Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dai Baker. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dai, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

The most important lesson I learned is to value my time. I had a prior job that I was making myself available 24/7. However, my time was not respected nor appreciated by management. I was exhausted but wanted to be the best in my position. After a year of operating without “clocking out,” I begin to set boundaries for myself, such as not responding to emails on my off days or after hours. Once I realized they did not value my time, I stopped giving more than required.

I need to establish clear boundaries with clients as a business owner, such as business hours. While establishing business hours is easy, adhering to them is not. I had to learn not to be available outside of these hours. I had to train myself to schedule emails for the next business day to prevent any responses during a late-night work session. The biggest mistake I make is setting boundaries but not enforcing them for myself.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

As a first-generation scholar, I received my bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Eastern Michigan University (2016) and a Masters’ degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University (2019). I am currently in a business marketing doctoral program that I begin in May 2020. Before becoming a serial entrepreneur, I spent several years as a micro-influencer for numerous popular brands and a lifestyle blogger documenting my college experiences to a large readership that expanded to Europe and Australia.

The agency was launched as a one-woman operation in 2015, with a team quickly arriving by the end of 2017. In 2018, the founder relocated the agency’s headquarters to Phoenix, Arizona. Dai Baker Creative Group is a full-service, digital agency staffed with strategic driven, creative professionals. As a full-service agency, DBCG’s services include Public Relations, Brand Strategy, Digital Marketing Strategy, and Web Design and Development – WordPress and Shopify. In addition, the agency uses an Integrated Marketing approach to develop strategies and campaigns. DBCG is known for its unique Brand Strategy capabilities. In addition, the agency’s namesake has captured the client’s attention with her ability to create captivating brand identities that have a visual identity and story that communicates to the right audience. DBCG’s clients are service providers and eCommerce based clothing brands. In addition, we specialize in working with first-time entrepreneurs and start-up fashion brands.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal is to build a successful creative business that my daughter can take over during her adult years. My daughter loves attending meetings, working in the office, and assisting. She wants to run the agency one day, so it is important that there is a successful one when the time comes.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

When I first started in business, I refused to invest in tools or training. I wanted to keep my expenses at almost $0 a month. At the time, I did not realize how my mindset was impacting my business. If I did not spend any money, I was happy. But I could never find the right tools to use because I only wanted free ones. The tools I knew had the potential to work, and I was opposed to trying. It took me a while to realize that a business should have monthly expenses. I realize that I should search for the right tool, not a free tool. Once I began investing in tools, I could automate certain tasks in my business, creating better processes and freeing up my time. The change of mindset helped me grow my business.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.daibaker.com
• Instagram: meetdaibaker
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daibaker/
• Other: www.daibakercreativegroup.com

Image Credits
Tina Nguyen Photography