Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Danielle Massi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Danielle, thanks for joining us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
In the winter of 2018, I received a phone call from my doctor that would change the course of my life forever. She was calling to let me know that I had cervical cancer, an illness that came completely without warning. Prior to that diagnosis, I had been working in private practice as a licensed psychotherapist, and the hours and intensity of the work had been leading me into a complete burnout for years. At the time, the diagnosis was a shock, but now that I know about the impact of stress on the body’s immune system, I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner. My cancer diagnosis led me to confront whether I wanted to keep going with my current career, or to completely re-write my future; and I chose the latter. I stopped working as a psychotherapist (much to the dismay of my parents and husband), I opened a holistic healing center, and I began practicing shadow work, a healing modality that saved me in my darkest moments during my cancer journey. I also learned about the power of manifestation, and I made myself open to receiving a book deal so that I might one day share my story. And in the summer of 2021, that book deal came as I received an offer from Union Square & Co without ever submitting a proposal or having an agent.
Completely surrendering to the healing process in my lowest moment has brought me to heights I never would have dared dream prior to my illness. And I hope anyone who reads this understands that we don’t need to stay on a path that is making us feel burnt out, resentful, or sick- we always have the option to change (and we don’t need to wait until we hit rock bottom to do that).
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 am a master shadow work practitioner, best-selling author, motivational speaker, and CEO of The Wellness Collective, a holistic healing space in Philadelphia.
My signature shadow work program, the Create Your Light Academy, helps thousands of spiritual women unearth, remove, and heal unconscious blocks that are causing disconnect between their mind, body, and energy.
I am the founder of the SELF(ISH)philly Conference, a self-care conference, where hundreds of women gather annually to indulge in a day of expansion and growth, and I am the creator of the Shadow Seekers® Certification course that teaches spiritual leaders to become trauma-informed, certified shadow workers.
I have written for and been featured in New York Mag, The Cut, Shape Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Buzzfeed, and I travel the world as a motivational speaker. I am the creator of The Shadow Seekers® Journal, the most highly sought-after shadow work journal on the market, and I have a new book releasing 9/20/22 with Union Square Publishing titled Shadow Work that is currently available for pre-order.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
In my opinion, social media is the way of the future. It’s on platforms like TikTok that users are finding and becoming engaged with brands of all kinds, creating a connection we have never seen in business before. Creating a reputation for your business is as simple as showing up authentically on social media platforms, positioning yourself or your business as one that can add value to potential clients, and remember that every person that you engage with is an opportunity to build your brand that much further. I think that we’re lucky to be able to forge relationships with our clients and the community like this, and I’m excited to see how this grows over time!
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Be real and tell your story. As humans, we are all fascinated by the human experience, and when a brand can truly showcase their authenticity and become relatable, their client base inevitably grows. It takes a lot of vulnerability to share intimate moments, memories, or thoughts with a large audience, but just like forging a new friendship, that level of intimacy creates a bond that’s incredibly strong between the brand and audience.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.iamdaniellemassi.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/iamdaniellemassi
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ClarityClubDM/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-massi-0aa05453/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UConXzo3xcq0uJZGaL7X-4lQ
- Other: TikTok: tiktok.com/@iamdaniellemassi
Image Credits
Heather- Never There Yet Photography