We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dani Sanders. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dani below.
Alright, Dani thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
The story behind my business and its mission is both simple and complicated all at the same time. My entire life, I have been surrounded by entrepreneurial spirit. My dad was a career-long fireman with Plano, Texas who spent his 24 hours on shift working up through the ranks from Driver to Captain, and his 48 hours off launching his own remodeling and construction business. Then there was my mom-a multi-passionate individual with a million talents.. She started her own bookkeeping business out of our house, allowing her to be hands-on with us all the time. She prioritized being a mom above all else and knew that she wanted a job where she could maneuver around all of the baseball games, dance performances, field trips, and PTO meetings. (I’m sure this sounds familiar to many of you mommas out there!) Not to mention my grandma and grandpa who teamed up post-retirement to make and sell folk art at craft fairs all over North Texas. Needless to say, I was surrounded by creativity and ingenuity and grew up with entrepreneurship as “the norm”. I still to this day remember an “inventor” project in 6th grade where you had to invent a product and pitch it to the class. So what do I do? I sew buttons on socks so that way you can’t lose them, march myself up to the front of the room and with such confidence start my presentation as “Raise your hand if you have ever lost a sock while doing laundry? With my invention all your problems will be solved and you’ll never wear mismatching socks again”. (I’m not gonna lie, I want to go back in time and high-five that little girl for her bravery and confidence)
Fast forward to post college life- I graduated from Texas State University (Eat ’em up!) and found that I, like my mom, was multi-passionate and the idea of “choosing one thing to do” just wasn’t cutting it for me. I had a can-do/ I’ll-figure-it-out attitude because, like my parents told me “You can be whatever you want to be as long as you work at it.”. Enter the career juggle- I was a makeup artist for Lancome, I was a personal trainer, I started a plant and floral business, I taught dance, and then I found something that really stuck- I spent a long time managing a large dance studio in Austin, Texas.
In this role, I got to do it all- I taught, I created, and most importantly to this story, I learned how I could use all of my skills to help a business grow. I learned so much about business and systems that play a huge role in how I operate today. I learned just how important processes and systems were, how there isn’t a one-step approach to every problem, and how just because it worked before doesn’t mean it always will. I learned about marketing, people management, and most importantly: scaling a business.
In my time at the studio, many friends and family member started their own companies and I enthusiastically hopped on board to help them with systems and back end. These women in my life are such amazingly strong and creative spirits, but they didn’t quite excel at the organization and marketing of it all. I started helping them write business plans, set up automation, optimize schedules, and (enter the heartthrob here) scale their businesses in a way that allowed them to live the life they had always dreamed of.
Realizing that what was common knowledge to me wasn’t that for everyone really helped me find my why. Seeing them thrive sparked this fire within me. Thus was born my business based on helping creative women-owned businesses better serve their clients by offering my services.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
I am a native Texan with a vibrant personality and an immense passion for women entrepreneurs and their success in business. I believe we are capable of so much more when we work together. I believe there is room at the table for everyone. I identify as a creative, coffee lover, traveler, an INFJ-A, foodie, and cold weather enthusiast.
I started Dani Sanders Virtual and Digital Marketing Assistance as a way to work remotely and travel when all the other things in life weren’t going as planned. My Partner and I have been in Central Texas since college. We fell in love with the people, the culture, the rivers and trees and everything about it. We spent years talking about buying a house in Austin and then when we finally were established in our careers and serious, prices skyrocketed. We were finally pushed out of Austin when our rent went up over $700. When we first got the notice, we joked that it was cheaper to live in Air Bnb’s across the US than to live in ATX. Then after the joke subsided, we stopped, looked at each other and talked about the possibility of really pursuing the “Digital Nomad” lifestyle. So I quit my full-time job, we sold all of our stuff, bought a car and loaded everything we owned and our pups in the back. Although originally, Dani Sanders Virtual and Digital Marketing Assistance was a way to live on the road, it quickly evolved into more. As I said before, I uncovered a passion when I was helping my friends with their businesses while at the studio. I learned quickly that this aligned with my greater purpose in life and now I’m addicted to helping women find the success and freedom they have always dreamed of by providing services that allow them to better serve their clients, grow their business, and live the life of their dreams.
I help my clients with an array of things, but mostly centralized around business systems and digital marketing. A few scenarios are
-If my client is having trouble getting a grasp on all areas of their business, I work with them on systematizing processes.
– If they are having trouble finding time to market their business, they can hand over their content to me to caption and schedule to go out.
– If a client is swirling in their business and doesn’t know where to go next, I am able to help them work on a plan.
– I also offer general administrative help.
One of my favorite services I offer however is a “VIP Day”. With this service, clients are able to book me for a full 7 hour day where I am solely dedicated to them. Clients use these as “strategy days” or (especially as we are nearing the end of the year) catch-up days where I knock out the projects entrepreneurs haven’t quite been able to get to.
I have a full list of services on my website, DaniSandersandCo.com
The VA landscape is booming as the digital world grows, There are many different service providers out there and I couldn’t be happier! Solopreneuers are able to get help so much more easily now than ever, so I don’t really want to answer the “how are you different” because its the relationship between people in this industry that matters the most. But what i can tell you is that in my business, we focus on being there for you and your business not just hitting the checkmark of tasks that you need handled. I believe in open communication, going the extra mile, believing in each other, and being the number one cheerleader for you and your company.
Regarding what I am most proud of in my business I’d have to say 2 things. 1. I am by client’s biggest cheerleader! I love coaching them and seeing them bloom. Women helping women is such. beautiful thing and when we come together, we are unstoppable. 2. I’m not sure how this will sound, but I am so proud of myself for taking a leap of faith and trusting my gut. Now that I work for myself, I feel like I am getting to know me better. I’m taking better care of myself, my relationship is thriving, and every day I wake up with a grateful heart to my community for their love and support.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Lesson to unlearn #1: I’m not enough because I don’t know the most.
This is something that I still struggle with every now and then although my brain knows the answer. Because I truly want to help everyone this has been such a hard lesson. The truth however is that by trying to help everyone, I reduce the impact I am capable of having.
I did a lot of deep diving, soul searching, podcasting, and talking it out with my sister ( also a fellow entrepreneur) and this is where she hammered this in my head- “there is room for everyone at the table”. What makes our businesses special and what makes us successful is the fact that we all are different. We all connect with different people in different ways. We don’t want to focus on serving “Everyone” because it’s just not possible. Tell me, do you like everyone you’ve ever met? I’m sure the answer is no, and that’s ok. So focus on your target market and give them your all because then you can impact them more than ever before.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Lesson to unlearn #2 : Everyone has to like my business for it to succeed.
As an entrepreneur, we are constantly faced with challenges that make us question our worth in the business. Imposter syndrome creeps in, then sleepless nights wondering if we are doing the right thing. In this landscape of there being so many other online service providers out there with varying price points and services, there was a time when I really questioned throwing in the towel and just getting that “steady job” because this was nothing special and “other people” out there know more than me. While yes, other people do know more than me- it’s ok. This industry is about helping people, so guess what- I can ask for help too. This doesn’t mean that I’m not enough, this means I am using my network well and am committed to being a lifelong learner. This has by far been my favorite lesson in my journey and my favorite lesson to share with my clients- You are enough.
Contact Info:
- Website: danisandersandco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danisandersandco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danisandersandco/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dani-sanders