We were lucky to catch up with Danielle Daugherty recently and have shared our conversation below.

Danielle , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

Am I happy as a business owner? Now that is a question!! I guess it depends on the day 😂😂. When I was young my mom could tell you stories upon stories of how much in enjoyed leadership, and by leadership I mean bossing EVERYONE around. Now that I actually am the boss I have learned joy actually comes from leading, watching people grow, allowing others to have the light, the success, and somehow that’s where I find the most success and happiness. I have been a stylist since I was 17 years old. About 6 years ago I finally decided to take the leap and open my own salon, with my beautiful momma. There were soooo many days that we’re probably the hardest I had ever experienced. No matter how much exyinhad or how much research I did, NOTHING prepares you for the real thing. But now as I look back at all those hard days, they seem somehow like the best days, because it grew me to be the leader I am today. One that wakes up and am proud of my team, proud that we have the ability to create change, joy, purpose.
Have I ever thought what it would be like to have chosen a different career?? Absolutely not!!! I get to spend everyday with people I adore. We share life together, encourage one another. I got to turn a salon into a ministry. We have teams of stylists who recently went multiple times this summer to go and help with flood relief and make actual change. We have a group of stylists that every month for the last 6 years go to our local food pantry and give hair cuts to those in need. We have raised over 12,000 dollars to go towards the Ukraine. Along with blankets , drones , and supplies they are in need of. WE. These are all things I could have never done on my own. Buy together with a team of stylists who love to love on others we have made change. Change I am proud of.
The best part is, I have my beautiful daughters and husband by my side. They make the long work days so much easier. My girls get to see that doing good in this world is possible. They can be so much more with whatever career they chose. And no matter what they will always have people in their corner.

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

My name is Danielle, I am 37 years old. I have owned a salon called Mia bella for the last 6 years , and have been a stylist for the last 20 years. I am a wife to an incredible man who has spent our whole marriage supporting my dreams and together we have two daughters that I hope to inspire to follow theirs. I always knew when I did open my business one day that I would want it to be different. Not just a place for people to come to get their hair done, but a place people feel at home, loved, and a place that stands for kindness.
When we started 6 years ago, we have myself, my mom, Dawn Coulliette , a friend of mine who volunteered as a receptionist and one stylist. Today we are an education center, that has a program for stylists to fully get trained and learn all aspects of the career, over 25 people on our team, multiple managers, and have expanded our building 5 times!!
Has the last 6 years been easy ??? No !! Was it worth it??? 1,000% yes!! I have got to see men and woman grow their careers, and get to be a part of that. I have seen clients cry with tears of joys time and time again. I have seen the difference love can make I’m peoples’ lives. As much as profits and money are important, we chose to focus on relationships and people, giving back to our community to other communities. It’s wild how when you focus on serving , all the rest falls into place. ♥️

Can you open up about a time when you had a really close call with the business?

Oh the stories I could tell. But I will chose one. As business owners, we give our all. And I mean our ALL, days off off, finances, energy, our family time. All with hopes that it will all pay off. Running a business is like a rollercoaster, one that has had a malfunction and can’t stop, you are in an endless ride!! When we first started we had very little money. It was my mom and myself, and we put everything we had into Mia bella. The best part ?? We were doing it with out a paycheck!! Lol , when there isn’t money , what do you do?? We starting paying in money just to keep it going. “We were paying for the stress!?!?” Lol. What a bunch of crazies. THEN Covid happened!!! I remember not leaving my bed for a week. Convinced we were going to be one of those failure stories. But God had it the whole time. We needed to believe in ourselves more.
During Covid we decided instead of having a potty party we needed to enjoy this time with our family, and show up to work anyway and start an action plan! We started taking supplies we had and expanding again, on on faith!!
Fast forward, and what was the worst thing that could have happened needed up being the best!! We were approved for the ppp loan, all our employees were paid the whole time we were closed. We finished the expansion. During the closed time we interviewed countless stylists, and when we reopened we were triple the size we were when we closed, fully staffed, and WE GOT TO HAVE A PAYCHECK!!!
Lessons to learn was when it looks the darkest , don’t forget how bright the light can be when it does show up.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Reputation, what a funny word. We sometimes think if we do enough good no one can say anything bad about us…. Right!??? Wrong!! Lol. Sometimes the more good we do the more people resent you. I learned after opening my business that you could be the most delicious blueberry pie , perfectly cooked, the best crust, made by the most world famous chef, but there is still going to be people out there who hate pie. They love cake. Well I can’t be cake , I’m pie!!
At the end of the day, I chose to be the best I can be, love as hard as I can, show kindness where I can, and lead with all I know how. The ones who see you for who you really are will shine brighter and louder then those who don’t .

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Miabella_hair
• Facebook: Mia bella Fruitland park
• Other: My personal Instagram is Danielle_bella777

Image Credits
Our family shot is by James Gibson