Stephanie Britt

Find out how you can be different. What’s your passion, what’s your niche? Once you answer that, just go for it and go big.

 

Stephanie Britt is the owner and head coach of Cheer Savannah, in Pooler, Georgia. Cheer Savannah has been in business since 2000 and has been recognized as one of the top 20 cheerleading programs in the country, several years ago by American Cheerleader Magazine.

Stephanie started a small tumbling business while still a junior in high school, and then went on to coaching middle school squads while attending Georgia Southern University. Later, she and her family moved to Perry, Georgia, where she found herself helping to coach the cheerleaders at Westfield Schools.

In 1998, they moved to Savannah where Stephanie coached the Calvary Cheerleaders. But because they weren’t allowed to compete, Stephanie put out a notice to any girls interested in cheerleading, in the newspaper. She had 24 girls show up for the meeting, and all 24 made the team. Their very first competition, the Fellowship of Christian Cheerleaders National Championship in Orlando, Florida, they won!

Cheer Savannah has been to the World Championship for 13 years, have hundreds of national titles and have seen dozens of girls go on to become Division One College Cheerleaders. Her own daughter, Southern Britt is currently a cheerleader at the University of Georgia & her Worlds team Lady Lace has placed top 10, 7th, & 8th at the World Championships!

Where did the idea for Cheer Savannah come from?

I decided to help my school cheer kids fulfill their dreams to compete, so I created a club cheer program for our community. The name was just simply because we were cheerleaders and in Savannah, so Cheer Savannah it was.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

I get up around 6:30 and there’s almost always text messages & emails from cheer moms. I’m usually responding to those or returning phone calls and emails until 9:00, then it’s my working out, running and yoga time.

I’m at my desk by 12:00 and busy with bookkeeping, or planning or whatever else needs to be done, and I’m there until 4:00. I teach privates starting at 4:00, then I coach teams from 5:00 to 9:00. Friday is my “day off”, although I’m always working. If we have weekend competitions, I’m busy packing or competing. We practice most Sundays 3-9 PM! I have a suite connected to my office with a couch bed & full bathroom & shower because so many late nights I have been known to just spend the night.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I think just by being bold and not thinking or staying in the box, not being afraid to be unique and creative. One example would be something that happened about 17 years ago. While sitting on the beach with a friend I had the idea of a beach themed routine for the girls. We won Best Choreography at NCA Nationals in Dallas that year & The Island girls was ICONIC. We went on to do French maids, ice, & senoritas themed routine, complete with costumes, for years following that really branded us. Now everyone knows Lady Lace because of the bow on the backs of their skirts!

What’s one trend that excites you?

I love that this sport has evolved so much, that now it’s about celebrating teams that are creative. The routines don’t have to be the most difficult, they just must be perfect and clean. I believe that any team can be motivated that on any given day you can be a winner.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

I observe, I watch other top gym owners that I admire and see how they do things. If I see something that they do that we aren’t doing, I may put it into practice and see what the outcome is. Also, listening to my customers!

What advice would you give your younger self?

Slow down and enjoy your own children more. I really didn’t put my family, my children first, it was always for other children and families. I wish I would have found a better way to enjoy my family, friends and life, in general.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

There’s always going to be two sides to every story, and you’re only being told what people want you to know. I know there’s a reason why they do, but you will never know the other side of the story. You can’t believe everything you see or hear. People are opportunistic and self serving and will come after you if you are a successful female.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Don’t react to everything little thing. Take the time to listen and learn. There’s going to be someone out there who’s intent is to hurt you or your business, but you can’t let that get to you. You’ve got to stay positive and cut out the negative, but never quit.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

I simply wanted to coach; I didn’t have a strategy to grow anything. I built a cheer program for kids in the community that I loved and for my daughters to be part of to give them their dream. It grew out of all the girls telling their friends about it and word of mouth taking over. Just by coaching, and doing it well is what grew this business to 350 customers when we were at our biggest.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Doing deals on handshakes and realizing that some people weren’t good for their word. I learned that you must protect yourself and that not everyone you think is a friend truly is a friend. There are those that are just waiting to turn against you.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

Find out how you can be different. What’s your passion, what’s your niche? Once you answer that, just go for it and go big.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I just gave my daughter money to study abroad, in New Zealand. I can’t pass up the opportunity to let my girls experience and explore the world in ways I never had. It’s invaluable for them to learn that there really is a lot more out there. The gift of education, and knowledge and experience are the greatest gifts you can give.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Honestly, I have a website that I never visit. I’m taking a step away from the coaching to focus more on the business running side of things. I do use Instagram, Facebook and Facebook Live to communicate & educate people.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, by Angela Duckworth. If there were one characteristic of successful people, I would think it would be grit. It takes grit to keep going and moving forward to find your idea of success, regardless of whether that’s in business or relationships, or life.

What is your favorite quote?

“People will throw stones at you. Don’t throw them back. Collect them all and build an empire.”

Key Learnings:

– I believe that any team can be motivated that on any given day you can be a winner.
– There’s always going to be two sides to every story
– Don’t react to everything little thing. Take the time to listen and learn.