Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in health and nutrition but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dana Kaye, Founder of Devotion Nutrition, located in Pompano Beach, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am the founder and CEO of Devotion Nutrition. My customers are people who truly care about staying devoted to their healthy lifestyle. It ranges from athletes, bodybuilders, the weight loss surgery community, and people on special diet plans to just healthy people, moms, and dads looking to bring healthier choices into their homes and use our products with their entire family.
Tell us about yourself
I grew up struggling with my weight from 12 years old. I had a major sweet tooth and a big appetite. I am the third generation in the flavor industry, meaning my parents own a large flavor manufacturing company, so this was the industry I grew up in.
However, my passion for health and fitness was strong. I found a void in the marketplace for super high-quality, versatile, and functional protein powder and wellness products. Americans typically don't eat enough protein and ingest way too much sugar, so building my brand around helping solve this issue with phenomenal delicious alternatives was my mission.
Devotion Nutrition protein powder is like no other! This protein is so smooth and creamy and turns into a shake, pudding, pancakes, waffles, coffee creamer, etc... with just WATER!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Devotion Nutrition started from an idea that I pondered for almost nine years before it became a reality. By the time I was ready and confident to launch my brand, I was already a busy mother of 3 (including a set of twins) and really started from ground zero. I've built this brand without any big investor money. I don't have famous celebrities being paid to endorse my products or any social media stars.
This brand has been built on sharing my story over and over, continuously showing up to educate my customers, integrity, transparency, and just really having a phenomenal product that real people are excited to post about and share. To still be growing and thriving with just grass root efforts after seven years is a huge accomplishment to me.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Mistakes are going to happen. Making the wrong business choice is going to happen. Knowing how to recover and pivot is a huge skill that business owners constantly need to hone. Plenty of things have gone wrong behind the scenes with Devotion Nutrition, but we've always recovered and turned the mistake into something positive.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Make sure you are TRULY passionate about your business idea and your product and know what you stand for. If you don't have passion, it will show to your customers and your team. My team stays so passionate because I have never lost my fire, and I know they feel that.
- Make sure you set yourself apart. So many industries are supersaturated, and if your product isn't truly incredible and stands out, it will get lost in the shuffle.
- You are only as good as the team you surround yourself with. I always say my team is small, but we are mighty! Everyone is capable of many positions and does them well. I know I can depend on my team to always step up for the company, and that is what helps me sleep at night.
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
One of my favorite sayings for life or business, "This too shall pass." So no matter if the time is super hard or incredible, it's going to pass to enjoy every moment, learn lessons and be proud of what you've created because not many people have to courage to be an entrepreneur.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://devotionnutrition.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Devotion.Nutrition/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danalynnkaye/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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