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Podcast Show Notes

Redefining Success In The Wedding Industry & Making Career Moves At Any Age With Dana Bartone

August 1, 2023

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How do you maintain your passion and your purpose at any age? What happens if you want to make a shift in your career but you feel like you're too old? What about ageism in the wedding industry? Is there a space for you in this industry that feels dominated by younger clients and also younger vendors when you get into your 50s and your 60s? I'm having this conversation today with my special guest, Dana Bartone.

I've spoken to so many wedding pros in their late 30s and early 40s about their worries when it comes to age and weddings. As a pro in my 40's, I can relate to the question… “will I age out of this industry?”

Sometimes it's not about changing your career, it's about adding to it with Dana Bartone or Candice Coppola.

Dana challenges the misconception that older individuals may not have a place in the wedding industry, emphasizing that age should not be a barrier to success. With over 30 years of experience, Dana highlights the valuable knowledge, experience, and creativity that older professionals bring to the table. We discuss the importance of staying current with new trends while incorporating a wealth of experience and classic styles, debunking the notion that older business owners may become stagnant.

Age is just a number as Candice Denise and Dana Bartone redefine success in the wedding industry.

In this episode on aging in the wedding industry and how you can reinvent yourself at any age:

  • [00:00:00]: Aging in the Wedding Industry
  • [00:07:12]: Is there a place for older professionals in the wedding industry?
  • [00:08:48]: Misconceptions about long-standing members of the industry
  • [00:12:27]: Maintaining passion and creativity in a changing industry
  • [00:15:34]: Evolving and shifting careers in your 50s and 60s
  • [00:16:43]: Redesigning your career and sparking new possibilities
  • [00:17:12]: Experience and knowledge as an advantage in the industry
  • [00:18:10]: Embracing change and finding new purpose
  • [00:20:21]: Do we have the same conversations about men's careers in their 50s and 60s?
  • [00:21:49]: Shedding societal expectations and pursuing what brings joy
  • [00:29:18]: Believing in Yourself and Overcoming Fears
  • [00:30:15]: Starting Over and Utilizing Experience
  • [00:32:52]: Seeking Support and Guidance
  • [00:33:30]: The Power of Coaching
  • [00:34:26]: Addressing Self-Worth and Deservingness
  • [00:36:18]: Dana Bartone's Coaching Services

Overall, our conversation serves as a reminder that age should not be a barrier to pursuing new opportunities and finding fulfillment in work and life.

If you're feeling stuck in your career or worried about making a change, I highly recommend listening to this podcast episode.

With inspiring insights and practical advice, Dana Bartone is sure to help you find the passion and purpose you need to thrive in your career – at any age!

A woman in a green shirt standing in front of a barn, named Dana Bartone.

About Business Coach Dana Bartone

With over 30 years of experience in the beauty industry, the wedding industry and as a business owner, Dana has included coaching to her focus and the next chapter of her resume. Her passion is to help people become and remain their best selves both at work and at home, day after day. Dana Bartone Coaching and Consulting and Dana Bartone Salon and Spa are both wellness companies working on the inside as well as the outside beauty of each client.

She knew she would work in the beauty industry from a young age since hair, makeup, and fashion were always a passion of hers. Like many brides, when it came time to plan her own wedding, the obsession began with all things weddings.

In 1993, a few months after her first son was born, she created Dana Bartone & Co. Salon and Dana Bartone Weddings. At the time there were no other companies in CT that were providing hair and makeup on site for brides and their attendants. Raising her 2 boys while having a boutique salon in her home, she began networking with all wedding vendors and making a name for herself and her company. Dana grew her company to include artists from her salon and other salons as well as opening her first brick and mortar in 2009.

Supporting her family while loving her work and feeling so passionate about the honor and privilege it was to be a part of a bride’s one special day was the fuel that fed Dana’s 6 figure business.

“True to the core, I have always been a people person and believe that my purpose in life is to help others see the beauty in themselves both inside and out. The fire in my heart is to work hard to help others identify and reach their goals while fostering their creativity and harnessing their mindset. Business can be hard and sometimes discouraging. It can illuminate your fears and supposed weaknesses but every day is an opportunity to start again and welcome the learning.”

Now looking at the next decade in front of me I feel blessed to know that I can stay on top of the industry that serves me by showing up and serving it.

[00:00:00.000] - Candice Coppola (Host)

How do you maintain your passion and your purpose at any age? What happens if you want to make a shift in your career but you feel like you're too old? What about ageism in the wedding industry? Is there a space for you in this industry that feels dominated by younger clients and also younger vendors when you get into your 50s and your 60s? I'm having this conversation today with my special guest, Dana Bartone.

[00:00:27.930] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

You're here to grow a business, but not just any business. You want to grow a profitable business with purpose, a business where you wake up every single day driven to serve your customers and make a difference in your own life. I'm Candice Coppola, published author, business coach, and your guide to building a profitable business with purpose. Join me here every single week as we explore how to build and grow your business with purpose. Get ready to dig in and have meaningful conversations about the strategies and techniques that will help you build your dream business. This is the power in purpose. Hey there, friend. Welcome back to the power in purpose podcast. It's me, your host, Candice. And at the top of the episode, I shared with you that we are talking about all things aging in business in the wedding industry today with my special guest, Dana Bartone. I've known Dana for... Well, since I've known myself in the wedding industry, should I say? I have been friends with Dana since I started my business as a wedding planner. Gosh, I have been so fortunate to learn from her and to be guided by her in my career, to be connected to her.

[00:01:47.330] - Candice Coppola (Host)

I'm thrilled that we get to have this conversation about aging in business and what that looks like. Dana has been a business owner for over 30 years. She has over 30 years of experience in the beauty industry, the wedding industry, and as a business owner. Her passion is to help people become and remain their best selves, both at work, at home, and day after day. She's a business coach. She's a salon owner. She works in the wellness industry. She's also a mom, a daughter, a best friend. And today she's sharing a little bit more about her journey. I think she's going to motivate and inspire you to seek purpose and to make changes no matter your age. It's a great episode. We also, in the beginning, talk about aging in the wedding industry and how to maintain your passion, your creativity in an industry that feels very dominated by younger folks. Most of the time when people get married, they're in their 20s or their 30s. A lot of small businesses in the wedding industry are operated by business owners in their 20s, their 30s, and their 40s. So as you enter into these prime ages of 50 and 60, where's the space for you in an industry that feels ruled by trends and dominated by young folks?

[00:03:15.470] - Candice Coppola (Host)

We have a great conversation around that. So if you've been wondering, hey, is there a space for me as I age in the wedding industry? I think Dana will answer that question very succinctly for you. And if you are of a certain age, it doesn't matter what age, but if you're of a certain age where you're feeling pulled to make a change, you're feeling like, you know what? I think it's time. I think it's time for me to consider doing something else or evolving my career, but I feel like I'm too old to do that. This episode is for you. Without further ado, let me introduce my special guest, Dana Bartone. Dana, welcome to the podcast.

[00:03:53.690] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Thank you so much, Candice. It's so wonderful to see you.

[00:03:58.290] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Oh, my gosh, it's great to see you. How are you? Ow long have we known each other, do you think? How many years?

[00:04:02.480] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

I'm going to say about 18 is what I'm thinking. Somewhere around there because I'm going back into where I lived and when we started. So 15 to 18 is very safe.

[00:04:15.520] - Candice Coppola (Host)

To say. Yeah. Oh, my gosh. We've known each other for a long time. Our businesses have grown together, grown separately in different directions. We've experienced a lot in our career together. It's just so fun to have a business friend for so long and to see the evolution of your business, even the evolution of mine. So it's such a pleasure to have you on the show today.

[00:04:37.620] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Thank you so much. I loved watching you.

[00:04:40.520] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Oh, thank you. That means a lot to me. I am thrilled that you are beginning this conversation on this show about career as you age, what that looks like as you enter into different decades or different eras of your life, your 30s, your 40s, your 50s. You're turning 60 soon. Not too soon, but soon enough. Soon enough. How are you feeling about it?

[00:05:08.940] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

A little weird. When you hit that decade, I guess what I can tell you that I feel at this is, on the one hand, age is just a number, and I'm feeling more and more disconnected from my body in that way because the person that I am does not feel that way. My body is going to be 60 in November, but my heart, my spirit, my mind, my energy is not congruent with that at all.

[00:05:40.890] - Candice Coppola (Host)

I feel like a lot of people would answer that very similarly. In your original email to me when you pitched this idea of talking about innovating in your career, especially in your 50s and your 60s, I'd love to just share what you wrote, if you don't mind, with our listeners so they can see where this episode is going to go today and what we're going to talk about.

[00:06:03.060] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Sure.

[00:06:03.960] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Okay. So you wrote, I wonder if you have any value in a conversation with a fellow woman entrepreneur who decides at my age to redesign and engage in the next purpose of her life rather than sit around and think about how to retire. Many podcasts I listen to don't speak to my decade as being purposeful, energetic, and wanting a challenge just as big as the last decades have brought. I still have 40 years ahead of me and I plan to learn and serve every day. I love this conversation and would agree that most conversations about business in general, just business related, but then also wedding industry, feel really dominated by people, maybe not in their 50s or their 60s, people in their 20s and their 30s, 40s. Today I'm really hoping that we can have a conversation about finding passion in your career as you age and any advice you would have for someone listening on how to maintain that passion, especially in the wedding industry where most of our clients are really young.

[00:07:12.160] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

20.

[00:07:13.740] - Candice Coppola (Host)

30, it feels like they're so.

[00:07:16.170] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Young, right? Absolutely.

[00:07:17.890] - Candice Coppola (Host)

As we enter into our 50s and our 60s, first, I want to ask you this question. I don't mean to be harsh in it, but I feel like a lot of people feel as though in their 50s and 60s, there may not be a place for them in the industry. I want to ask you, as a confident business owner in the wedding industry for a very long time, is there a place for us in the wedding industry when we get into our 50s and 60s?

[00:07:39.910] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Emphatically, yes. 100 %. I don't see why there wouldn't be. We have the experience, we have the knowledge, we have the resolve, we still have the passion, and we have the stress managed. We have the perspective, we can zoom out. We have Zoom ed out for a while now. So if we are still interested in serving that group of people, then yeah, absolutely 100 % there is.

[00:08:13.360] - Candice Coppola (Host)

It's a conversation that I've had, and maybe you've had with your coaching clients as a business coach, but I've spoken to a lot of women who say, Well, I don't know if I'm going to physically want to do this work when I get into my 50s and 60s. I don't know if there'll be a place for me here in this industry. I so appreciate what you've just shared that obviously there's a place. You know a lot more and have a ton more experience without your expertise. The industry, I personally don't think would be as great as it is. I love that answer. Thank you.

[00:08:48.300] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Thank you.

[00:08:49.360] - Candice Coppola (Host)

What do you think are some misconceptions that people have about long standing members of our community in the industry or in business? What do you think are some misconceptions that are rolling around? Maybe that there's no space, or it's a young person's game or something like that?

[00:09:04.870] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

I think it goes back to judgment calls on this, if we are stale and we have lost our creativity, if we're stuck in a decade that maybe our weddings were in or in old things. I think that what some people don't understand or give credence to is our ability to evolve as they evolve. We're still growing if we want to, still growing in creativity and in mindset and knowing the fashion world and knowing what's current. If the passion is there, then the creativity can't get stale. It evolves along with it. And on top of that, I still have, I will say, I have the 80s, the 90s, the 2000s of hairstyles and makeup styles and wedding dresses and venues and all the little things in my head to pull from to have classic, traditional, turned modern where they're looking at modern. They're generally in the present and moving forward where I feel like my toolbox has a nice wide range. I think the misconception is that we're stale and maybe even indifferent at that point and not excited. I completely disagree with that from my perspective. I still get a tear in my eye and I lose my breath a little bit when we are finished with hair and makeup and that bride just looks in the mirror.

[00:10:41.040] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

It still overwhelms.

[00:10:42.540] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Me.

[00:10:43.720] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

To see that emotion session.

[00:10:45.630] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Yeah. You definitely are a person who maintains your sense of fashion and creativity. You just don't seem your age. You know what I mean? You are always on the cutting edge. I'm like, Look at Tina's outfit. That is absolutely something that we should all be wearing because it is so current and modern and trendy. I think that keeps you young too, paying attention to that. But can we also just say that 80s and 90s fashion is all here now, and so.

[00:11:16.140] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

You.

[00:11:16.600] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Lived it and then you also get to relive it again?

[00:11:20.310] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Yeah. I think I still have things in my closet from then, so hey, just repurpose and redo. Well, thank you. That was very you to say. I have fun with it. I have fun with it and I love to see that and things evolve and move around. I love the new things and I love mixing the old and the new. Again, getting back to answer the question, it's a misconception. I think it might be a slight excuse for people to use, possibly.

[00:11:54.620] - Candice Coppola (Host)

I agree, too. Yeah.

[00:11:56.490] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Maybe some people are in that head space in my decade or others. But I also see in the younger segment, I also see a lot of them being stuck in their minds with what they think is current. And in fashion, it's a much smaller space because it has to be on trend or it feels like it's not cool. And I think all genres are cool. It's you that makes it cool.

[00:12:27.350] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Very true. I guess it's on both sides. How do you maintain your passion and creativity in an industry that's constantly changing or feels dominated by younger business owners? I know that you keep things very current, you're always on trend, and that just seems to really come naturally to you. What would you say to the person listening who feels like maybe they need help trying to figure out how to maintain that passion, that creativity in an industry that's just always changing around them?

[00:12:58.230] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

I guess I would say first and foremost, remember your why. Getting into the wedding industry, it's got a great financial reward, but I think you have to be connected to the why with regards to why the wedding industry. Because I truly believe that if you don't have the passion and the real desire to serve that community, that bride on the biggest day you would think at that point in their lives, then you really don't belong in that space. You have to be selfless. You have to be wanting to serve and really thinking about why them as opposed to, Hey, I hear there's a lot of money in the wedding industry. Wedding are always going to happen. Everybody's doing it. Maybe I should be doing it. I do know people in the industry who have seen those of us who are doing that as well as having a regular salon do that and then think, Yeah, maybe not. I thought there are people that can do up do's and nice makeup, and then there are people that do it and make that their profession. I think for me personally, that was the flame that was in there already.

[00:14:18.780] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

I was deciding whether to go into hairdressing and makeup or whether to go into working in the bridal industry in a bridal shop because I was obsessed with wedding gowns. I already had that that intrig with the fashion side of it and the industry side of it. I think perspective about the industry, you have to keep tweaking it, remembering you get to be a part of somebody's really special day. You get to hold a piece of their history. Just remembering the why about that and wanting to serve and making sure that your reasons come second to their reasons is really, I think, where passion comes from for me is how do you want to help and what are your gifts and what are your areas of excellence? I don't know if that's a real solid answer for you, but for me, passion can be tweaked and restarted and it gets tiring sometimes. It's a job. It's a tough job. There's a lot of stress. If you take on other stresses and there's a lot of tweaking, I'll say, instead of criticism with what your vision may not have met with someone else's and that thing.

[00:15:34.250] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

But working with the details and figuring it out is part of the process.

[00:15:41.420] - Candice Coppola (Host)

I love what you said about you have to make sure you have a passion for weddings. And sometimes it gets really forgotten because we develop a passion for business and we develop a passion for the creative work we do in the business, and the passion we have for weddings maybe was never there or it's waned over time. In my opinion, for me, it waned over time for myself. I didn't love planning weddings anymore and really working with clients that way. I loved more helping people build a better business. So my passion shifted and changed. What might be scary for people as they enter into their 50s and their 60s is this premise is like, Well, I'm too old to make a shift. And so if somebody's listening to this and they're like, You know what? Dana's right. I have a lot of creativity inside of me. I have a lot of passion, but maybe it's not for the wedding industry. Maybe it's time for me to redesign my career. You did it at 59. You decided, Hey, wait a minute. I'm going to redesign. And you've been redesigning your career always, though, right? Correct. Yes, always.

[00:16:43.820] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

I know you have. It's an evolution. Yes, you do. It's been an evolution for, I would say, quite a few years. My mind has always been open to, Well, maybe. Thinking about, What else do I want to do that? I take a lot of calculated risks and some things I try and I might put that on for a minute and say, Maybe not. But yeah, it's been an evolution for me and I love that way that you spoke about how you've tweaked and changed and evolved into who you are. Obviously, that's the spot that I'm in right now as a salon owner for 32 years. It's been a long time. I love and have had this passion for helping people feel better about themselves because of the way that we help them to look. We bring out their beauty with hair and makeup and skincare and all the things. But what I have found over the years is tired from the salon part of it and managing that and still having all this passion inside for seeing my employees and people succeed. When they get it and things start to click and their businesses start to grow, all of a sudden that's where my flame is coming from.

[00:18:10.770] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

I would be such a cheerleader and so excited. The evolution of turning my salon into rented chairs for individual business owners and my really wanting to flip the script, shall we say, and mentor people to help them grow and help them build their own dreams in the same way, build their businesses, build their creativity, the how to, and help people actually, I'll say, look better and happier from the inside out rather than the outside in is really where I am at this point in coaching and working in the salon industry as well as in my coaching to help people just continue to evolve with that passion. And like you, I want to help people grow into their best selves and their best lives and their best businesses. Yeah, it's been an evolution and a step by step thing, and it's taken some courage to shed some things that I love this a lot. I love the atmosphere. I love the industry. I'm not out. I'm still in about 20 %. I have a wonderful manager there. But yeah, I am really happy with the evolution of this part of my life. It definitely sparks some new things.

[00:19:33.540] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Yeah. Well, that's interesting because I think sometimes we can look at it as a death almost or like closing too big of a chapter of our lives rather than seeing it open up the possibility for wonderful new things to come into your career when you decide to make a shift or when you decide like, Hey, my passion, my purpose, it's pulling me in this direction and it doesn't matter my age, I have permission to pursue what brings me joy, what I find interesting, right? Where I want to spend my time. Especially as we mature and you think about time, we understand how limited it is in all things, and so we might as well spend it doing something that we truly love.

[00:20:21.590] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Absolutely. And I loved when you just said we have permission. And I think a lot of what happens to the point of this entire episode is who's taking that away from us? People just think, Well, what am I going to do now? It is very common to get into dinner conversations. Every day conversation with people in my age group about, Aren't you going to retire? When are you going to retire? So and so is retiring. Then you start getting into all the body aches and all the things. All that, I'm like, Ah. I start thinking about, sure, I'll retire when I'm ready. I'm not ready to continue to have a purpose. I want to live into my purpose, and that changes all the time. I am so blessed to be able to do that. I'm still capable. I still want to. There's still a need. All of those things and having... Who needs permission from anybody else? Just do it. It's one day, one day at a time. Make the decisions to try things. And if it's not a home run, then you figure out why. How does it not fit to what your real why is, what's really serving you, really sift that stuff out.

[00:21:49.050] - Candice Coppola (Host)

What if you could spend more time being creative in your business and less time managing it? Real quick, I want to tell you about one of my favorite tools, Honeybook. Honeybook is an all in one client flow platform that helps wedding pros like you manage your business from processes like booking and payments to invoicing and so much more. Honeybook simplifies the process of running a successful wedding business. With customizable templates and even a mobile app, you will be able to manage your client flow on the go. Honeybook is offering listeners of the Power and Purpose podcast a 35 % off any one of their three plans for the first year. Use the code purpose at checkout or go to candice coppola. Com honeybook to learn more. That's candice coppola. Com honeybook. I wonder, I have a couple of thoughts here. One of my first thoughts, it just comes to me, so I'm going to throw it out there and see what you think. Do we have these same conversations about men in their career when they get into their 50s and 60s? Are we looking at them like they're not capable of continuing on in their career?

[00:23:06.280] - Candice Coppola (Host)

No, they're usually at the pinnacle of their success in a way. They're usually the top dog in their field. That's just something that I'm thinking about.

[00:23:16.170] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Yeah, I would think that's a great point and a great thing to think about. I would say my first answer is globally, I think, and it may be an assumption or a judgment of mine, but globally, they're aiming for a spot. They're aiming for something in their career. When they've hit it, they're all set. I can rest now. I've achieved X, Y, Z. They're really tied into their achievements as their value. Once they've achieved a certain thing, they're all set and they're perfectly fine. I think their purpose then turns into grandfather, hang out, I've got my boat, I can do that, I'll go. Nothing wrong with that. Oh, my God. Absolutely. If that's who you are and you want to just till your garden and hang out on your boat, then bless you for that. But for those of us who still want to do more, feel like we can contribute, I feel more alive when I am doing things and accomplishing things every day. There's nothing right or wrong ut I do, to your point, I do see that in my engagements with people that I have this conversation much more with women than I.

[00:24:39.890] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Do with men. For sure. I don't know if I've ever had this conversation with a man before, ever. I don't coach men, so maybe that's part of it. I'm not in that circle, right? But my husband, certainly, I know a lot of guys and I don't see them questioning their age and their career and what it all means per se. That doesn't mean that they don't. But I feel like this conversation is definitely female focused a lot. I also had this idea of just thinking through what society tells us is too old to have purpose or too old to innovate, create, to change course. Who made up a lot of the rules that society tells us about aging, first of all, but especially aging in career?

[00:25:21.810] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Well, I would say evolution did. I'm not a sexist person, but I would say a lot of that is just historically what men have made up. I mean, it took us so long to be able back in the day to be able to vote and do things that they were doing. I think we're still in the age of coming out of what women were allowed to do, expected to do, what have you. I would say it's just a hovering cloud that's still there, that's all. And conversations like this, I think certainly impart the wisdom that that's not a thing. It's just something we heard about. It's just not a thing.

[00:26:06.230] - Candice Coppola (Host)

There's this meme going around on TikTok where they take hairstyles of the Golden Girls and they put them on women today who are in their 50s at the exact same age as the actress is.

[00:26:18.120] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

They probably look 85. They do. I got to see that. You've got to send that to me. I need to.

[00:26:28.600] - Candice Coppola (Host)

See.

[00:26:28.860] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

That.

[00:26:29.360] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Oh, my God. It's hysterical, though. It really was hysterical because it's like JLO with B. Arthur's haircut. It didn't look right.

[00:26:38.220] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Yeah. No, I can imagine. You know what's so funny about that? Obviously, hairstyles change, right? We're all going to look back and go, What was I thinking? But on the flip side, when you look at the JLOs and the Jane Fonda's and everybody in between, and their hair is down to their waist, or they're rocking these amazing body bodies and outfits and stuff. There has definitely been a change. It's not just style, but it's confidence. It's definite. All that and I love that.

[00:27:11.370] - Candice Coppola (Host)

I love that. I do, too. Yeah. We're designing what it means to be, Oh, as a woman in her 50 s, and I see it every day on social media, I see it every day in the wedding industry and business working with women who are in their 50 s or in their 60 s. You see it every day how things have changed from when my grandmother turned 60 or 60th birthday. What would you say to somebody listening who's feeling that pull to redesign their career like you have very recently and that you have over the last many iterations of your career over the years? I feel like you've been redesigning things for yourself. What would you say to that person who's like, Okay, this is speaking to me, but I'm worried I'm just too old to make this change? What would you say to that person?

[00:27:53.100] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

I would ask, Why? Why is that? What feels old? What are you worried about? I have less advice and more questions to help them figure out what that is because it's not for me to say. I would say, just in a quick sentence, Redesigning is easy. It's just deciding that can be the hard part, just deciding that you want to, that you want to try it. Trust yourself to make a decision or to just start moving in that direction at the right time for you. R eally just laying out a plan and saying, What do you think you've got to lose? What do you have to lose? Talk it through and give it a shot. Give yourself a shot of courage. But truthfully, it's more about figuring out what's holding you back and why not is really the answer. One of the things that I wanted to make sure that I said that I think is so important and it's so profound is it's a quote from Henry Ford, which I'm sure you probably know, Candice. Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you are right. At the end of the day, it's about how you think about things that really determines where you're going and how and if.

[00:29:18.860] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

If you think you can't, you probably can. But if you think you can, you more than likely can.

[00:29:24.520] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Oh, yeah. That's such a great quote, Dana.

[00:29:26.560] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Thanks for sharing it. Yeah, I know it's so simple, but it is so profound. It is.

[00:29:31.660] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Yeah. No, it really is. And you're right. A lot of it is mindset. It's just these beliefs that we've pulled from society or from people around us or things that are just held within us that hold us back. And if we can examine where these thoughts and these beliefs come from and maybe turn them on their axis and believe something different, whether you think you can or you can't, you're right. You guys will believe you can, right? You might as well believe, I can do this.

[00:29:59.590] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Yeah. I mean, truly, what have you got to lose? Except if you fall on your face, you've learned, that's all. But you've tried. And that is a huge win all the way around all the time.

[00:30:15.270] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Yeah, I agree. I also know that sometimes starting over can feel overwhelming. Somebody listening to this who's like, I feel a push to do something different in my career, and maybe it is to take a step back from my business and not work so much in it and explore other opportunities career wise that excite me, that can feel really overwhelming to do. Especially starting something new, a new business. You think back to the start of your own career and how difficult it was, how many years it took you to do what you're able to accomplish today. And I think we don't give ourselves enough credit for how much experience we carry over and how that experience takes away a lot of the overwhelm and the hard of starting something new because we're not starting, we're coming at anything new we decide to do with a wealth of knowledge and experience that makes doing that thing a lot easier than someone in their 20s or 30s would.

[00:31:14.100] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Find it. Yes, I am. Absolutely. I don't want to just sit here and talk about being a cheerleader and Yay, Rara, and Polly Anna, and there's a silver lining around everything. For me, that's how I choose to live in that realm. But at the end of the day, if I learned anything during COVID and with this change within my salon is that change really is very hard for some people. I guess I never really realized how difficult and frightening it is until I was face to face with my employees and we had these really, really bold conversations. So to the point of, if you're in that space and that just try, what if you got to lose thing, just still feels like, I'm just not there yet, then that's okay. Knowing that and accepting that is great. You have some fears going on. My recommendation is find someone to talk to about that, be it a coach, be it a trusted friend. Coaching in and of itself is very helpful in the sense that figuring out the why of where you are and then helping create the steps to get through that and moving through that piece and putting those fears behind you and being able to look forward as opposed to what is holding you in that space or behind, I think is super important.

[00:32:52.170] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

When I started my business, I did not have real big mentors and there was no map for or how do you do this? I was winging it. Well, all right, let me figure this out. Let me figure that out. Look at your resources. And if you don't know how to even do that, if you don't know how to figure it out, meet up with a coach and just put it in their lap. I don't even know where to start. Where do I begin? And that's what coaches do is really help you move from that stuck space where you're just turning in circles because it's real. It's a real fear.

[00:33:30.450] - Candice Coppola (Host)

100 %. Why stay stuck when you can get started? Why stay stuck when you can just get started on the next iteration of what your career and what your life can look like? I feel like everybody needs to have a business coach and everybody at periods in their life also need to be in therapy. So this is your opportunity to do both at the same time.

[00:33:52.420] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Yeah, absolutely. Like I said, there's no reason not to. It's really, if you want to move out of the space that you're in and really fulfill your life and live into your work. And I think that's a whole other topic for another day is I think a lot of people stay stuck because at the end of the day, they just don't feel like they deserve or are worthy of what their dreams are. But like I said, that's a whole other conversation to have.

[00:34:26.030] - Candice Coppola (Host)

But everybody is. I feel like you should be having that conversation on the Dana Barton podcast. I feel like I'm sure many of my listeners are ears perked up and like, Well, I'd like to hear Dana's take on that topic and maybe some other things.

[00:34:41.940] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Well, that's very sweet of you. Thank you. I'm not sure that's in my future, but hey.

[00:34:48.540] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Who's.

[00:34:49.050] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

To say? You never know. You never know.

[00:34:52.120] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Well, speaking of coaching, you do offer coaching, and I'd love for you to just share a little bit about who you coach and what you help people work through when it comes to business and life.

[00:35:02.530] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Thank you. Yes, I formally began my coaching business, I'm going to say, three years ago. I've got about five years of training and coaching behind me besides all the mentoring and teaching in my experience. M y tag is mindset and transition coaching. The health and wellness space is... That's my jam. People feeling healthy inside out, but really working and harnessing the power of your mind, your thinking, the ways in which you are stuck and moving out from behind that. And transitions, I've been through a ton of them in my life. I have not only professional training, but also a lot of personal experience in all kinds of transitions, be it moving, divorce, all kinds of things, loss, all of that. And so I think that's, again, where people get stuck. So I work with women primarily. I love that Solangella entrepreneurs and again pivoting their businesses somewhat. I'm a small business coach as opposed to large. I do one to one coaching. I also do small group coaching within these businesses or in small groups with regards to mindset coaching.

[00:36:18.190] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Awesome. I'll link all of this. Yeah, I'll link all of your details in our show notes for anybody who's interested in chatting with Dana about her coaching and how she can help you through transitions in your career, transitions and things that you're working through mindset wise. I can't vouch any higher for Dana. We started this podcast episode off with, we've known each other for at least 15 years, probably close to 18 years, which is totally crazy. I can speak for the many conversations we've had over the years, just how genuine Dana is, how knowledgeable she is. She walks the walk, she talks the talk, and you would be so lucky to have her in your corner.

[00:36:57.200] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Back at you, girlfriend.

[00:36:58.760] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Well, thanks.

[00:36:59.270] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

I totally agree with that. Thank you. You are so welcome.

[00:37:03.540] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Yeah, it's been such a pleasure to interview you today on the podcast. Thank you so much for everything that you shared.

[00:37:08.730] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

It's been such a pleasure for me connecting with you and just hopefully setting some light on those that are in this decade or any that are just having trouble in their mindset about whatever the parameters are that they're believing they can't move in their careers to a different level because they can if they want to.

[00:37:29.750] - Candice Coppola (Host)

100 %. It's time for you to make some movements, as my husband would say.

[00:37:34.180] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

There you go. Smart man.

[00:37:37.050] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Yeah. All right, Dana, we'll talk to you soon. Thank you so much.

[00:37:40.030] - Dana Bartone (Guest)

Thank you so much, Candice.

[00:37:42.220] - Candice Coppola (Host)

I want to thank Dana for such a lovely conversation today. I loved that quote she shared by Henry Ford. Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you are right. If you'd like to learn more about Dana's coaching, you want to connect with Dana outside this podcast, you want to send her an email and say, Hey, Dana Bartone, I think it would be really great if you started a podcast and imparted on us all of your knowledge and wisdom. You can find all of her details over inside the show notes. She's on Instagram. She has a website that talks all about her coaching and all the services that she offers that she mentioned. And of course, she has a salon. So if you're in the Cheshire, Connecticut area, I can't recommend her salon services more. I've been privy to hair, makeup, and pretty much everything she offers over there I've done and felt beautiful for it. So thank you so much to Dana for being such a great guest and for inviting us all along on this conversation about aging and purpose and career shifts. As always, I'm here to remind you there's so much power in your purpose.

[00:38:49.320] - Candice Coppola (Host)

Until next time, friend. Thanks so much for tuning in to this week's episode of the Power In Purpose podcast. If you enjoyed the show, be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode and consider leaving a review. Head over to powerandpurpose podcast. Com to access all of the resources and links mentioned in today's episode. That's power and purpose podcast cast. Com. I'll see you next time.

Thanks for tuning into today’s episode of The Power in Purpose Podcast. I want to know– what was your biggest takeaway? Head to my Instagram to join the conversation!

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Jason and I have been hosting Friendsgiving for 11 years - and each year is filled with so many great memories! 

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I grew up celebrating with big family gatherings and dinners. It was so special to me, and when I moved to Barbados, I wanted to share that special holiday with all my friends here.

Over the years we’ve hosted small groups and big groups, made new friends and reconnected with old, cooked turkeys, shared bottles of wine, and started the holiday season together. 

This year was extra special, since it was the first time we hosted this holiday in our new home. Funny enough when we looked at this house the first time, Jason and I pictured this very night on the veranda - and loved this house because of the special gatherings we knew we could host here!

So happy Friendsgiving! I love these people so much. See this as your sign to do something special with your friends during the holidays. Make the time. Make the effort. It’s always worth it!
#friendsgiving #christmas2024
The tools you’ve been eyeing? They’re on sale now!

💥 Black Friday is here, and you can take 35% off EVERYTHING in my shop—yes, everything!

✔️ Streamlined workflows
✔️ Customizable templates
✔️ Business-building resources

This is your sign to level up your wedding planning biz without breaking the bank. Sale ends soon—don’t miss out!

Here are some of the hottest products in our shop (aka the ones planner’s DM me about and say OMG THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOURCE!)

🔥 How To Price Your Planning Services For Profit (because you deserve to make a living)
🔥 The Wedding Rental Revenue Strategy (my secret sauce to making $$ off rentals other people own!)
🔥 Mastering Tented Weddings (your “here’s everything you need to know” strategy on how to plan, design, and coordinate tented weddings)
🔥 Home Weddings 101: A Planner’s Guide To Private Estate Weddings (steal my exact process for working with home wedding clients)
🔥 Client Communication Guides (dozens of send it and forget it templates to keep your clients busy and not breathing down your back)

Grab Your Favorites Here: https://shop.candicecoppola.com/

#candicecoppola #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #weddingplannerlife #lifeofaweddingplanner #weddingplannereducation #weddingplannermentor #weddingindustry
The tools you’ve been eyeing? They’re on sale now!

💥 Black Friday is here, and you can take 35% off EVERYTHING in my shop—yes, everything!

✔️ Streamlined workflows
✔️ Customizable templates
✔️ Business-building resources

This is your sign to level up your wedding planning biz without breaking the bank. Sale ends soon—don’t miss out!

Here are some of the hottest products in our shop (aka the ones planner’s DM me about and say OMG THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOURCE!)

🔥 How To Price Your Planning Services For Profit (because you deserve to make a living)
🔥 The Wedding Rental Revenue Strategy (my secret sauce to making $$ off rentals other people own!)
🔥 Mastering Tented Weddings (your “here’s everything you need to know” strategy on how to plan, design, and coordinate tented weddings)
🔥 Home Weddings 101: A Planner’s Guide To Private Estate Weddings (steal my exact process for working with home wedding clients)
🔥 Client Communication Guides (dozens of send it and forget it templates to keep your clients busy and not breathing down your back)

Grab Your Favorites Here: https://shop.candicecoppola.com/

#candicecoppola #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #weddingplannerlife #lifeofaweddingplanner #weddingplannereducation #weddingplannermentor #weddingindustry
The tools you’ve been eyeing? They’re on sale now!

💥 Black Friday is here, and you can take 35% off EVERYTHING in my shop—yes, everything!

✔️ Streamlined workflows
✔️ Customizable templates
✔️ Business-building resources

This is your sign to level up your wedding planning biz without breaking the bank. Sale ends soon—don’t miss out!

Here are some of the hottest products in our shop (aka the ones planner’s DM me about and say OMG THANK YOU FOR THIS RESOURCE!)

🔥 How To Price Your Planning Services For Profit (because you deserve to make a living)
🔥 The Wedding Rental Revenue Strategy (my secret sauce to making $$ off rentals other people own!)
🔥 Mastering Tented Weddings (your “here’s everything you need to know” strategy on how to plan, design, and coordinate tented weddings)
🔥 Home Weddings 101: A Planner’s Guide To Private Estate Weddings (steal my exact process for working with home wedding clients)
🔥 Client Communication Guides (dozens of send it and forget it templates to keep your clients busy and not breathing down your back)

Grab Your Favorites Here: https://shop.candicecoppola.com/

#candicecoppola #weddingplanner #weddingplanning #weddingplannerlife #lifeofaweddingplanner #weddingplannereducation #weddingplannermentor #weddingindustry


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