Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dana Hill. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dana, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
I learned the importance of generosity from my parents. It was one of the many values my parents instilled in me during my childhood. I take advantage of every opportunity to donate, volunteer, share knowledge, mentor, advocate etc. because it is my moral obligation, and it brings me joy to help people.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
My name is Dana Hill and I own an online organic coffee and tea business called RespectfulLeaf. We offer specialty single origin coffee and premium loose leaf tea. Our specialty single origin coffee is comprised of an Ethiopia Sidama light roast, Peru medium roast, Nicaragua dark roast and Peru decaf medium roast in the form of whole bean and ground choices. In addition, will sell premium loose leaf tea in the following types: peach mango black tea, raspberry green tea, and citrus chamomile herbal tea. Our purpose is to provide people with healthy, high quality, sustainably sourced coffee and tea, thoughtfully created to leave lasting impacts in the communities that grow it and the communities that enjoy it. To accomplish our social responsibility, we will allocate 5% of profits to intercity education to help children achieve their full potential by giving them access to essential resources. I created RespectfulLeaf because I enjoy coffee & tea and I wanted to create a business that supported my personal success and the ability to give back to the community. I grew up in the city of Detroit and attended Detroit Public Schools. I was blessed to have family, friends, and community support that greatly contributed to my individual success. However, not every child is afforded that same opportunity due economic and social determinants that impact their overall wellbeing. As a black female business owner, it is my responsibility to be a leader that spearheads change by investing in my community.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
What I’ve learned thus far from my personal and professional experience is to be my authentic self, take risks and to not compare myself to others. I encourage others to live by your personal values regardless of someone else’s opinions and remain dedicated to your passions in life. In order to accomplish your passions, it is required that you take risks and get out of your comfort zone. If you fail, you had the opportunity to learn from your mistakes so stay encouraged and continue to drive toward your goals. Lastly, do not compare yourself to other because your journey is unique and rewarding so embrace the challenges and celebrate your wins.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg has played a major role in helping me establish consistent and effective routines that have benefited my physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Duhigg explains how habits are formed and how they can be altered for success. I learned that healthy foundational routines are an essential part of life. It’s important to determine your aspirations and establish routines that encourage desired outcomes. I also learned to focus on one or two priorities that have long term rewards i.e., eating healthy and /or exercising. A smaller number of priorities will help alleviate being overwhelmed. Lastly, I learned to surround myself with people that share similar beliefs to help encourage healthy behaviors.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.respectfulleaf.com
- Instagram: @sipRespectfulLeaf
