We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dawn Levian. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dawn below.
Dawn, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.
To create a business one of a kind in your area or not to!? That was my question posed 4 years ago to myself. I had found a business idea that I connected with, believed in to my core and could see the vision of. However it was also going to be the only one in the area. And yes everyone needs to be a 1st for there to be more I get that. However would the idea catch on, would it survive, would others believe in it also or was there already not one because it wasn’t a good idea? All of these questions wrapped around my mind as I focused on the concept and a plan. But everything worth having is worth working for right and not everything is for everyone so as long as I had enough someone’s interested, I felt I could make it work. Yes its hard and yes as much as I have no competition of other companies, I have the competition of people not knowing we exist. I am competing with no one and everyone on a daily basis. But isn’t a business that has others in their category doing the exact same thing? If there were already 10 of my business types wouldn’t that be just as hard trying to convince others I am the better option? See there is no “easy” way to do the big things, the scary things and the things you want to see succeed. If it was easy as they say everyone would be doing it. You just have to ask yourself if the hard is worth it to you. Do you want this enough to do the hard to make it happen. In my business coaching class I had a instructor once say, “Stop being scared of what could go wrong and start being excited of what could go right” and it hit home. Yes, I could be scared of all the ways this could fail and honestly, I feel you need to always stay a little scared, so you keep fighting for it. But if it goes well- if your plan works and it succeeds isn’t that the end goal of achievement!? Everything you plan for is for a great event, great result, great mission or completion isnt it? So rather then focusing on all the ways this could be bad focus on the end goal. If its worth it to you then seek it. If it adds value to your moment, your life, your meaning your purpose then do it. Risks dont always work I get it and heck I am only 4 years in so its not like I have “years and years” of success to tell you its working for me. But each day gets a goal attached to it on what I need to achieve and even if the next days goal is to complete the one from the day before its still a goal. Take that risk!
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 survivor of parental abuse- you name it and it happened. Then after years of abuse from my father it continued in multiple foster homes. Life has been nowhere close to easy for me in any chapter of my life. But I feel that the hard my life has been has also made me into a sympathetic and empathetic person which aligns me well with running my rage room. Break Room Therapy exists as a space to allow others to let go, to decompress from their stress, to unwind and to breath. Life is hard and at times can be very hard. Feelings can be hard and heavy sometimes and holding that in doesn’t do any good emotionally, physically or even healthwise.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Being authentic and who you are. Its scary to take a stand and to not have the “customer is always right you need to tred lightly” attitude. But sometimes its easier as hard as it is to just be tried and true to who you are as a person. You are going to get me in every sense of the way everytime you interact with me. We are allys for the LGTBQIA commmunity because in my core of who I am I believe in judging and treating a person based on who they are and what they do vs what they look like or appear as. But we are not “June” supporters our business is a affirming and welcoming space all year long. Its not a political agenda its human rights. And I am sorry but we can disagree and choose to agree to disagree on somethings, but human rights are not one of those. And simply running a business shouldn’t be the reason I change how I present myself, my beliefs or what I believe in. For example even when asked by business or organizations for a donation to their most recent events I could choose to help all of them. But if it doesnt allign with something we agree with, something we stand by then why would I want my name attached to it. Or more so if one of their customers thinks that by me supporting it that we both have the same feelings but then they come to my business and see differently how is that helpful for either of us? So be you- be authentic and unapolegitically you!
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
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