Coach, Author and Speaker, Sanita Mitchell talks Five Year Plan Model
Story told by By Sanita Mitchell
When I think about my career as a business owner, I immediately think about my very first business “Bright Sparkles Family Daycare.” II started the business after deciding to stay home to be with my youngest son and daughter. Bright Sparkles taught me the importance of planning and communicating both to parents and to the community overall. Bright Sparkles was truly a labor of love. I remember becoming overwhelmed by the amount of work and pure frustration surrounding obtaining permits, selecting the curriculum, purchasing toys, creating manuals and contracts, and meeting the requirements of the local licensing office. I second-guessed whether it was worth the amount of money being spent to open this business.
One day, the doorbell rang and another package had arrived. When I opened the package, it was a large sign with my company’s name on it. I was immediately thrown back in love with the process and the business. I quickly learned that there were going to be times when I would want to throw in the towel but I must keep the vision in front of me.
After 5 years, I made the decision to close Bright Sparkles. It was a difficult decision to make because I absolutely loved working with the children; however, I felt it was time to move on to another venture. Trusting the universe, I didn’t know what it would be right away but I knew it would be the right path for me.
While I was running Bright Sparkles, my husband and I created another business, “The Perfect Family Blend.” It was a company that supported married couples, specifically blended families. We also had our first radio show “In The Mix with the Mitchell’s”. It was during this time that we talked about creating what was supposed to only be an additional program under “The Perfect Family Blend”.
“Anaya’s Project” was created in honor of our daughter—Anaya Simone Mitchell. Anaya was born on April 26, 2010 at 28 weeks of pregnancy. She was our first daughter together as a blended family, so we wanted to create a program that would address the issues surrounding pregnancy, infant loss, as well as fertility issues. As we began to plan, I felt like “Anaya’s Project” was going to be bigger than any of our other programs or services.
In 2017, I reached out to a nonprofit consultant and the journey began! I was determined to launch “Anaya’s Project” in April 2018. It was a huge goal but we were thankfully successful. We started out offering bereavement boxes and support group meetings. Today, we offer bereavement boxes, angel gowns, peer-to-peer support group, a Grief Recovery Program, and a Men’s Support Group.
In the next 5 years, “Anaya’s Project” will have its own facility. We will add to our services from grief counseling to licensed mental health therapists and doula services. We will be a center filled with hope for those families who need it the most. Since Anaya means “to guard or protect” our center will be a place where families can feel safe and secure to heal after experiencing loss.
