We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Janice DaCosta a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Janice thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?

I can remember back in 2008, my life felt like it was going in hamster wheel mode. I had no passion or purpose in life. I felt stuck and stagnant as if I was caged. On this one particular sunny day, I was laying on my couch looking out of the window and I saw this bird soaring with it’s wings straight out. In that moment, I thought to myself, “I wonder what it would feel like to be as free as that bird.” I felt this strong desire to break out of that stuck and stagnant state of life and do purposeful things that made me feel revived and empowered, and that was my defining moment. I made a promise with myself that as I learned how to feel revived and empowered, I would teach others to do the same. Fifteen years later I have held true to that promise by creating products/services to take people from feeling stuck and stagnant; to feeling revived and empowered. I truly have an unmatched passion and desire to help people live a healthy lifestyle Mind, Body and Soul..

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My journey in life has been one of many valleys and mountain tops. I was born in New York, grew up in New Jersey and currently reside in North Carolina. I was a teenage mother on welfare, and the odds of a life I’m living now wasn’t even a mere idea that I knew how to dream. Luckily, I was surrounded by some very powerful women in my family that instilled integrity, work ethics, resilience and courage in me.

“Your destiny holds no coincidences.” – iamjaniceclaire

Fast-forward to 2008, I’m living life in hamster wheel mode. I have a job and family, but I had this feeling that something was missing. I felt stuck and caged. My defining moment occurred when I was lying on my couch and watching a bird soaring in the sky with its wings wide open. I remember just gazing at the bird in awe and wondering what it would feel like to be as free as that bird.
I knew I couldn’t be the only one who felt caged in life. In that moment I made a vow to myself. As I gained knowledge and learned techniques that took me from feeling stuck and stagnant, to feeling revived and empowered I would teach others to do the same.

“It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.”- Tony Robbins

In 2009, I decided I wanted to go back to college. Fast forward to 2014, I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business with a focus in Global Business Management.

I had this strong desire to motivate people to live a healthy lifestyle. Ironically, others noticed my ability to influence as well. Fast forward to 2015, I became a Certified Nutrition & Wellness Consultant and Board-Certified Holistic Health Practitioner. I then began teaching people how to live a healthy lifestyle Mind Body and Soul.

“When passion meets purpose. Magic happens.” – Thomas “TJ” John MD

Fast-forward to 2023, after staying true and intentional to my purpose of leadership and service, doors have opened for me that have allowed me to become a Human Rights Consultant, Mindset Life Coach, Published Author, Grant Cardone 10X Marketing Certified, Executive Leadership Certification (Better World Project), Healthy Living Influencer Partner for Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. As well as serving as an Executive Board Member for the University of Phoenix Chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success (Term 2021-present).

I am the 2022 and 2023 recipient of the Living Leadership Scholarship Award through the University of Phoenix Chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). I have been featured in several publications for my leadership efforts.

I have been blessed to have visited some of the most amazing places around the world from spending three months in Manilla, Philippines, to visiting Dubai, Egypt, Budapest, Guatemala, Yucatan, Tulum and more. Being open to experience different cultures has given me an even more deeper love and appreciation for diversity.

My dedication to serving and educating people has brought immense meaning to my life. The transformations and aha moments I’ve witnessed in people have been humbling and priceless.

Products and Services

The name of my business is Dream Chasers.

My products and services are geared to take people from feeling stuck and stagnant, to feeling revived and empowered in their Mindset, Life Purpose, Health and Nutrition.

I provide transformational coaching in the form of one-on-one sessions, online courses and eBooks.
I also provide a variety of signature nutrition programs to set people up for success in areas of health. From detoxes, recipe packs, meal and fitness plans, and much more.

I have YouTube channel called Dream Chasers that provides informational videos on the “how to’s” of living a healthy lifestyle and staying motivated.

Mini- Course

My newest endeavor has been an online “go at your own pace” mini course called 5 Ways to Eliminate Self-Sabotage”

5 Ways to Eliminate Self-Sabotage Mini Course is here to help you turn self-sabotage into self-mastery! With this course, you’ll learn essential in-depth strategies on how to eliminate self-sabotage and clear mental clutter, giving you the peace of mind, you need to reach your goals. Take control of your life today with 5 Ways to Eliminate Self-Sabotage!

“If you can change your mind, You can change your life.”- William James

I truly feel what keeps me passionate and relentlessly drives me to help people tap into the greatness in them that they often can’t see, is because it’s personal for me. It’s personal for me because I’ve been there. I will never forget that empty and hopeless feeling that crippled my ability to believe and emotionally move forward. It’s my life’s work to teach people through my products and services the techniques to shift their minds from feeling stuck and stagnant to revived and empowered, along with how to live a healthy lifestyle in the process.

Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?

The most helpful thing for succeeding in my field in addition to the training and development is having a mindful practice.

For me, a mindful practice has allowed me to surrender to the work I’ve done or I’m in the process of doing and have faith that my efforts will lead me to continual success. This also drastically reduces stress and gives me a clear head when dealing with issues that may arise.

Mindfulness allows me to set goals and intentions for my business but disconnect from the outcome. I have personally witnessed with this mindset things have come together that I could not have even fathomed working out in my favor.

Part of my mindful practice is meditation, kundalini yoga, journaling, reading, and setting my intentions for the day in the morning. At night I journal things I’m grateful for and meditate. This has truly been a game changer for me.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I first started my business it was only geared toward helping people lose weight. There was always this nudge in me that knew it was more I was supposed to do that went beyond educating on weight loss. I can remember listening to a few interviews I did on my weight loss services (at the time), and every one of those interviews I gave had same message in regards to weight loss, and that was mastering the mind.

I didn’t even realize it until I listened to those interviews. There was something about mastering the mind that soothed that nudge in me, which later bridged the gap to the trajectory of the direction of my business and life’s work.

I knew my business needed to pivot to teaching techniques to master the mind which was the root to mastering all areas of one’s life. When I made this change and rebranded my business, I saw more engagement and connections from people, and more clients and customers gravitating to my products and services.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dreamchasers.podia.com/
• Instagram: dreamchasers_nc
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/dreamchasersncorg
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/JaniceDaCosta
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/dreamchasers8888