Executive at a fortune 500 company ✓
Entrepreneur ✓
TEDx Speaker ✓
One of Denver's 40 Under 40 ✓
Millennial ✓
Mother ✓
This month, I am THRILLED to introduce you to D Shoots. D's story is one of focus, perseverance and strength. Whether you are a Baby Boomer, Gen X, Y or Z, you will find inspiration from this month's BOSS BRAND, Danielle Shoots.
Nik Scott: Who are you?
Danielle Shoots: Danielle (D) Shoots
NS: What do you do?
DS: Founder and CEO of the Daily Boss Up - Virtual Coaching Community
Vice President of Business Operations, Comcast West Division
NS: Tell us a bit about your journey.
DS: My career journey has been anything but a straight path. I started this crazy journey at the age of 16 when I became pregnant and gave birth to my son. Teen motherhood was the hardest and most rewarding thing that has ever happened to me. My son gave me a drive and reason to focus unlike anything else. I became laser focused on giving him the life he deserved.
Early on I gained an understanding of my strength, my ability to persevere and my desire to be more than the sum of any mistake I made. Every moment of fear, risk or uncertainty that I have had in my career paled in comparison to what I had overcome as a teen mom. I unknowingly gained a life filter that allows me to believe in what is possible.
I remember all that I have overcome and so I do not get discouraged in the hard times. I keep pushing forward.
This has been the foundation to my success.
NS: How has personal branding helped your business and/or career?
DS: Having a personal brand has changed everything in my career and my business. I launched my business because of my brand. Having a brand and influence through social media led me to realize there was a need for a virtual coaching community and that people were interested in advice and lessons I may have to share.
I would not have launched the Daily Boss Up without my brand.
In addition, as an executive, a strong brand has given me options and opportunities. If you have a brand of your own that you integrate into the company you work for, you will always have your own brand to fall back on. This gives you option and stability in doing what you want to do in your career.
A personal brand is really an advertisement of who you are. Having people know who you are opens the world up to you.
NS: What specific strategies or tactics do you utilize to maintain your personal brand?
DS: Authenticity. I gained my personal brand by being myself. I believe it is a mistake to gain a following and then overengineer your brand to try and maintain it.
What has worked for me is that people can see themselves in so many parts of my story, so I will continue to share the truth of it all.
NS: What challenges or obstacles have you faced along the way and how have you overcome them?
DS: I have faced so many challenges as a young leader. The greatest challenge with having a personal brand for me has been finding the balance between being a person who lives out loud and wants to share, and a person who also needs to maintain privacy and places that are safe just for me.
I am still learning to manage this and am doing so through listening to myself. When I am too tired or need a break from being in view, I take it. I also make sure everything I say and do for my brand is exactly what it would be if nobody was watching.
NS: What are your secrets to success?
DS: Do it your way. Know yourself, own all that you have overcome that makes you special and share yourself generously to bring others along with you.
NS: Where can we find you online?
DS: dshoots.com
Instagram: @shootsd
Facebook: Danielle Shoots
NS: Anything else you’d like to add?
DS: The world wants to know you. Onward, towards sharing your talents with so many people who are waiting to receive them.