Dr. DL Wallace is a Soft Skills Training and Development Expert with more than 20 years of experience in employee development, entrepreneurial development, organizational efficiency, and business strategy.
He is currently the CEO and founder of Success Training Institute (STI), the worldwide leader in superior soft skills training. Founded in 2012, Success Training Institute is an award-winning, education technology company based just north of Dallas, Texas. It currently serves colleges and universities, workforce commissions, school districts, and corporations from various industries. The customized learning platforms developed by STI include pre and post-assessments, individualized learning plans, access to data and analytics, and more. Their services are geared towards corporations and individuals looking to improve personnel through training in compliance, leadership, problem-solving, team building, customer service, and more.
Success Training Institute offers plans for entrepreneurs, college students, sales and HR professionals, and more. Priced to fit almost any budget, certifications can be earned in weeks, and most see improvements within days. STI offers online programs designed to empower the workforce. The power-packed, 8-minute video segments can be taken on demand and have been proven to make immediate impacts on productivity, positivity, and efficiency on behalf of employees at all levels who complete the training.
Success Training Institute also offers college students the opportunity to increase their marketability after graduation through its Virtual Internship Programs. Students who are selected earn soft skills certifications to boost their resumes, earn extra money for college, and can work remotely. The Institute is recognized as a Top Innovator in Education Technology and cutting edge online training. With original content, unique and proven instructional method, and an evergreen library, STI is changing the professional landscape for students and companies worldwide.
InLife International Magazine recently caught up with Dr. DL Wallace to discuss his journey to entrepreneurship and here’s what went down:
When did your entrepreneurial flair first reveal itself?
When I was a college student at Baylor University and I was only about 21 years old, I opened a restaurant. I had zero experience and didn’t even know how to cook! This was when I learned the value of surrounding myself with the right people. The venture was a huge success and I discovered my gift and passion for entrepreneurship.
How did your life look like before being an entrepreneur?
Fortunately for me, I was introduced to the world of business ownership as a young college student; which is the best time. I was eager to take risks, willing to adapt to change, and hungry for the best life I could achieve. When entrepreneurship gets in your system, it never leaves. I worked in Corporate America for about a decade and enjoyed tremendous success. However, it didn’t satisfy me like being my own boss so I was blessed to retire at 32 and reunited with my entrepreneurial passion. I’ve never looked back and never will.
As an entrepreneur, what is it that motivates and drives you?
For me it’s simple. I’m driven by the challenge of giving life to my ideas. For some, just talking about their dreams is enough. Others don’t quit until they see their dreams come true. That’s me. I’m relentless when it comes to turning my visions and dreams into reality.
In one word, describe your life as an entrepreneur and explain why.
Focus. When I’m focused I’m unstoppable. When I’m distracted, I’m most vulnerable and my dreams are at risk. Because there’s so much I yet want to accomplish and so many people I want to empower, focus has always has been one of the primary keys to my success.
What were your top three motivations for starting your business?
For me it was easy. First, I wanted to empower people from all walks of life with the skills they needed to truly get ahead. These are skills that are not taught in college but everyone needs. This includes how to lead others, overcome adversity, resolve conflict, and make effective decisions. Second, I wanted to create a business ecosystem that allows my customers to profit simply by referring those in their circles to take advantage of the revolutionary professional development platform we’ve created. Last and certainly not least, I wanted to give back to underprivileged communities by awarding scholarships to those less fortunate each time our paying customers completed our certification programs. The business model we’ve been blessed to create makes the world a better place one person at a time.
What do you put your success down to?
Confidence. Many people lack the faith to try something different. They may be afraid of failing or criticism. They want to win but lack confidence. I’ve been very fortunate to have an abundance of faith. It helps me maintain a positive attitude no matter what’s happening in the world. I firmly believe winning starts with a belief system, unfortunately so does losing. The good news is we can all grow our confidence and the stronger it is, the more unstoppable we become.
What would you say are the key elements for starting and running a successful business?
For me, it’s always been three key ingredients to achieving extraordinary success. The first component is a great team. You need people who are passionate, capable and committed. Next, is a superior product. The product or service must be even better than advertised. How many times have you seen an ad on TV or the internet and purchased the product only to be disappointed in how it worked? Business success is not about sales, it’s about satisfaction. The final ingredient is Adaptability. The world is constantly changing and so are the needs of people. Corporations that are committed to staying on the cutting edge and changing with the times are the ones that will succeed for years to come.
What are the three biggest challenges you have faced growing the business and how did you overcome them?
Of all the challenges in building a business, here are my top three. Number one is Balance. Finding time for family and non-business related activities was my greatest challenge as a young entrepreneur. As I gained experience in business, I learned there will never be a balance. When you think of Dr. Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, Michael Jordan, and Elon Musk, what comes to mind? The greatest don’t have a balance. They give their lives to a cause and the cause defines them and millions benefited from their efforts.
In my case, I’ve worked to overcome the challenge by creating opportunities for qualified family and friends in my circle to work with me in business. This allows me the best of both worlds. I can pursue my passions while cultivating essential relationships.
Number two is Energy. We only have time to do, what we have the energy to do. As a business leader, late nights and early days are the norm. The only way to perform at the highest levels is to eat properly, exercise, and avoid over indulgence of any kind. The spirit, soul, and body must all be in harmony to get the best results. This is why I spend time early in the mornings in meditation. It gets me ready for the day and prepares me to handle every challenge. Keeping the mind free from anxiety, conflict, and stress also helps boost performance. Maintaining energy in business is a must.
Number three is comfort. When business leaders become too comfortable, they also become the most vulnerable. For me, I’ve overcome the enemy of comfort by focusing on continuous improvement. This involves spending time with my mentors and advisors who constantly push me to be even better than ever. Having a Board of Directors to help hold me accountable is also helpful. There is always more to push for and so much more to do. Comfort is the enemy of progress.
Does the loneliness of the entrepreneur really exist?
Yes, and no. Successful entrepreneurs have a common trait: we are most comfortable in our own worlds. We’re always creating and often consumed with the goals we’ve set. This places a strain on relationships. However, we’re not the ones who experience loneliness because we are at peace when we’re doing what we’ve been called to do. The ones who have the biggest challenges with loneliness are those who love the entrepreneur but are not connected to the business ventures in meaningful ways. They spend time waiting for us to “come up for air”; which doesn’t happen very often.
As you grew the business, what have been some of the most important leadership lessons you have learned?
Business teaches more lessons than one can learn in any school or on any job. One of the most important is: All People Deserve to Feel Important. They may not have a fancy title but they all need to feel empowered. This is accomplished by allowing them to make decisions; giving them the freedom to voice their opinions and trusting them to do a job without micromanagement.
At SimplySuccess.com, we created a Platinum Membership Program that allows all our customers to earn money by referring others to our training platforms. This creates excitement because they earn commissions each time this happens. We also allow them to enroll in courses that will certify them to teach our curriculum to earn even more. Leadership is all about people and when you understand what people really need, the role of a leader becomes much easier.
What do you hope to see happen in the near future for small businesses all over the world?
It would be amazing if business owners could be invited into schools across the world to introduce future generations to the amazing world of entrepreneurship. Kids today are encouraged to finish school, go to college, and then work for someone else. This stifles their creativity. Children need to learn, at the youngest ages possible, their ideas have world-changing value. They need to know their dreams can come true and should be encouraged to use their skills to create jobs and not to fill them.
