Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Slack.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up watching both of my parents work really hard to provide for our family. We didn’t have much and like most children, growing up, I just wanted to feel like I belonged to a community and to hang out with the cool kids. My mom made most of my clothes until I turned 13 and at which time I started work and bought my favorite finds. Following my graduation from high school, I moved out from my parents’ home, worked as a clinical nursing aide for a couple of years and realized I wanted to become so much more. Not having the financial means for college, I enlisted in the Navy with the intent to only serve one tour to qualify for the college fund. Little did I know that my first enlistment tour in La Maddalena Sardinia, Italy, would change my life forever and fulfill my life-long dream of becoming a nurse in the Navy! I am very proud of how far I’ve come and continue to remain committed to becoming a better version of myself every day. After 23 years of service and a recent Navy retirement, I continue to work as a nurse. My love of service and desire to give back to others led to my other passions – fashion and shopping! A few months ago, while visiting friends in Arizona, Linda taught me how to make beaded bracelets. I immediately fell in love with not only the creativity and the reaction from family and friends, but how it made people feel when I gifted them. After a few sales within the local shops, I quickly realized that I really didn’t have much to give back to others. The cost of the supplies, federal and state taxes and a sellers fee took most of the profits. So, I quickly realized that I needed to rethink my sales to increase profits with the ultimate goal of giving back as much as I could to those in need. I was able to reach that goal by creating the online retail shop known as Dream Believe Love (DBL).
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road while setting up DBL. I had no business experience and knew nothing about sales, marketing, web building and all of the other great ingredients required to succeed. There were many moments of self-doubt and I wanted to walk away because I had the “OMG I can’t do this” mindset at times. And I figured out those self-doubt thoughts really came from the fear of failing. That fear grew as I procrastinated getting the tasks done that were needed to give life to DBL. I had to tell myself that fear is why people do not take chances or make efforts. How would we ever know if we did not try? It was then that I started to change my mindset, and really apply myself to work on DBL. As I started to accomplish the things that I thought weren’t possible, my confidence improved and my fears diminished. The results in our lives are determined by our actions that are continually being motivated by the mindset. Having the mindset to achieve, the will to deliver and a support system, we can accomplish anything we set our minds to. My advice to you is to create the life you want and make it happen. Your dreams of today can be made possible if you believe and act on them with love.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Dream Believe LOve – what should we know?
I have always had a big heart with a passion to care for and help others. It is this passion that drives me to work diligently in becoming the best that I can be. Being a full-time nurse, I work in various settings within the community caring for the elderly, handicapped and homeless. During most of my free time I work on DBL to expand its sales platform – to give back to the community and to inspire others to do the same. I am so grateful to have the SD Voyager to help make that happen.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life
Many people shy away from making big decisions because they don’t have any money and that’s where I was. Prior to joining the Navy 23 years ago, I was in debt, living paycheck to paycheck, and earning less than $600 a month. Even though I was grateful and happy with what I had, I was always dissatisfied with where I was with my personal and professional growth. I believe it was my dissatisfied creative state that propelled my passion to reach for development. I saw where I was at, knew where I wanted to go, and decided this is how I was going to get there. When we are committed to making a decision, then we begin to think and act like the person we want to become. My life didn’t change by accident. It changed by my design, my decisions, my will and my actions.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dreambelievelove.com
- Phone: 619-997-6619
- Email: thedblfoundation@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedreambelievelovefoundation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dreambelievelovefoundation/?modal=admin_todo_tour
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