Offering in-home Parent Child-safety Classes - Denise Devonish

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Denise Devonish, Owner of DMD Health and Safety Training Services, located in Gainesville, FL, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I teach various safety training to businesses, parents, and individuals. I also conduct in-home fall prevention assessments for individuals with physical disabilities and elderly individuals. My customers are parents with children from birth to 5 years, businesses that require BLS, CPR, and First Aid, and elderly individuals who live at home and who want to stay safe in their homes.

Tell us about yourself

I started my business after working for over 20 years with individuals with disabilities and teaching staff that worked with individuals with disabilities. I have always had an entrepreneurial spirit in my soul, and I took my areas of expertise and molded it into DMD. I realized that many parents did not know how to do CPR or choking prevention, so I created classes that could teach parents in a very basic way. I became a licensed car seat technician, and with my expertise, I developed my In-Home Child Safety Class, a Drowning Prevention Class, a Gun Safety Class, a Baby Proofing class, and In-Home Fall Prevention Assessment.

I am motivated each day by the parents and individuals whom I teach that learn something that enhances their lives and helps keep their families safer. When I see that light bulb go off in their eyes, it lets me know that I am doing a good thing and that I need to continue to share my knowledge in helping others keep themselves and their families safe.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment to date has been starting my second business - Devonish Consulting Group. It has always been a dream of mine to help walk others through learning about diversity, equity, and inclusion, and now I have the ability to do that.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

The hardest thing for me has been not having a constant flow of income and running my business on my own. Not having a team to assist with decisions and bringing in another point of view has been hard at times, and not having a constant source of income has also been hard at times.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. Make sure you learn the business side of things – we all are good at what we do hence why we start a business, but most of us need to learn how to run a business. Join your local Chamber and take advantage of the training and classes provided. Talk to others who have successful businesses that have been going for a long time.
2. Always remember you are not your target audience – you must market to people who want your product/service, not people who like what you like.
3. Do NOT grow too fast – growing too fast causes you to lose the ability to provide good work, good customer service, and a good product. The money is tempting, and wanting to take all the clients you can get seems like the right thing to do, but if you cannot get to work in a timely fashion or if you cannot return calls, you will lose all credibility with your clients.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.dmdtraining.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DMDHealthSafetyTrainingServices
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dmdhealthandsafety/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denise-devonish-7711908a/

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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