013. Celebrating the Working Mom with Cara Graham
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We celebrated Mother’s Day this month, and as I scrolled through all the posts and read all the sweet words celebrating motherhood, it really got me thinking. I’ve always been in awe of the moms in my life who balance family and work. When I think about my personal workload and task list compared to all the working mom has to accomplish in 24 hours, I just want to send them all cookies and wine! So to honor the moms juggling the professional and personal (and seeing as I don’t have children of my own yet) I wanted to talk with someone who really gets it.
Today I’m chatting with brilliant and beautiful #mompreneur, Cara Graham! Cara is the Director and founder of Graham Behavior Services, a program dedicated to personalized ABA therapy. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who received her Master of Arts degree in Special Education from Kean University and completed her coursework in Applied Behavior Analysis at Caldwell University. And as if that wasn’t enough, she’s also a working mama of two! When I tell you this woman is a superhero, I mean it in every sense of the word.
On this episode, Cara and I dive deep into her story and how she came to pursue a career in ABA therapy. We chat about how she turned her side hustle into a full time business and the steps she took to make that dream a reality. Cara shares how she’s balancing family and career, and a simple self-care tip that saved her sanity. We discuss employee retention and Graham Behavior’s unique approach to keeping employees fulfilled and happy in the workplace. And she also tells us a few client stories and how those little wins keep her motivated and inspired.
This episode is dedicated to all the working mamas out there. You are truly incredible and I am so in awe of your drive, determination, and commitment! Thank you Cara for sharing your story and being so real with your experience. I am so excited for you guys to meet Cara and hear how she does it all and serves with so much passion.
Meet Cara.
Cara Graham, M.A., BCBA is the Director and founder of Graham Behavior Services. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst who received her Master of Arts degree in Special Education from Kean University and completed her coursework in Applied Behavior Analysis at Caldwell University.
Graham Behavior Services provides quality, comprehensive, evidence-based therapy to individuals with any behavior challenges or an autism spectrum disorder, to create effective behavior change in themselves while empowering their families to help them pursue productive, purposeful, and fulfilling lives.
Cara’s work focuses on providing home and community-based services for children and adults with developmental disabilities. She currently serves as the Chair for the NJABA Business Practices Workgroup. Cara is also a working mama of two and is so inspired by her littles! She loves big, as you’ll hear throughout this interview, and her commitment to her clients, employees, and family is above and beyond!
“Knowing what you don’t know is the most important thing because it’s how you know to ask for help.”
The heart behind her business.
Cara’s heart for the special needs and autism community comes through in every aspect of her life. While her degree reflected this love for special education, after college she decided to take a different path and try out sales. After a few years, she felt unfulfilled and decided life was too short to work a job that didn’t thrill you! She went back to teaching and soon found her way into client-forward ABA therapy.
Graham Behavior is such a reflection of Cara’s commitment to the community she serves. From undiagnosed behavior challenges to autism, Graham Behavior believes every individual’s needs are different and deserve the utmost care. Their team of qualified professionals practices evidence-based therapy because research shows it produces positive results.
Cara knows that every individual has a unique experience, and other things come into play like personalities, therapy location, and goals. Her clients are never plugged into a preset formula. Instead, they individualize strategies to create the absolute best outcome for each client and family.
The value of asking for help.
Cara discusses her journey to entrepreneurship throughout the episode and one piece of advice that kept coming back to the conversation was to “ask for help sooner.” Whether it’s balancing motherhood with work life, trying to understand the startup world, or just need some industry advice — knowing when to ask for help will take you further than your pride.
Cara tells her story of trying to do it all at the beginning and learning how to balance business and family. In the end, she realized that she needed some extra support and began searching for local resources. From meet-up groups to Score mentorship, she finally was able to build a community around her that helped her build the business of her dreams.
Asking for help when you have all the plates spinning is so important to moving forward in a healthy way. Don’t be afraid to seek out those mentors or industry leaders to ask questions or advice! It will save you time and energy in the long run, and lead to a happier, healthier business balance.
It’s a learning experience.
Cara realized early on that a healthy workplace relies on open and honest feedback. In order to really thrive as a company, she began to encourage monthly meetings they call “Score Card” where employees can ask questions, offer constructive feedback, or even voice concerns in a group setting. It not only helps Graham Behavior adjust or work through conflicts, it helps the employees know they have a voice.
Graham Behavior studies the science of how humans behave. The company is there to provide positive strategies and encourage behavioral shifts. So by applying this science to employees, they’re able to set up winning systems that encourage feedback and great communication.
Best Advice to your younger self.
“Try to love what you do and find a way for your employees to love what they do! Recognize what your employees like to do, what they’re gifted at, and put them in those positions. Be ok with not being good at everything and letting go of tasks or projects. Be trusting of other people. Life is so much better when you’re doing something you love.”
“Having happy employees is everything because it results in good quality service and happy clients.”
Connect with Cara.
So how does Cara balance it all? How did she find the courage to start her business and transform her side hustle into full-time? I know you’re going to learn so much from this incredible #mompreneur this week! Press play to listen to the full interview and celebrate the working mom with Cara Graham!
Connect and check out the links mentioned in the episode below!
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