Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dr. Danny Brassell, Popular Keynote Speaker & Educational Consultant of Danjea Corp., located in Aurora, CO, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
My mission is to bring JOY back into education and the workplace. I provide speaking, coaching, and educational products to customers ranging from preschool teachers to corporate executives.
Tell us about yourself
I began my career as an inner-city teacher and became passionate about transforming struggling and reluctant readers into more passionate and proficient readers. To that end, I co-created the world's top reading engagement program to show people how to incorporate reading as a daily habit. I speak around the world to schools, companies, and organizations, and the pandemic prompted me to expand my offerings to coaching. I now relish helping people improve their speaking skills to enhance their business and personal relationships.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
I've been blessed to work with some wonderful partners. For example, Diarmuid Hudner, CEO of CyberSmarties - a social media platform for children ages 6-12 to eliminate bullying - partnered with me to incorporate my online reading engagement program into his system. Dave Espino, an online entrepreneur who was once the top trainer for Click Funnels, has helped me develop my "perfect persuasion" coaching program for entrepreneurs and executives interested in enhancing their speaking skills and developing amazing presentations.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Too often, I have been a "solopreneur," meaning my website administrator was a guy named "Danny;" my marketing director was a guy named "Danny;" my virtual assistant was a guy named "Danny." Learning to delegate and outsource has been a difficult but necessary lesson in my life as a business owner.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
First, I encourage all entrepreneurs to embrace discomfort and "fail forward." Max Levchin has a quote I love. To paraphrase, he said, "The very first company I started failed with a great BANG. The second one failed a bit less but still failed. The third one, you know, properly failed, but it did okay. Number four almost didn't fail - it still didn't feel really great, but it did okay. Number five was PayPal.
My second tip for entrepreneurs and business owners is to develop a mastermind of others from diverse fields with who you can bounce ideas, etc. I find when I run masterminds, I become so focused on solving others' problems that - in the process - I solve my own. As Zig Ziglar used to say, "You can get anything you want in life by helping others get what they want in life."
My third tip - and this is most important - is to have fun. We spend a lot of time working, and life is short. We need to develop businesses that support our lives, not the other way around. Focus on what matters. In my mastermind, I call it the 6 Fs: financial, fitness, family, faith, fun, and fulfillment. Set aside a day each week to focus on one of these goals to achieve better balance, and then you will find your freedom.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
Hang in there. Have you ever noticed that people who say "enjoy the journey" have already succeeded? I'm sure they weren't enjoying the journey when they were worried about covering payroll, making the sale, etc. The process stinks - but the benefits make it all worth it!
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://dannybrassell.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dannybrassell/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realdannybrassell/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DannyBrassell
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/DannyBrassell/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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