Women in Words highlights boss women wordsmiths who work behind the scenes crafting written content for others. We’ll get to know new lady boss wordsmiths each Wednesday to learn more about them and appreciate their journey and expertise.
This week we feature Storytelling Expert Danielle Mendoza.
Tell us about your work, preferred industries, and clients:
I absolutely LOVE working with women in business. Typically that means entrepreneurs, but occasionally I also work with gals in the corporate c-suite. The industry itself doesn’t matter much. My focus is on helping purpose-driven women amplify their impact through books!
How did you choose your specialty?
It’s funny, I never would’ve guessed I’d be helping people in this way, but I’ve always been a strong writer. I took that gift for granted for years, but God used my detours into business management & marketing to strengthen my niche for writing! Early on, I was ghostwriting copy for blogs and websites, but my real strength is taking a big idea and breaking it down into digestible bites of knowledge, then communicating those knowledge bites through stories.
How do you explain to your clients what you do and how you can help them?
I help women who want to become bestselling authors write a book that will leave their legacy and scale their business. They don’t even need to consider themselves writers to have success with my process! Then once their book is written, I guide them through the pre-publishing & launch process. We also create a powerful leveraging plan so they know how to grow their business once the book is published.
What’s your why? (What’s your value proposition/core value message/backstory, etc.)
At four months pregnant with my second child, I received the life-altering news that I had basal cell skin cancer. It was a shock, and treating this curable cancer became a real struggle, culminating in removing a third of my top lip in 2016. This experience led me to a personal awakening where I had to seriously consider my mortality and decide what I wanted my legacy to be.
During this time, I realized I didn’t want to leave this world before I could share my gifts & talents with others, which struck me at my core. No woman should die before she’s had the chance to create a lasting legacy. But many do. Because they live their lives without intention, fulfilling their roles as mom, wife, community member, volunteer, and business owner without considering their legacy.
We all leave a legacy behind, but doing so with intention is the key to creating the true story of YOU. I had to wake up and decide how to create my legacy. Since then, I’ve created a successful business, hosted multiple podcasts, and become an international bestselling author. But none of that would’ve happened if I wasn’t intentional.
After facing more skin cancer and undergoing four surgeries in 2022, I’m even more dedicated to combining my unique skills of creativity and efficiency to help brilliant women strategize how to leave a lasting impact by writing their expert book!
What’s an important lesson you’ve learned as a woman entrepreneur, and how has that shaped your approach to your business?
Women are so heartfelt, and almost all of us are in business to do more than just make some money. The money is important, don’t get me wrong, we are in business, after all. But for most of us, it goes beyond financial successes—we want to create more meaning and connection through business. We genuinely want to serve and impact the lives of real people.
So that’s been my focus, to show up every day and serve to the best of my abilities. I’ve built each of my businesses on the values I hold near and dear, and I select my clients based on alignment with those values. With that in mind, I can navigate the noisy (and sometimes manipulative) business world in a way that fuels me.
What’s something you were surprised to learn about content creation, writing, or working with clients?
It always surprises me when brilliant, successful women are afraid to write. There’s something about writing a book and publishing our words in print that can feel so daunting. These women can have wildly successful blogs, social accounts, and email lists, yet putting our thoughts out to the world in a book leaves us feeling vulnerable. It’s been my honor to help women find their strength in that vulnerability and continue their book projects.
What’s your secret to balancing work and leisure time?
For me, it’s all about intention and focus. When I leave work at work, my leisure time becomes much more rejuvenating. But that’s not always easy to do as an entrepreneur! Sometimes our brains are on our businesses 24/7. It helps me to take every Friday off of work and make sure I get a 3 or 4-day weekend each month.
After a couple of days off, I can really settle into a peaceful rejuvenation, so I need 3 or 4 days to make that happen. When I first started blocking time off like that in my calendar, I felt guilty and worried. I learned that I am much better at my job if I give myself that time off, and now it’s a non-negotiable.
What’s your legacy? How do you want to be remembered?
I hope to shine the light of Christ while I’m here. The Bible says they will know you by your love for one another, and I believe that is the highest calling, to love as Christ loves. If others see that love through all aspects of my life, I’ll have left the greatest legacy.
What’s your guilty pleasure (fave thing to do when you’re not working/writing)?
Oh my gosh, this is so silly, but I love watching the Real Housewives series or sitting with a Hallmark movie and crocheting. Neither requires much brain power, so I can focus on my crochet and relax. I also enjoy getting outside by the pool in the evenings—and that’s pretty easy year-round since we’re in SWFL!
What’s the best way for folks to connect with you for work or to say hi?
I love to connect on LinkedIn or Instagram. DM me and say hi!
Danielle Mendoza is a cat & coffee-loving wife, mom, podcast host, international bestselling author, and business development consultant. As the founder of Confident Concept, she helps brilliant women entrepreneurs build their legacy and scale their businesses by finally getting their idea for a book out of their heads and into the world.
When she’s not bringing big ideas to life, you can find Danielle hanging with her two kids & cats, doing yoga or pilates, traveling with her husband, or trying a new restaurant with friends.
Download Danielle’s guide, How to Write a Book that Actually Makes Money
Interviews are edited for length and clarity.
Do you know a boss woman who works with words as a copywriter, content writer, copy editor, proofreader, or another editorial specialty? Send her my way! I’d love to feature her in an issue of Women in Words.
