Interview with Danlee Medical Founder & Owner, Joni Walton

• Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business.
  • Danlee Medical is located in Syracuse, New York. Founded in 1994 by Joni Walton,Danlee Medical Products, Inc. is a Certified Women Owned Business Enterprise serving the needs of over 4,000 health-related professionals and their patients globally. In addition to being a full line distributor of medical supplies, Danlee is also an FDA registered manufacturer of custom Holter and event recording kits and is one of the leaders in that field.

A multi-award winning company (Top Ranked Woman Owned Business numerous times, “Fast Track 50” for one of the fastest growing companies, and a Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce Economic Champion), Danlee is professional in business, yet personal in service. During business hours you will always speak with a person as impersonal voicemail is not, never has been, and never will be implemented. We feel this reflects our company mission to be the cardiology supply provider of choice– measured by the value we deliver to our customers and the service we offer as an organization. To make this vision a daily reality we consistently go above and beyond to ensure your experience with us is a memorable one.

• Kindly give us a brief description about yourself.
  • I Graduated from Gouverneur High School in 1982. During my junior and senior year I participated in vocational training in Secretarial where I was chosen Student of the Year. I began working at Kinney Drug headquarters right after graduating from high school as a secretary. Married at age 19 I moved to Syracuse and began working for Naco Electronics for 5 years moving on to Diagnostic Medical where I worked for 6 years prior to opening Danlee Medical in 1994.

• What inspired you to? How did the idea for your business come about?
  • Diagnostic Medical was being acquired by another company and relocating to another state. During my employ with DMI I built a supply division and I offered to buy this division.

• What three pieces of advice would you give to budding entrepreneurs?
  • Trust Your Gut (if it feels right do it), Be patient (don’t try and get too big too quick), and
    take the time to understand every facet of your business.

• What would you say are the top three skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur?
  • Good Overall Business Sense, Good Reasoning skills, Listen!

• How many hours do you work a day on average?
  • 8 hours in the office. Out of the office ongoing. Owning a business never leaves your mind.

• To what do you most attribute your success?
  • The ability to think through a situation using logic and reason.

• How do you go about marketing your business? What has been your most successful form of marketing?
  • Website, e-campaigns, SEO partner, word of mouth

• Where did your organizations funding/capital come from and how did you go about getting it? How did you obtain investors for your venture?
  • I had an angel investor for my initial investment. After I was up and running I got a loan from the SBA. Since I did not have a college education or experience owning a business and no assets to speak of, banks were not willing to lend me money.
    
    
• What is the best way to achieve long-term success?
  • Stay tuned in. Many owners take their “foot off the gas” and before you know it things are taking a downturn.

• Where you see yourself and your business in 5 – 10 years?
  • Retired and enjoying my grandchildren.

• Excluding yours, what company or business do you admire the most?
  • Walt Disney. It has always amazed me how a company of that scale handles all the logistics to keep that running smoothly.

• How important have good employees been to your success?
  • Very Important. You can’t be good at everything. Hire people who have strengths that you may lack.

• How long do you stick with an idea before giving up?
  • Until I decide the ROI is too risky, or I come up with a better idea.

• What motivates you?
  • A Challenge. I love a challenge.

• What are your ideals?
  • Love and Compassion, Trust, No one is better than anyone else.

• How do you generate new ideas?
  • Listen and learn. There is a wealth of knowledge out there, be curious.

• How do you define success?
  • At the end of my day I know I did my best to be the best person I can be.

• How do you build a successful customer base?
  • Whatever means you use to build your customer base, once you gain those valuable customers you need to treat those customers how you would want to be treated. Those customers are also your greatest resource to cultivate to purchase more items as well as rely on for word of mouth advertising. Don’t make it complicated for your customer to do business with you.

• What is your favorite aspect of being an entrepreneur?
  • The ability to make my own decisions. My success or failure is up to me.

• What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
  • When I learned that set backs and struggles were learning opportunities.

• What do you feel is the major difference between entrepreneurs and those who work for someone else?
  • Employees often are looking for a 9-5 stable job. There is no responsibility to you after you leave the office.

Entrepreneurs are risk takers. Willing to live knowing the success or failure is up to you and they are o.k. with that.

• What kind of culture exists in your organization? How did you establish this tone and why did you institute this particular type of culture?
  • Our tagline says it all “Nobody Beats Our Heart”. We value our customers & each other. Management relies on our team to contribute by making suggestions and working together for the common goal of being profitable. Whatever decisions we make must not only work for the customer but must work for our company as well. We have fun but we work hard.

• In one word, characterize your life as an entrepreneur.
  • Opportunity

• If you had the chance to start your career over again, what would you do differently?
  • Trusted myself more in the early years. Had more confidence in my decisions.

• How has being an entrepreneur affected your family life?
  • When you own a business and are trying to get it off the ground and be successful, you put everything you have into it. Your family time does suffer as well as your social life and your needs. Although I felt guilty as a mom feeling as though I did not spend enough time with my son, he says he did not feel that way because I was always there when he needed me.

• What is your greatest fear, and how do you manage fear?
  • Death. Dying before I have the opportunity to experience everything I want. To manage that, I stay active and as healthy as I can.

• How did you decide on the location for your business?
  • I wanted to stay where my family was.

• Do you believe there is some sort of pattern or formula to becoming a successful entrepreneur?
  • Most entrepreneurs I have met are risk takers. They are not afraid to fail.

• If you could talk to one person from history, who would it be and why?
  • Arnold Schwarzenegger. Not real historical I guess, but I envy his confidence. From his upbringing to his body building days to all of his success as an actor. He never seemed to care about what anyone thought and just forged ahead.

• Who has been your greatest inspiration?
  • My parents. My parents always gave me a strong sense of safety. No matter whatever happened in my life I knew they would be there and would support me. This gave me the courage to be a risk taker.

• What book has inspired you the most?
  • I have never been much of a reader. I don’t have the patience to read a book. I did read this once many years ago and chose to live by it.
    • Attention to small responsibilities prepares us for larger ones. Attention to larger responsibilities prepares us for leadership. Leadership requires attention to all responsibilities.

• What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?
  • Caring what people thought of me.

• How can you prevent mistakes or do damage control?
  • Everyone is going to make mistakes. Learn from them and move on, don’t get hung up on it. Staying involved in your business is key to keeping your finger on the pulse and trying to avoid any unnecessary problems.

• What are your hobbies? What do you do in your non-work time?
  • I like to shop and decorate. Play Yahtzee with my husband. Hang out with my grandchildren.

• What makes you happy?
  • Just living.

• What sacrifices have you had to make to be a successful entrepreneur?
  • Social Life. I have never had time for much of one. Also, I feel many women do not relate to me and find me intimidating.

• If you were conducting this interview, what question would you ask?
  • What is the one thing that you feel hurts a business the most?
    • My answer: Lack of Communication.
  • For more information visit us at https://www.danleemedical.com/