Meet Hana Damavandi

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hana Damavandi. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hana, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

From a young age, I realized that if I wanted something, I had to go after it. I had to find a way to make it happen. As soon as I was able to work, I did—never being picky about jobs—until I discovered my strengths and the quality of my skills. That journey was a great learning experience.

Over time, I also came to understand that this principle applies to more than just money. In life, whether it’s relationships, family, or personal growth, everything requires effort and commitment. If I wanted to achieve something, I had to be consistent in my actions. Expecting others to do the work for me or looking for shortcuts wouldn’t necessarily lead to the results I wanted.

As I got older, I noticed that truly successful people have strong work ethics. They push forward, never give up, and stay committed even when they don’t see immediate results. That persistence is key. It’s easy to get discouraged when progress feels slow, but success comes to those who keep going.

When I first had the idea of creating a non-toxic candle brand, I believed I could make it happen. At the time, I was going through a divorce, raising young kids, and experiencing major life changes. I knew building the brand would take time, so I applied my work ethic and slowly but surely built Dare to Shine—turning my vision into reality.

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?

Currently I am focused on creating a successful Candle Brand called Dare to Shine.Our candles are hand-poured using non-toxic coconut apricot wax, ensuring they’re safe for families and friends to enjoy. 
Dare to Shine is a brand built to empower you to push beyond your limits and take bold actions on the things you fear most.

My goal is to inspire people to use the candle as a powerful tool of transformation – to challenge their boundaries, embrace new possibilities, and expand their way thinking. I am truly excited about this mission because its more then just a candle its a powerful tool that anyone can use to change and grow. I believe people have more anthem they think they do and if I can then anyone can!

Every time I light a candle, I set an intention. I take a moment to close my eyes, focus on something I want to conquer or an area where I’ve been procrastinating, and then, as I light the flame, I speak my intention—either out loud or in my heart. And every time, it works! Because when we focus our energy, focus our minds, and commit to taking action, we can manifest anything we desire. We must recognize the inner power we hold. There is so much power Lighting a candle since it reminds me of our inner light, and from a single flame, endless others can be ignited.

Dare to Shine was born during one of the most difficult times in my life. I was going through a divorce, and just two months later, the world shut down due to COVID-19. With small children at home, I was overwhelmed—uncertainty was everywhere, and life felt completely out of my control. But amidst the chaos, lighting a candle gave me a small sense of peace, even if only for a moment.
In that stillness, an idea started to take shape – lighting candles always brought me a sense of peace, even if only for a moment. From pain and emptiness, an idea was born—I realized I could do something I love and, in turn, teach others how to use candles as a tool for healing, reflection, and growth, no matter what they were facing.

I want Dare to Shine candles to reach as many people as possible because when you dare—to take action despite fear, to speak your truth, to say “no” when needed, to step beyond your comfort zone—you begin to shine in ways that will surprise you. I am panning on creating a meditation for each candle. That customers can use as many time as they want with every purchase.

It took me four years to create my first two candles. Fear kept me stuck, but once I overcame it, I was able to develop three more scents in just eight months. Through persistence, commitment, and trial and error, I’ve learned that there is no success without failure. Now, every new decision excites me instead of scaring me, because what if it works?

I love creating scents—mixing different notes to craft fragrances that evoke emotions and memories. I am proud to say that it is all dome in los Angeles. Once I get the scent I like I make eh candle

Now We offer a range of captivating fragrances, from grounding woodsy scents with natural, earthy notes to the fresh floral aromas of roses and gardenia that inspire new possibilities. Holiday scents like spicy cinnamon and tangerine, perfect for adding warmth and energy to any gathering.

If you have a dream chase it don’t give up.

You can find Dare to Shine candles in the largest candles store in La “Candle Delirium” which I am very proud of

You can follow us @dareandshine and dareandshine.com

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?

Looking back, I realize that adaptability, resilience and Problem-solving have been three of the most important qualities in my journey. Life constantly throws unexpected challenges our way. We make plans, set goals, and take action, but things don’t always go according to our plan. unexpected obstacles arise, the person you were supposed to meet doesn’t show up, an order arrived with defects. sometimes life just happens—you get sick, or something urgent pulls you away.
I’ve learned that the best way to handle these situations is to accept them instead of resisting or reacting emotionally. Rather than getting stuck in frustration, I focus on working with what I have and adjusting as needed.
The same applies to working with people. Misunderstandings happen, feelings get hurt, and situations don’t always go as planned. But taking things personally or making decisions from a place of frustration only holds us back. Resilience is a choice. When faced with challenges, I adapt, find solutions, and keep moving forward—because that’s how progress is made.
Through experience, I’ve learned a few key lessons. First, always plan ahead and anticipate potential problems so you’re not caught off guard. If you’ve been in a similar situation before, remind yourself that every problem has a solution—it might not be clear in the moment, but it will reveal itself. Staying proactive instead of freezing or panicking makes all the difference.
Another important lesson is the value of building strong relationships with the people you work with—whether they’re directly related to your business or not. You never know who might offer a perspective or idea you hadn’t considered. Stay open, be curious, and don’t hesitate to reach out for advice. Sometimes, the best solutions come from unexpected places.
For example my cancel was suppose to be delivered at a certain date in the right item for the holidays, and it got Delyaed in 3 weeks. I Called the factory spoke to the lady requested some extra push, thanked her for the work she does went through schedule options she manage to shorted the deal in 7 business days, thats an achievement!

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

In 2019, I picked up a book from my own library—The Power of the Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy. I had owned it for over 15 years, a gift that had sat on my shelf unread. But once I finally opened it, I couldn’t put it down.
The biggest lesson I learned was just how powerful our minds truly are—and even more so, how much influence our thoughts have over our lives.

I started paying attention to my thoughts—the conversations I was having with myself and the relationship I had with my own mind. That was a huge wow moment for me. I realized that before anything else, I needed to change the negative chatter in my head and reconnect with who I truly am. The Power of the Subconscious Mind provided practical ways to do just that.

I learned that our thoughts shape our reality and that words carry immense power. At first, I was skeptical, but then I started noticing real changes. We all carry stories about who we are and what we’ve been through—but how much of that story is actually true? And if we don’t like it, we have the power to rewrite it. Change isn’t always easy, but if we choose to put in the work, it is possible.

The book inspired me to shift my focus—to concentrate on what I do want instead of dwelling on what’s not working. The moment I started doing this with consistency and commitment, new opportunities, ideas, and solutions began to unfold.

I highly recommend it!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dareandshine.com
• Instagram: @dareandshine
• Facebook: Dare and Shine

Image Credits

my personal photos are from Jazmine Shabtai