Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Rich Levene, founder of Dignity Leadership Consulting, located in Lakeway, TX, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
At Dignity Leadership Consulting, we believe that employees deserve to be happy at work. We focus on building that happiness by building trust between managers and employees. Our focus is coaching managers to become leaders that people trust and want to follow.
Tell us about yourself
I started Dignity Leadership Consulting because I was unhappy at work. I was caught in the downward cycle and pressures of products, processes, and profits over people. I was great at making the c-suite executives happy, but I was also making my employees miserable. And I, too, was miserable. So off to school, I went to obtain a Master of Science - Leadership and Change - from St. Edwards University in Austin.
I quickly discovered that the key to happiness was building trust with your followers and placing people before profits, processes, and productivity. If other people get what they want, happiness, you, in turn, will get what you want, happiness. I am inspired by seeing the growth in myself and others. The best leaders invest in themselves to learn and grow. Once you build and provide yourself with self-care, you begin to lead others and thus create more leaders. Leaders create more leaders!
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
DLC is still in its infancy. However, we have already helped several people become better leaders by identifying their core beliefs and behavior preferences. This, in return, creates self-awareness which builds trust among followers. Trust is scientifically tied by research to happiness. Our biggest accomplishment is seeing others become happier as a result of our work.
What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?
Self-discipline and knowing that not everyone wants our help. We really believe that most managers have not even begone to reach their leadership potential. But convincing them that they, too, can learn and grow is often easier said than done.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Buckle up, lose the ego. It is a humbling journey.
- Be very narrow in your niche and stick to your purpose. Think of why you want to start your business. Money is no longer a good enough purpose to stand out in the crowd.
- Consistency. You have to be consistent in everything you do
Is there anything else you'd like to share?
I just wrote my first book, You Are Doing It Wrong! Stop Managing and Start Leading (Richard T. Levene) with an expected release for retail purchase in June 2022. I also host a podcast called Dignity Leadership Live with my co-worker, Brooke Coleman. DLC started as a podcast and a side hustle in Feb 2020, just before the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.dignity-leadership.com/
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3kJJbJu
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dignityleadership/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DLCwithRich
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dignity-leadership-consulting/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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