The focus for the education industry in 2022 is not only ensuring that every child’s wellbeing is afforded the right attention, but that wellbeing itself, along with mindfulness and balance, is being taught in every key stage. Code Ninjas, the coding franchise for kids, is one such children’s services franchise that ensures everyone who becomes involved in the brand, from those in head office to those in the student-facing coding sessions, understands the importance of wellbeing. Here, Justin Nihiser, CEO, explains how wellbeing is placed at the heart of the company.
As Code Ninjas continues to move forward during a time of limited human contact and lots of reconsidering personal situations, we move forward with one key goal in mind – togetherness. And what better way to achieve togetherness than to instil concepts from the countries where community comes first? Hygge (pronounced “hoo-guh”) is a Danish concept that encompasses the ways in which we can relax and enjoy our lives. It stands to reason, therefore, that this concept should be at the heart of everything we do. As a children’s franchise, our primary focus is on children becoming inspired in a fun, creative environment, which can only truly be realised once happiness becomes the DNA of the brand itself. With this in mind, here’s how you can employ these same ideas in the delivery of your own business.
Appreciate the position you are in
It can be so easy to forget how much of a privileged position you’re in. Running a business can be stressful but remember why you put yourself in that position in the first place. Use that as the basis to inspire your own work and wellbeing. Having the chance to truly inspire a generation of children through exciting and contemporary mediums is an experience few people get to share. So, appreciating where you are and your present situation is, at its heart, the most important way to achieve happiness. Inspiring a relaxed, creative and free environment in your business is the ideal way to bring together a community of like-minded people who will ultimately share the desire to achieve your brand’s goals.
Connect with your community and those around you
Working in a children’s franchise puts us in an advantageous position of being able to regularly connect with those in the community and beyond. Now, that is not to say other industries do not equally have a ‘way in’. Giving the time necessary to identify what your community resonates with is a vital practice that you should regularly act upon. Being able to then instil these attitudes and shared beliefs in your own business is the ideal way to achieve happiness as a collective, as well as maintaining your own trusted and well-regarded reputation.
If you cannot see it, put in more effort
Putting this into practice should ultimately become second nature so long as you remain vigilant to it. Occupying an important position not only enables you to make the big decisions but gives you the responsibility of ensuring everyone who works for you, or with you, wants to! Taking opportunities to show your team, community or those who use your services that their happiness is as important to you as your own is ideal in building lasting connections and trust from everyone associated with your business. And to inspire this attitude and ethos, you must trust yourself. As you will have been told so many times as a franchise owner, trusting yourself and your own ideas is as important as trusting the franchise you are a part of.
Use the special moments
Not only the franchise owners, but everyone involved in our brand has the privilege of seeing children grow and develop as they find out who they are in today’s society. This will naturally inspire special moments of discovery, achievement and happiness – use these moments to move forward as an individual and business owner. In whatever industry your brand operates in, children-focused or not, there are always special moments that are important to celebrate. It is important to remember that those who use your services or are a part of the network have a life beyond the internal operations of your brand. Maintaining a humanitarian approach and celebrating the things that indirectly contribute to the success of your network creates a long-lasting bond that can only be achieved if you remember to step back and enjoy yourself.
