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Learn How to Embrace Creativity and Overcome Mental Blocks With Dana Brewer · Speak In Flow

0:02
Melinda Lee: Hello, Welcome, dear listeners. I'm so glad
0:06
you're here today. We have an amazing leader. Her name is Dana
0:11
Brewer. She's the founder of computer information station
0:16
since 1988. Welcome, Dana. Thank you so much. Melinda. How are
0:22
you? I am good. I'm so glad to see you. I love that shirt.
0:26
Again. It just brightens up the whole room. Thank you.
0:31
Oh, good. Um, you have so much wisdom to share. And that's why
0:34
I brought you here because since 1980, you founded your own
0:37
company. See I s computer information station supports
0:41
other businesses to to scale to grow to optimise their teams.
0:47
And that's what you do through manage information, technology,
0:51
IT services and also security, right? Absolutely. That's such a
0:56
niche, such an amazing niche, especially with a woman as a
1:00
woman founder. And so tell me about how you got started with
1:04
this, you know, the journey along the way to up to the
1:07
successful company that you are today.
1:08
Dana Brewer: Thank you happy to do it. You mentioned about being
1:12
a woman, this has been historically a very male
1:15
dominated field. And I started when I was really young,
1:18
actually, I've always liked solving problems. And I was
1:23
working at a local municipality, as a kid really learning a lot
1:28
of things related to human resources. And I'll never forget
1:31
it was in 1982. It was when personal computers were just
1:36
starting to roll out on desktops in offices. And in our office,
1:40
nobody actually really knew what the thing was this big, huge
1:43
honking box, big huge box that a tonne. Well, through the help
1:50
from an amazing personnel analyst. I asked him what is
1:53
this thing sitting on this desk. And he said, let me show you
1:57
what it can do. And he was super excited to show me a list of
2:00
names, along with test scores, we worked in the examination
2:04
unit, and that he could sort that list alphabetically by
2:08
their last name or by their test score. He was floored. I was
2:12
floored because this was work that we did manually. Well, that
2:15
sparked something in me. And I thought, There's no way this big
2:20
huge box can only do that. So being the bookworm that I am, I
2:25
bought a book on that software, and it happened to be Lotus 123.
2:28
Yes, I go back that far. So really, from there, Melinda, I
2:34
bought a bunch of books on the software applications that were
2:37
available at the time, saved my money, and I bought a personal
2:41
computer, and back then a desktop computer could run you
2:44
about four to $5,000. And as I said, I was a kid, so I had to
2:48
save for a while. And I started implementing that software in my
2:55
department and trying to learn how we could use it to make our
2:58
jobs better. And continue to progress with that. And I
3:03
actually for this municipality. Such was my love of all things,
3:09
optimization and automation that I implemented. The very first HR
3:14
is Human Resources Information System for this large
3:17
municipality. And I didn't work in it at all, as a kid. But what
3:25
happened is, I think I was too young, maybe wrong gender. And
3:30
you know, I loved my opportunities there, but maybe
3:32
even the wrong colour. I wanted to move into it. And here came
3:38
that ceiling. And I just decided I looked up and I said no, I've
3:43
given you all of these improvements. And all I'm asking
3:47
for is an opportunity to learn from some that may know more
3:50
than me, I want to stay with this company. And I was denied
3:54
that opportunity. And the old maybe 19 year old me said no,
3:59
we're not going to let anybody stop us. So I tendered my
4:02
resignation. And from that CIS was born.
4:07
Melinda Lee: Wow. How painful was that? How heartbreaking was
4:11
that experience? You know, try to fight it when you saw it
4:15
happening? Well,
4:16
Dana Brewer: there were actually a couple of things that
4:17
happened. I actually had prepared a career path with my
4:21
supervisor at the time. They created a position for me in the
4:26
company, a paraprofessional position that would allow me to
4:30
take over for someone who had had his job for the previous 30
4:35
years doing some personnel analysis. And that if I stayed
4:39
in that position for 18 months, I would be able to progress
4:43
basically up the ladder. And a new supervisor came in changed
4:47
all of that and decided no, we're not going to honour that
4:50
and I was about 12 months in on this 18 month programme. So the
4:54
reality is the hurt was not just from the denial of being able to
4:58
move into information techniques. Knology but also the
5:00
fact that the organisation didn't recognise my value, and
5:07
was basically saying, you know, no, we appreciate what you're
5:10
doing for us. You've done amazing work. But we're going to
5:14
keep you right here, and we're not going to allow you to
5:16
progress. So probably the pain that was the pain, I've given
5:20
them seven years of my life. Good years, I was young, I was
5:25
energetic. I did everything they asked me to do. And I just
5:28
turned that into a positive. I didn't let it keep me down. I
5:31
decided, because I started doing a little consulting on the side
5:35
as well. And I just decided, no, this is what I want to do. So it
5:39
was actually a happy moment for me was a little scary. Yeah. But
5:43
I'll tell you the day that I tendered my resignation, yep.
5:47
prayed about it. Before I took the steps. My desk phone rang.
5:51
And it was my aunt saying we heard about what you've been
5:54
doing at East Bay Mud. Yeah. We've also, we also know that
5:59
you've been consulting to some folks on the side, would you
6:02
come to work for us, we'll pay you whatever they're paying you.
6:07
And what you get are it in order? Oh, my gosh, there was no
6:11
way for me to be sad.
6:13
Melinda Lee: I got the chills, chills, because I think that a
6:16
lot of people in corporate, sometimes they don't, they're
6:19
not happy. Maybe there's a glass ceiling. Maybe they've done
6:22
whatever they could to really to showcase their value. And it's
6:25
just not seen. I'm not saying you have to leave your job like
6:28
Dana, but at least pray about it. Consider it, maybe there are
6:33
other possibilities. You don't have to get stuck in this
6:35
environment does not serve you. Right. And then so as soon as
6:38
you prayed it, and you knew it, and you clarified it, the
6:42
opportunity came.
6:44
Dana Brewer: It was amazing. I was amazed. I liked what you
6:46
just said about, you know, not feeling stuck. Yeah, when you're
6:50
stuck, you're stifled. And then your creativity, you lose all of
6:54
that. And so you've got to continue to grow while you still
6:57
have that fire inside. And while you can still do something about
7:00
it, yes.
7:01
Melinda Lee: Because we need leaders with fire. We need
7:03
leaders who are, you know, utilising all their strengths
7:06
being seen being valued. And if you need to go to another
7:10
environment, then do it? Absolutely. If you fought long
7:14
and hard enough, and it's not supporting you. And so then
7:18
therefore, CIS was birthed. And that doesn't mean that there are
7:23
no obstacles, or more often female in a male dominated
7:28
industry. What was that like growing, growing and scaling
7:32
your business?
7:33
Dana Brewer: So you know, not just female in a male dominated
7:36
industry, but also being an African American? African
7:38
American? Yeah, I would go to a lot of mixers and things. And
7:43
you know, when you walk into those, yeah, you look around,
7:46
you look for that familiar face, that it wasn't there. For me
7:49
most of the time, there were a few times where I might find an
7:52
African American male, and of course, I gravitate to them.
7:55
Because, hey, we're in this industry together. You know,
7:57
what can we do together? And I love people. I like talking to
8:01
people, I enjoy learning about them what it is that makes them
8:05
tick. Yeah. But because I had overcome the first hurdle,
8:10
really, of leaving a job that I enjoyed being there, I love the
8:13
people. I love the environment. I think that helped me to face
8:19
that next obstacle of now, how do I really break in? How do I
8:24
get involved. And I really want to credit, my aunt for giving me
8:30
an opportunity to grow, and also for becoming my first corporate
8:35
client. And that was kind of our deal. I said, Hey, if I come and
8:38
work for you for a little bit, will you then become my client?
8:41
So we had that arrangement for about seven months, that gave me
8:44
even more confidence. And really Melinda from there, it was just
8:48
not being afraid to fail. Hmm. And I'll give you an analogy. I
8:55
like to roller skate. But when people ask me, you know, do you
8:59
what are your hobbies? I don't say I like to roller skate. I am
9:02
a roller skater. Okay, that's my thing. I love it. So in order to
9:07
succeed, and to gain the balance that I've gained through the
9:11
years, you got to hit the ground, you're gonna hit it
9:14
several times. You just get up each time.
9:18
Melinda Lee: And I want you to also I want to when you say I
9:21
am, right, and that's the power of our voice. Tell me a little
9:25
bit more about that. Versus I'm gonna fall. I'm gonna hit the
9:28
ground. I'm gonna I'm not a roller skater. I'm horrible at
9:31
it. versus what you did was I am a roller skater. Absolutely. I
9:35
am. Right and that. Tell me more about how you learned how to do
9:39
that like,
9:40
Dana Brewer: Well, yeah, the thing is, if you if that voice
9:43
is in your head, yes. It's very difficult to quiet that voice
9:48
because you allowed it to occupy the majority of this space. You
9:51
quiet it with action. Take the step that scares you the most.
9:57
Take it you might find All, but just get up, you know, destinies
10:02
off dust your elbows off, it might hurt a little bit. But
10:05
what comes after that is going to make you stronger for the
10:08
next challenge. And so I think for me learning from a few
10:12
mistakes here and there that hurt, but seeking out the advice
10:15
of others who had been in business, staying tight with my
10:20
community, sharing with them what I was doing, and getting
10:23
those sorts of kudos from the people that know you and that
10:26
love you, and that will cheer you on. You need to make those
10:29
voices louder than that voice in your head. That's sowing doubt.
10:33
I'm able to do that by really relying on my community and my
10:37
family and my faith.
10:39
Melinda Lee: Right and choosing the faith, the voice of faith,
10:42
the voice of the community, the people that support you and see
10:46
you for who you really are. Yes. Versus that doubt? Yes. And
10:50
that's why CIS is so successful. So tell me a little bit more
10:54
about what you do for companies. And what do you see are the
10:57
challenges? What I took from your story earlier? You're so
11:01
passionate and good about seeing how to optimise like, even from
11:06
when at the municipality, right, you saw that, and then you took
11:09
it, you learned it, and then you brought it into the department.
11:13
And so that's, that's why I think you're so I mean, that's
11:15
part of the reason why you're really good with your craft. And
11:17
you do that same thing with companies today. And so tell me
11:21
more about that. And tell me about more about the challenges
11:24
that are in horizon? Because you know, as you know, AI is here,
11:27
technology's here. Absolutely. How do companies balance this
11:31
all?
11:32
Dana Brewer: I think it's a great question. And I'd actually
11:34
like to start answering it from the viewpoint of AI, I just want
11:38
to put this out there so that folks are not afraid of it and
11:42
don't think, Oh, my God, AI is going to take over the world,
11:44
right? Because the bottom line is, AI is a computer and a
11:48
computer can only spit out what has been put into it. And
11:52
everything that has been put into it is from human knowledge,
11:56
human effort, etc. Right? So we got
11:59
Melinda Lee: our flawed humans are our ego fear driven, and
12:04
then so that's exactly
12:05
Dana Brewer: floating in there. Exactly. But it does have
12:08
benefits. And so part of the challenge part of what we do is
12:13
we really partner with our companies, our clients, we're
12:17
not just all those IT folks over there, you know, when we have a
12:22
problem we call their help desk, we're so much more than that.
12:25
We're a partner with our clients for their success. First of all,
12:31
I get up in the morning, because I'm looking for a problem to
12:34
solve. And that's the same with our team. So we get in, we roll
12:38
up our sleeves with you, we ask a lot of questions. We're
12:40
looking over your shoulder, what is it that you do every day?
12:43
show me show me your work? Wow, did you know that by doing X, Y,
12:48
Z, you could instead of the 30 minutes that it's taking you to
12:51
do that now you could reduce that to five minutes. Z is
12:55
passion. Let us help you automate that. Oh, wow, you're
12:58
looking to launch a new product or a new service? Excellent.
13:02
What are your systems? Do you have your process maps in place?
13:06
The IRS can help with that. Right. So the the idea is that
13:11
we take care of all the technology side, but we really
13:14
want to understand the business. And as things come on the
13:18
horizon AI, we look at that we analyse that with you, we don't
13:22
make the decisions for you, we look at it with you. And we let
13:25
you know, is this something your business can benefit from? Or
13:28
don't spend any time on this? Here's another direction that
13:31
you may want to go. Right. And so not only just optimising
13:36
team's communication, how to serve clients better, but also
13:40
what's happening on the horizon that can help a business to grow
13:43
and to scale?
13:45
Melinda Lee: Yes, because you know, all those solutions are
13:47
and so I what I hear you saying, as being as a partner, and this
13:51
is great for people, even corporate, when you're working
13:54
with a manager or an executive, really seeing them as a partner,
13:59
and really listening because what I hear you doing is
14:01
listening to the needs, really asking the right questions, what
14:04
are the needs that you need? What are the desires, and
14:08
knowing you have a whole plethora of tools, solutions,
14:12
and applying the correct one for the company, and in some cases
14:18
for our audience if they're incorporate applying the right
14:21
solution, but that's only after you really need to ascend?
14:24
Absolutely. Using some of these communication skills such as
14:28
questioning, listening, empathy, didn't hurt I love that you have
14:34
been able to balance the technology complex things with
14:38
also your communication and approachability. You've always
14:42
strike me with that wonderful balance that I think a lot of
14:45
people struggle with when they're so smart. Sometimes it's
14:49
really hard to communicate complex ideas in a way that
14:53
sense for people and also understood like we can you
14:56
share. What does that natural for you or did you have to work
15:00
on that?
15:01
Dana Brewer: Well, I will say I love people. And I think at a
15:05
very young age, I realised that I had a gift. But I never wanted
15:11
that gift to be a rift. I never wanted my ability to grasp
15:18
things very quickly to separate me from people. I have five
15:22
brothers, and I'm the only daughter. And so probably born
15:27
out of a need to belong, you know, because my brothers love
15:30
me and I love them. But at a certain age, you know, brothers
15:34
don't want their little sister tagging along. Right. And so I
15:37
think I developed that not people pleasing, that's not my
15:41
personality. I just love helping people. And from a young age, I
15:48
could see that, you know, hey, this scholastic thing, you know,
15:50
math, or Wow, this comes easy for me, I love this stuff. And
15:54
then I see someone struggling, let me help them. And I sort of
15:59
rolled that into my business, I'm always seeking to help. But
16:04
I think also, again, I'm going to refer to community because I
16:07
think community is so important in forming who we are, that we
16:12
can learn different ways of communicating. We are extremely
16:16
intelligent, communicate on that high level with others who can
16:19
connect with you there. Yeah, don't be aloof and don't stay at
16:24
that high level, when there's someone who needs to communicate
16:27
with you differently.
16:28
Melinda Lee: Mm hmm. And I think we should do that. So like,
16:30
first of all, notice if there's a connection, if there's a
16:33
disconnect, and you see that, then at least notice that and be
16:38
aware enough to want to notice it. You're like what you did
16:41
your desire to help them so much your desire of wanting to help,
16:46
then spark the willingness to want to know, and then also the
16:50
willingness to how much how can I connect?
16:53
Dana Brewer: Exactly. I think that's important. And I think it
16:56
comes from listening. Yeah, yeah, if and I'll just use this
17:00
analogy, if someone, let's say, comes from the southern states,
17:03
my parents are from the south. And the first time I visited the
17:06
South, I'm coming there with that California accent. And what
17:09
happens is, you know, there's an opinion that, you know,
17:12
California folks are stuck up. So I realised that I have to
17:17
listen, and maybe even model or pattern a little bit, their
17:21
patterns of their way of communicating. And that is,
17:26
knowing who you are. But also respecting the other person,
17:31
their needs, their wants their way to communicate. And so you
17:34
have to be a little selfless in it. And you can't be all about,
17:37
this is my goal, I'm going in, focused, I want to be
17:41
successful, they want and need to win as well. So make it be
17:45
about the two people or the few people who are in this
17:49
conversation and be in that moment. And don't be thinking to
17:52
the next steps ahead. And that's helped me.
17:54
Melinda Lee: Right. I love that. I love that. So just really
17:57
going in with respecting where they're at and collaborating and
18:01
listening and going in with that desire and vision. Yes. How when
18:05
you do need to complicate like for your clients, sometimes you
18:08
have to communicate a complex idea. How do you do that? Any
18:11
tips on how to communicate complex ideas?
18:15
Dana Brewer: Absolutely. The first thing I do really is I
18:18
close my eyes sometime, really, and sometimes figuratively. And
18:23
I imagine I see the picture. And once I can see the picture, then
18:30
I think about a five year old, huh, how would I help this five
18:35
year old understand this thing? And when I do that, well, the
18:42
other party can understand. So that's that's a kind of come
18:45
from a five year old angle, not oversimplifying it. But making
18:49
it so that this idea is palatable to the person I'm
18:53
communicating with. Right,
18:54
Melinda Lee: right and breaking it down to So the five year old,
18:57
even a five year old can understand Absolutely. I love
19:00
that you have a picture in mind, even if it's a word, what if
19:02
it's just a word, you could still visually get close your
19:06
eyes and a picture starts to come out. Absolutely. Awesome.
19:11
That's great. Great. And then because when you see the
19:14
picture, and when you can describe that picture, because
19:16
people see in visuals. Yes. Yes. can also understand that more
19:21
they see they, they can hear visuals and see visuals more
19:25
clearly than if it's just a word. Exactly. Yeah. I love
19:29
that. Oh, my man, your clients are so lucky to have you. All
19:34
the expertise and also the connection. And that's why it's
19:38
been successful since 1998 1988. And still growing and still
19:44
scaling. And so what is exciting for you in the next year or so
19:49
with CIS?
19:50
Dana Brewer: Well, what's really exciting for me is working to do
19:56
something similar to what you're doing. I'll have to of course
19:58
we'll have to edit that But I want to reach out more to the
20:02
business community. It's really how I started, I wanted to start
20:06
by helping small businesses grow. That was really the goal.
20:10
And I find that now I have a greater platform, I'm reaching
20:14
more and more small businesses. And we've actually started an
20:18
emerging business bootcamp. Oh, awesome. Well, we programme that
20:24
we are with those with fire that have an idea, and they want to
20:28
start a business, we're taking them through a 12 week programme
20:32
that's going to take them from an idea to an established
20:36
business. And it includes things like marketing for small
20:39
business, of course, having their it in order, but the
20:43
customer experience and all of those kinds of things on a small
20:46
scale, we're really an IT company. But we are a business
20:49
process company. And we use it to help companies to grow. And
20:54
so I will be announcing that very, very soon. So I'm very
20:57
excited about that.
20:59
Melinda Lee: That is amazing. It's such a true leader, you
21:02
give that you you've succeeded, and now you're giving back to
21:06
the community.
21:08
Dana Brewer: It's what helped me to grow and helped me to be the
21:11
established business that I am. So I think it's only right to
21:14
give back to the community. And that circle
21:17
Melinda Lee: continues to school, and I believe that you
21:20
will, it's all going to return back to you 10 times million
21:23
times holds.
21:24
Dana Brewer: Thank you, Melinda. Yeah, so
21:26
Melinda Lee: how the listeners that are out there and really
21:29
interested in working with Dana, or at least talking to her
21:32
getting more information from her. If you have a business or
21:35
you're curious about launching your own business? How would you
21:39
suggest getting a hold of you?
21:40
Dana Brewer: Oh, thank you so much for that we are easily
21:43
accessible on the web. Our website is C I S networks.net.
21:50
And also folks can reach us by phone 510-255-2950. And you can
21:57
look me up on LinkedIn, Dana brewers, my name. And for your
22:01
listeners, Melinda, we have a special offer. And so if someone
22:06
reaches out to us, and they mentioned your podcast, we're
22:09
gonna give them a special offer if they decide to use the iOS
22:13
services.
22:14
Melinda Lee: Excellent. Thank you so much for that gift to our
22:17
listeners. Thank you. We really appreciate the time the insight
22:23
I learned so much today. Just a How about you know, just to be
22:27
connected to the audience go with that passion to to see the
22:32
bit when you when there's challenges and obstacles? How do
22:35
I problem solve, and bringing to the forefront to help the people
22:39
that are around me with that passion and desire and
22:42
communicate in a way that resonates with people and
22:46
constantly be in in alignment with your passion? Just go and
22:51
don't give up use the right words, use the right language.
22:54
And I'm sure there's a lot more takeaways depending on who the
22:57
audience is. But there was a lot of information and valuable, you
23:02
know, insight from your experiences. So thank you so
23:04
much.
23:05
Dana Brewer: Thanks so much for having me.
23:06
Melinda Lee: Yeah. Great to have you and I hope you take care and
23:10
more success to cis and to the new boot camp that's coming up
23:14
for entrepreneurs.
23:15
Dana Brewer: Thank you, Melinda and I have to plug you as well.
23:18
Those of Melinda's listeners out there, you know, Melinda is
23:22
amazing, she's fantastic. We work together she's helped me as
23:26
well. So please look up speaking flow dog shy.
23:30
Melinda Lee: Beside Don't be shy. We don't bite. We're very
23:33
nice. But we will still hold your feet to the fire when we
23:36
need to to get results. Absolutely. All right. Thank you
23:40
so much. Bye bye bye bye