You are the Program - Elite NCS™

I am writing this blog on a plane to the countryside to rest and recharge. I have always been a huge fan of planes. Growing up in rural Arkansas, I would see a plane flying beside the clouds now and then. I would reflect on the people inside them and their journeys. Where were they headed? How long would they be gone?

As I look out the window, I think about how I got here and the privilege of traveling.  In some ways, this flight reminds me of my Elite and Master NCS journey. I joined the program wanting to grow, even though I wasn’t sure exactly where that growth would lead.

When people ask me about the program, the conversation often begins with one question: Did your rate increase? The short answer is yes. I increased my rate. But the longer explanation is much more interesting.

The program gave me wisdom and opportunities I never imagined. I learned to navigate complex family dynamics better and slowly became more confident negotiating with clients. After finishing, I was offered positions with families I might never have met otherwise.

But if I had to identify the two most valuable things I gained, they would be community and freedom.

This industry can be tough. Having friends who truly understand the work makes a tremendous difference. Then there’s freedom. Maybe that’s why writing this on a plane feels so fitting. For me, freedom isn’t limited to traveling or taking time off. It means having more choices about how I work, whom I work with, what I say yes to, and where I want my life and career to go. It feels good to say yes to something that fits me, rather than feeling as though I have no other option.

I have also learned the value of a no. Kara from my cohort often reminds me to know my nos. I think of her whenever I’m deciding whether to say yes or no. Her advice has helped me understand that the most important yes is the one you give yourself.

Building on these reflections, I would like to offer several insights I gathered throughout my experience.

You are the program.

My husband and I were once on a bus discussing his decision to quit cigarettes. A man sitting nearby suddenly leaned toward us and said, in an almost fatherly tone, “You are the program.”

The rest of what he said was scattered and difficult to understand, but those four words stayed with me. Sometimes words are sticky in a good way.

Tonya and Chevelle are excellent instructors. Your cohort will support you. The curriculum will challenge you. In the end, however, you decide how much time, energy, and effort you will invest in your career and your future.

When people ask whether they should apply to the program, I usually respond with a question of my own: “Are you ready to do the work?”

The program evolves each year. During my cohort, doing the work meant preparing in-depth monthly assignments, participating in group discussions, and completing a year-long Master’s project that included both a research paper and a presentation.

My advice is simple: go for it. Just remember that you’ll get out of the program what you put into it. If you put in a little effort, you’ll get a little back. If you give it your all, you will see rewards you never expected.

Get ready for a mindset shift.

Your dreams are possible. The program challenged me to think differently about what I could achieve in my career. For example, I hesitated to apply for certain positions. However, after completing the Elite and Master Program and the NICU Doula Academy (side note: I met Mary at the NCS Enrichment Conference), I began to apply for those positions. As a result, opportunities that once felt out of reach gradually became attainable. I gained wisdom and, in turn, became more confident in what I bring to a family and more intentional about the opportunities I accept. 

Changing your mindset doesn’t make everything easy. It means you begin looking at possibilities differently. Instead of thinking, “Why would they pick me?” you start asking, “Why not me?”

Sometimes the biggest change is simply allowing yourself to imagine more.

Never stop learning, and fall in love with learning. Tiny lives depend on it.

Fun fact: I almost didn’t graduate from high school because I missed so many classes, but I flourished in college. Learning is different when you truly care about what you’re studying.

What we know shapes lives. Families trust us with their babies during an especially vulnerable time. That’s why learning cannot stop when you earn a certificate or finish a program.

There is always more to learn. New research may challenge something you once believed, and there is always another perspective worth hearing.

If you are wondering whether this program is right for you because your educational path has not been traditional, don’t rule yourself out. People arrive at this work by many different roads. What matters is whether you are willing to learn.

Our cohort became a group dedicated to seeing everyone succeed. Jessica organized online calls so we could stay on track and work through challenges together. There may or may not have been some frustrated feelings. I can't say because the Newborn Care Solutions NDA covers that. 🙂

Step outside your echo chamber and register for The NCS Enrichment Conference

One of the greatest gifts is perspective. You’ll be around people who see newborn care, families, business, education, and life differently than you do. That’s a good thing.

It’s difficult to grow if everyone around you thinks the same way you do. Listen thoughtfully and ask questions. Be willing to reconsider what you thought you knew. You don’t have to agree with every perspective, but it helps to make an honest effort to understand it.

My NCS community started at the conference. I met amazing groups of individuals who I am now happy to call my friends. Your network grows at conferences, but that only happens if you are in the room.

Examine bias in research.

Research isn't automatically good just because it's been published. One of the best skills you can develop is learning to ask better questions about the information you encounter. Who conducted the research? Who was included, and who was left out? How was the research funded? What assumptions shaped it? Does the evidence truly support the conclusion? We also need to examine our own biases. It’s easy to select information that confirms what we already believe. When families and babies depend on our guidance, saying, “I read it somewhere,” isn’t enough. We have to dig deeper.

 Assume good intentions.

Working inside someone’s home is intensely personal. New parents are tired. Newborn Care Specialists are human. Communication can be imperfect, and household dynamics can be complicated. Sometimes something that lands the wrong way was never intended that way. I have learned the value of beginning with curiosity. Before deciding what someone meant, assume good intentions and leave room for another explanation. Assuming good intentions doesn’t involve ignoring boundaries or allowing bad behavior. Choose conversation over conflict whenever possible.

Listen first. Speak second.

Expertise doesn’t mean being the first person to speak. I got this from Elise. She listens actively first, then responds thoughtfully. Families will tell you what they need if you truly listen. Your cohort will teach you if you give people space to share. Sometimes the most valuable contribution to a conversation isn’t a quick answer but a thoughtful follow-up question.

RETREAT.

Don’t miss it! Seriously. As soon as you receive the dates, request the time off. The retreat grants a special chance to step away from your daily life and feel cared for.  Classes and Zoom calls help you learn, but being together in person is different. You can rest without rushing, laugh together, and truly get to know the people behind the screens. Kara, Joy, Jessica, Elise, and Amanda. Thank you for showing up as your authentic selves.

Some of the most important growth in a program like this happens outside the formal lesson. Make room for it.

Procrastination isn’t a gift.

For years, I relied on the rush of last-minute deadlines. I told myself I did my best work under pressure. Over the past three years, I have learned that this was definitely not true. What I called “working well under pressure” was really scrambling to pull together scattered ideas before time ran out. There is a big difference between finishing something and giving it your best effort.

Give yourself time to think, revise, and even change your mind. Your work deserves more than the rushed version of you who shows up three hours before the deadline.

Your Master’s topic matters.

Choose something you genuinely care about. You’ll spend an entire year with this topic. You’ll research it, question it, write about it, reconsider it, probably grow tired of it, and eventually present it.

Curiosity will carry you much further than choosing a topic simply because it sounds impressive. Choose the question you genuinely want answered.

It is not about you.

Individuals who have been in the field for a long time typically recognize what works “best” for them. Someone may have worked with hundreds of babies, seen patterns develop, and quickly become excited to tell parents the “best” way to do things. Sometimes we are so quick to give answers that we forget we are working with parents to support them and give them autonomy during their parenting journey. Perhaps a new parent during the interview mentions that they want to do _____ but when the baby is born they want to try _____. This is great! It means they feel secure in their role as parents, and you helped build that confidence. BE PROUD OF YOURSELF! This is why communication is vital to the success of an NCS-parent relationship.

Talk with several people who have completed the program.

Please don’t base your decision solely on my experience. Talk with graduates from different cohorts. Connect with people whose backgrounds resemble yours and with those whose experiences are completely different. Ask what challenged them, what surprised them, what they wish they had known before beginning, and what changed for them afterward. No single graduate can tell you exactly what your experience will be because, ultimately, your success depends on you.

I enjoy speaking with people who are interested in the Elite and Master NCS programs, and I’m always happy to share my story. You can email Julie at Newborn Care Solutions if you would like to connect with me or hear from other graduates. Many alums are generous about sharing their experiences and advice.

I am almost at my destination, so I should wrap this up. As I sit on this plane thinking about what the Elite and Master NCS programs have given me, I keep returning to two things: knowing my no and having the freedom to offer an enthusiastic yes. I began the program wanting to become a better NCS. Along the way, I also became more intentional about the career and life I want to build. A plane can carry you somewhere new, but you still have to choose the destination. The same is true of this program. Tonya and Chevelle can teach you. Your cohort can support you. The program can give you knowledge, tools, opportunities, and community. But only you can decide where you want to go and what you are willing to invest in getting there. So, wherever your path leads, know your nos, choose your destination, and remember: the most important yes is the one you give yourself.