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Stand Tall & Own It
Something shifted. You can feel it. You just can't name it yet.
Stand Tall & Own It is for women in the second half of life who are high-functioning on the outside and quietly disoriented on the inside. You built your life inside systems you trusted completely — until you realized you couldn't tell what was actually yours from what you'd just learned to navigate well.
Host Andrea Johnson doesn't offer formulas. She offers honest thinking, sharp observation, and the kind of conversation that makes you pull over and sit in your driveway.
This is where the real work starts.
Stand Tall & Own It
Episode 85 - Community Over Competition with Dana Dunton
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Dana stumbled upon becoming a clothing boutique owner after many career changes and finally following what she was most passionate about. She started using her experience to talk with other women and encourage them to not pay attention to clothing sizes but how the clothing makes the fee by helping them find clothing that worked with their bodies instead of against it. Dana works with many women entrepreneurs in her local city to help promote and build businesses in the downtown area.
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Leadership Principle: You can’t control the things that happen to you but you can control your reactions to them.
Habits to grow your confidence:
- Make a mental list before you get out of bed each day
- Center yourself in TODAY
- Include exercise
Green Flags:
- Find your passion FIRST
- Are you genuine about it?
Advice:
- Look for the next step in YOUR passion.
- Ask for help
- Write things down
Where to find Dana
Website: Mainstream Boutique Shop
Instagram: @mainstreamboutique_sheboygan
Facebook: Mainstream Boutique Sheboygan
Check out the new APP Mainstream Boutique Sheboygan
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Unconventional leaders will find great. Just like you for making a difference in their community. You just might find yourself stepping up as a next unconventional leader. I'm your host, Andrew Johnson. Hey, welcome to episode 85. Is your wardrobe divided into sections based on stages of your weight loss or gain? Well, mine is, well, or it used to be. I've always wanted to look really good in my clothes, like most women, but I've struggled to attain that elusive trifecta of good fit, works of my personality, and real comfort. Also, as a petite pair, and if you're not familiar with body types, pair, you can look it up, I have harbored extreme ill will against designers and the fashion industry in general for catering to what I perceive to be tall or buxome or just non-curvy bodies. Well, today's guest, and you're going to love her, has a passion for helping women feel great in their clothes. Yep, there are actually women out there who have figured it out and love helping the rest of us. Dana Dunton is the owner of mainstream boutique in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, which just so happens to be a franchise. So surprise, we're switching things up a bit in here. Today I'm still riding high off the buzz from last week's interview with Diane Plois, the franchise matchmaker, just one episode back, number 84, and I had my mind blown about the sheer variety and diversity of franchises available. So I wanted to talk to someone who'd actually done it, and not with a recognizable fast food version. But I had no idea walking into this interview that Dana's story would be so compelling and inspirational, and how beautifully she would prove the unconventional leader principle that when we find our passion, there is always a way to make it happen. I cannot wait for you to meet my new friend and franchise owner, Dana Dunton. Hey Dana, welcome to the show. Thank you. I'm so excited. I am too. You and I were talking about the fact that I have heard your name for a good while. You are a good friend of and helper to, and I can't wait to explain some of the stuff that you do to my friend Kim Pate, who is also the podcast producer and engineer and sound person and everything. So if you would give us just a little bit of the background of your story and whatever kind of led you up to what you do now that we consider unconventional leadership.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, absolutely. Uh my story actually started years before I realized what my what I'm going to call my calling to what led me to today. Um I was in college and I did the typical college things and kind of put on some of the college weight. And I really struggled. I mean, I've struggled with body issues and self-confidence for my entire life. And then, as many women, when we start gaining weight and we have to go up to those sizes, became really difficult for me. And you get stuck in being defined by that small or the medium or the large. And eventually, once I started, I originally started my career as a teacher. And so when I had to start entering that workforce, I knew I needed to look and dress appropriately and not no longer like a college student. And I just started realizing that sometimes I was a medium and sometimes I was a large, and sometimes I could still be a small. You cannot look at what I'm putting in your dressing room. You're just gonna have to trust me. We might strike out a few times. Um, and sure enough, it was those same things. Like sometimes we were in larges, sometimes we were in smalls, but it was more about how it made them feel and how it fit their body. Um, because the fashion industry is kind of crazy. And, you know, there's no set standard for sizes or anything. And eventually it just kind of, I was like, you know, I would love to open up a store. I would love to open up a boutique, but it was kind of always off in the distance. Um, and nothing that I ever thought would come to fruition. And a girlfriend of mine had said, why don't you do one of those franchises where you have support? Because I was a teacher. I had no business degree. I've never worked in retail. This was just all of you know me searching on Pinterest and experimenting as I went. And so she's like, Why don't you join one of those franchises where like they have support, but you get to do your own buying? And I was like, that's a terrible idea. I would never do that. Why would I want to pay someone for the work that I'm doing? And uh they conveniently had moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, and so we went to go visit them and we went shopping and we went into a store, a mainstream boutique, and I loved everything in the store. Like I wanted to buy, I walked out and I was like, with like my three bags, and I was like, if I had a store, that's what it would be. That's the look it would be, those are the clothes I would have. And of course, she didn't tell me what we were walking into. Um, and so we walked out and she goes, That is one of the stores I was telling you about. It's a franchise, but each person does the buying. And she's like, I just think it would be a really good fit for you. So on the plane ride home, I sent an email to the corporate office. And by the time I landed, I had a response back. And we had started the process of me becoming a franchise owner.
SPEAKER_02I have cold chills. What a friend! Oh my gosh. Dina, please tell me that she is like in business with you.
SPEAKER_00She she is one of my strongest supporters, but she, you know, she does get a pretty good discount though, because we get to, you know, she gets a lot of the credit for starting or introducing me to the franchise that I went with.
SPEAKER_02Well, you know, there are so many things to tease out in this story. Um, number one, the mindset changes that you went through. And bravo for not paying any attention to the number, because how many of us walk into a store and from brand to brand need a different size? And, you know, so we can tease out that a little bit as well. But also being willing to say, wait a minute, I can help other people and recognizing that that is something that you were offering and you had no idea, you were just doing what you loved, recognizing a passion, right? Yes, yes, and and then having this is the other piece is that community, even if community is just two people in a room or two people in a relationship, what a community for you to have a friend that was willing to haul you down from where do you live? Uh Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Wisconsin, all the way to Charlotte, North Carolina, just to see, just to give you a piece of the vision so that you could see what was possible for you. That's fabulous. Oh my gosh. That's great. So let's gosh, let's dig, let's dig a little deeper. Um so you and I are both petite people, right? We're small people, right? Um, and uh, you know, my story also is very fraught with the whole body image thing. And I have been up and down and up and down. And how many of us have these are my small clothes, these are my medium clothes, and these are my big clothes, no matter what the size is, right?
SPEAKER_00They could get rid of them. Yes, get rid of them. That is go. Well, and that so yeah, that's what it was. Like you hold on to these because you think about like I'm gonna get back into that. And at some point, like, yes, some see it as a goal, but to me, it just reminds you of what you're not, and you're not what you were, and that's okay because you've grown, you've learned things. You don't want to go back to that person, most likely either, because you know things now that you didn't know back then, and it's probably not gonna be in style if you can fit into it eventually down the road.
SPEAKER_02I don't know. I have one or two things from when I was in high school, and let me tell you, girl, those 80s are coming back.
SPEAKER_00Um I have worn a what we call a Canadian tuxedo in whitewash denim, and I never thought that that would be a thing.
SPEAKER_02Um But that's so true, right? We are not that person, even if it's even if it's the little person, right? Even if it's the small sizes, that person maybe had a completely different mindset than what we have now. And even if it's especially if it's the larger size, being able to turn your back on that and walk away from that and say, I'm that is not who I am anymore. I have made these changes. We talk about um habit forming. And every single time you do something new and good for yourself, it's a vote for the person you're becoming. And I I just love that image of I have like a guest bedroom where I put all my stuff. And now I switch out just the summer and winter because I have an old house with small closets. But I used to have clothes that were my big clothes and my, you know, and to do that and to save those things because I was up to 310 pounds, right? So I was in size, and granted, this was 17 years ago, so 24s at the time. And you know, now the sizes are all all the sizes are different. But at the time, I remember when Lane Bryant first opened. I remember going in Lane Bryant and thinking, oh, I can finally find clothes that work for my body. And it gave me such a boost of confidence to be in clothes that were not grandma and actually fit me. And so to me, that was kind of the beginning back in the early, early 90s of paying attention to body type rather than size, right? Right. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, and just fitting, you know, because everyone has that different body type, and each body type is so specific to what suits it best. There's the pear, there's the heart, there, you know, I always talk about my child rearing thighs, and and and as you go through your stages of life, you change too. And now, as mom of three, you know, I'm stuck in that. I don't, I don't want to necessarily not that there's anything wrong with people looking at me and saying, oh, there's a mom. But again, I I don't like being defined by the way I look. And so it's I I don't want to necessarily look like I'm a mom of three. I wanna sometimes I do when I'm at soccer games. Absolutely. I want you to know who my kids are and who I'm cheering for. But if I'm in the business world, like I want you to look at me and see that I'm a female entrepreneur, and that is where I am at that moment in time. And so we wear all of those different hats. And I love the stories that our clothing can tell in each of those different scenarios and um where we are in that day. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02So well, and you talked, you mentioned number one, that it fits you, right? That it that it actually flatters your body size and type. But the other piece you mentioned was your personality. And I think so many times women want to play, especially those of us with big personalities. We played down some of that in order to be, quote, professional. Talk to us a little bit about how you help women showcase their personality in ways that are really flattering and helpful.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So I would say the biggest thing we have our age demographic is typically in the 40 to 70. That's the women that I see coming in. Okay. And so many times they'll come in and they'll be like, I don't think I can wear this because I'm too old. Yeah. And I am like, absolutely not. I said we are never too old for anything because it's about how we wear it. It's not how the clothes wear us, it's how we wear those clothes. And so if it makes you feel good, that is going to be reflected in how you carry yourself, which is one of my favorite things. So the biggest thing is just figuring out what their personality is and if they need it more to be professional, then finding a way for that personality to come out in the smaller details. So maybe we get a really bold print top and we put it like a blazer over the top. So you have that bold print, but it's toned down slightly because we have the blazer, or doing a really fun earring or a big bracelet. Um, and one of the things, because we talked about, you know, we struggle with body image, and one of my coping mechanisms as I have grown older is I've started getting tattoos, which was something in you know, my very Christian family was not ever really. I'm kind of we joke that I'm the black sheep of the family. Oh, me too.
SPEAKER_02Me too. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, and all of my tattoos have meaning. Um, they all hold very dear special places in my heart. And for me, especially struggling with the body image, it is it makes me more confident in my body because I've chosen to put those there and they're a reflection of who I am and who I love. And so I like being able to showcase them in classy ways that shows that it is okay. Like it's a different, you know, it's it's a different era and it's a different viewpoint. And um, so just showing how some of those things can play into your wardrobe while you're still being professional and still being dressed up. So um yeah, a lot of a lot of my job, the stylist's job, the ladies that work for me, um, our biggest thing is just listening, listening to who they are and listening to what's important to them, and then finding ways to bring that in when we're styling them and showing them the options that we have in the store.
SPEAKER_02I think that's really smart. And I find that that particular skill set comes up constantly when I talk with leaders, is that one of the best things you can do is listen. And when people feel women, especially, um, and several episodes ago, I was speaking with a woman who said, when we had 40, we kind of become invisible. And I, you know, I mean I when I hit 50, I just got louder. But you know, I think maybe it's because maybe it's because of that. It's like 50 felt like freedom to me. Um it's like, oh, I no longer have to worry about all that, that, and that, and that. I am now 50. Right. So I have like permission to do certain things. I have arrived. Yes, I have arrived. It's like real adulthood or something. But I think it's important to recognize that not everybody is like me, right? Some people turn, some women turn 50 and like shrink. Some women turn 50 and say, okay, well, it's over. You know, it's like now I'm done. I just need to wait till I retire. And the other piece that so we have the the fit and how it flatters your body and um the personality that comes through. But okay, just let's just be honest. From 40 to 70, how do we talk about comfort?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, well, and I I didn't know clothes could be comfortable until I opened the store. Like I was stuck in these. Oh, I mean, it was a revelation. I had to learn that you know comfort and quality comes with a little bit of a of a difference in price tag. True. So investing in those really good timeless pieces, a good blazer, a nice denim that can work as a dress pant or a going out pant, um, a comfortable shoe. And it is that's probably one of the biggest challenges of my job is I'm shopping for such a wide range of demographics who are all looking for very different things. But if something comes into our store, because I can't always feel all of the clothing depending on the vendor, and if it comes in and it is not comfortable, if I can't send it back, it's going as a very, very low price point because I know it's not worth the money that you know, to get people like, and I will tell people be like, I love this top, it's really great. It's not comfortable. You're gonna put it on, you're gonna wear it for your going out for two hours, and you're gonna want to take it off. So that's why we're here.
SPEAKER_02You know, and that you as the franchise owner, you have that prerogative, you have that leeway, you have that ability to do that. That's very different than managing someone else's store. Correct.
SPEAKER_00Yes, yeah. And there are some vendors where they they have certain guidelines of pricing, but those are the vendors where you know the quality that's coming in. Sure. And you know that it's gonna live up to that standard. Okay. So yeah, and but comfort is because if you're not comfortable, you're not gonna carry yourself well, you're not going to exude because you're gonna be thinking about it being itchy or being tight or being uncomfortable. So comfort is one of one of the highest things that we look for when we bring things in.
SPEAKER_02Well, and the older I get, the more comfort is important. But I don't want to sacrifice the style or the personality, right? So I think it's really good to hear. So maybe just take us, walk us through just a little bit of the process of becoming a franchise owner and um what pushed you into that rather than, like you said, that's the kind of store I would own. But maybe that instead of just going into retail. Yep.
SPEAKER_00So I had always thought I'd wanted the store, but being a teacher, having never actually worked in retail, having never owned a business, I didn't, I I mean nothing. I knew plenty about being a teacher, early childhood degree, you know, all of those things. But about owning a business or even doing the buying, I was very uneducated. And you can try and you can research and you can Google things. Um, I even had created an LLC that I paid like a GoDaddy site because I was like, if I do this and I invest the money, that's gonna force me to do it. And it never happened. And we're not gonna tell my husband about you know the amount of money we put into a store that never cut off the foot. Um GoDaddy.
SPEAKER_02There's nothing wrong with GoDaddy, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. It was gonna be online, it was gonna be great. I had it all figured out and it went nowhere. Um and so once I really decided that this is what I was gonna do and I stumbled upon this franchise. Um I I wholeheartedly believe that we are put in places and given people and opportunities specifically in our lives to put us in that path. And I didn't know about franchisees and franchise, I mean, I knew about McDonald's and you know, frankly, that's where we all started, right? You know, but I didn't realize that clothing franchisees were even a thing. And so I was lucky enough to stumble onto what I feel is the perfect fit for me because it is a company that has similar core values. Um, our mission strength or mission statement is all about empowering and loving and strengthening women and uplifting them. Yeah. Um and they're they're very strong. Their faith, which is super important to me. And they gave me the guidebooks, you know. When I hire a new person on, I have all of my hiring materials already created for me. I didn't have to make an employee handbook. Um, I have someone that, you know, I have an HR question. I don't know HR. I didn't go to school for that. So how do I manage it?
SPEAKER_01That's a lot of stuff too.
SPEAKER_00Right. And I think those are the things like someone thinks, I'm gonna open up a clothing store because I love to buy clothes and look pretty and I want to help women, which is where I started, but then you don't realize all of the things that come with owning a business. Um closing books. I had no idea. I didn't even know I was supposed to keep books. Oh, so it was, you know, it I can only imagine what kind of a train wreck it would have been if I wouldn't have had the support from the franchise to help me along the way and tell me the things that I didn't even know I didn't know.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. So well, and I think that what you're describing is literally the same kind of thing that I did through getting my coaching through Maxwell Leadership. I had no idea where to start. And this gave me an opportunity and some mentors and some resources for where to start. It's not quite the same, but it's similar. The rest of my business has had to be learning it just like you explained. I had no idea I didn't need to do this thing. I had no, how do I do an LLC? I was fortunate to have a friend who was doing an LLC. Oh, tell me the steps, right? So it it can be for some of us, and for some people, the adventure of doing it all on your own might be exactly what you need. But for some people, they don't need that. What they need is I really want to do this. This is my mission, and this could actually help me do it. So um I think that's a really good message. Um so as we kind of transition into leadership, you serve women. Um, you don't carry any men's clothes, correct? Correct. It's all about, it's all about um women. And um so what part of owning this franchise and opening this boutique spoke directly to your passion for you shared a little bit of their mission, um, and you said it aligned with your values. What was your the the one thing that really pushed you kind of like the why you really wanted to do this? Was it seeing other women struggle, or was it just knowing the transformation that you had made?
SPEAKER_00I think it was a combination of the two, knowing that by changing my mindset, um, you know, even changing it. I have fluctuated with weight, as we've talked about. And when I finally lost it, it wasn't that I went on any fad diet or even increased my exercise. It was I started with, I'm just gonna leave a bite of food on my plate at the end of every meal, and I'm not gonna go for seconds. I didn't deprive myself of anything, but it's just changing that mindset. And slowly it started to like then I would do a little bit less and I'd start listening to my body a little bit more. And so knowing that just by changing or seeing something from a different vantage point can make such a huge difference. I wanted to share that a little bit and share that story. And then yeah, being able to help women that come in. I told my husband, I said, the women that come in are so vulnerable sometimes, and they share with us. I mean, people come in to shop for funerals, they come in to shop for interviews, they come in to shop for a first date, or because their marriage didn't work out, and now they're exploring a new path. And we get to be a part of those stories and help dress them for whatever they're gonna take on when they walk out of our doors. And it's it if you don't understand, it sounds kind of silly, and I totally get that, you know, but it's shopping can be a very personal thing, and that is what we offer is that conversation and that listening ear. And then we're gonna help you and we're gonna make sure that you you feel confident. And if you come out in something and it doesn't fit your body, we are gonna very gently tell you, like, you know, let's try this. This isn't, it looks nice, it looks great, but let's try something I think we can make it better. Um, and very delicately handling those situations and showing them how they can wear the clothes to the best of their ability that showcases their personality, their confidence, and just puts them on the right foot. So that's one less thing they have to worry about when they walk into that meeting or walk into that first state. They know they look good, and now the rest is up to them.
SPEAKER_02Well, that truly is empowering because empowering is giving somebody the knowledge they need, the competence they need, and the means that they have that they need to actually make the choices for them that they need to make. And I think that that's a beautiful example. So many of us think of retail as quote unquote therapy. And um, it it can be easy to just walk into TJ Maxx or another department store on the sale rack in the clearance and just kind of like grab a few things. But that I'm gonna make a funny and interesting analogy here. It's a little bit like opening the pantry and seeing what's available, right? Whereas what you describe is saying, you know what, I'd really like a lovely piece of trout tonight for supper. And with that, I think I would like to pair asparagus and a nice salad or some some potatoes or something. Let me find a really nice recipe that's going to make this a beautiful dinner and then enjoying your dinner rather than going to the pantry and just grabbing what looks available. Yeah, right. Absolutely. And I think for those of us who sometimes will assuage our confidence, lack thereof, or our whatever we're feeling, our shame or our guilt, or just our general melees, whatever, um, with a shopping therapy, it doesn't usually satisfy. I mean, how many things do we have in our closets that still have the tags on? How many things do we have in our closets that we don't wear because they don't really fit and we didn't have somebody there to help us? I worked call in college. I worked, I took a semester off, and part of what I did was I worked retail 80 hours a week. And oh I know. Well, part of it was I had debt to pay off. But and you know, working retail 80 hours is not going to pay off a whole lot of debt. But, you know, back in the 80s, it's paid off even less. But it was, it was a very different experience. It was not what you describe. It was, and and so many people see it this way as just make sure this the sizes are there and and they can, you know, you try on your stuff, here you go, and you can pay for it here, you know, and to hear the way you describe it with an intent behind it, with a mission behind it, with love and care, because obviously the women that come into your shop are looking for something and they find it there.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, we try. And it's also knowing, too, that not everyone understands how colors go together or how patterns can be mixed together. Um, I had a girlfriend, the same girlfriend who actually took me to the boutique. I went into her closet. She's like, I have gray pants. What do I wear with gray pants? I'm like, what do you what do you mean? What do you wear with gray pants? And she's like, I have nothing to wear. Like, I know I can wear white and black. And I'm like, oh, oh no, no, no, no, no. Let me tell you. And I like pulled out like 20 different outfits, and she's like, I had no idea. And I'm like, and then all of a sudden it was like, okay, so this is something that I'm seeing that other people aren't. Just how an artist can create something and I would have no idea, like you'd put a blank canvas in front of me, and I'd have no idea where to start.
SPEAKER_02Well, that's Dana is a definition of the courageous leader because you can actually see a vision that other people can't, and you're willing to share it, right? You're willing to impart that. It's not an I know this and you don't thing. It's a, oh, I can see it. Let me explain it to you or let me show you. So I think that's a beautiful, beautiful example. Let's shift gears and let's talk about Dina when she was younger. And I love asking women, especially those who have such a clear vision of where they are now and what their passion is and why they why they do what they do. Can you look back into your childhood or your early adulthood years and see maybe the very first leadership memory that you have of yourself? Maybe the first thing you really took on or something that you did as a child that really just kind of shaped your mindset for where you are today.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. I think there's a couple of them. I know my biggest, my parents have always joked, I've had a very loud personality. I've always been a little bit outspoken, which is funny to me because again, the whole self-confidence. No, right? Um, but I was in fourth grade and there was an oratorical contest, and you had to write a speech and give it in front of a room of strangers and judges. And as a fourth grader, I was competing against middle school and high schoolers, and I made it to the county, you know, level. So we had a local and county, and then that went to state. And so my very first year as a fourth grader, I made it to the county level, and that was the first time where I was like, I get to speak and people are gonna listen to me. And I, you know, and I had help from my parents because of course, as a fourth grader, my writing maybe wasn't as great as what it should have been. But we would sit down and we make it together. And so the next year I went back for more. And as a fifth grader, I made it to state, and I'm this tiny little person, and I'm competing against high schoolers talking about and they would give different topics. So um, one was now is the time, and that was it. Like they would just give you that little snippet, and then you could take it in any direction.
SPEAKER_02And you just gave your own like fifth grade TED talk.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And so that's probably the first thing between that and just the piano lessons and having to get up and do recitals and having that courage to kind of get in front of people, I think were all the stepping stones that put me to where I am. Of now I can be in front of people, either through Facebook or Instagram or through in person at our store and not be afraid to have a conversation with them or to strike up that conversation. Um and then too, I never saw it as a leadership, but I've just always kind of been one of those people where it's like we're gonna just do what needs to get done. And if that means that I take charge, then I'm gonna do that. Or if I need to, you know, take second fiddle, that's cool too, as long as it's gonna get done and just helping to make sure. Um, so that's just kind of always been I think a little bit of that personality, school projects, things like that, shining through where we're just gonna make sure we get it done.
SPEAKER_02Well, and I I think that it's I love looking at how those, and you did that beautifully, you wrapped it all up for me. You showed me exactly how what you learned there has shown you how you can do that now. It's a mindset that you have. It can happen, it can get done. I'm not gonna die on stage, I'm not gonna die if I talk to somebody, you know? And I think that that's a really good example because you shared with me that one of the things that you're also doing is working with local entrepreneurs in your city to help promote and build businesses in that downtown area. Share a little bit about maybe how that leadership principle or that leadership understanding and mindset has enabled you to do that kind of work.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, again, I think it's just realizing that you have a place. And if we all sit back and wait for things to happen, they might not happen. And so someone has to be that change of motion. And when I first opened the store, obviously it was really overwhelming. I was the one working the floor most of the time. I didn't have, you know, nearly the staff that I have now. And I was really overwhelmed. So I was just one of those people that I tagged along. Like if someone came up with the idea, I was like, yep, that sounds good. We'll totally participate. And over the last probably six months or so, I've realized that now it's time for me to be one of those people with changing businesses and being established and having staff there, you know, that can help me and help run the store when I'm not there. It's my turn to be the person that says, okay, let's do this, or what can we do to help bring businesses downtown? Because it really needs to be a group mindset. It cannot be, I'm gonna worry about my business and my business alone, because other businesses can bring business to your business, and it'll bring people that probably never even knew you were there, or maybe wouldn't have thought that there would be anything in common. And so it's just that mindset of it is community over competition. And when we all work together and encourage each other and pump each other's businesses up, right? Um, we all succeed. It was shortly after we opened. So Sheboygan's not super big. We don't have a ton of like boutiques uh in our downtown.
unknownCorrect.
SPEAKER_02You're you're there in a pretty area, you're on which lake? Lake Michigan. Lake Michigan, sorry. Yeah, I'm I'm you're dead. I have not been up there. I need to come. Um, but uh you're on Lake Michigan, so it's beautiful up there, but go ahead, you don't have a lot.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So and I before opening the store, I never even realized how many tourists actually came to Sheboygan until opening the store and getting to meet all of these people. Um, and it was shortly after we had opened, and one of the ladies had asked me, they said, Are there any other boutiques to go to? And I hesitated because we had only been open for a couple of months, and then it was like it kind of goes through your thought process of, well, if I tell them about it, they they might not buy from me, or maybe they're gonna go buy from that person. And I hesitated and she kind of looked at me, and then I got a phone call and I had to go away, and it it still kind of haunts me. And after that, I was like, you know what, this is not who we are, this is not what we do. Right. And so we tell everyone that comes in, we're like, you should go. The lakefront has this boutique and a new one opened about three blocks away. You should go check them out because they have a different style. It was also accepting the fact that I need to know that people are gonna come into my store and I might not be their cup of tea. Right. I might, I cannot bring in something to that's gonna please everybody. But hopefully, these other boutiques that are opening are going to be those people and they're going to, and that was kind of that realization that I needed to have with myself after opening the store because sure you know, any anything is scary and you worry you're not gonna succeed. Oh, yeah. And and so just knowing that if my mission is that a woman is going to be able to find the best outfit and the best fit for them, it might not be at our store. And that's okay. Then I need to help point them in the right direction of where they are gonna find those things. Um, so really just working with some of the businesses to try and help them see that and see that if we all work together, anytime we can bring people to the downtown, it's going to help all of us because if they're walking, they might see something that they didn't realize was there.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. I mean, it's great. You do some adorable Facebook lives and you share a lot of information. So we'll get in in a little while, we'll get to where people can find you. But the best traffic for a local boutique really is the foot traffic.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And it's so that's kind of our next biggest project is trying to figure out how we can just bring because the tourists come.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_00It's we're just in that tourist area. So they just walk and they find us, but the locals don't do that. So trying to figure out how can we get the people that live here to know that this isn't just a place for the tourists to come. Sure.
SPEAKER_02So um, well, I love that. You know, I you know I love community. And I was literally sitting here typing notes going, oh, she's building community. And then you said community over competition. I'm like, bingo, yes, that's it. Well, it just is, you know, especially if you're talking about boutiques, you're probably talking about women business owners and you're talking about uplifting other women and you're participating in being role models, and you as a more established business are showing them how it can be done. I mean, this goes all the way back to what is it, the Macy's, was it miracle on 32nd? 34th Street. 34th Street. 34th Street. Feel free to jump in if I'm looking like I don't know what I'm talking about. Um, but it goes back to that same principle. And it's it's the same for every business, isn't it? For a coach, it's really easy for somebody to say, Well, are there other coaches in your area? Well, I'm like, well, no, I can meet all your needs. Well, no, I really can't, right? And it that is such a mature place to get to as a business owner to realize I am not everybody's cup cup of tea. I cannot stock everything that everybody needs. I my personality is not right for every person, right? I mean, I have a decent sized Facebook group, but I still notice when somebody leaves. And that's still, it's like, oh, they left my Facebook group. What if what if they don't like? Oh, Andrea, they're you're not their cup of tea. Or you're what this group does not offer them what they need. Okay, that's fine, right? And just to say, well, I hope they find what they're looking for, or it could be like me, they've accepted 75 group offers and they need to reduce the but it just being able to look at the difference from, like you said, from a different perspective or vantage point really does make a difference, doesn't it?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it does. I know there's a few times like people will walk out and they didn't buy anything, and I'm like, is there something wrong with the store? Do I need to go buy more things?
SPEAKER_02You know, and it that happens to all of us. And as women of faith, it's easy for us to say, you know what? His grace is sufficient for me. I don't need to worry about this. And you and I both uh espouse the whole thing, we've been put here to do certain things at certain times for certain reasons. And evidently that was not part of my plan, the the plan for me, right? And to see things from that bigger picture, I think is can be very, very helpful. Do you have, Dana, a principle? Most leaders do have some kind of a mission or a principle that they live by on a daily basis that kind of helps them step into that bigger piece of service or really apply um everything that they do well. Do you have a principle that you live by on a daily basis?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I'm not sure if it's a principle, but um I had to do that. Throw it out there and let's see. Let's see. Let's well, we shall find out. I had the unique ability. I actually grew up with my grandparents. Um, my mom and dad lived with my his my dad's mom and dad. Um, and my grandpa would always give me these like age-old wisdom bits and things like that. And, you know, a couple like keep your nose clean or you know, be careful who you choose to marry because 90% of your happiness or you know, sadness is gonna come from that one decision. So, you know, he would always put these in my head as we were, you know, walking or watching TV or playing Michigan Remy. But the one that kind of stuck with me is you cannot control the things that are gonna happen to you, but you can control the way you react to them.
SPEAKER_02Yep.
SPEAKER_00And that is because as a business owner, and I think just a mom or someone who's working, we can very easily get bobbed down with what ifs, or this is happening, and what if all of a sudden, you know, this and this and this happened, and all of a sudden we're down this wormhole, and it's just because, you know, like maybe your kid fell and skin their knee, and all of a sudden you're like, Oh my gosh, but what if it gets infected? And then what if their leg has to be amputated? You know, because I've been there, like I have been that person that is one tiny thing happened and you go down this wormhole of like my kid is gonna ha you know, die of typhoid fever or something, you know. So It's very easy to get lost in these things. It is, yeah. And I just in those times I'm just like, okay, this is what happened. How am I going to react? And how are we going to take the next step forward? And just kind of centering yourself and kind of realigning yourself and knowing that bad things might happen. And how I react to it is going to be either part of the problem or part of the solution.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's a fabulous principle. I don't see how that's not a principle. It is. It is a mantra by which you live. And um, it's one that I've heard all of my life as well. And um, we teach it in the coaching world, we say, live in the facts, right? Just what are the facts? What are the circumstances? This happened. Does do we have to enjoy what happened? No, we don't have to be happy about everything that happens, but being able to just live in the facts and say, these are the facts. These are not um, this is not the future, this is not the past, this is just right now, these are the facts. And then decide, okay, I loved your whole center yourself and say, what can I do? And that does take a nanosecond. It does. You have to be willing to pause, right? Yes. Yeah. So I I love um, I love your description of the multi-generational family. We don't see that all the time. And um, we see it in other cultures more readily. I grew up in Korea. We saw the multi-generational family in that culture all the time. And you you see it in more old world kind of countries right now, you know, in the United States, we and pretty much all over the world, though. We're a global economy, we move everywhere. I, you know, I famously have lived in 17 different places, and 17 of those or 16 of those were before I was 35. So, you know, we do that a lot. We move all over the place. And being able to say, I have this foundation of generational wisdom that was imparted to me, and I live by that principle. I think that's a beautiful gift, even just to give to your family.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it was. I considered myself very lucky to be in that and maybe able to grow up with that. So cool.
SPEAKER_02So let's talk about your mission of empowering women to feel good in their bot in their bodies and to dress for their personalities and et cetera, et cetera. Um was your support system as you left teaching? Did you leave teaching to go straight into the franchise? Or what kind of support system did you have around you to do that?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, well, so I left teaching and then I worked with my husband for a few years, which was you know interesting in and of itself. I took a break, right? The two of us survived. My strong-willedness came out a little not great when it was he would try and be the boss, and I'd be like, You're not the boss of me. He's like, actually, I am in this case. So we just realized that it was probably better to move on. And so I wasn't sure if I wanted to go back into teaching. Uh, so I dabbled in the corporate world where I sat behind a computer all day and answered like 200 emails. Fabulous workplace, but just not the fit for me. Um, but that is ultimately what led me to being so unhappy with where my life was and what I was doing, um, that it opened my eyes enough to look into the franchise.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, and in the end, my past employer was a fabulous support system for me while I was going through the whole process of the franchise. They allowed me to continue working there. Wow. They gave me, they cut my hours to where I could have just enough to keep health insurance for my family uh because they knew my youngest had some, had some things and lots of medications. So they knew that that was important. And they let me work up until the day that I didn't want to, and they gave me all of the vacation, all of the benefits. Um, they even had said that at some point if it didn't work out, I could come back and they would have a job waiting for me. And so that was, you know, I you don't realize that gift until it's there. And it wasn't just one person, it was the community as a whole.
SPEAKER_02But um Did you have to ask for that or did they offer it?
SPEAKER_00They offered it and not knowing business, so I had a struggle when opening. So I my husband is the one that I say pushed me off the cliff. So through the whole franchise process, and what drew me to mainstream was that they actually interviewed me and had me interview them because they wanted to make sure the fit was good, the fit was good for both of us. So that whole process took about four months of interviewing, calling other franchises, um, to ask them certain questions. And I had exhausted every conversation and every, you know, avenue that I could. And I call my dad because him and I are are pretty close and he's typically my sounding board. And I'm like, all right, dad, it's kind of that time where I have to, you know, or get off the get off the pot kind of gotta make a choice. Yeah. And uh he says to me, he goes, Dina, don't ask me this question, because this is where the fear would take hold of me and I would say, Don't do it. He's like, I and I I don't want to tell you yes or no because he's like, But if it was me, my fear and my anxiety would kick in and I wouldn't do it. Wow. Um, and so I'm talking to my husband about this, and my husband started his own business 18 years ago. Okay, so he already has the experience. Yeah, he took a thousand dollars out of his bank account, started with his business partner, and has grown. I mean, so unconventional and so crazy. And so he is definitely the risk taker out of the two. And I'm talking about this and I'm panicking and I'm about to back out essentially because I I think like deep inside me, I know that it would work, but there's the voice of my dad, like there's the fear, like what if it doesn't? And so all of a sudden I was at work and my husband called me and he goes, you know, we're gonna you're gonna take a little bit of a longer lunch today, and we're gonna go have have lunch. And I'm like, Oh, okay, like that's fine. Like, I don't have any meetings. I'm like, what who are we meeting someone? What are we doing? He's like, Oh, we're signing loan documents, we're taking a HELOC out on the house, and you're gonna pay your franchise fee. Like, this is what he's like, I believe in you, I know you're gonna make it a success, and this is what we're doing. You promise. I was like, What? We're doing what? And so that's beautiful. Yeah, so that's what we did. Uh we went and signed the documents. We took a second loan out on our house to pay the franchise fee. Um, and then that started that process. And when it came time to finally signing, I had to go through different things because then there's collateral issues with banks and all these things that you don't think about. Um, and it came time to sign the lease. And of course, when they draw up the lease, it doesn't tell you like what the month-by-month payment is, it says like for the whole year, this is what you're paying. And it like takes your breath away. $45,000. And I'm like, that's more than I make in a year right now. And I'm gonna have to like, what if no one comes and buys the clothes? So again, my husband picked me up from work because he's like, I if I don't take you, he's like, I don't think you're gonna go. He's like, I think you're gonna stand this person up. And so, yeah, so obviously my husband was the huge pusher and was the one that had the most faith in me, belief in me that I could do this.
SPEAKER_02Oh, that's beautiful.
SPEAKER_00So, yeah, and then once we did that, then my dad and my brother they made the fixtures for the store. My mom made the curtains that we have hanging. So it just became more of that family affair. I don't think my family realized that I said when I was opening a store how much they were gonna end up being involved.
SPEAKER_02But that's part of your community, right? That's that's the community that you've built around yourself and that you have. Um, gosh, that's a beautiful story. And I think it's really important for people to hear that you don't have to be somebody who's just willing to free fall off a cliff to do something like this. You can be somebody who's dragged like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and one of them grabs the other and jumps off the cliff. It's like, here we go. What? Here we go. We're doing it. Well, the the beautiful thing too is you you had support, right? You had you had a support system, you had your family, even with your dad saying, I don't know if I could do this, that gave you something to think about, right? He was honest with you. He didn't hold anything back. But having your employer say, We're gonna support you because evidently they believe in you. And then having your husband say, Let's go, Chick, time to go. Um, it that's I think it's really important for us to to understand and realize that this is not something we do on our own. Right. Right. This is not a solo, we call sometimes many of us are called solo preneurs, right? Because I'm my only employee. And, you know, for me, that actually is an okay moniker because I don't employ anyone else. And I, you know, but at the same time, I don't do this by myself. I couldn't do this by myself either. I couldn't do it without people like you, without my friend Kim, without my husband, without other coaches and other dear friends that I have that support me and encourage me all along the way. And I want women to hear that you can be a leader and you can do these things that are different, and you will have support, right? You don't have to do it by yourself.
SPEAKER_00Right. And sometimes that fear is good too, because all of a sudden now it was like, okay, I'm doing this, I have to do it. And then that mindset of, so what do I need to do to get it done kicks in.
SPEAKER_02Um so let's talk about that get it done thing. Almost every woman that I talk to has some kind of habit or ritual that they do on a daily basis that keeps their mind where it needs to be in order to make everything else happen. Do you have a habit or a ritual that you just say this has to happen today? And if it doesn't happen, then everything else is going to go south.
SPEAKER_00It mine happens before I get out of bed every morning. Okay. And I think it's that teacher where I lay in bed, and before I'm even getting up, I start making like a mental list. What does my day look like? What does my schedule look like? Where am I gonna fit in things? And just again, kind of like centering yourself, like what's important today? Because like it is so easy to become overwhelmed with work and kids or parents or siblings or friends, and you know, everyone is just torn in so many different directions and coming back to yourself and being like, okay, what is it that I need to do today? And I just find if I set that up at the beginning of the day. Now, does it always work out? No, you know, but at least you have to have a little bit of a map, right? You have a little bit of a map, right? I have a map because you know, making sure that I fit certain things in. Um I I never, I never thought I would be one of these people, but exercise has become super important to me. Yeah. Um, I've found a method of exercise that I love and it makes me feel good. And so that is something where it's like, I just I know I need to get it in today. And so, where in my day can I fit it in? Because it's just going to make everything go better. I'm gonna feel better, I'm gonna have more energy. Um, so yeah, just kind of planning out that day before it even starts, and then just saying a little prayer that I'm I mean, I know I'm gonna make it through, but you know, any grace that can be afforded to me is always helpful.
SPEAKER_02Those of us with loud personalities need all the grace, don't we? All right, so let's wrap this up with some green flags. We talk about those on this podcast instead of red flags because we're optimistic and we're looking for things. So, in the the vein of you already help other women downtown, um, but for women who are listening to this podcast and think, oh, I wonder if that's something I could do. I wonder if maybe your particular franchise may not be the the one for them. Maybe they are um maybe they want to do something totally different. But what would be some green flags that they could look for in themselves to say, yep, I I think I might want to do this?
SPEAKER_00I would say your passion, like find what my green flag came from my passion first. So find that thing that you're super, super passionate about and look for the green flags. And sometimes it's just that little pit and you're feeling like this doesn't terrify me to my core. So maybe that's kind of the path I should be following. I'm a little scared, but I can still breathe. This is good. But it's yeah, yeah, like I'm not, I'm not, you know. Um, but I think, yeah, finding like your passion and something you can just be genuine about. I think any time that people can tell you're genuinely excited or happy about something that just helps propel you a little bit um and kind of set those up for you.
SPEAKER_02Okay. So let's say I have, I know what my passion is. I'm positive. I know exactly what it is. I can talk about it all day long. You know, you see these Facebook posts. If you had to get up and speak for 30 minutes right now on what topic, what would it be? Well, whatever your answer is to that might be a passion for you, right? Yes. But um, so if you know what your passion is and you're you're ready to actually start sharing that with other people, what is there one piece of advice or a couple pieces of advice that you would give to somebody, say, start here?
SPEAKER_00I think it really it's it's different for every, you know, I because going back to my story, like I was passionate about this, and then I found the franchise opportunity. So I think looking for the next step of making it, and it's gonna be different for everybody, you know, kind of like it spreads out, right? So I find my passion, and then I have to decide am I gonna do it alone or do I need help doing it? If you're gonna do it alone, then you go down that path. And if you're gonna need help, then okay, who's gonna help me do this? And it kind of spreads from there. So I would almost like even making like a decision or a step-by-step tree, like starting here. I'm gonna start. I want to open a store. Okay, do I do want to do this on my own or do I want help with it? I think I'm gonna, I think I'm gonna do it on my own. So you're gonna go down that path.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And then I'm gonna do it on my path. Well, what do I need from there? And just kind of mapping it out so that you can see it. Because a lot of time I'm a firm believer, like when you write things down, you can see it and you can visualize it. So you're it's easier to set goals, right? And it's easier to attain them because you've written it down and you can see it in paper on black and white. What I also love is then you can easily modify those goals depending on the next steps that come.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_00But it's a starting point.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_00It's, you know, it helps you take that step in the right direction.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. We are on the same page most wholeheartedly. Gina, I don't want to keep you all day. We could probably talk a whole lot longer, but where is the best place for people to find you?
SPEAKER_00The best place to find this is on Facebook or on Instagram, uh, mainstream boutique Sheboygan. There's quite a few of us because, like we said, we're a franchise, but ours is located in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
SPEAKER_02Okay, so um, when what we'll do is we will link in the show notes exactly how to get to those pages so that people will know because they can order from you, right? They can order directly off your Facebook or your Instagram. Is that correct?
SPEAKER_00Yep. And we just actually started Comment Sold, which got us an app. So you can download our app on the Play or App Store from your phone.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_00Uh Mainstream Boutique Sheboygan. And we ship out all over the country. So if you are not local, we can definitely ship to you. And if you have questions about the clothes, you can always message us on Facebook or Instagram. And we are more than happy to set up. We've done Zoom calls, we've done FaceTime calls with customers. Um, so that even if you can't come into the store, we can still give you kind of that one-on-one styling and you know, the same touches if you would be here with us in person.
SPEAKER_02Really, really valuable because you know, I'm one of those, I'm a pair, right? So uh it's like, I know, but how you people say, What size are you? Well, that really depends. And so being able to have a conversation, knowing that I don't know that I'm gonna get in your store physically anytime soon, but knowing that that's available and that we can do that, that's really um, really fun. So before we close out, um we love to close with the one thing that you can be the most optimistic about every single time, even when other people think you're crazy. And this could be super silly or super serious, it's wide open. If there was one thing that you are always optimistic about, what is it?
SPEAKER_00I saw this on the very end of your sheet, and it was the last question that I didn't like. I'm like, I'm gonna sleep on this. And then this morning I woke up. I'm like, what am I always optimistic about? And I like I have been dwelling on this, and I I am a fairly optimistic person. And the one thing that I just kind of keep coming back to is that I will survive. I will make it through. It might be messy, yep, it might not be exactly the way I thought it was gonna be, but it's gonna work out every time, like every time, and we're gonna make it through, even on the days where you have 12 soccer games and you think you have to be in four different places at once. You're gonna figure out a way because we just have to keep moving forward. So it's it that's just what I kept coming back to is well, then that must be it. Put one foot in front of the other and we'll survive.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. God, we could quote so many movies, you and me. I'm I'm seeing like the abominable snowman, one foot in front of the other, you know, from the Christmas. I guess it's Rudolph or something. I'm gonna leave you with that vision in your head.
SPEAKER_01So fantastic.
SPEAKER_02I know. Well, thank you. I'm really looking forward to getting to know you better and understanding what you do and seeing all of your fun things that you share with women. Thank you so much, Dave. This has been a real treasure. Thank you, Andrew. I really appreciated it. Okay, who's ready to go shopping? Gosh, I know I am. And you've got to check out her website or her Facebook page because they do live demos twice a week and you can purchase right there. But as easy as it would be to get carried away in the beauty of the clothes, the customer experience, and her bubbly personality, I don't want to lose sight of the fact that Dana is a perfect example of how a woman can go into business for herself, via a suitable franchise, and then flourish and thrive. Now, before I share my main takeaways, let me point out how Dana exemplifies the tenets of intentional optimism. We do this for every guest because we all live unique and different lives. And while what we may do is different, intentional optimism is how we do what we do. It's the attitudes and mindsets that we employ and embody to live out our own goals and dreams with excellence. And we always start with optimistic. Dana talked about seeing things from a different vantage point. That's what having hope will do for you. It will completely change your perspective. As far as presence is concerned, she is all in on celebrating beauty. She even helps you find it. And energetic. Anyone who starts a business with or without a franchise automatically falls into the industrious category. But Dana's also people focused. Her mission is to help each woman she meets feel great as a result of working with her. And for courageous, Dana's willing to be a visionary leader who can see a different future and communicate that to others. Plus, if you're opening a brick and mortar, you have my vote for being courageous. And for wisdom, Dana has a Deep spiritual component to her life and work. And she managed to even find a franchise opportunity that shared that aspect, making it simple to forge a vision and mission aligned with her values and beliefs. And for intentional, Dana knows her why. It's to help the women who walk into her shop feel amazing about their clothes and their bodies. She certainly has a purpose and she lives that out daily. Dana's unconventional in her leadership because her passion for understanding that clothing can literally change someone's life is a reflection of her core values of compassion, wisdom, and empowerment, making her a great role model for women to celebrate and live into exactly who they've been created to be. Unconventional leaders lead at every level, in any area, using their unique gifts. So what are my big takeaways? Well, as I said at the beginning, Dana's story is such a beautiful example of unconventional leadership. She knew she was not fulfilling her potential and she wanted more. She tried a few things just like all of us do, but when she stumbled into her passion, she knew immediately. She visited the mainstream store in Charlotte, and on the way home, she emailed the corporate office. On the plane. Now John Maxwell says leaders are decision makers, usually quick decision makers. And that doesn't mean that Dana didn't take the time to gather all the relevant information. The process took over four months, but she knew very quickly that this was an opportunity she wanted to pursue. She didn't have to make her decisions alone, though. I've noticed that many of the women who have taken big steps to pivot in their careers have done so with the support of at least a few important people, and Dana's no exception. Proving the idea that those around us can often see something in us before we do, and this is a reference to my interview with Kelly Hoey on networking, that's number 78. Her friend hauled her off to, quote, go shopping, taking her into the mainstream flagship store, because she could see that this was an opportunity for Dana to live her passion. Her employer at the time sounds amazing, allowing her to reduce her hours to keep her benefits while she was making the transition. And then, of course, there's her husband, who was willing to push her to make the decision, even taking out a second mortgage on their home to do it. Now, as we learned from Diane Ployce last week, there are all manner of options available for franchise fee funding, but this is definitely one of the ones that she mentioned. Another thing that makes leaders stand out is that they nearly always have a principle by which they live, and at least one habit that supports it. And to this end, Dana shared a story that completely warmed my heart. It's one of generational wisdom. Understanding what you can control goes a long way toward managing all kinds of issues in your life. But the fact that she remembers hearing that special truth, you can't control the things that happen to you, but you can control your reaction to them. In her grandfather's voice, it's priceless. That truth has lived with her since she was a girl and has shaped how she has grown into a businesswoman, running her own thriving business with staff and an online presence, and all of that is testament to the power of the principal. I'll also bet you that she lives that out in front of her staff and in her family, empowering those who come after her to take ownership of their own thoughts and actions, and helping to create open, centered, and empowered future leaders. She sounds like a coach. How many of us can say that? What kind of a role model am I? How about you? Now, in order to live her principle, Dana's developed a few habits that start her off on the right foot every single day. She makes a mental checklist in her head first thing. Whew, y'all, I marvel at people who can do this before they get out of bed. I certainly need coffee. But this is her method for ensuring that she starts the day out understanding what she can control and then making a plan to do so. Doing this also keeps her centered in today, remembering that today is what you have, enables you to focus and be present with the people who matter. And then her list and practice always includes exercise. She understands the value of keeping her body healthy because that helps keep her mind clear and healthy as well. Now, if you're sitting there listening and wondering if it's possible for you to go into business for yourself, well, yes, and there are too many options for me to name here. So what are the green flags that Dana suggested you look for to see if you're suited to owning your own business, especially through a franchise option? Well, first she said, identify your passion. Now, I'm gonna bet you a million dollars that you already know deep down what your passion is. It's the thing your brain spends time on when you haven't necessarily directed it to concentrate on something else. In other words, daydreaming. It's also what you lay awake at night thinking about. Or maybe it's the thing you just actually do in your free time. Dana knew hers, but she hadn't quite figured out how to turn it into a business. She thought it was shopping, but as soon as she began to explore options, it came into clear focus. She wanted to help other women understand that having the right clothing for fit, personality, and comfort can literally change their life, just like it did hers. She loved figuring out how to feel good in her clothes and wanted other women to feel that way too. She thought, however, there wasn't a way to make money doing it. And the odds are your brain's telling you the same thing about your passion. You can't make money doing fill in the blank. Now it could be something pretty that you create, or the way you make people feel. Hello, professional encourager here. But it's also likely that it's hiding just underneath that thing your brain tells you you can't do. Just like Dana's shopping versus changing women's self-image, now she's able to help the women who enter the doors of her boutique feel great about the clothes and their body. And her second green flag was look for what's really genuine. Is this a genuine passion for you? Let's just stick with Dana's example. It's super simple. She said she loved to shop, but what's the purpose behind it? Now, if she was just out shopping to ease boredom or anxiety or shopping therapy, it's not the same thing. She had to dig a little deeper and see that she really loved taking her friends on shopping trips and finding all their clothes for them. And they were not allowed to look at the size labels, right? That's her genuine passion. Helping her friends feel good and look good without the angst and drama that comes from all the literal labels and baggage that come with the actual shopping. Now, this process can be a good bit of work that digging down beneath all the surface things you enjoy to the reasons why you enjoy them. But that will show you what's real and genuine. Which leads us to the three pieces of advice that she shared. First, what's your next step? Look for the next step in your passion. It's time to do a little strategic dreaming, my friend. Do you have the skills you need to pursue your passion? How about the education or knowledge? Is there a networking or Facebook group that you can join with others who are headed in the same direction and you can start learning from? Next, ask for help. I don't know why we keep having to say this, but we do. Women, especially strong, independent, and driven women, tend to skip the step. I know, I'm guilty myself. Even when others offer to help, I have a hard time accepting it, and then I feel guilty when I do. That's just our socially pre-programmed brains. But it's necessary. I've recently learned a good bit about the benefits of asking for what you need and want, and they aren't as selfish as you might think. First, and I've said this before, others want to help you, especially other women. We want to see you succeed, and we even need to see you succeed. Your success gives us hope that we can do it too. Asking for help also provides someone else with the opportunity of being the helper. How empowering is that? But then asking for help also reminds you that you're not alone. You'll be surprised who will say yes, especially when you show up with a very real dream or passion. There's just something about that energy that's infectious. Trust me. And third, write things down. Even if you just scribble it on a piece of paper and shove it in a drawer. There are so many studies, there are too many to cite on this, but writing your dream down makes you at least 50% more likely to fulfill it. Then you can break it down into big or long-term goals, medium goals, and short-term goals, all of which you can increase your chances of achieving by first writing them down, telling them to someone else, and then allowing others to hold you accountable. The statistic for doing all three of those things is a whopping 90%. Now, one way to start dreaming is to create an unfiltered want or desire list. Just pull out a piece of paper and start writing things down. Don't filter yourself and don't qualify anything. Just let your mind and heart speak. You could also make a vision board. This is super simple, it's totally fun dreaming. And if you've never made one before, you can get the replay of the vision board workshop that we did back in the early part of 22 totally free at the intentionaloptimist.com forward slash vision. I'll put that in the show notes. Now to learn more about mainstream boutique Sheboygan or to work directly with Dana, you'll find everything you need in the show notes. And don't forget to tell her you heard about her here on the Intentional Optimist podcast. Now, did something in Dana's story inspire you? Have you been on a personal growth journey and find you're kind of at that next step but not quite sure how to proceed? Maybe you need the support of a community where you can dream, grow, experiment, and explore with group coaching, teaching, encouragement, and gentle accountability. You need my community launched from the beach. All of my info is also in the show notes, so hop on my calendar for a 30-minute consultation and let's get you a strategy in place. Until next time. Hey, thanks for spending your precious time with us today. If you love this podcast and find it to be uplifting and helpful, follow us or subscribe, then please take a moment and leave a review in one of those amazing five-star ratings. You can also snap a screenshot right where you listen, share it to social media, and tag me. This helps others find us and will have an even bigger impact. If you're curious what it would be like to work more closely with me, or to step up as an unconventional leader yourself, schedule a free discovery session and we'll chat. But maybe you're an entrepreneur looking for a support team and like to personally invite you into my collaborative community, Launch from the Beach. It could be just what you're looking for. All of my contact information and all the links are included in the show notes. And don't forget you can always connect with other intentional optimists in our Facebook community. You can follow my Facebook or Instagram page or even connect with me on LinkedIn. Additionally, I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter, Optimistic Living. It's good stuff delivered straight to your inbox on a not so strict schedule, but always from the heart. Remember, unconventional leaders lead at every level, in any area, using their unique gifts. And you, my friend, are a leader. You are the future of leadership and the role models for future generations. Until next time.
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