In this episode, Darnyelle and I get real about what it takes to build a business that feels good inside, not just looks good on the outside. We talk about everything from scraping by (yes, including bankruptcy) to shifting money beliefs, setting up systems that don’t burn you out, and what success really means when you're living it your way. If you’re creating a course, running a membership, or coaching clients—and you want both growth and heart—this one’s for you.

Key Takeaways

Alignment of Values + Goals is Essential

Don’t build a business purely for revenue—clarity on what you really want (freedom, purpose, legacy) will drive more consistent, fulfilling decisions.

Mindset around Money is One of the Biggest Leverage Points

Many blocks live in our beliefs about worthiness, safety, and identity. Shifting these unlocks more possibilities than just increasing efforts or marketing.

You Can Raise Your “Money Set Point”

What you believe is possible financially becomes a ceiling unless intentionally expanded. Recognizing and shifting money beliefs (especially those rooted in childhood or culture) is powerful.

Sustainability Needs Both Internal Work & External Systems

Working on mindset alone isn’t enough; you also need business systems—processes, finances, team, operations—that support growth without burnout.

Redefining Success Might Mean Different Metrics for You

Success doesn’t always mean “seven figures.” It might mean freedom, alignment, making an impact, or living on your terms. It’s okay (and powerful) to define it for yourself.

Systemic & Generational Context Matters

Women, people from marginalized backgrounds, or those with less financial inheritance often have additional layers of challenge. Recognizing this helps in compassionately dismantling barriers. If you enjoyed this episode then please feel free to go and share it on your social media or head over to Apple podcasts or Spotify and give me a review, I would be so very grateful.

LINKS TO RESOURCES MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE

Connect with Darnyelle Jervey Harmon on Website, Facebook, X, Linkedin, Instagram Connect with Teresa on Website, (Grow, Launch, Sell), Sign up to Teresa's email list, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook

Transcript

Darnyelle: No one goes to bed a blunder and wakes up a wonder. And so in the first iteration, it took me nine months to make any money, and by the end of nine months I was out of all of my cash. I had emptied my 401k and I was living client to client. I was trying to figure out how to make this thing work. It was not working. So I did the unthinkable. I filed bankruptcy and I went back to work. Teresa: Welcome to the Your Dream Business Podcast. I'm your host res Heath wearing an international bestselling author, award-winning speaker, TEDx speaker, certified coach, and the host of this number one ranked podcast. I am so excited to guide you on the journey of creating a business and life that you not only love, but one that perfectly aligns with you and the of life that. So I'll share with you easy, actionable, and insightful strategies to grow your online business. Plus we'll be diving into some mindset, tools and [00:01:00] strategies that keep you focused, motivated, and are going to stop you from getting in your own way. So if you're a course creator, membership owner, or coach, you are in the right place. Let's get started. Welcome back to another episode of the Your Dream Business Podcast. It's funny as I was prepping to do the intro for today's episode, it kind of really reminded me why it's called the Your Dream Business Podcast, and if you're new around here or you haven't been listening long, or you've just never heard me talk about it, the reason it's called your dream business is because I am very much an advocate of creating your dream business. What does it look like to you? I have many kind of things I say about this, but one of the things I talk about is measuring your success by someone else's ruler. When I first came into the online space, one of the things that came up a lot for me was other people telling me what a successful business look like. You should charge more. You [00:02:00] should do this, you should do that. You're not successful unless you're having a six figure launch. You're not, you know, you need a massive audience. You need to do your business this way, that way, whatever it was, you need to use this strategy, that strategy. And i, after many years of being in this hole and thinking and FYI, trying all these things and them not working for me or creating a business that I didn't love, and then finally went, hang on a minute, like I'm listening to people who are not like me, who are not in my world, who do not share the same season of life that I I'm currently in. Why am I paying attention to them and what they deem as successful? So I bought in the whole concept of your dream business. Obviously it's not my concept, it's just a concept and very much talked about. What does this look like for you? So some people's dream business is seven, eight figures. Some people's dream business is not bothering so much about how much they earn, as long as it can keep their lifestyle that they want, but making a difference. Some people wanna work part-time and earn good money [00:03:00] for it. Some people want to take six months of the year off. Some people wanna be the face of their business. Some people wanna hide behind something and have someone else do it. Like it's whatever matters to you. And also that changes, like when I started my business, I was a single parent of a 4-year-old. I'm now a married mom of a 15-year-old, like with stepchildren and dogs and you know, so what our priorities are, change massively. And as I was re-listening to today's episode, I, it kind of really reoccurred to me that, you know, this is why I'm so passionate about this because in today's episode I interview Dr. Darnyelle Jervey Harmon, and she, it, it's not very often I get people to tell their story, but I get her to tell her story. She tells the very honest story of building a business, it not being right, starting again, building another business. Earning loads of money. I think she hits seven figures and basically [00:04:00] goes, Nope, this isn't right. And it just, like I said, really reminded me of the fact of sometimes when we think, because everyone tells us that that's what a perfect business looks like, it actually isn't. And it, when we get it, sometimes we need to get it to go, oh, this isn't what I wanted. But it's a really, really cool story. I think you're gonna get lots from it. She's got lots of good advice. Without further ado, here is the very lovely Darnyelle. Welcome to the podcast, Darnyelle, how are you doing? Darnyelle: I am so excited to be here, Teresa. I'm doing great today. Teresa: Awesome. Well, you look great. Darnyelle: Thank you. Teresa: If anybody wants to see how you look, then head over to my Instagram 'cause you look wonderful. Just brilliant. I wanna start off because I have been down a rabbit hole of looking at you and looking at what you've done, and although I don't necessarily anymore. Do the whole tell us how you got to do the thing you did, which I used to do for many, many episodes. We've done over 400 episodes now, so. Darnyelle: Wow. Teresa:

From Bankruptcy to Seven Figures: Real Stories & Strategies