We had the good fortune of connecting with Danaya Wilson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Danaya, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
When I started CHC Training, my work life balance took a rear seat as I was working another job full time and then bootstrapping for my startup evenings, weekends, and holidays. Once I was able to get further along and the company began to grow, I was able to hire team members that aided in covering the added work that was keeping me from spending time away from work. It took a few years, but the grind was certainly worth it. Now I prioritize maintaining consistent work hours (outside of emergencies) and taking vacations that are work-free. Balance to me is a give and take, which means that because of the position I have taken (CEO), I sometimes will be required to conduct work tasks during personal time. On the flip-side, I can enjoy the flexibility of setting my own schedule and attending personal events during work times.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I saw a huge need for more student-centric and modern learning content targeting the trades industries. What sets me apart is the continual dedication and commitment I have to researching and creating the curriculum to fill the needs of an entire industry. Not only do I develop to satisfy the student or end-learner, but I work with state and federal regulatory agencies to maintain compliance and standards while allowing for accessible and technology forward programs.
I have learned a lot of lessons along the way. The hardest lesson being that even if you pour your heart into something, in my case, a course development, the target market may not fully appreciate it or even want it as much as you think they would. Do plenty of research, including asking your target market what they want before you invest a lot of time and money into development. I think it is easy for entrepreneurs to project their own excitement and passion into believing a product or an idea would work and therefore miss out on what evidence to the contrary may be right in front of them.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My father has worked in the environmental hazard remediation industry as long as I can remember. Without him, I would not have had the opportunity to discover my path and innate ability to modernize the way the industry learns and maintains compliance. My parents started their own abatement and mitigation company over 15 years ago. That plus a lifetime of other entrepreneurial endeavors, was a wonderful example of how initiative, hard work, and hustle pays off.
I have been a part of a Strong Entrepreneurial Women (SEW) group, meeting once a month. These women have been a huge contribution to my success both in personal growth and organizational growth. They are a sound board, support system, and knowledge database that I have been blessed to have access to. Thank you SEW!
Website: www.chctraining.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaya-wilson-a5496786/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQkIxhMu8bPd-Wv_geKGm8Q