Megan: I’m so excited to be chatting with Dana Stone today. We were just talking offline—she’s amazing. Anyone who’s met Dana knows what a bundle of energy she is. I’ve been following her for quite some time because she’s got a lot of really exciting things going on.
You’ve done the corporate gig, and then you pivoted and started a business based on a need. You’ve jumped into several ventures, which is awesome. A lot of them are gaining real momentum, which we’ll talk about in a minute. But before we dive in—welcome! I’m so glad you’re here.
Dana: I’m so glad to be here. The feeling is totally mutual—I’ve always been following you too.
Megan: So give us a little background. Let’s start from the beginning.
Dana: Well, it all started one dark… just kidding. Corporate life—it was hard. I joke that I parented in two different worlds. I have young kids at home and grown adult children. When the older ones were little, I was a corporate mom. I didn’t feel super present, though they tell me I was. I was the Girl Scout mom and did all the things.
But when my youngest son was a year old, he hadn’t slept a single night. I had two teenagers, a toddler, a baby, and a full-time job. I was falling apart—literally crying on the closet floor most days.
One day I thought, “Why isn’t my child sleeping?” I Googled it, found a program, implemented it, and five nights later he was sleeping through the night. It was life-changing. I thought, “I want to help families sleep through the night.”
That was the start of my entrepreneurial journey. I studied, got certified, and launched my business in 2015.
Megan: Wow. So it started from a personal need.
Dana: Exactly. But I didn’t quit my corporate job for another five years. I did both for a while, like many of us do. Eventually, I said, “Nope, I’m doing this.” That’s when BNI came in and helped me grow the business to the point I could leave the corporate world.
As I coached families, adults began asking for help too. I wasn’t trained for that, so I got certified in adult sleep. Then I realized adults stay awake for totally different reasons—so I became a life coach. That led to business coaching, and now I’m in story branding and video production with Rocket City Momentum.
Megan: Let’s rewind. Clearly something in your upbringing planted that entrepreneurial seed. Not everyone has that. Can you talk about your background?
Dana: My dad was an entrepreneur—always starting something new. After 30 years as a mechanic, he bought the shop and became the boss. He’d had a paintball shop and other ventures, so I saw that hustle early on.
Also, I was a teenage mom. I had my first child at 17, was married, bought a house, and had a child before I was 18. I had to grow up fast. That probably helped fuel my drive. I’ve always had this relentless push to keep chasing what I want.
My career path has shown me you don’t have to settle. No decision is forever—except maybe your marriage. Everything else is just another opportunity to pivot and go in a new direction.
Megan: Yes! I love that mindset. It’s refreshing. So many people feel stuck. I recently spoke with someone in his 50s who said he’s reinvented himself multiple times, and it really resonated. Reinvention is key. You seem to thrive in it.
Dana: My husband jokes that I have a five-year expiration date. Every five years something big has to change—new career, new challenge. And yes, each pivot builds on what came before. It’s not starting over completely. You just make better decisions with better data.
Megan: Exactly. It sounds like each pivot re-energizes you. Let’s shift to BNI—because it’s played a huge role in your journey.
Dana: It really has. At first, I subbed in for someone and thought, “Nope, not for me.” But later, after going through Catalyst’s Fast Track program, I met Jenny Mayers at a networking event. She was persistent, so I checked out her chapter. And wow—those were my people. Entrepreneurs, go-getters—it was exactly what I was missing.
I joined in 2016 and never looked back. I’ve served in several leadership roles—VP, treasurer, education coordinator—and now I’m the area director for Huntsville, working with 11 chapters. It’s been an incredible journey.
Megan: I’ve heard that BNI is more than referrals—it’s a support network. Vendors lean on each other, build trust, and truly collaborate.
Dana: Absolutely. You see people every week. You know their work ethic. And if they’re not reliable, it becomes clear quickly. It’s built on accountability.
Megan: I’m curious—what’s the current vibe in the small business community? Especially given the economic uncertainty.
Dana: The biggest thing I see is a mindset of “it is what it is.” Numbers are down, and people are just accepting that. But I say—no, pivot! Try something new. Resilience is key.
Many small businesses rely heavily on one big client. If that client delays payment, it can break them. I’ve seen businesses nearly go under because of late payments.
Megan: It’s heartbreaking. There’s no safety net right now. No relief funds like we saw during COVID.
Dana: Exactly. It’s tough. And yes, BNI offers a space to vent, connect, and problem-solve. It’s not just referrals—it’s real community.
Megan: Let’s talk about Rocket City Momentum. This is a newer venture with a lot of buzz. You’ve been working with BNI and doing your thing with Live and Rest. What sparked this idea, and what’s it all about?
Dana: Live and Rest was really a lifestyle business. I had young kids at home, and I wanted to be available for them. I kept my overhead low, saw a few clients, and that was enough. But now that they’re older—13 and 11—I have more time and energy. I was ready for more.
Lucas Scott, who I’d been coaching for years and who was active in BNI, was in a similar spot. He couldn’t keep doing everything solo. And I had a friend, Jennifer Smith, who was also going through some life transitions. The three of us decided to team up.
Lucas and I had previously started a talk show during COVID called Great Day at Gateway, where we’d chat and interview people after virtual BNI meetings. It was fun, and when we went back in-person, we missed that creative energy. That inspired Rocket City Momentum.
We started filming in August last year. It’s a show that highlights people doing cool things in Huntsville. We tackled serious topics too—like youth suicide—featuring organizations like Wellstone and experts in the field.
Megan: That’s incredible. So this started as a passion project?
Dana: Completely self-funded. It was a lot of work, but we loved it. We aired 11 episodes, and it really clicked. We realized this could be more than a show. It became a business.
So we launched Rocket City Momentum, the company. It’s focused on storytelling, branding, video production, and coaching. We help businesses craft a message that connects, not just create pretty videos. It’s about strategy.
Megan: Love that. So this year’s show is a bit different?
Dana: Yes, we’re following seven entrepreneurs through the summer. They each got business challenges from BNI’s Megan Chitwood, and we’ve been tracking their progress weekly. We check in, hold them accountable, and show how they’re navigating growth. The final episode films next week.
We’ll start airing in the fall—likely October. And each entrepreneur also gets a custom commercial.
Megan: That’s such a smart value-add. What else is Rocket City Momentum offering beyond the show?
Dana: We do StoryBrand coaching, based on Donald Miller’s framework. It helps businesses clarify their message. Many small businesses talk in their own language, not their customer’s. We help bridge that gap.
We also run profitability workshops, because so many businesses aren’t tracking cash flow or expenses properly. They might think they have $30K in the bank, but when you break it down—payroll, taxes, vendors—they’ve only got $9K to spend. That changes your decision-making.
Megan: Absolutely. Knowing your real numbers shifts everything. Any other big takeaways from your coaching experience?
Dana: Three things: profitability, overcommitting (people thinking they can do 30 things a day), and delegation. Many business owners try to do it all. But if you want real growth, you need a team. Lifestyle businesses can be solo-run, but for momentum, you need support.
Megan: Preach. When I started, I thought being CEO meant doing it all. But you can’t. You have to play to your strengths and hire for the rest. Catalyst was a game changer for me in learning that.
Dana: Exactly. And for a lot of small businesses, no one ever told them how to separate personal and business finances, or how to plan for taxes. They just don’t know what they don’t know.
Megan: And that’s where support programs—and people like you—make such a difference. So how can someone work with you?
Dana: Visit rocketcitymomentum.com. You can book a strategy call there. We do a needs assessment first to really understand what’s going on and what would help. For BNI, people can visit bninorthalabama.com or email me at dana@rocketcitymomentum.com, and I’ll help find a chapter that fits.
Megan: That’s so helpful. BNI is such a powerful ecosystem. It must be incredible seeing that network grow.
Dana: It really is. Across my 11 chapters in Huntsville, Decatur, and Athens, we have 286 members. Every chapter has its own vibe—some are B2B-heavy, others more real estate or service-oriented. It’s all about finding the right fit.
Megan: Well, you’re doing incredible work. I can’t wait to see the new Rocket City Momentum episodes drop this fall. And I’ll check in again in five years when you’re onto your next big adventure!
Dana: Deal! Thanks so much.