Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Danielle Richards. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Danielle, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
At this time in my life, my biggest purpose is to provide a full and happy life for my family. My purpose relates to my drive and motivation. It also connects to both of my jobs: special education teaching and pediatric sleep consulting. Through teaching and consulting, I am able to help other children and families find a path to a full and happy life as well.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Having kids is a life-altering journey. When my oldest daughter, Leighton, was born, she struggled with acid reflux and a dairy intolerance, so sleep was minimal. After we had her medical concerns under control, I knew that she needed our help getting optimal sleep. I reached out to multiple sleep consultants when she was an infant, but I was frustrated with the sleep consulting world. I was purchasing a blanket, one-size-fits-all program and not seeing progress. In order to get one-on-one support, I had to schedule a call and retell Leighton’s entire medical history. It just felt cold and unwelcoming in a situation where I need empathy, compassion, and warmth.
Enter Sleep Shore Sleep Consulting. When Leighton was a toddler, we were still struggling with sleep. I was overwhelmed with the amount of sleep consultants out there, and I knew I needed something specific and specialized. While scrolling Instagram, I found Molly Leighton, owner of Sleep Shore Sleep Consulting, and it felt serendipitous that her last name was my daughter’s first name. Molly truly changed our life. She was empathetic, compassionate, and warm. She cared about our situation and saved our sanity.
My husband and I decided we were done having kids after our second daughter was born. We joked about how I had all of this knowledge about infant/toddler sleep and no where to use it. A week later, Molly reached out about expanding her business and looking for sleep consultants on her team. My husband and I decided to take a financial risk, pay for the sleep consulting certification course, and hope for the best. The foundation of the relationship I had built with Molly helped me take this risk. We had built a relationship on trust, empathy, and compassion. I believed in her and her business, and I knew that it could be the opportunity of a lifetime.
Working with Sleep Shore has been a dream. It is priceless to be able to give families the same hope and joy that Molly gave us. At Sleep Shore, we specialize in achieving restful, restorative and consistent sleep for families with little ones aged 0-5. As baby and toddler sleep coaches, we am here to offer you a lifeline of sleep and sanity. Picture this: a world where your know exactly when to put your baby down for a nap and you can count on them to sleep so you can workout without disruption. A world where putting your toddler to bed is no longer a battle but a time that you actually look forward to. With our personalized, one-on-one sleep support plans, we will be your ultimate cheerleader and trusted partner throughout your sleep-deprived journey. Your cozy nights await!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Courage, determination, and empathy are the three qualities that are most impactful on this journey. Obviously courage and taking a leap of faith was a big part of my journey. Determination is equally as important. As a leader for these families, it is important that I remain confident so that we get through this journey together and find success. Empathy is the most important quality to have as a sleep consultant. Families are coming to you at their most desperate hour. They are sleep deprived and exhausted. They are looking for someone to really understand what they are going through and help them out. At Sleep Shore, empathy is one of the strongest pillars of our foundation.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
There are so many products in the pediatric sleep world, but one of my favorite brand is Sleeping Baby and their product, the Zipadee-Zip. This transitional swaddle sleepsuit has been a staple in my household for over five years. My girls adore their zipadee-zips. We made Leighton, our oldest daughter, a blanket out of the material from her zipadee-zips, and my youngest, who is almost 3, still sleep in one. It would be a dream to work with a company that gave us so much joy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sleepshore.com/sleep-coaching-services/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sleep.shore/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=sleep%20shore%20sleep%20consulting
Image Credits
Personal Photo: Amanda Steffke Photography (https://amandasteffkephotography.com/)
Brand Photos: Sara Colket Photography (https://www.colketphoto.com/)
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