Hi, this is Timea and I decided to write this week’s blog post as a message to all of you! When I founded The Governess & Co, business advisors told me to focus on metrics—placement numbers, revenue growth, market share. While these traditional measures have their place, I quickly discovered that the statistics that truly define our success tell a completely different story. They’re the numbers that make me smile during my morning coffee and remind me why I started this journey in the first place.
Beyond Traditional Metrics
As a female entrepreneur in the domestic staffing industry, I’ve learned that the most meaningful business success can’t always be quantified in spreadsheets. Yes, we track placements and maintain financial records, but the statistics that truly matter to me are the ones that reflect the human connections we facilitate and the lives we touch.
These “unofficial” metrics have become my compass for business decisions and my reminder of why this work matters so deeply. They represent the heart of what we do—creating relationships that enrich families, support nannies’ career growth, and build lasting connections that extend far beyond employment contracts.
The Coffee Cup Celebrations
One of my favorite “statistics” involves the coffee cups consumed during our success celebrations. Every time we achieve a perfect family-nanny match, our small team takes a moment to celebrate properly. We’ve honestly lost count of these celebrations after our first month in business, but each one represents a family who found their ideal childcare support and a nanny who discovered their professional home.
These celebration moments remind me that behind every placement are real people—parents seeking trust and support, children needing care and connection, and nannies looking for families who value their expertise. When these elements align perfectly, it deserves recognition and gratitude.
For fellow entrepreneurs, particularly women building service-based businesses, I’ve learned that celebrating small wins consistently creates momentum and team morale that sustains you through challenging periods. These coffee cup moments aren’t just nice gestures—they’re essential practices that reinforce company values and maintain focus on what truly matters.
Messages That Move Us
The thank-you messages we receive from families and nannies represent another cherished metric. I keep every heartfelt email, thoughtful text, and handwritten note because they serve as reminders of the real impact our work creates. These messages often arrive months or even years after initial placements, when families want to share how their nannies have become integral parts of their lives.
What moves me most about these communications is their authenticity. Families don’t write to us because they feel obligated—they reach out because they’re genuinely grateful for the relationships we helped create. Nannies share how working with us supported not just their careers but their personal growth and confidence.
For other women in business, I’ve discovered that these authentic testimonials provide more motivation and direction than any business metric. They remind us why we started our ventures and help us stay connected to the human impact of our work.
The “Like Family” Standard
Perhaps our most treasured statistic involves families telling us their nannies have become “like family.” This feedback represents everything we aspire to achieve—professional relationships that evolve into genuine connections built on mutual respect, trust, and affection.
When parents tell us their children consider their nanny a beloved aunt, or when nannies share that they feel like treasured family members rather than employees, we know we’ve succeeded in creating something special. These relationships often continue long after employment ends, with nannies invited to graduations, family celebrations, and life milestones.
This standard has become our unofficial quality measure. We ask ourselves: Are we creating placements that have the potential to become lasting family connections? If the answer isn’t yes, we reconsider the match.
Building Lasting Professional Legacy
The relationships that outlast original employment contracts represent our most meaningful success metric. When we hear about nannies maintaining connections with families years later, participating in children’s major life events, or serving as ongoing mentors and friends, we see the true value of our work.
These lasting bonds demonstrate that we’re not simply filling temporary positions—we’re facilitating relationships that enrich everyone’s lives for years to come. Children benefit from consistent, caring relationships that extend beyond their immediate families. Parents gain trusted advisors and friends who understand their family dynamics intimately. Nannies develop meaningful connections that often become some of their most treasured relationships.
Lessons for Entrepreneurs
Building The Governess & Co has taught me that the most sustainable businesses are those built on genuine value creation rather than transactional exchanges. When you focus on creating authentic connections and supporting people’s real needs, financial success often follows naturally.
For women entrepreneurs especially, I’ve learned the importance of trusting your instincts about what constitutes meaningful success. While traditional business metrics matter for practical operations, the measures that truly sustain and motivate you during challenging times are often more personal and human-centered.
Supporting Two-Sided Success
Our business model succeeds because we genuinely care about both families and nannies. We’re not simply trying to fill positions quickly—we’re invested in creating matches that support everyone’s long-term happiness and success.
This dual focus requires more time and attention than transactional approaches, but it creates the foundation for sustainable business growth. Happy families refer friends and return for additional services. Satisfied nannies recommend colleagues and trust us with their career development. This organic growth, built on genuine satisfaction, proves more sustainable than any marketing strategy.
The Future We’re Building
As The Governess & Co continues growing, these human-centered metrics remain our primary focus. We measure success not just by how quickly we can make placements, but by how well these placements serve everyone involved over time.
Our goal isn’t becoming the largest domestic staffing agency—it’s becoming the most trusted partner for families seeking genuine childcare support and nannies building meaningful careers. This distinction guides every business decision and keeps us focused on what truly matters.
Final Reflections
The statistics that make me proudest as a business owner are the ones that can’t be neatly quantified in annual reports. They’re found in coffee-stained celebration moments, heartfelt thank-you messages, relationships that become family bonds, and connections that enrich lives for years beyond initial placements.
For families considering professional childcare support, remember that the right partnership should feel like gaining extended family members rather than simply hiring staff. For nannies building careers, seek agencies that value your professional growth and personal happiness alongside placement success.
And for fellow entrepreneurs, particularly women creating service-based businesses, trust that building on genuine human connections creates the most sustainable and fulfilling path to success. The numbers that really matter aren’t always the ones that fit in spreadsheets—they’re the ones that remind you why your work matters and sustain you through every challenge and celebration along the way.