<\/p>\n

I spoke to Dr. Donna Smith Bellinger for the first time during the early stages of the pandemic, when in-person meetings weren\u2019t possible. Donna is President of DS Bellinger Consulting, as well as an author, professional speaker and the creator of Sales Manager on Demand. I sought her out to become a part of a resource group in Chicago that I lead, since she came highly recommended as a sales leadership coach.\u00a0 Wow \u2013 was I in for a treat! Engaging, funny and a truth-teller, I instantly liked Donna\u2019s energy and presence, even over the phone.<\/p>\n

What lesson did you learn early?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Growing up in Maywood (a suburb of Chicago) in a slightly upper middle-class family, I shocked my parents when I gave birth to my first child right after high school graduation. My father and stepmother disowned me. They told me, \u201cNo good man will every want you, and you\u2019ll be working the streets in six months.\u201d<\/p>\n

While working in the corporate offices of Osco Drugs, I went back to school; a vocational school to learn computer operations. After I found out I tested for computer programming, I said, \u201cI don\u2019t want programming, I want computer operations.\u201d They still put me in computer programming. I said, \u201cI\u2019m sorry I wasted your time. I\u2019ll take me and my financial aid and go somewhere else.\u201d\u00a0 The very next day, I got called back. The Admissions Director said, \u201cNo one\u2019s ever said no to me. We would love to welcome you to computer operations.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you want to be told no, I\u2019m your girl.<\/em><\/p>\n

Eight months later when I graduated from that vocational school, I made sure my parents were there. I was the first assistant admissions director at the school.<\/p>\n

What makes your work as a sales leadership coach different than all the others?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I focus my time helping bring joy to others in a variety of different ways, and love to work with owner\/operators of service-based businesses.<\/p>\n

When I work with a company, I go in with a specific time frame, a specific scope of work, and walk in with an exit strategy.\u00a0 I work with my \u2018kitchen table CEO\u2019s\u2019 (KTC\u2019s) and ask, \u201cWhat do you want your business to do for you?\u201d \u201cHow much do you need your business to pay you?\u201d \u201cHow much do you want to make out of your business?\u201d I also ask them what their exit strategy is, as that determines how they\u2019re going to build their business.<\/p>\n

My sweet spot is working with women who are transitioning out of corporate and are starting their own businesses. I don\u2019t want people to think they\u2019re a one-trick pony. Work is what you do to finance what you want to become. Women often go into \u2018people please\u2019 mode, which will not keep your lights on.<\/p>\n

I ask my clients: \u201cDo you want to be comfortable? Or do you want to be prosperous?\u201d<\/p>\n

Were there any hurdles as you grew your business into what it is today?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

When my work life was going well, my personal life sucked pond water. I dated so many losers that when I finally got married, I was 51. My attitude with my husband Steve is he was grown up when I got him; I was not trying to mold him into something else. I knew I was going to marry him after our second date, but he was coming out of a marriage, so it took a while longer.<\/p>\n

I prayed:<\/p>\n

I want a man who\u2019s religious, but not a zealot<\/p>\n

I want a man who\u2019s intelligent, but not a know-it-all<\/p>\n

I want a man who\u2019s attractive, but doesn\u2019t think he\u2019s prettier than me<\/p>\n

We have a hell of a lot of fun and have been through a lot of things together. We support each other completely. I cried when I read the first draft of Steve\u2019s science fiction book, it was that brilliant. It is now an international award winner, and he\u2019s on his fourth novel. It gives him so much joy.<\/p>\n

You mentioned to me the first time we spoke that you\u2019re \u201ceveryone\u2019s grandma.\u201d Tell me more.<\/strong><\/p>\n

My family is African American, Irish Italian, Mexican, and LGBTQ+. I often say, \u201cWe are the world.\u201d I\u2019m so committed to having inclusive conversations. I\u2019m everyone\u2019s grandma. I\u2019m known as Gramma Donna, or abuela. <\/em>That\u2019s why I\u2019m interesting, I hang out with everyone and everybody. That translates into the hiring practices and training, it\u2019s so very important. People must interview the company as much as the company is interviewing them. I love talking about unconscious bias.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s your biggest influence?<\/strong><\/p>\n

My biggest influences are more historical. If I\u2019m overworked or stressed, I remind myself that my ancestors worked in cotton fields and gave birth and went back to picking cotton, because they wanted to live. My grandmother was also a big influence on me; she gave me my nurturing spirit.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you have a business tip you\u2019d like to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you understand the timeframe, the scope of work and the budget, those are the three things you have to know to close the deal. Don\u2019t waste your energy otherwise. I\u2019m just as busy as you are. I don\u2019t have time to chase clients. I need to schedule you now because I don\u2019t have time for you later.<\/p>\n

Dr. Donna Smith Bellinger, www.donnasmithbellinger.com<\/a>, www.askdsb<\/a>,\u00a0 https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/donnasmithbellinger\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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