The Marketing Companion How do you work through the suffering?
Apr 21, 2025
Dana Malstaff, a business strategist and author celebrated for helping mom entrepreneurs, joins Mark Schaefer for a heartfelt conversation. They dive into the challenge of sustaining business amidst personal crises like illness and betrayal. The duo discusses the importance of vulnerability and support systems in overcoming emotional pain. They share insights on managing grief, navigating overwhelming emotions, and the need for community during tough times, emphasizing how these experiences shape resilience and professional success.
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Dana's Personal Hardship Story
- Dana Malstaff shared her personal hardships including a breakup, her father's slow death, divorce, and her mom's cancer while running her business.
- Despite these challenges, she maintained parenting, friendships, and business growth with intentional coping strategies.
Allow Yourself To Feel Pain
- Give yourself permission to feel pain rather than using work as a distraction.
- Acknowledge your feelings fully; businesses sense when you're emotionally distracted and can't serve well then.
Mark's Breakthrough On Vulnerability
- Mark Schaefer shared his breakthrough moment realizing emotions are normal after witnessing a woman crying in a training group.
- He made a conscious choice to cry openly in front of his children to model vulnerability.
