Today we’d like to introduce you to Zee Smith.
Hi Zee, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started Not Just Baby Sitters 15 years ago with the intention of providing better domestic care options for families. I have always valued education and experience, not experience alone. I think the completion of higher education indicates a nanny has set goals for her or himself and this serves as a role model for the children. I get to know my clients…so that this is ultimately a matchmaking, like dating. Working within someone’s home, with their children, is an extremely important role and I want to know who they are in order to provide the perfect match.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I work with clients that are demanding and specific. I welcome the specificity because that narrows my search. But it can be exhausting, time-consuming, and emotionally draining when you know this person exists, but you have yet to find him or her. This can mean personal sacrifices like time for yourself or time with your family. The work never goes away so you need to work smarter, not harder.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Not Just Baby Sitters is a Domestic Concierge that places nannies, tutors, personal assistants, and family assistants. The mission is to provide well-educated, experienced professionals that are far more than a babysitter. The idea that just about anyone can be a babysitter is archaic. We have evolved and so should the childcare providers.
The ideal candidate for us is someone who lights up a room, is magnetic for children, and is extremely reliable/organized. The ideal client for us is specific, focused, and knows what he or she wants and is ready to help with the search. We are proud of our longevity with 15 years in the business. We have created jobs, provided children role models, and made parents’ lives easier. That’s a win, win!
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Starting a business is synonymous with risk. You have no guarantees, no steady paycheck. You work for yourself so you must work strategically. It’s a risk to put yourself out there as an expert, so you have to be prepared in every way and have the ability to find the answer if you don’t have it. It’s also a risk every time you meet a potential candidate for a placement and you book them for work. Will they show up? Will they perform well? Every time you book anyone in domestic care, there is always risk. You have to do the research…it’s not just background checks and reference checks. You have to view their online footprint and get to know who this person really is.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.notjustbabysitters.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/notjustbabysitters?igshid=NmNmNjAwNzg=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/notjustbabysitters
