Damon Nailer is known as a “Renaissance Man” and a “Multi-talented Inspirational Communicator”, He is mentor, motivator and educator, addressing people’s mental, spiritual, and emotional needs through various means. He writes inspirational books and blogs, speaks, coaches, and produces inspirational music. As a result of his tremendous accomplishments, he’s been featured over 100 times in or on the following: various online publications including The Huffington Post, TV shows, podcasts, radio shows, newspapers, and magazines.
#PeakPerformers, Damon shares his story on #TheEntrepYou today! @daril1 Click To TweetShow Notes:
Here’s a fun question for you…If you could choose an imaginary friend, who would you choose and why?
I would have to choose a super hero and it would have to be Superman. We could fly, we could do all sorts of things. We would be enabled and empowered to do a lot.
What was the entrepreneurial journey like for you when you started?
I’m a former elementary educator and I taught for 7 years. About the 4th or 5th year in my teaching tenure I began to lose the passion for teaching. At that time, I began to dabble into song writing, music production and artistry. In 1999 I put out my first single and in 2000 I put out an LP. I really love the music and I was getting a favourable response to it. As a result, my desire for music began to increase and my desire for teaching decrease. I was able to hang in there a few more years.
Is there any similarity between teaching and what you’re doing now?
A lot of the concepts that I learnt as a Teacher, I apply to my speaking. I’m not just an inspirational speaker, I’m an educator. My objective is to provide direction, inspiration and education. I’m able to give content that really challenge the intellect, challenge your mind. Teaching was really relevant to me today in what I’m doing.
How much was fear, if any, a factor in the timing of your quitting teaching?
No, I felt divinely inspired. I thought God was letting me know I can do this and it’s time to do it because I’ve just gotten to that place where I couldn’t do another year of teaching. I was just frustrated. Those emotions overshadowed any fear that I had. I had faith in it.
Just imagine me not knowing what was going to happen. A lot of people had that same question, “Damon how you’re going to make it?” “What are you going to do?” “How is going to play out?” My spiritual leader at the time had a meeting with me, he wanted to know what was going on. He said he would give me 6 months to see if we had the conversation again and thank God, we never had the conversation again. I was in faith and I wasn’t having any distractions; I wasn’t losing focus. In my spirit I had settled it, that this is what I was going to do.
Ups and downs?
When we first started the janitorial business, things were booming. We made close to 6 figures in a year and a half, 13 employees, racking up contracts all over. The music opened up the door to speaking and the book sales were good. Everything was going well. All of a sudden, things shifted. I went through a period of testing. Opportunity kind of stopped. We had to break up the partnership for the janitorial business. It wasn’t an amicable breakup. He (business partner) took some of the business, I took half.
The key is sticking with it, being faithful and committed to what you’re doing.
During the moment of the business breakup what were your thoughts and what lesson have you learnt from that experience?
What I’ve learnt is that it confirmed to me how unpredictable people are but you have to remain focus, you have to be resilient, you have to bounce back and you have to adjust to things like that. It taught me to be flexible. Don’t give up although there is a break up. Stabilize yourself and focus on your journey and what you’re trying to accomplish.
How to manage expectations?
To set realistic expectations. Make sure your goal setting is reachable, measurable. Be honest about what you’re trying to do. Go after your passion. Keep yourself accountable, constantly look at our goals.
Main Take-Aways:
- People by nature are unpredictable but you must always remain focus.
- Trust that things will work out and they will.
- Once you’ve settled an idea in your spirit, act on it in faith knowing that it will work out.
RESOURCE TO PEAK YOUR PERFORMANCE
A Greater Taste of Success (FREE eBook)
50 Inspirational Proverbs
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