime at [email protected]

Stay Connected With Gold Medal Business and Katie Cannon:

Instagram | Facebook | Facebook Group | LinkedIn | Pinterest | Youtube

Website: https://www.goldmedalcoaching.info/

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Main Street by AudioCoffee | https://www.audiocoffee.net/

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.