We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Danielle Bakic. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Danielle below.
Danielle, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
At the age of 23, 14 years ago, I had a 2-year-old son. I remember sitting on the edge of our bed, having a conversation with my husband. He looked at me and said something that stuck with me: “I just wish you were a more confident person.” At the time, I had no idea what that even meant. I didn’t understand what it felt like to be confident, or how to become that person.
The next seven years would be pivotal in my life. I started doing CrossFit for the first time, and as I grew physically stronger, I began to feel better about myself. At the same time, I threw myself into Swim Coaching more than I had before. I was helping kids overcome their fear of the water, teaching them to swim in just a few days. I would tell them over and over, “You are brave and strong,” and encourage them to say aloud, “I can do it.”
Something incredible happened at the end of that swim season. I realized that I wasn’t just helping these kids grow in confidence; I was also growing in confidence myself. Watching them transform so quickly was inspiring, and I started to notice that my own self-esteem was improving. I had spent my whole life encouraging others, but I had never thought to do the same for myself. So, I decided to try it. I started saying affirmations to myself every day, and gradually, I began to feel different—better, stronger, more confident.
By the time I was 30, I had completely transformed. People started telling me how encouraging I was, how they always thought I was the most confident person in the room. And I was honestly shocked. Me? Confident? I had always struggled with my own sense of self-worth, but no one could tell. It was then that I realized something: when you encourage others, it feels great—but when you encourage yourself, something magical happens. You start to truly shine and become the person you were always meant to be.
That’s the power of self-encouragement. It changes everything.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
We are beyond excited to announce that in 2025, we will be opening our second Swim School location! Our mission has always been to save as many lives as possible, and with each new location, we’ll be able to help even more children learn to swim.
At Swimming Fishies, we teach swimming in a way that’s completely different from the traditional approach. I wanted to create a place where kids not only learn to swim but also have fun. I wanted them to be excited every time they came through the doors. So, I dedicated over 300 hours to painting and transforming our Swim School into a vibrant, dreamy adventure. I even created a 20×70′ mural of the front and back cover of my children’s book My Swim Adventure, which spans the entire wall of the school.
On the first day of lessons, every child receives a copy of this book, which helps support their swimming journey. It mirrors the lessons they’re learning in the pool, creating a seamless connection between the book and their experience. Plus, the back of the book features a detailed Parent Instruction Guide, so parents can understand exactly what their child is learning and how to support their progress.
I’m so proud of what we’ve built and can’t wait to expand and continue our mission of making swimming a fun, engaging, and life-changing experience for even more kids.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
School was a significant challenge for me growing up. I spent countless hours studying, yet I often barely passed or, at times, failed. Most of my closest friends were at the top of our class, and I often felt like I was just the “fun friend.” In many ways, I think that’s why they appreciated me. My academic struggles made me feel insecure, and I believed that grades defined who you were. If you didn’t get straight A’s, you were somehow considered a failure.
Despite these feelings, I was determined to excel in everything I did. I poured my heart into my passions, whether it was my academic work, competitive swimming, or competitive art. However, I didn’t have much time for a social life in school, as I was always focused on achieving.
Looking back, I realize that my experiences shaped who I am today. I now use my story to remind others that you don’t need to be the top student to have a successful future. It’s the hard work, perseverance, and resilience that truly matter. I’ve faced many challenges in life, including the tragic loss of my father in an airplane crash when I was just 25. These experiences have taught me the value of determination and hard work in overcoming obstacles.
Today, I am proud of what I’ve accomplished and continue to work hard to be the best version of myself. I share my story to inspire others, showing them that success isn’t defined by grades or conventional achievements, but by the effort and resilience you put into everything you pursue.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
The saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” really resonates with me. That has certainly been my journey. After being kicked out of two homes—both of which were specifically purchased so I could coach swimming from home—I faced some major challenges. Despite having contracts with the HOA that allowed me to train kids in my private pool, I was forced to stop due to complaints about noise and traffic flow. It was a huge financial setback, as I had invested significant resources to build a pool that I could no longer use.
In the spring and summer that followed, I had to rent 10 different pools across the DFW Metroplex just to continue serving the kids who depended on me. Managing this scattered schedule, along with coordinating a team of coaches, was incredibly stressful. But through all the setbacks, my determination never wavered.
Then, my husband found raw land in Argyle, TX, and said, “This is going to be your swim school!” After about eight months of planning, designing, and building, we hit a major obstacle when our cement foundation was destroyed due to a bad pour. It was yet another challenge, but we pushed through. Finally, after a lot of hard work and dedication, we were able to open our dream swim school on June 6, 2023.
There was still plenty of painting, decorating, and finishing touches to make it feel like the place I had envisioned. But despite the many hurdles along the way, we did it. It hasn’t been easy, but every challenge has only made me stronger—and more committed to helping kids learn to swim and feel safe in the water.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.swimmingfishies.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swimmingfishiesswimschool/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swimmingfishiesswimschool
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-bakic-30629b64/
Image Credits
Barron Bakic- Swim Coach
