Go Gold with Katie Cannon

As entrepreneurs, it's easy to believe the next idea is the one that will take our business to the next level. But what if the biggest opportunity isn't something new at all? In this week's episode of Go Gold with Katie , Katie shares four of the biggest lessons she's learnt after 18 years of building children's activity businesses. From opening venues too quickly to chasing opportunities that wer...

If your business only works when you're in it (if holidays feel impossible, if every decision comes back to you) you haven't built a business. You've built a job. In this special episode, Katie Cannon takes you inside her live Grow & Scale Masterclass to share the exact framework Gold Medal Business uses with mentorship clients around the world: the four growth ceilings that stop most children...

Are you working harder than ever, running full classes, managing a growing team, and still wondering where the money is? In this episode of Go Gold with Katie, Katie Cannon shares the exact profitability framework she uses with children's activity and sports business owners to uncover hidden profit opportunities already sitting inside their businesses. Whether you run a gymnastics club, football a...

In this episode, I'm sharing the real story behind Gold Medal Business and Backflip Gymnastics. The highs, the lows, the mistakes, the gyms I had to close, the hundred primary schools I built, and the moments I genuinely wondered whether I'd got it all wrong. Because here's what I've realised: when you're in the trenches, it's easy to think you're behind. But when you stop and look back, you reali...

What if the reason you're struggling with enrolments isn't a lack of leads, but a lack of systems? In this powerful masterclass-turned-podcast episode, Katie Cannon shares the exact framework she uses to help children's activity and sports business owners create a consistent enrolment system that generates trials, referrals, renewals and student growth all year round. If you're tired of the feast-...

At one point, Katie Cannon had four gyms, over a hundred primary schools on her books, and a business that looked successful from the outside and was quietly cracking from within. In this episode, she shares the hard-won framework she wishes she'd had in those years: three questions to answer before you scale anything , whether it's a new venue, a new territory, a new programme, or an entirely new...

What if the next income stream in your business is actually the thing slowing you down? In this episode, Katie Cannon breaks down the 6 key signs that determine whether you’re truly ready to scale, launch a new business, or add another revenue stream. Drawing from over 20 years in the children’s activity industry, Katie shares the lessons that helped her go from overwhelmed entrepreneur to buildin...

If you've ever looked around at the other gymnastics schools, football academies, or dance studios in your area and felt a flutter of anxiety, this episode is about to completely change the way you think about competition. In this week's Go Gold with Katie, Katie Cannon reveals why competitors in your market are actually a sign of a healthy, in-demand business and shares the two powerful content p...

You're posting consistently but the enquiries aren't coming. Sound familiar? In this episode, Katie Cannon reveals why content alone is never enough, and shares the three social media moves that actually move the needle on student numbers for children's activity businesses. A simple, repeatable approach built on consistency and frequency. What you'll learn Why only 5–10% of your followers ever see...

Most children's activity businesses are pouring time and money into one or two marketing channels — and wondering why student numbers still aren't moving. In this episode, Katie Cannon breaks down the three marketing buckets every children's activity entrepreneur needs to have working together, and why neglecting even one of them is quietly capping your growth. What You’ll Learn: The three core le...

If you’re doing everything in your business, you’re slowing it down. In this episode, Katie breaks down how to step into your zone of genius, delegate effectively, and build a business that actually scales. This is a practical, no-fluff guide to freeing up your time, increasing productivity, and stepping into your role as a true CEO. Key Takeaways 80% of your time should be in your zone of genius....

If your student numbers aren’t where you want them to be, this episode is for you. Katie breaks down why most children’s activity business owners think they’re doing enough in their marketing but aren’t, and exactly where the gaps are. These are practical strategies to increase enquiries, conversions, and cashflow through consistent action. Key Takeaways One touchpoint isn’t enough. You need multi...

In this episode, Katie Cannon shares the real story behind Gold Medal Business — from her journey as a five-time British Gymnastics Champion to building multiple children’s activity businesses. The mindset, discipline, decisions, and turning points that shaped how Katie now supports children’s activity and sports entrepreneurs to grow, scale, and build businesses that actually work for their life....

This episode is a recording from Session 3 of our recent Enrol 30 Students in 3 Days workshop — the last session of the series. In this training, Katie ties everything together by showing how referrals, retention, diagnosis, and consistency create a business that grows steadily, protects cashflow, and stops leaking money. If you want consistent enrolments, stronger systems, and a business that fee...

This episode is a recording from Day 2 of our recent Enrol 30 Students in 3 Days workshop, which we ran last week for children’s activity and sports entrepreneurs who want more consistent enrolments and stronger cashflow. In this session, Katie shifts from front-end marketing to the internal systems that stop leads being lost, improve conversions, and help you build a more predictable business. Se...

This episode is a recording from Day 1 of our recent Enrol 30 Students in 3 Days workshop, which we ran last week for children’s activity and sports entrepreneurs who want more consistent enrolments and stronger cash flow. In this first session, Katie breaks down the foundations of sustainable student growth, from ads and content systems to CEO thinking and the role mentorship plays in building lo...

Shelley Otway Wood shares the real story behind building a performing arts school for 15 years including the career highs, the business lows, and the personal chapters that shaped her leadership. This episode is a masterclass in resilience, rebuilding, and what changes when you stop “winging it” and start running your business like a CEO inside mentorship. Key Takeaways There’s never a “right time...

In this episode, Katie shares the Top 10 mistakes she made in her first decade as a children’s activity business owner, from hiring too fast to overcomplicating the model and ignoring cashflow. If you’re building towards consistent six figures (or beyond), this is your shortcut: steal the lessons, skip the pain, move faster with fewer setbacks. Key Takeaways  If you’re not failing, you’re not...

What happens when a non-entrepreneur buys a children’s activity franchise… weeks before COVID hits? In this powerful episode, Emily Little shares how she went from performer to business owner, navigated lockdown, motherhood, and her partner’s cancer diagnosis — all while launching and scaling performing arts territories. If you’ve ever thought “it’s not the right time”, this episode will change th...

In this episode, Katie shares her full journey from five-time British Gymnastics Champion to building a seven-figure children’s activity business , including the mindset, discipline, and hard-earned lessons that shaped it all. If you’re building your business while juggling life, family, and big ambitions, this is for you! Key Takeaways Don’t learn from someone who’s “successful” but has the oppos...

What does “having it all” actually look like when you’ve got three children under five and you’re scaling a children’s activity business? In this episode, Katie Hillcoat shares the real behind-the-scenes of building a business with a young family. What she’s dropped, what she’s protected, and the mindset shifts that keep her moving forward. If you’re a children’s activity or sports business owner...

As we approach the end of the year, it’s the perfect time to review, refine, and decide what you really want to focus on in 2026. In this episode, Katie dives into one of the most powerful strategies for children’s activity entrepreneurs: finding your one thing .  Katie shares how being laser-focused on one area whether it’s increasing student numbers, running standout classes, or refining yo...

Running a children's activity business can feel like a constant race against targets and cash flow. In this episode, Katie Cannon reminds us that success isn’t just about hitting revenue goals, it’s about what your business gives you beyond the numbers. Katie breaks down the five key areas every entrepreneur should reflect on: 1) Time – Are you gaining freedom to spend your days doing what matters...

Building a strong team is one of the hardest parts of running a children’s activity or sports business but it’s also the key to growth, freedom, and a business you love. In this episode, Katie shares her 18-year journey of hiring, learning from mistakes, and discovering what really works when it comes to building a winning team. You’ll hear Katie’s real-world experiences from her gyms and classes,...

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m just not a numbers person,” this episode is for you. Katie breaks down the one number that will scale your children’s activity or sports business faster than anything else — your Lifetime Value (LTV) vs. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) . In simple terms, it’s knowing how much a customer is worth to your business over time, compared to how much it costs to bring them in...