We recently connected with Danielle Lord, PhD and have shared our conversation below.

Danielle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I am just starting my third year in business. I have spent my 30 year career in the corporate sector. So, I’ve had the regular job and I do not think that I could go back to corporate-life. In addition, I was also a graduate-level professor at a major university. I taught leadership for 13 years. The reason I mention this, is because one of the classes I taught was Leadership and Innovation. One of the primary messages to the “leadership” students is that a stressed employee or stressed brain is not nearly creative as a someone who is not in a state of stress.

I never realized myself that I was also experiencing stress. I had a job I loved, a very reasonable manager who allowed me to have a large degree of flexibility, and truly believed that I was functioning at my best. Until, I got out the corporate world hamster wheel. The last two years, as a business owner, have truly resulted in so much creativity through mental and emotional freedom that I cannot ever imagine going back to the daily grind, working for someone else.

Being allowed to operate in complete autonomy has been one of the most freeing experiences of my career, and I felt pretty free to flex my creative muscle. I cannot imagine how those who do not have the experience of a great manager, engaging work, or the empathy to be whole must experience the day to day work. I can only imagine that it must be mentally and emotionally exhausting, which is one of the reasons I do what I do. That is to help leaders understand that their team members will perform so much better when provided the opportunity to just be themselves. I talked about it for years, and now I can really say that I have lived it!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I am fortunate that I have been able to establish a career doing what I love. Driven by a passion to find solutions as well a desire to reduce organizational pain, I have made a career in the field of organizational development (OD), specializing in adult learning and leadership development. I began my career developing training when none was available. I have specialized in leadership, helping organizational leaders understand not only how they lead and why it’s important, how leading differs from managing, and how leadership can help you create a Culture of Commitment.

I have 30 years of experience in the field of OD and a PhD in Leadership Theory, and I am passionate about what I do. I am currently self-employed. My organization, Archetype Learning Solutions, provides solutions in leadership strategies and organizational effectiveness techniques that are unique because every organization is an archetype.

My typical day is certainly different now than when I was in the corporate world. I can unquestionably report that being removed from the traditional and often hectic corporate culture of meetings and deadlines has enhanced my creativity and overall well-being.

I have been able to incorporate many of the mindfulness practices that enhance our overall human connection with self and others. Interacting with clients in a neutral space and more relaxed space, formal and informal networking opportunities, and developing creative tools, processes, and curricula are typical events that keep me busy. As the opportunity arises or I feel compelled to be up and moving, I intersperse activities like gardening (physical activity and being in a serene place), watching wildlife in my yard (a form of meditation), or just simply enjoying my beautiful home (reflection and relaxation) helpful practices to keep me focused and motivated.

The past two-years has been a adventure in creativity. I have always considered myself a creator, but taking 30 years of material from my head and getting it onto paper for potential clients and businesses, has allowed me to generate much more support materials, leadership curricula, learning materials, job aids, and a 16 year idea. In addition, I’ve published my second book (2023) and am currently writing three more books on leadership. The ah-ha moments just keep coming.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

2022 was a definite point in my career in which I had to pivot and be resilient. My position had been terminated as a result of Covid. My field of Organizational Development is not a widely known or sought after position. There are even more limited roles here in the Pacific NW. I had suspected that my position would be eliminated and began marketing my services to another large manufacturing facility who really needed my services. After several meetings, it was looking like they were ready to sign a contract, which was a sigh of relief. At the 11th hour, they declined to sign stating that they were going to do the work themselves. Long story short, the three-year contract I thought I was going to get vanished, and they took my material: two-significant blows on top of losing my job.

I figured with 30 years of experience, the time was right for me to take all of my knowledge, experience, and expertise and go on my own. The first six months were tough, but it was the fear of failure that propelled me into establishing my business, all the branding, the flexibility and freedom to do my own thing without limitation, and creative production that kept me resilient.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson for me has been to unlearn being “corporate.” I am a huge believer in the power of small business and I have started doing articles on the power of small business has a positive influence in our communities (Strong Leaders, Strong Business, Strong Communities), so I have experienced first-hand through powerful stories the benefits of small business.

There’s a significant difference in operations and execution however! In the corporate world, you are judged on your business acumen, I’ve had to re-learn ways of communicating with the small business community in terms that are more closely related to their operations. Additionally, risk and value are always the main propositions in the corporate world. Risk and value to the small business community does not have the same meaning necessarily, so re-learning how to present a solution to the small business has also made me unlearn language, mannerisms, operations, etc., in a way that makes sense to smaller businesses.

So, while learning all kinds of new things, like social media and networking, un-learning has also been a large part of my overall new knowledge base!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.archetypelearningsolutions.com/
• Instagram: Dr_Danielle2
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArchetypeLearningSolutions
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-lord-phd-b6b4263/