It’s always an interesting experience writing these intros to the female founder feature. Somehow the features always relate to where I’m at either in life or business.
That use to happen when I taught yoga- I always came to class with a theme based on what was going on in my own life and I’d have students come up to me after class and say, “that’s exactly what I needed to hear - I’m dealing with that too.”
I think what I like about these connections is recognizing we ARE NOT ALONE and that what we are experiencing someone else is too. This is why building a community is so important.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Danielle Nicole McGhee owner of Powerfully Present. Danielle provides energy therapy, public & private yin yoga classes, and customized guided meditations. She also finds platforms to speak about why this work is so vital to our health at private events and for different companies. Her company Powerfully Present helps company’s manage stress and anxiety by using different techniques.
My biggest take away from Danielle’s interview was when she talked about how entrepreneurship is a state of vulnerability.
This is the hardest part for ALL of us. We don’t want to come across that we don’t know what we are doing which in turn stops us from truly putting ourselves out there…and when we do put ourselves out there we are fearful of criticism and failing.
But, this is the most critical piece of all your work. You must be vulnerable to learn, to grow, to get better! You must be authentic in order to capture your audience, your client, and to stay in line with your passion.
I would love to tell you that feedback from others doesn’t matter and in some cases it really really doesn’t AND I think it can be a valuable learning tool to guide you on your journey.
I know it’s hard to start. There’s a ton of things buzzing in your head about all the reasons not to and to play it safe. But, allowing yourself to be vulnerable and to just try may bring you exactly what you were looking for the whole time.
If you are looking to get in touch with Danielle and learn more about her services you can email her at hellothere@daniellenicolemcghee.com or check our her Instagram pages (personal & business). You can learn more about her work through her Facebook page & LinkedIn.
So excited to have Danielle on the podcast in a couple weeks- until then you’ll have this juicy interview to keep you buzzed!
Without further ado, Danielle McGhee!
What is YOUR story!? Tell us a bit about your background both personally and professionally.
I grew up in the mountains of Virginia in a really tiny and lovely town. Stayed on the east coast for college and lived in D.C. for a couple of years before I finally listened to my gut - which had me yearning to move west since I was a teen. Initially out of college I worked in the world of public relations and gradually moved over to events and development for a couple of non-profits. All of that lead me to a start-up here in San Diego focused on educating others about real estate education. ;) As that company soared from 40 employees when I first started to well over 400 in the seven years that I was there, I grew so much as a professional, as a business woman, and absolutely caught the entrepreneur bug. There came a time when I knew I had to take a chance on myself, to step into the vision that had been brewing for a a couple of years of being in the wellness world.
How did you get your idea or concept for your business?
I feel like it chose me. I went to my first community Reiki share at a local yoga studio where practitioners were doing short 15 minute mini-sessions. The minute someone started working on me I just knew that I had to learn more - that I was supposed to be doing it. I signed up for my Reiki Level 1 certification after just that experience. The whole time I went through my journey of education around energy healing it felt like I was remembering something vs. learning something new. I knew I had found my passion.
Tell us more about your business and what you do!
I provide Energy Therapy, public & private yin yoga classes, and customized guided meditations. I also find platforms to speak about this work and why it is so essential to truly stepping into the path of pursuing wellness - at private events and for different companies.
Looking back would you do anything different?
Tricky question. Part of me says absolutely, I would have done x, y & z to catapult my growth and expansion. The other part of me knows that I've gone through exactly what I needed to experience to be the best possible version of who I am in my business. Financially I would have prepared myself with more of a runway, I can say that with 100% honesty.
What is your favorite thing about being an entrepreneur?
Freedom is my love language. The freedom to create my own routine and schedule. To speak how I wish and to whom I wish about what I feel is incredibly important.
Share your favorite moment or moments while growing your business.
I think my favorite moments are those that you've dreamed about, journaled about in detail, and then one day after consistent work you find yourself in that exact same moment. It's a pinch me moment and it's so delicious. Specifically I had a dream to speak at an event last year and sort of filed it away. Well, after digging deep and putting myself out there as an option for this year, it was well received and now I will be sharing my knowledge in the midst of a roster of AMAZING, wildly successful women. I'm incredibly humbled and yes, I had to pinch myself when I got the "yes."
What are some of the challenges of being an entrepreneur?
Learning how to ride the waves. Waves of emotion, the waves of money, and the wave of having absolute confidence some weeks and frantically searching for it at other times. Running my own business has had some of the highest highs I've ever felt and in juxtaposition, some of the lowest lows. It's learning how to anchor to your purpose and why you're doing the work that you're doing - reminding yourself daily.
What about some of the challenges you face as a female entrepreneur?
I honestly feel like women and men alike have the same challenges here. Entrepreneurship is the ultimate form of vulnerability. You're essentially saying to the world, "Hey, I think this one thing is really damn important and I'm going to do this and that to show up service to you to show you how important is actually is." Opening yourself up to criticism, judgement, etc. Men and women alike are susceptible to the harshness that can come along with that.
Advice for other other female entrepreneurs or those looking to get started?
You are going to have bad days, sister. Days where you question everything and you just have to dig your heels in deeper than you ever have before because the sweetness that is always waiting on the other side is the best feeling you've probably had in your life. Just keep going. Allow the "nos" to be the guideposts to keep giving you more direction and insight. Allow the "yeses" to wash over you like a big ol' hug and as an affirmation.
What is your favorite quote?
"The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe." Albert Einstein
How do you avoid burnout?
Mama Earth. Whew, she always provides. When I'm feeling at the brink of a burnout, I get outside and head to the mountains. Keeping my routine of moving my body and meditating truly helps modulate my day-to-day. That being said, sometimes you need to get outside, remind yourself how small you are and how we're all in this together - nature always gently reminds me of that.
We know all entrepreneurs work differently. How do you schedule your day?
Obviously this isn't set in stone, but my best days are when I'm up and moving my body before 7am. Right after I work out, I drop into my daily meditation for 15-30 minutes. I like to focus on my creative endeavors (marketing content, etc.) in the morning. Then the afternoon for points of connection - networking, conversations with others, contacting and catching up with clients. If I'm up and going early, I have to wind down in the afternoon unless I have 1:1 clients. Regardless, my day usually ends with a long walk to recalibrate and to feel connected to nature.
What are your MUST have tools?! (things like organization, calendars, social media, payment platforms, business development sources...etc.)
Instagram, Facebook, MailChimp, Acuity Scheduling, and Zoom!
How do you advertise your brand?
Social media and good old fashioned networking. Talk to everybody! You never know what kinds of amazing connections you can make in a coffee shop or at the grocery store.
Thank you for your contribution Danielle! It was such an honor to have you and I loved reading through your interview. I found that several of my big takeaways all intertwined with one another. For example, we have to put ourselves out there (vulnerability) to see what works and what doesn’t (the no’s and yeses), and once we find direction we have to learn how to ride the waves of being self-employed.
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