Kayla Opperman shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Kayla, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I’ve been doing well with delegating work and am at a point where my business can run without me. That used to be a terrifying thought, and while I’m still very much here, it feels great now! I’m looking forward to what else I can add to my plate now!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Kayla Opperman, and I’m what they call a MUMBO (multi-unit, multi-brand owner). I’m a franchisee of Unleashed Brands, owning Snapology and Class 101 franchises. My passion is enriching and empowering our next generation to be confident, successful, and impactful. Snapology teaches STEAM concepts to children through play, and Class 101 guides high school students through the college planning process. I do this all with my husband, Greg, and we absolutely love what we do!
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
My mom! She worked nights as a registered nurse in the ER, and when my sisters and I were all under the age of 4, she started a business with my grandma. She didn’t quit her nursing job until I was 10, but she never complained about the lack of sleep or all the work. My memories of her working the business from home are positive! I learned so much hearing her talk on the phone and watching her operate a business. She genuinely loved that and her nursing job, and I saw that passion and knew I needed to have that someday as well. I also learned how to integrate work into family life successfully. Everyone wants the “work-life balance,” but she knew how to do both at once and very well.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I know I’m not alone with this one, but the pandemic sure made me want to give up! Not only being unable to run business much during it, but it also the unknowns with the future was scary. I came out so much stronger, and I do feel I can handle anything thrown my way now.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Unpopular opinion, and I’m no therapist, but it’s OK to be the type of person that gets overly anxious or worries too much. As a business owner, I actually think my business runs smoothly because I’m always prepared for the worst. I always have strategies and exit plans for when things go south, despite how unlikely it is to happen. I can pivot and fix issues quickly. The stress sometimes does pay off, and in the meantime, I’m actually less anxious knowing I have backup plans!
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
Yes! Going to work is mostly just hanging at my house with my husband! I absolutely love working for myself, for kids, and for my community. The highest level of excitement is buying a franchise and seeing that it will pay off. It might take some hard work, you might need to educate yourself on certain things, and you might need to start managing your time differently, but you can see the success ahead and have a pretty good idea on how to get there. It’s so fun and so exciting, and new businesses really ignite that fire for me!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/its_me_your_franchisee/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-snapology/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ItsMeYourFranchisee
