Influential Woman · Consulting
Danielle Morton
Founder, D Marie Services
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Her Story
About Danielle
I founded D Marie Services about 7-8 years ago, making it official around the time of the pandemic, though I've been doing this work for about 8 years total. My consulting business is multifaceted - I create custom t-shirt designs with inspirational messages, teach exercise classes, design websites, and help people find their passion and direction in business. When someone comes to me with an idea about going into business or looking for their motivation, I ask them questions to see what interests them, then give them specifics they should work on or try to work towards. A lot of times people are all over the place and unsure of what to do, so I try to narrow down their passion and identify their strengths and weaknesses. My work really started from watching my parents - they opened a community center in 1997 when I was young, and I saw how they gave back to the community without judgment and how people's lives were changed. I told my dad I wanted to do this work, and I've stuck with helping people ever since. I also worked with AmeriCorps Vista, taking a volunteer job to give back to the community in exchange for a scholarship. At my church, Community Kingdom Family Worship Center, I'm on the board with the Family Life Center where we look at the needs the community needs. I'm a praise and worship leader and a licensed elder, doing motivational speaking to people of all ages regularly. Teaching my exercise classes, especially Zumba, is one of my most notable achievements because people who think they can't do it realize there's a method and style to it, and they feel so much better after class.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Danielle
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say God. Because without him, I don't think none of these doors and opportunities will open.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I would say to be myself. And to understand that people will like me for me, in whatever I do. That was the best and hardest advice I've received.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to them, keep your eyes open. Don't judge. And go in with the mindset of I want to make a difference. When you know that you want to make a difference, allow those opportunities to happen, those opportunities to take place, because it's not going to always be just what you have in mind. Sometimes we have to think outside the box dealing in this field. There's no right way to just go about it. There's no straight and narrow. To be in this field, you really have to have an open mind.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say one of the biggest challenges is having to get people who have been through things to learn to trust you. Understanding that, hey, I'm here for you, I'm here to help you, but a lot of times when people have been hurt, or if they've gone through something traumatic, having to build that trust, that's one of the things. And then, even getting that person to open up - they're looking for the downfall of it, or the, hey, you're gonna leave me hanging, or leave me dry. I think that's one of the biggest challenges, because a lot of times it feels like people are against each other. And they don't understand the art of, let's just come together. Where we are, we do our best to be diverse. So most of the events and things that we do, one of our biggest challenges is bringing different people of diverse backgrounds together, because we create that positive atmosphere to be like, hey, you know, we gotta get it. But it's just making sure that we keep striving for that, because it's not gonna happen overnight. It's not gonna happen instantly, but just making sure that that perseverance, sticking with it, that that's one of the biggest challenges.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family time. I have 3 boys. And family time, and making sure that goals are being met. If you don't meet the goals, knowing that it's okay to start over. I might not get it that first time, but it's okay to restructure the plan, or to come up with a different way. I'm very hard on myself, and I've had to learn that I might not get it the first time, or I may have to make a change, but if I don't take care of myself, and if I don't set aside family time, then I'll look up and life will be gone, and I miss that moment and opportunity. I believe in capturing moments. I take pictures of everything that I do - family time, looking at the kids. I try to take pictures, because I'm like, once this moment is gone, I will not be able to relive this exact moment.
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