Be Inspired

Ah, summer! One of my FAVORITE things about this time of year is that it’s my peak time for coaching.  I get to see and teach my fellow studio owners throughout the next few weeks, over 9 days of live events for More Than Just Great Dancing® plus a 12-day speaking tour.  The busy travel…

Earlier this month, my daughter, Isabella, graduated from high school. (Did I really just type that sentence!?!?!) As you might have heard me mention before, Isabella’s high school journey has been anything but traditional.  Two years ago, at 16, she left home to live in Chicago (about four hours away) to study dance with her…

It was in 2015 when I first met Leslie Scott, the founder of Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (better known as YPAD). She had begun to take a powerful stance on the health and safety of dancers, bringing her passion for the topic out into the public beyond her own hip hop classes. I had…

As many of you probably know, it was over twenty years ago that a businessman named Deak Swanson took a chance on me and built my studio’s first building. Deak, who had a thriving construction company, had been the “Festmaster” of Oktoberfest in 1996, the year I was Miss La Crosse. As we rode together…

Here in Wisconsin, this winter has been BRUTAL at times.   I’m talking 40-50 degrees BELOW ZERO with the windchill. School closings. Studio closings. More school and studio closings. Snow, snow, and more snow. SO. MUCH. SNOW. If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, you know EXACTLY what I mean…

Last week, as I was driving my kids to their various activities, I had this overwhelming moment of gratefulness.   It happened when I drove past the studio and could see the cars parked in the lot and lights through the windows, with the shadows of people moving about. It was an ordinary moment, one…

You might be surprised to learn that I don’t have email on my phone.  At all. I used to though, and I became a slave to it.   I would literally wake up in the morning and reach for my phone.  So within five minutes of the new day, I would be in reaction-mode to…

One of my very favorite things about More Than Just Great Dancing® is that I get to spend time coaching fellow studio owners.   Working together one-on-one to strategize and problem-solve is one of the most rewarding things I get to do in my career! During a recent coaching session, a studio owner and I…

As you might have seen, I recently made a BIG announcement regarding NEW ownership of the 360 Dance Festival™ Mr. Richard Smith, a good friend of mine in the dance industry, is now officially leading this venture into its next chapter!   Richard’s background as a master teacher, event director, and artistic director makes him…

There’s a common characteristic among so many studio owners I meet.   It’s something that always stands out to me when we’re getting to know each other. It goes beyond our shared passion for dance and business and seems to radiate from them: it’s a love for learning. Learning doesn’t stop when we graduate from…

Remember when I mentioned I went RUNNING?   For real … running … and not just because I was in a hurry to be somewhere on time! Well, running is no longer just a thing I tried to do.  I am doing it.  And I think I might be hooked. You see, two months ago…

Charitable giving has has always had a place in my heart From the time I could understand what giving was, I wanted to do it!  My Mom and Dad were BIG givers. Even during lean times, they were always first to offer to help, share or give. It’s a lesson they passed on to me…

There’s something I REALLY love about sprinting through these last two months of the year.   Maybe it has something to do with my newfound love for running (OK, maybe “love” is a strong word!).  More likely I suppose it comes from a BIG desire to finish the year as strong as possible. You’ve probably…

I’m FULL of spontaneous ideas.   But, in the whirlwind of activity that is my everyday life, I’m not always known for following through on all of them.  But recently, one wild idea came out of my mouth at Sunday dinner and four days later my dad and I found ourselves on the other side…

Last week my car was in desperate need of an oil change.   It was just one of those things that kept escaping my to-do list no matter what else I tried to rearrange! Finally I thought I could squeeze it in between some other errands before the shop closed.  I knew I’d be cutting…

Upon arrival at Studio Owner University® (SOU), you notice right away that something feels different than when you are at other events. Maybe it’s the camaraderie which seems to spill out of every conversation; maybe it’s the five-star customer service you encounter with every More Than Just Great Dancing® (MTJGD) team member. The energy in…

A couple weeks ago I went running. I know what you’re thinking.  “Wait a second.  Misty runs?” And the answer is NO.  No, actually, I don’t run.  I prefer to do things like stretching and Pilates because it can be done indoors (and away from mosquitos!). But this week I went running.  I had an…

It was an “ibuprofen for breakfast” kind of morning. A couple weeks ago, I woke up and could tell right away that a visit to the chiropractor was in my very-near future.  My neck had been sending warning signs all week, but this particular morning it was BARKING. There would be no putting it off…

Dear moms, Let me just start by saying that as this back-to-school week kicks into high gear, I want ALL of you to know how loved and respected you are.  Whether you are a stay-at-home mom, a work-outside-the-home mom, or a little of both like I am, you are SO appreciated during this emotion-filled, heart-tugging…

Last week I posted on Facebook about how I had to literally pull the plug on Fortnite, much to the shock and disappointment of my four sons. Translation: open mouths and tears! If you don’t have children, or don’t pay much attention to current trends, Fortnite is a video game that’s a little like a …

Last year my family made a REALLY big decision.   We agreed to set up a second household in Chicago (about five hours away) so my daughter, Isabella, then a junior in high school, could pursue her passion for dance at Beyond Words Dance Company.   It was a risk; a test of both logistics…

“If I just had more time!” How often do you say this to yourself?  My guess is probably A LOT. But let’s face it: we all have the same 24 hours in a day; the same 1,440 minutes.  Me, you, Beyoncé, and everyone else.  So the problem isn’t really that we don’t have the time,…

If you know me, you know I love learning new things.   I particularly love language and learning new words.  This past week I learned a new word: equanimity.  It means “mental or emotional stability or composure, especially under tension or strain; calmness; equilibrium”. I wanted to share this word and its meaning with you…

I was in my car the other day when I looked in the rearview mirror and completely startled myself.   As in, I genuinely did a double-take and shouted to the empty seat next to me, “Holy cats!” Why was a tie-dyed Easter egg looking back at me in the mirror? Oh, right.  It was…

When I’m on coaching calls with studio owners, one of the topics we often discuss is the “drama” associated with teen girls (and sometimes their parents).   Gossip, rumors, high emotions, eye-rolling, attitudes: if you serve students over the age of eleven, you know what I’m talking about.  This is the age where students are…

Wow, 20 years! With our 20th Annual Recital in the books, Misty’s Dance Unlimited has officially been in business for two decades.  HOLY CATS that’s a long time! Twenty years seemed like an impossibly long time back when I first opened the studio.  But when I look at it now, it seems like it happened…

Studio owners, if you’ve been through the construction process before, you know what I mean when I say it is one of the most detail-oriented works of choreography you’ll ever produce!   It’s also pretty darn exciting. My current project—our new International Performing Arts Campus—is hands-down the largest one I’ve ever undertaken.  This building will…

When I first met Leslie Scott, the founder of Youth Protection Advocates in Dance (YPAD), it was the passion she showed for her work that first stopped me in my tracks.   She was a woman on a mission…and what an important mission it is! Leslie created YPAD in response to concerning (and common) trends…

I’m sure you know what I mean when I say entrepreneurship is not for the faint of heart!   The hustle is real, the grind is real and the sacrifices are real. Studio owners do it because we have this deep, personal mission to transform kids’ lives: we want to inspire them with dance and…

It was almost three years ago when I asked the following question at our annual Member Rally for More Than Just Great Dancing®: What types of opportunities or services do you want most for you studios?   That answer was loud and clear.  Our affiliated studio owners wanted a high-quality, non-competitive, positive dance event for…

You know how you feel when you have to do something particularly difficult?  I’m talking about those things that are emotionally draining. When you know you need to part ways with an employee or customer, or when you’ve had to ask for forgiveness from someone.  I’m sure you are no stranger to these “hard things”. I…

I recently received one of the best compliments I’ve ever gotten—from someone I had to turn down.   I had been asked by a friend to participate in a speaking engagement (something I love to do.)  In this case, with a few very big projects already on my plate, I hated to admit my limits,…

A few weeks ago I spent time cleaning and organizing my home office from top to bottom.   Everything had its place: my files and shelves were organized and you could actually see the desk; no more piles and papers everywhere.  I stepped back to admire my handiwork and thought, “This is pretty awesome.” Then…

If you know anything about me, personal development is one of my favorite topics 🙂 I love learning how to improve my life, whether it’s adopting a new habit of reading in the morning when I wake up, or trying a different leadership strategy I learned at a workshop.  For me, I get real energy…

As the year comes to a close and I reflect on all that’s happened in past twelve months, I wanted to share with you something that helped me keep my wins high and my losses low.   It was a bit of an experiment, but at the beginning of 2017 I mapped out what I…

In 2012, I founded More Than Just Great Dancing® with the intention of helping other studio owners grow their businesses, their leadership, and their place in the community.   What I didn’t realize then was just how transformative membership would be, and not just for the members’ studios.  Those who took action with our coaching…

Work-life balance: I’m a strong believer in this concept, but perhaps not in the way you might think.   I believe it’s OK—and even expected—to have weeks, months, or whole seasons of your life that are more about one than the other.  I also believe that it’s possible to find a harmonious balance unique to…

 20 Reasons I am THANKFUL this Thanksgiving I am thankful for a man named Deak Swanson –  He was my “Festmaster” in 1996 when I was Miss La Crosse/Oktoberfest.  We spent countless hours riding around on the Oktoberfest float at parades during which time I would tell him over and over again about my dream to open…

Whether your studio is located in a small Midwestern town like mine or a bustling big city, chances are you’ve involved your dancers in some aspect of the community.  With parades, fairs, festivals, school programs, fundraisers, or all of the above, your dance performing groups have probably enjoyed some awesome publicity. It has me thinking…

As a studio owner, you may have heard of Austin Roberson, the founder of Studio Owners Academy; we both work in the dance studio owner coaching and consulting space.   Technically I suppose you could call us competitors …. but we’ve found that it’s a LOT more fun for us to be friends! I can…

I have a confession to make. As a businesswoman and mom of five, I often feel like my kids get the short end of the stick.  In fact, it’s not just a feeling—they DO get the short end of the stick sometimes.  Case in point: my 16-year-old daughter, Isabella, moved away from home this year…

Twenty. It’s a number that I’ve been thinking about a lot …. It’s the age I was when I started working on starting my own studio, Misty’s Dance Unlimited.  Twenty is roughly half the age I am now. And, now it’s the number of years I’ve been in business. Two decades as a dance studio…

For this Misty Minute, I’m excited to share with you a sneak peek inside the pages of my book. I wrote this book with an audience of one in mind…but, God had other plans. It’s been a year since its release as #1 on Amazon and now ONE SMALL YES is available in print at…

As many of you know, I’m an entrepreneur at heart. I love starting new companies and projects and working alongside great people to make them successful. It doesn’t matter if it is a new dance studio project or a real estate development, I simply love to create and see things that have at one time…

Holy cats! I didn’t know that when I sent that message out yesterday inviting you to join me and Darren Hardy in his Insane Productivity program just how INSANE your response was going to be!   THANK YOU for showing Darren how driven you are! Darren used to take my WORD on how amazing and…

Yesterday I told you about how having the former publisher of SUCCESS Magazine, Darren Hardy, as a mentor completely changed my business life.   I also told you that I had asked him to just GIVE YOU the first few modules of his Insane Productivity program for FREE.   But what I forgot to tell…

One of the most important questions in life that you could ever ask is: “Who do you know that I should know?” Today I want to introduce you to someone you should definitely know – my personal mentor, former publisher of SUCCESS Magazine and NYT bestselling author, DARREN HARDY. Having Darren as my personal mentor…

  This summer I will begin my 20th year in studio ownership. Over the past two decades I’ve seen a lot of trends in our industry – some great and some not-so-great.   On the up-side I’ve seen the popularity of dance shows and competitions drive more involvement in dance studios than ever than before.…

Normally I would kick off the new year by talking about goals and business growth, but last week my son was in a pretty tough snowboarding accident while we were on vacation in Colorado.  He’s going to be okay in time and for that we are VERY grateful. God is good.   When your kids…

The school supply lists are posted at Target, the mailbox is filling up with paperwork for registration for my children’s schools and Facebook is blowing up with pictures of kids in backpacks. It’s officially time for back-to-school and that means it’s time to get serious about back-to-dance! As a studio owner, I’m a big fan…

I love my kids. I really do! In fact here’s a picture of them on a recent road trip just so you can see how sweet and silly they are.   My kids are great and I love being a mom. BUT FOR THE LOVE OF JAZZ HANDS THEY NEED TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL.…

It’s Earth Week. But for the sake of today’s Misty Minute, I want to focus my attention on the most important environment I believe we can nurture and protect—the environment in our homes.  Our geographic environment has a climate and so do our homes.  And, as a studio owner, the environment in my home around recital time…

Have you ever had a day, maybe even a whole month, where you feel like you gotten caught up in the “weeds” of entrepreneurship?   It can be a muddy, thorny, unpleasant mess to get stuck in the weeds of owning your own business.   What are the weeds of entrepreneurship?  Think of the work of…

I was watching TV the other day when a new GEICO commercial came on.  A man in an office cafeteria is microwaving a burrito when the Swedish rock band Europe appears in a cloud of smoke singing, “It’s the Final Countdown!” I don’t know if it’s a reflection of growing up in the 80s, or…

On Father’s Day I was in a gas grill accident. I thought I had lit the grill, but my Dad questioned whether or not it was on.  I heard his wife say, “I smell gas”, but I was in a hurry to get the grill going, so I didn’t take time to investigate why she…

Today ran into a student that I “lost” about five years ago.  When I say I “lost”, I mean to say I fought long and hard to keep her engaged and growing as a student, but in the end I was not able to keep her with our studio.  Despite my best effort, she moved…

Tomorrow is launch day for my new book, One Small Yes™! I’m super excited to share this book with you! In the morning I’ll be sending you a link to download my book from Amazon completely free of charge, as my gift to you, for your journey in success! It will only be free for…

Welcome to PART 3 of the 3-Part Series I will be sharing on “Mastering Your Life”.   Last week I challenged you to raise your “average of 5” and to take a good, hard look at how the people you spend the most time and ask whether they are having a positive effect, or negative…

Welcome to PART 2 of the 3-Part Series I will be sharing on “Mastering Your Life”.   Last week I challenged you to master the “Habit of 3” and get control of your financial life in three areas:   Spending Saving Giving How did the week go? If we met for coffee today would you…

What’s on your to-do list this week?  If you are like most people I know, you have more on your list than time in the day.   I’m with you!  My dance studio serves over 750 kids in our regular weekly classes, not counting our community outreach programs which serve another 600 over the course…

What’s on your to-do list this week? If you are like most amazing studio owners I know, you have more on your list than time in the day. I’m with you! My dance studio serves over 750 kids in our regular weekly classes, not counting our community outreach programs, which serve another 600 over the…

As I sit down to write this article, it’s 10 below zero outside the doors of my studio. We are in the depths of winter in Wisconsin and summer is on my mind. But, I’m not thinking about vacations or visits to the local pool. My mind is fixed on the programming I can offer to bring kid…

I was recently doing a coaching call with a dance studio owner and she was talking about how badly she wanted to expand to a second location. She was absolutely convinced that expansion was the RIGHT thing to do. I completely AGREED with her. And, yet I STILL advised her NOT to do it. Sound…

Count down to what you say?  To the end of 2015, of course. The end of the business year AND the end of your opportunity to make a positive impact on enrollment for the 2015-16 dance season. One of our member studio owners, Vanessa Berry of Kick Studios in NJ,  took this challenge to heart…

I spend most of my time with kids.  With five kids at home and over 700 kids at my dance studio, it’s probably fair to say that I spend more time with kids than I do with adults!  Multiplied across twenty years of teaching dance, I have spent a lot of time with kids and…

Busy with competition prep? Me, too. Does this sound familiar? Sequins, meetings, costumes, classes, rehearsals, last minute changes to registrations and choreography, hotel reservations, and emails. Lots of emails. And, still there is still work to do: CDs to burn, bags to pack, subs to secure, lists to check, questions to answer, phone calls to…

How long have you owned your studio?  If you have owned your studio for more than a few months, I would hazard to say that you have probably experienced at least a little bit of bullying. According to Websters Dictionary a Bully is a blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates. Sound famiiar? …

“Crazy Land” I love to talk about our studio and equip people to reach their dreams! I’m an optimist, a go-getter and a dreamer! So much so that some people must wonder if I live in a strange place called “Everything-is-great-all-the-time-land”. NOPE. I live where you do. Crazy land. Kids, bills, goals, sweat, families, teachers,…

Recently I spent 13 hours traveling from ‘lil ‘ol La Crosse, WI to Winston-Salem, NC to teach and perform with Dance Revolution Convention. The day started out with a cancelled flight, then a re-route to Dallas (because THAT’s on the way), then finally to Charlotte, where I had to rent a car and drive for…

Two weeks ago my grandpa suffered a major stroke.  I drove in the middle of the night to join my family in the emergency room. For the next six days and nights we sat by his side in a small hospital room.  We drank the free coffee and slept in chairs.  We laughed, we cried. …

This past weekend we took 51 groups and solos to competition.  The first night, four of our junior groups received a High Silver designation. The kids were disappointed and so were the parents.  To tell you the truth, I was disappointed, too.  My daughter was in one of those groups and as her mom I…

  “No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.” Aesop My dance studio, Misty’s Dance Unlimited, has become known for giving back to the community. Some ways are very public, like raising over $400,000 for the local Red Cross by producing seven seasons of Dancing with the La Crosse Stars.  Other ways are quiet,…

The next person to register for the More Than Just Great Dancing™ PREVIEW WEEKEND (Feb. 8th & 9th, La Crosse, WI) will receive 50% OFF their workshop fee! That’s right, if you are the next person to register for this results oriented weekend of business classes, you will SAVE!  Join studio owners from Ohio, Wisconsin,…

Today I was leading a tele-seminar for dance studio owners.  The topic was “Leadership Lessons from the Life of Zig Ziglar” and we were talking about ways to demonstrate warmth, authenticity, and love to our students and clients.  During the conversation, one of our members, Katie Owings, made a “stop-me-in-my-tracks” comment.  Katie’s comment was simple,…

PREVIEW WEEKEND! Feb. 8-9, 2013 La Crosse, WI   You asked for it…you got it!   AMore Than Just Great Dancing™ PREVIEW WEEKEND designed just for busy dance studio owners! Spend a weekend as my guest!  I, Misty Lown, will be leading fast-paced, content-jammed business workshops at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.  Additionally, you will tour our…

Today I was listening to an interview with Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, the world’s largest and most influential resume hosting and networking site.   The first part of his interview was about living in “permanent beta” – that is to say never considering yourself, or your business a finished product.  According to Hoffman, you should…

General Colin Powell’s 13 RULES of LEADERSHIP.  Short, sweet, challenging, true.    It ain’t as bad as you think.  It will look better in the morning. Get mad, then get over it. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it. It can be done!…

10.  Entrepreneurs educate themselves more than they entertain themselves Employees entertain themselves more than they educate themselves 9.    Entrepreneurs have an empowering perspective of failure Employees see failure as bad 8.    Entrepreneurs are solution finders Employees are problem finders 7.    Entrepreneurs know a little about a lot Employees know a lot about a little 6.   …

Recently I conducted an interview with Melanie Gibbs, owner of Boca Dance Studio in Boca Raton, FL.  I met Melanie when I spoke at Rhee Gold’s DanceLIfe Conference last summer in Phoenix.  I have been mentoring with her since February and she recently became a Founding Member of More Than Just Great Dancing™.  Not only…

That’s right, it’s time! Back-to-School means Back-to-Business for dance studio owners around the world. Fall is a time get organized, get motivated and to start with a fresh slate. It’s a time to look back at the past season and MAXIMIZE what went right and FIX what went wrong. I have a challenge for you…

Today is a proud moment for a small town dance studio owner.   My dance studio has received one of 15 “The Most Amazing Company” designations and a spot in the new business book “Engage!”  See the picture attached for the other companies that made the list! But, here is the very best part: When…

I could see it coming and I still got sucked in. I am usually REALLY good at being proactive about issues and heading off problems before molehills become mountains. But this one got away from me. Even after a very long meeting with this person, I am still not sure that anything got resolved. Aaagh.…

This week I learned that a trusted employee has been stealing from me. For about a year. I learned this from her roommate, who also happens to be an employee of mine. The roommate let me know that there had been theft in their house and red flags went off in my head immediately. In…