We were lucky to catch up with Candace Drummond recently and have shared our conversation below.

Candace, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

Like many other single parents, I relied on “my village,” and this was dismantled due to COVID. My daughter’s school closed around the 2nd or 3rd week of March 2020. For the first 2 weeks, again, like most of us, I wasn’t working from home, I was at home, trying to work, and waiting for something to get better, to reopen, something. So, imagine with me, 14 days already into the stay at home order. I’m groggily rubbing my face after just waking up in the morning, sitting on the toilet doing my business… with a 3-year old bouncing on my lap. I love her so much, but in that moment, I wanted to throw her (not literally of course), but I thought, I can’t even go to the bathroom alone. I was overwhelmed, exhausted, and definitely feeling stagnant and unfulfilled. I felt “busy doing nothing.” I couldn’t go on this way. So I started making small changes and adjustments to somehow make a life out of my new normal. I started by scheduling in some me time. I thought a lot about what could or would help me feel better, even during this stressful time. Of course, I enjoyed spending time with my daughter, but I wanted to be more intentional, more present when I was with her, and the only way that could happen was if there was some time when I was NOT with her. But how would that be possible?
It’s just us, no family nearby. Schools closed, babysitters quarantined with their own kids, and every activity center and park closed or closing, I realized quickly, making time for me would also be on me.
As single moms, we’re used to doing it all, being superwoman, but 24/7 is challenging to say the least. Many of us crave the time we went to work for that adult interaction and a chance to not solve everyone’s problems for a few hours. Homeschooling, conference calls, paying bills, PE, meals, it’s all on us now. And though many things have reopened, the “new normal” has still left most single parents with even more responsibility that it ever has.
I had to pivot from providing more one-on-one, in-person services, to creating coaching courses that could help more moms get back their much needed me-time, and where better to start than with teaching other single parents the techniques I used to go from feeling overwhelmed and unfulfilled, to moving to Jamaica and living on the beach while I rebuilt my company.

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’m a single mom and business owner. My psychology business had pretty much closed due to the pandemic and social distancing guidelines. Also, getting to the vafrious office locations had become increasingly difficult with check points and changes in required documentation to enter or leave certain areas or cities. As my business dwindled, I knew I had to do something, but how could I find the time? The tips and techniques I share in my course got me time not only for myself and my own personal growth, but it allowed me the time and motivation to create this course to help others who might be going through the same thing. For years, long before I became a mom, I worked with parents as a clinical psychologist, licensed mental health counselor, and coach. I’ve also worked as a behavior analyst for preschool through high school aged kids, working with scientifically-backed techniques to change the most challenging behavioral disturbances in kids. But then the real test began, when I became a mom of my own kid. Despite the alphabet soup that may have followed my name, boundaries and privacy went out the window and I had to adjust theory with reality, and this course is the product.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When my company saw a 90% drop in revenue over a 2 month period in 2020, I could have given up. I was evicted from my apartment, my car was repossessed and I had the option of going to a shelter with my 3-year-old daughter. I, instead, having been an avid traveler, decided that I could take advantage of the lower cost of living and remote work conditions by moving to the island of Jamaica. I had lived in Jamaica for a few years as a child, but had no friends or family on the island. Still, I moved to Jamaica in July 2020. I am now preparing to return to the states (at least part time) to pursue some additional business ventures now that my psychological company has recovered to some degree (maybe still around 40% of it’s past glory), but the move to Jamaica allowed me to maintain a certain quality of life while recovering from the financial devastation of COVID.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I always tell people, don’t look for clients, look for client sources. So whatever you’re doing, whatever field or industry you’re in, it is best to always know your audience or clientele. Once you know and understand them, figure out where they typically are in their journey before getting to your product or service. For instance, if you sell home decor, often times, your clients are with an architect or interior designer before they need your products. Connect with those people who have your client in the step prior to yours. Additionally, if you provide business coaching, your clients are often visiting the secretary of state website to establish their company, you can easily search newly formed entities and mail or email marketing directly that way, or post banner ads on a website like legal zoom. Always look for client sources, and you’ll never have to worry about having enough clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.DrCandaceNDrummond.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Dr.Candace_Drummond
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.drummondpsyd
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candace-drummond-psyd-lmhc-28758253/
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/DrC_Drummond
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf-K8Cgd7Ul3dWUZEL2lAQw