We caught up with the brilliant and insightful DAKENYA DOUGLAS a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
DAKENYA, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you take vacations? How do you keep things going – any advice for entrepreneurs who feel like they can’t step away from their business for a short vacation?
Why do I take vacations? Simply put because I find joy when I can disconnect and fully experience whatever I have chosen to do for my vacation.
Did I always feel this way, no? I was the employee, plugging away day in and day out who left time on the books every year. My philosophy, vacation time should not be taken frivolously, because you never know what may happen and you will need time. What changed? I realized that things good or bad will happen regardless. I also learned that prioritizing myself by taking vacations, gives me renewed energy and boosts my creativity, making me a better employee.
There is another reason I did not take vacations before. I thought “big” trips were unattainable. I saw people traveling internationally, and thought “wow, they must make a lot of money.” The truth, I did not prioritize saving for a vacation. I did not research the cost to travel, instead of making assumptions about why I could not afford it. What changed, I started traveling for work. Most times alone. It gave me confidence as I navigated unfamiliar places and I wanted to share that with my family. I booked my own travel, so I was able to see the pricing of flights and hotels, and what was always unattainable, became doable.
What else stopped me from taking vacations? The idea I had to go somewhere. That vacation equates to a trip. Now, I fully embrace the occasional staycation. Maybe we add in a day trip somewhere close or fill the days with random things we never get around to doing, but I no longer limit myself to the idea that vacation means travel.
Why do I take vacations? I want my children to embrace the realization that travel is attainable. I want to make sure we all can experience how travel can broaden perspective and how experiencing new cultures can enhance your mindset. I want to encourage my children and myself that vacations improve your quality of life. We need to rest. We need to disconnect. We need to recharge. We need time off to gain perspective or to make a big decision. Whatever the reason, vacation is non-negotiable.
DAKENYA, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
DaKenya Douglas is the founder and owner of DaKenya Douglas Consulting, a business strategy and coaching consulting service in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As a business strategist, her mission is to help niche business owners clarify their why and craft strategies that align their business models to their goals.
With almost 20 years of experience in the corporate and operations space, DaKenya has taken organizations from stagnant to growing and profitable. As a personal and professional development coach, she has helped small business owners curate their brands and develop strategies to serve their organizations better. DaKenya believes that leadership is about providing the support, resources, and tools her teams need to excel at their craft. She consults in much the same way, helping clients build systems and infrastructure that support their business goals while affording them the time to focus on their zone of genius.
Never limited or defined by a job description, DaKenya learned to cut away all the fluff and laser in o the necessary to find the clarity and cohesion needed to solve problems, achieve goals, and take massive action.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Hands down the best source of new clients for me has been referrals. My priority is getting my clients the results we agreed upon but a priority for me is the experience of how we got there. From onboarding to the exit, I’m committed to giving my clients tools and resources that are timeless and portable.
I fully commit to our calls and meetings. I’m flexible when we need to spend more time on a topic or we uncover a landmine that we have to remove before we can go forward. I listen to my client and I focus on their needs.
I know, most will say, standardize your process, build a framework, and yes, I have that. However, I find that the most impactful and successful success stories for my clients happened in those moments that were curated specifically for them.
How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?
Last year, I created Business Besties Brunch a community of professionals, business owners, and community leaders who meet to move beyond networking to making connections. My clients all attend. Some have been speakers, and many promote my events and bring Business Besties.
These events allow me to constantly be a resource for my clients, inspiring loyalty and gaining referrals. Brand loyalty goes hand in hand with the referral which is the bread and butter of a small business. For me, it is about the client experience. I create many touchpoints that ensure my clients are not getting canned coaching or consulting. I am listening from the initial call forward to make sure that I fully customize their experience. And I believe in creating “moments” to foster loyalty and build community.
Within the signature series, Business Besties Brunch, I also host small group meet-ups often inviting my clients to curated events that educate, empower, and engage.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.dakenyadouglasconsulting.com/
- Instagram: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dakenya-douglas-consulting-llc/about/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaKenyaDouglasConsulting/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dakenya-douglas-consulting-llc/about/
Image Credits
Monreau Morrison @alaya.valley
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