Get to Know Breanne Dyck
Get to Know Breanne Dyck
Why did you start your online business?
It was 2012. I'd been called into my boss's office to review the report I'd spent hours crafting.
The words that came next are etched in my memory:
"I don’t want to call you stupid, but... it sure doesn’t show much intelligence to think this would be okay."
That was the beginning of the end for my corporate career. I left the office that day, resolving that I would NEVER be bullied like that again.
It took a few months, but eventually, I left that job.
I'd been doing freelance web design for a number of years as a side hustle, but never really "tried" to make anything of it. As I told my mentor at the time, if I actually tried -- maybe I could actually make a go of it.
Of course, at the time, I didn't think of it as starting a business. My ambitions where simple: my time was my currency, and I just wanted to be able to bring in enough freelance business to replace my salary.
Over time, though, I came to realize that I have enormous privilege and an incredible opportunity to USE that privilege to create real change. For me, that looks like creating the kind of job I always wished I'd had -- and helping others do the same.
That's what catalyzed me to turn my freelance work into a fully-fledged business and company -- because that's the only way I know how to truly create the impact I want to see in the world.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned about yourself?
One of the most interesting things for me has been to actually re-learn who I am when I'm NOT being a business owner.
It's so easy for many of us (myself included) to wrap our entire identity up in our business. We look to our business to provide for all of our needs -- financial, social, emotional, and even spiritual. And in the midst of a pandemic when many of us didn't have our normal outlets to rely on, that only became more true.
That's why it's been so phenomenal for me this year to really continue developing our team and the business, so that I can separate myself and my identify from the business. Simple things like learning how to spend time NOT working (because when you love what you do, it can be easy to just keep DOING it even when you don't have to!) has been a great learning opportunity.
How do you measure success in your business?
There are two different ways that I look at business: the business itself, and my role and relationship to the business.
When it comes to success, then, I'm looking at it through both of those lenses.
On the business side, for example, I want to see what we are profitable, that we are continuously generating better results for more people, that our team is strong, that we aren't too reliant on any one person (including me!) and that we have a strong culture.
That then ties into my role and relationship to the business. Success there looks like being a strong leader -- being able to communicate, assess, reward, develop and build an incredible team that is better, in aggregate, than I could ever be. The more I am able to build my skills and capacity as a leader, the more I'm able to free them up to do their best work and make their best contribution. And when THAT happens, the business will grow as well.
That's why, for me, success is about BOTH sides of the equation working together in support of our vision: to accelerate the transformation of online business such that every client gets result, every team member is empowered, and every business owner loves their life.
As long as we're making progress toward that vision, we're successful.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I'm definitely a nerd, and proud of it! My office is full of Lego, though I prefer to build the sets as designed by the experts rather than make up my own creations. Designer board games are also go-to; my recent favorites include Wingspan and Azul, and I regularly play Gloomhaven, 7 Wonders, Splendor and others online with friends and family around the globe.
I also enjoy being active: playing fastpitch softball or training martial arts. Most of my experience is in a mixed martial arts setting, though lately I've gravitated more toward Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It's the perfect blend of physics and physical activity that makes my brain and body happy!
Finally, I am a lifelong musician with training in both piano and voice. These days, the piano gets most of my attention. When I don't have injuries from jiu jitsu or ball, that is!
What will online business owners learn from you?
Much ink has been spilled on how to market, sell and deliver your way to a 7-figure online business. Considerably less has been written about how to actually build a profitable company that will grow sustainably and grow beyond just you.
And almost nothing exists for those who want to do it in a way that eschews traditional, top-down management techniques (which hail from the days of slavery) and actually empowers your team to make decisions and run the day-to-day of the business.
That's where I come in.
I want to help you build the business AND leadership competencies that will allow you to scale profitably, sustainably, and equitably.
Specifically, I'll be providing you with frameworks and tools that you can apply, as you lead your business beyond multi-6-figures - so you can stop bottlenecking, empower your team, get out of the day-to-day, and build the kind of company you always wanted to work for!
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