We recently had the chance to connect with Douglas Dunn and have shared our conversation below.
Douglas, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Recently on of the women we serve took a national certification examination which she passed and became certified in her chosen profession. She had gotten down on herself and was feeling as if she could not complete the course of study to take the examination. When she passed the test, I was not proud for me, but for her. She accomplished something professionally she had never even approached in the past.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My life has been made up of many changes of direction. I could not have imagined becoming an attorney when I was younger. It was only with the encouragement of a professor in college who prompted me to submit an application. He committed to writing a letter of recommendation to be submitted with my application. I was admitted to law school, completed the course of study, passed the bar examination the first time, and practiced law actively for more than 25 years. Although going to law school was not on my radar, becoming the founder of a non-profit whose mission it is to reunite children with their previously incarcerated mothers was even more surprising. That is where I am today. Further changes seem very unlikely, but I can never say “never” in light of my past!
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
It seems to me the greatest breaker of relationships between people is pride. Feeling as if we “deserve” more or better stands in the way of warmth and caring about others. Humility is the greatest restorer of those broken relationships. Until we realize who we are and what we deserve, we cannot see where we fit in our community of friends.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Fear of failure was a big part of life for me as a young person. I wanted to do well and prove myself, but that fear held me back until I was older and had no choice but to step out because of the profession I chose. It was then I realized failure is a part of growth and everyone experiences it. It caused me to prepare for every challenge as well as I knew how. I did my best to “leave everything on the field” and accept the results.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
Godfrey Lee Holley was a man from the “country” who lived a very modest lifestyle, never making more than $6,000 in a single year. He was a “dirt farmer.” That means he planted and harvested crops to provide for his family. I would say he was as “honest as the day is long.” He was a consummate example of honesty and integrity. He worked very hard in the hot Alabama sun, but was humble in every respect. He had no power. He was my grandfather. He was born in 1899 and passed into glory in 1982,
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I only had 10 years left, I cannot think of a single thing I was stop doing immediately. I have been fortunate to have been led to the work I currently do. The things I would stop doing immediately are things that have been transitory in my life to begin with. I have learned some hard lessons, but I serving people, with people I care deeply about. I will continue to march ahead as long I am able.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://MercysShore.org
- Instagram: Mercy’s Shore
- Facebook: Mercy’s Shore
Image Credits
Douglas Dunn
