Let’s be honest: most of us dance studio owners only really make big moves when something forces our hand.
We know we’re doing too much.
We know burnout is around the corner.
We know our families feel it when we’re stretched too thin.
And yet… we keep going until something major pushes us.
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The threat of losing your best student.
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A financial crunch.
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That breaking point where you can’t keep pushing as you are.
It’s not just you—it’s human nature. Psychologists call this the push–pull theory of motivation. Pain and urgency (“the push”) often drive us harder than the possibility of a better future (“the pull”).
In the early 2000s, I did something most studio owners thought was insane: I bought a factory and turned it into a dance studio. At the time, that was considered something only big city schools could do.
Then I pushed it further: I added hip hop to our timetable. For a traditional dance school, that was scandalous. People literally said, “That will never work in a proper school.”
But the kids? They couldn’t get enough. We had lines out the door and had to hand out wristbands just to manage the crowd.
Now, young studio owners would probably laugh to hear that these things weren’t always normal. Today, owning your own space and offering hip hop are just part of the landscape. But back then, they took a leap. A push.
That’s the part I want to dig into.
Most of us know what needs to change, but knowledge alone doesn’t move us. Research shows people are more likely to act when they’re avoiding pain than when they’re chasing gain. It’s why diets start after a scary doctor’s visit… or why studio owners overhaul systems after staff walk out or students leave.
But here’s what I’ve learned in 33+ years:
👉 You don’t need to wait for the pain to take action.
👉 You can choose the push, instead of waiting for it to find you.
When I finally realised my studio (and me personally) were heading for burnout, I started creating my own “push moments.” That looked like:
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Setting aside time to work on the business, not just in it.
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Building systems, even when I was “too busy.”
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Seeking out mentors before things broke, not after.
Those decisions didn’t come from a crisis—they came from deciding not to wait for one.
And here’s the thing: studio owners really can have it all. A thriving studio, financial stability, and a life outside the business. But it starts with taking action before the breaking point.
If you’re nodding along, you don’t need to wait for disaster to strike. Start small. Create your own push moments. Block the time. Build the systems. Surround yourself with the right people.
That’s exactly why I do what I do now—helping studio owners put structure, systems, and growth strategies in place before burnout or crisis hits.
And if you’re ready to explore that, that’s what we do inside the Studio Business Academy. It’s where you can get the support, structure, and strategies I wish I had when I was in the thick of it.
Don’t wait until you’re forced to act.
Don’t wait for the pain.
You don’t need a catastrophe to create change—you just need the courage to give yourself the push.
