Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dena Patton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Dena, 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?
My journey of confidence and self-esteem has been a lifelong journey. I had many things in my childhood that derailed my confidence and self-esteem. They range from divorced parents in 1st grade, to failing second grade, to recovering from a major accident in 7th grade and losing my best friend to a heart ailment in eighth grade only added to my struggle. These experiences left me struggling to define my identity and measure my own worth. Like many, I bought into the “societal narrative” that confidence and self-esteem could be acquired externally through our looks, performance, awards, finances and titles etc. So for a decade, from ages 14 to 24, I chased after validation through those external ways, only to discover it didn’t work. Also as a Christian, I grew a lot in my faith in my 20’s and started to read the bible. I learned that we were born precious and perfectly made, flaws and all. It was a profound lesson in realizing that true confidence is cultivated from within. I had to learn that believing in myself, my gifts and my purpose didn’t need anyone else’s permission or validation.
Since then I incorporated really powerful daily self-care practices for my mind, body and spirit that drastically has elevated my confidence in my life, finances, relationships and business.
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?
Dena has been an elite business and mindset coach who has works with purpose-driven business owners and leaders around the globe since 2001. Her 3-Pillar coaching approach helps her clients to build: the systems to be well-oiled, the sales strategy to be well-funded, and the greatness mindset to be well-led. Her favorite thing to do is to help awesome people do epic things. Dena’s influence extends beyond coaching with over 90 media and podcasts that feature her work, along with her keynote speaking and her best-selling book, The Greatness Game. She navigates her life and businesses guided by six core values—courage, accountability, authenticity, faith, fun, and integrity. At the heart of it, she’s a girl mom, a dog mom and a federal agent’s wife. She loves her life of helping people achieve what they never thought was possible. She has always thrived in challenges and global thinking. At the age of 24 she founded her first business, a PR & marketing company in NYC that served the entertainment industry in film, Broadway and TV where she published the first magazine dedicated to Broadway, Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway and later sold that company in 2000. Soon after the 9/11 tragedy she met two men who had a brilliant idea to heal America and The September 11 Photo Project was born. They worked together with The Pentagon and NYC Mayor’s office to create the 9/11 tour across the country to help create community, healing and hope with 10,000 participants and 500,000 attendees. Outside her business ventures, Dena devotes herself to philanthropy and ministry work, serving as the Cofounder of Happy Hour With Jesus, a bible study initiative for Christian women, and the 501c3 The Girls Rule Foundation, which champions empowerment and leadership programs for tween/teenage girls.
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?
The biggest thing that influences my businesses and my leadership is my faith. I had to learn how to hold on to God because life and business can tear you apart. I need faith and courage on the daily and my source for that is my Christian faith. “Hold on to God, not your pain” is the mantra I say a lot that has helped me get through some really painful times in my life. I realized that time with God everyday was so important to my leadership which is why I created a bible study series that is 8 minutes a day called, Happy Hour With Jesus. Growing my faith and being transparent about my faith and how it helps me in my marriage, parenting and business is one of the most important qualities I’ve embraced.
Radical self accountability – I came from a dysfunctional family where we learned how to survive not thrive. I learned very quickly that to thrive in your dreams, gifts, career and relationship you must learn accountability. To be accountable for your actions and your results you must let go of the idea that the world ‘owes you’ or that you deserve xyz. That mindset will only lead you entitlement and resentment. Be accountable for your actions, mindset, habits and results and it will change your life.
Authenticity is our biggest currency, but yet society tells us otherwise. Being myself unapologetically took a lot work, but once I fully accepted myself, my gifts and my purpose I started to lead my life differently. I stopped worrying about the haters and judgers and just focused on building my purpose, my gifts, my life and my business.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I have been writing and developing Happy Hour With Jesus journals and bible studies over the last year and we are about to launch in August 2024. I’m looking for faith based women to partner with who love God and love gathering other women. I would love to have you start a Happy Hour With Jesus group in your home with some friends. More info is at www.happyhourwithJesus.net
Contact Info:
- Website: www.happyhourwithjesus.net
- Instagram: @DenaMariePatton
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DenaTrakesPatton/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denampatton/
Image Credits
I have the rights to the 3 other. the picture with the black top credit to: Sarah Hoag
