83. Making Room for the Messy Middle: Parenting, Business & Identity Shifts with Amy Leclerc from Sit Still Kids

In today's episode, Ashley chats with Amy Leclerc, co-owner and president of franchising at Sit Still Kids, shares her journey from magazine publishing in NYC to scaling boutique fitness with Bar Method to revolutionizing the children's haircare industry. In this conversation, Amy discusses how she's built multiple franchise businesses while raising two kids, the importance of work-life integration over balance, and why she believes there's a huge untapped market in specialized services for children. She opens up about navigating the messy middle of parenting teens, the changing landscape of education and career paths, and how taking exceptional care of yourself isn't selfish—it's essential for showing up as your best self in all areas of life.In this conversation: • How to identify and capitalize on underserved markets (like the 1:92,500 ratio of kids' salons to children under 12)• The difference between building a business versus building a brand, and why that distinction matters for scalability• How to navigate major career transitions while growing a family without sacrificing either• Why work-life integration beats work-life balance, and how companies like Bar Method pioneered flexible work cultures long before it was trendy• The reality of franchise development and what it takes to scale from one location to 150+ nationwide• How to maintain your entrepreneurial edge while co-parenting teens who are figuring out their own paths• Why the traditional college-to-career pipeline might not be the best option for every kid (and the alternatives worth considering)• The importance of modeling resilience and showing your children that adults are still learning and growing too• How to practice "exceptional self-care" as a busy parent and business owner without guilt• Why intuition is an underrated but essential business skill, and how to develop your ability to spot trends before they become mainstreamConnect with Amy LeclercWebsite: sitstillkids.comInstagram: @sitstillkidsConnect with Ashley: Website: https://www.ashleyblackington.comDovetail® App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/dovetail-app/id6744341822Instagram: @andboth_podcastLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyblackington/