We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Danielle Stringer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Danielle, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
In 2009 I was passenger in a horrific car accident. I suffered a brain injury and left side paralysis. Taught myself how to walk again at the age of 21. Was told I would never be the same again. Since then I’ve graduated college with a business degree, ran a marathon, competed in a body building competition, and started my own successful business. That accident proved to me I could do anything I put my mind to. Resilience is what kept me alive and keeps me going through the hardships of business ownership and life.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I founded Dandi Cleaning & Organizing after realizing that my true passion was not aligned with the corporate world. I thrive on helping people transform their spaces and lives through organization and cleanliness. Every day, I have the privilege of meeting wonderful clients and witnessing the joy that accompanies a clean and organized home. The name “Dandi,” bestowed upon me by my grandfather and my first client, serves as a constant reminder of my commitment to brightening the lives of others.
In addition to my core services, I’ve successfully integrated move management into my offerings, drawing from my extensive experience in organizing and logistics. I take pride in expertly managing all aspects of a move, including packing, staging, and unpacking. This has proven to be incredibly rewarding, allowing me to provide a seamless transition for clients as they settle into their new homes. As I continue to refine and enhance our move management services, I am excited about the potential to support even more clients through this journey with my skillset and dedication.
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?
1. Always continue to learn 2. Do what works best for you.
3. Make it fun!
Advice I have for the “newbies.” Keep going! It gets better as you move forward and learn. Make mistakes and learn from those mistakes. It’ll make you better.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
Breathe. Take time for yourself. I’ve learned that boundaries are important. It’s so easy to work all hours of the day when you own a business. Learn to set boundaries with yourself and with your clients. Set your phone on “do not disturb.” Do not respond to clients after normal working hours. If you don’t take care of yourself the business will fail.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dcodandi.com
- Instagram: @dandi_dco
