Biggest Challenges Faced by an Executive Coach and Trainer at Studio DTO
Dana, an executive coach and trainer, cites the financial instability of self-employment—"I don't get a paycheck every two weeks"—as a major challenge, alongside concerns about the discretionary nature of coaching services in uncertain economic times and the difficulty of scaling their business while maintaining high quality. The need to "replicate myself" without compromising "quality" is a key ambition and source of ongoing concern for the career professional.
Executive/Leadership, Overcoming Challenges, Achieving Goals, Entrepreneurship, Financial Management
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Dana Old
Executive Coach and Trainer
Studio DTO
University of Pennsylvania, 2005
MBA, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Communications
Coaching, Speaking & Writing
Human Resources (HR)
Took Out Loans, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Financial instability and the need for consistent income generation.
2. Maintaining relevance and client base in challenging economic conditions.
3. Balancing growth and scalability with the need to preserve service quality and personal oversight.
Transcript
What are the biggest challenges you face in your role?
A big challenge I face is not getting a regular paycheck every two weeks. That's definitely something that could keep me up at night, and it probably did when I was first starting out.
I don't have automatic 401K contributions, health insurance, or a consistent paycheck. This is hard, but it also serves as a strong motivator. It pushes me to hustle and build the business.
Another challenge is that while I'm doing well now, I'm not a mandatory service for companies or individuals. In tough economic times, like the current environment in 2023, things like offsites, retreats, team building, and one-on-one coaching are discretionary. They could be the first things to get cut.
Finally, I struggle with how to scale my business. How can I replicate myself, maintain high quality, and reach more people to generate more revenue? This is a significant ambition for me, but I'm also concerned about quality slipping. I like to have control, so it's a constant wrestling match.
Advizer Personal Links
www.linkedin.com/in/ dana-taylor-old