A Life Designed by Dawna

by Elizabeth Denham

As many of us do when we turn 50, Dawna Blum, her last child in high school, started asking questions – of herself. What’s next? Who am I? What makes me happy? And she set off to find the answer. And find it, she did!

Four years ago, she bought a Wild Birds Unlimited (WBU) franchise location in Woburn, Massachusetts and changed her life, her perspective and her self-image for the better.

“For most of my life, I was a stayat-home mom,” Blum said. “I had four kids and a husband who worked six days a week. I did the spaghetti dinners, the coaching and the pasta palloozas. I worked part-time at my husband’s office 15 hours per week, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted more power over my own life.”

Blum shared that the number one reason she wanted to buy a franchise was for her financial independence. And her quest began.

As a 14-year customer of her nearby Wild Birds Unlimited store, she knew its value. When she was having a down day or needed cheering up, she would go by the store -- and the store and the staff would work their magic.

“One day I asked if they would hire me. It would be something just for myself,” she said. “So, I worked there 10 hours each week for three years before I was ready for the next step. I loved working there. It is where I am happiest.”

The Decision

When she was ready to take the next big step, it was the first time in her life she ever said, “I want this, and I am going to do this one way or another.”

“It took a lot of courage for me to take this step. I did not have a lot of support,” she noted. “My kids were very supportive and told me I could do it. Wild Birds Unlimited was fantastic and provided tons of help.”

Within six months of making the decision, she found the perfect location. She wanted to be in close proximity to other WBU locations knowing that she would rely on them for support.

“I was so happy to talk to people and make decisions and feel confident in those decisions,” she said. “I so appreciate what Wild Birds Unlimited has done for me. It has made me feel better, calmer, happier. And that is what I want my store to do for others.” Blum used the many resources provided by WBU and learned from as many experienced business owners as possible creating a network of supportive peers. Blum also took full advantage of the business coach WBU assigned to her who has helped her through every step of learning. She said she never felt alone and learned two big lessons in business: how to manage people and how to run a computer.

“It was important for me to be successful,” she said. “And my attitude paid off. I think I made good decisions. I am not as strong with the financials, so I feel like I have succeeded in spite of not knowing what I am doing!”

Liberation and Independence

Blum is thrilled to have her own bank account with only her name on it. Her first big purchase was to update the garden beds to native plants. And in her first year, she went to Amsterdam for 10 days.

“It felt so good,” she laughed. “I could afford it and so I did it. This is what it’s all about. It feels so good to be able to do things and to give my kids money for travel. It makes me so happy.”

The pandemic was good for WBU business Blum mentioned, adding that people at home needed something to do to make life a little happier. With her hard work and dedication, her store is 13th in the region out of 64 and she is running above average in her region and age of store group.

Blum still can’t believe the impact franchise ownership has had on her life.

“People look up to me. They ask my advice. They trust me,” she said. “And I look forward to what is next. I am now turning 60, and I am able to make my own choices, build my own life and design it the way I want it to be. Every possibility is open for me now. I can choose, which is crazy. I have all of this new confidence. Instead of being afraid, I can do anything. And the only way I could have gotten here was through this franchise.”

For more information, please visit: www.wbu.com