Who is Harleen Laroia, could you please introduce yourself?

I am Harleen, and I love meeting new people and hearing their story.  I find there is so much to learn from each other and grow every day. I try to build strong partnerships and relationships with every single person I meet.

What is your business and when did you start?

I am in the business of making parents achieve their dreams by enabling their children to reach optimum potential and be the entrepreneurs, leaders, athletes and artists of tomorrow.  I started this business in September 2012.

What inspired you to start your business?

As a woman with a demanding job, I had a difficult time selecting child care when I had my two children. I wanted them to interact with children their age and be stimulated to develop to their fullest potential. After my tenure at my Telecom job, I decided to build facilities that gave parents that feeling of home away from home and comfort that their children were in clean and beautiful spaces being well taught and taken care of. I realized that the biggest challenge I had when I opened was that I had no support, guidance, and direction on what to do when I opened my business. As a result, I founded SimplySmart Franchising Corp where I can provide that support for others and make a difference in their life.

What were the challenges in the initial stages of your business and how did you overcome them?

It is difficult for me to list all the challenges at the initial stages of my business. The biggest challenge is that there is no course out there that can prepare you on how to run a business. I had a management degree and worked for a large corporation for 12 years before starting my business and still got hit in the face when we opened. That is why I like to help others start their business- I wish I had a mentor guiding me through those times.

What motivates you about your business?

I have a very simple mission in life – I want to make a difference in people’s lives. What motivates me is that through childcare and Montessori I can make a difference in the lives of parents and children. Through the Franchising arm, I can make a difference in peoples lives to achieve their dreams of owning a business.

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?

Find your Tribe. Your tribe is people who will be brutally honest with you even if you don’t like it and be able to stand by you when needed. They will provide you with any insights or answer your questions and add value.

Interesting fact most of the people do not know about you?

I love working out and I follow a completely plant-based diet.

The best business advice I ever received was…

The “State, Story, Strategy” theory from Tony Robbins.  Your State determines the decisions you make. Once you take control of strategy and change your story, you can achieve whatever you want.

My definition of success is…

Success is happiness. Success is also the ability to grow and learn every day. If you can look back at yourself 5 years ago and there has been a progression, you have succeeded. As Tony Robbins says;  “Progress equals happiness”.

If I could go back in time when I started my business, I would tell myself to…

Stop stressing. Everything will be fine!

Three books I recommend for entrepreneurs are…

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Money Master of the Game by Tony Robbins

Unlimited Power by Tony Robbins

My personal tagline is…

“You either find sanity amidst the chaos of life or let the chaos determine your destiny.”