Today we’d like to introduce you to Donte Curtis.
Hi Donte, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve always had this entrepreneurial spirit in me! I started my first business at the age of 10 Called DC Lawn Service. (Yes I made flyers with clip art of a lawn mower to market to my neighbors). Nobody told me to start this, I just knew I wanted money to buy the latest video game and I cut my own grass so why not cut others and ask them for 25 dollars? Fast forward to 2017 after moving to Saint Paul, this fire was raging again.
However, I can’t tell this story without mentioning my mentor, Pearl, who handpicked me while in college to be one of 10 students to lead workshops for first-year students on diversity, equity, and inclusion. This was my first introduction to this work and I am so glad she saw my ability to train and educate others.
I launched my business, Catch Your Dream Consulting in 2017 after attending a 3-day facilitation training and going through the most powerful exercise I have ever experienced on “overcoming limiting beliefs”. In just 20 minutes after laughs, deep questioning, tears, and a hug from my partner who listened to me pour my heart out about a dream I had of starting my business, I went home. created a one-page business plan, filed with the state, and created business cards and Launch on April 3, 2017.
It is 6 years later, and I have so much gratitude for community, consistency, and collaboration. My community has believed in me from the beginning. When people ask, what advice would I give, my number one answer is consistency. I have been consistent and the results show this: In impact, I have made and length of time in business. Lastly, collaboration is a huge part of the story. From individuals to organizations, who have partnered with me over the years how I am still moving forward.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Belief in myself has been a struggle. in fact, it is why I needed that overcoming limited belief workshop. I let self-doubt and others hold me back.
This did not go away after I jumped into CYD either. It has. taken years for me to build up my self-worth and believe I belong here, I am valuable/provide value and I matter. I really think this is a huge piece I often say, that I can pay others to do just about everything in my business but there is no amount of money I can pay for belief in myself.
As you know, we’re big fans of Catch Your Dream Consulting. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Catch Your Dream Consulting does diversity, inclusion, anti-racism (DEIA), and racial equity work. We do this by providing Keynotes, workshops and training, facilitation and long-term partnership with organizations Catch Your Dream Consulting prides itself and is known for 3 things: Getting folks energized, taking practical action, and finding Hope. When you experience a keynote workshop or any of our services, you leave feeling like justice and racial equity are possible, You leave with real practical action you can start immediately and you leave hopeful. What set us apart is we don’t focus on problems. We focus on possibilities! We focus on what you can do, and what is in your control to do.
The one thing I want you to know is that DEIA can’t be one of doing. You don’t brush your teeth one time and have healthy teeth, you don’t work out one time on a Monday and lose weight or gain muscle, you need to be consistent. You need to be continually in learning, conversation, and reflection mode. This is the WORK!!
You need spaces to share, reflect and be challenged and simply put you need to be doing this work in the community as well as individually. We need both.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
One thing I learned is humans are not designed to be isolated. We need each other (especially super extroverts like myself). Another lesson I learned is that Zoom workshops can be effective if they are done right and are engaging.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.catchyourdreamconsulting.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/catchyourdream.dcurtis
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donte-curtis-88281882/
Image Credits
The Minneapolis Foundation
