STEPPING OUT ON FAITH
by Deborah L.
Tillman, M.S. Ed
About the Book
Stepping Out on Faith-How to open a quality child care center is a book about
one woman’s struggle to find reliable child care. It provides detailed episodes
that occurred during each of the seven horrific child care provider experiences
which eventually led the author to Step Out On Faith and open her own childcare
center. It outlines the choices you need to make and whether you are suited for
this particular field. This comprehensive book gives the reader a step-by-step
process on how to go from being an employee to becoming an entrepreneur.
Planning, licensing, policies and procedures, staffing, curriculum development
and room arrangement is outlined in detail. This book is unique in providing the
reader with creative food and nutrition ideas. The book closes with necessary
information on developing financial and marketing plans as well as inexpensive
advertising techniques. If you have already envisioned yourself opening your own
childcare center, the only thing left to do after reading this book is to Step
Out on Faith and do it!
About the Author
After seven horrific child care provider experiences, Deborah Tillman decided to
rely on faith and some early childhood learning of her own. She quit her job as
a Staff Accountant and began a home-based school. She soon expanded into a 5600
square foot space with a staff of six serving 45 children. It soon had a six
month waiting list. In 1998, Tillman opened a second site. Boasting 102 students
and 16 full-time staff, the centers have been nominated Small Business of the
Year and are nationally accredited by the National Association for the Education
of Young Children. Deborah holds a BA in Business Administration and a Masters
Degree in Early Childhood Special Education. Among her many accomplishments,
Deborah Tillman has been featured in the October 2002 issue of Essence magazine
and April 2003 issue of the National Examiner. Deborah Tillman has been a
featured guest on the Charles Ross Show in Atlanta, Georgia. Deborah Tillman
travels across the region presenting workshops entitled: How to Open a Quality
Child Care Center and welcomes interviews and speaking engagements. She
currently lives with her husband James and their eleven year old son Zeplyn in
Lake Ridge, Virginia.
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When I first made the decision to quit my job to become a family childcare
provider, the main thought that crossed my mind was, “I can do this better” than
all of the other providers I have come in contact with. Not only can I do it
better, I must do it better because our children need me to. My only objective
was to work hard to make this dream a reality. Remembering the experiences that
my child had suffered at the hands of other providers was painful, but it gave
me the determination, courage and diligence to keep trying. If I were to be used
by God as a vessel to work to improve the lives of our nation’s “little ones”
then that was enough for me to feel fulfilled.
Where would I begin? After all, my BA degree was in Business Administration and
Political Science with a minor in Accounting. Although I babysat when I was
younger and worked in an after school program in high school as an assistant
teacher, neither experience qualified me to own and operate my own business with
children. After completing the 25- hour course, I decided to continue doing
research. I believe that when you are working at a job you should always work
toward your next job. Meaning, begin with the end in mind. For example, when I
began working as an in-home childcare provider, my dream was ultimately to own a
childcare center. Therefore, I set up my apartment and prepared all the
paperwork as if I were already running a childcare center. I was diligent and
patient with children. As a child, doing chores and being responsible proved to
be a wonderful foundation for developing a good work ethic.
When the children went home and my child went to sleep, I spent evenings and
early morning hours fine-tuning my parent handbooks, announcements and
newsletters. I wrote menus and fed the children meals with nutrition standards
required by the United States Department of Agriculture. I designed a curriculum
and daily schedules for each age group. I also began to look outside of the home
for a larger space.
Before you embark upon this endeavor, be sure that you know why you are doing
it. For example, ask yourself if you are attempting to break into this business
because you think you will be instantly wealthy or is it because you sincerely
want to improve the quality of lives for children and their families? Let me set
the record straight - the childcare industry is not the business that will
instantly bring you millions of dollars. As a matter of fact, you may never make
millions owning and operating your own center. However, if you are in this
business for the right reason and your heart and soul is into it, you will be
rich in love, rich in spirit, rich in passion, rich in being the best that you
can be for children – because by being your best you are able to give your best
in return.
I was never guided by the motivation to “get wealthy”. Since the beginning, I
have been driven by my passion to make this world a better place for children.
Therefore, when I began looking outside of the home for a larger space, my
objective was to be able to touch the lives of more children. My philosophy was
if five children could be affected in a positive way; so could 45, 105 and
prayerfully thousands.
I went to City Hall, other property managers, and contacted real estate agencies
to inquire, but nothing seemed to be working out the way I thought it should.
Most of the people that I talked to said that space was not available in a
particular area of the city or that they didn’t want to take on the liability of
housing a childcare center or “day care”, as it is often referred to. I also
spoke to a licensing specialist and other people who were very discouraging. One
lesson I learned as a child was that patience and persistence must take
precedence in your life. In addition, what lies behind us and what lies before
us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us (Oliver Wendell Holmes).
So when things didn’t immediately work out the way I thought it should, I
continued to pray and wait for God to lead me. At that point, I didn’t do
anything but stop and listen. I stopped pounding the pavement. I stopped calling
all of the realtors and property managers bugging them day and night and I
stopped harassing the contacts that I had made at City Hall. I began to focus
more on right here and now. I strived to make my in-home school the best place
it could be. I worked at home for approximately ten months. On October 8, 1993,
I received a phone call from the property manager that I had spoken with seven
months earlier. He informed me that a childcare center located in an apartment
complex had gone out of business after twenty-five years. He also said that he
heard many good things about my in-home childcare. The next words that came out
of his mouth changed my life forever, “Would you like to have the center?”
I was notified that the other center lost a child, but was eventually found
eight hours later. It was clear at that point that I wanted the location. My
family was very instrumental in helping me clean and organize the center. My
mother, who was a first grade teacher for over 25 years, was very helpful in
setting up the center based on the Division of Licensing requirements. I
borrowed $5000 from my Godfather to pay the first and last months rent. We also
used $6000 in savings to purchase supplies and equipment. I never attempted to
apply for a loan from the bank or SBA. I believed that if it was for me, God
would give me a way to work it out. We were blessed to be able to use the
existing tables, chairs and cabinets that the previous center left.
During November through January, I was able to make an appointment with the
Division of Licensing to get pointers on how to operate a center. Although the
visit was disappointing, it turned out to be one of the best things that ever
happened. I spoke to the licensing specialist about my plans. Then she told me
that many people come to her also wanting to open a center. However, she
discourages most of them and I wouldn’t be any different. She commented that she
had two centers in the past that went out of business. She stated it was
extremely difficult to own and operate a childcare center and it was not a get
rich scheme which many people think. In fact, she flat out said that I could not
do it. My background was not in early childhood education and therefore, I had
no expertise for the childcare industry. In addition, she contended that people
go to school for years and still are not successful.
What she didn’t know about me was that my idea of success was not “to get rich”.
It was working smart, being the best person that I could be and living each day
like it was the first day of my life. In addition, anyone who knows me knows
that I welcome a challenge. As I sat there listening to her say that I couldn’t
do it I remembered reading the book the, The Little Engine That Could” to my son
the night before. That children’s book is a wonderful tool for teaching children
and adults about courage and self-determination. I did not leave her office as
she had hoped, feeling defeated and in despair. I left with faith knowing that
with God all things are possible. As I walked out of the door into the parking
lot I began chanting, “I think I can! I think I can! I think I can!…I know I
can!”
To schedule a speaking engagement, book signing, or consultation
with Mrs. Tillman, please contact Butterfly 10 Marketing & Communications at
973-704-8087, or email Donna Washington at
butterflyten@aol.com
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