Say hello to Daniela Fried from Ontario, Canada. Her dream life balances professional success and personal happiness. She wants to work on projects she’s passionate about while also having time to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Being in nature helps her recharge and be herself, whether it’s hiking, gardening, or just sitting quietly in her backyard.
She dreams of making a positive impact through her work and having a balanced life where she can connect with nature and enjoy simple things.
Tell us about the work you do and what inspired you to get started.
I’m a Creative Project Manager helping people launch their courses, books, and services. My journey began because I naturally love to organize and plan everything in my life. Growing up, I was always the go-to person for making plans among my friends and family. As I grew, this skill turned into my career, leading me to become a Creative Project Manager. Recently, I earned my PMP (Project Management Professional) designation.
I focus on project launches because of my diverse background. I recently worked for a green environmental fund where we developed and launched knowledge resources and webinars to educate municipal staff about green initiatives. Before that, I was working for Costco Wholesale, managing new warehouse launches and marketing operations initiatives.
Each project has its own unique set of requirements, and I love helping others achieve their goals through their individual project launches.
How has being an introvert affected your life and your business?
Being an introvert means I need downtime between projects to give myself space to think and process information. This time is crucial for me to fully understand the project requirements and scope.
However, it sometimes means my response time is slower, which can be a challenge in a fast-paced environment. When I try to match the speed that’s often required, I tend to make more mistakes because I haven’t had enough time for proper project planning and analysis. On the upside, when I do have the time to process, my responses are more thoughtful and thorough, leading to better project outcomes and stronger stakeholder relationships.
Share a significant lesson you have learned on your journey so far.
One significant lesson I learned is the power of networking. I initially found networking intimidating and avoided it. However, I decided to embrace the idea that everyone starts somewhere and I stepped out of my comfort zone. I attended one professional event, then another and another. I took it one day at a time and focused on just trying to find a small connection with each person.
As time went on, I learned how to continue the conversation past the initial event and turn people into genuine connections. This experience taught me that building relationships is crucial, and even introverts can find meaningful ways to connect with others in their field.
What advice would you give to other introverted entrepreneurs?
My advice is not to be afraid of trying new things. When I was younger, I listened too closely to other people’s advice, which led me to a path where I was miserable. I had to go through a period of self-discovery to understand not only what I’m good at but also what I enjoy doing.
I remember hearing a story about a woman who was excellent at financial analyses on Excel and could have had a great career doing just that, but she realized it wasn’t what she enjoyed. Similarly, I recognized that I was good at my job but unhappy doing it. It took nearly a year to figure out what else I could do, and then I started taking small steps to make it happen.
It isn’t easy, but finding a career that aligns with both your skills and passions is incredibly rewarding. Take the time to understand yourself and don’t be afraid to make changes that lead to a more fulfilling career.
Thank you for taking the time to share your story.
If you want to learn more about Daniela Fried, you can find her here:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/daniela-fried
Photo credits: Darson Hall
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