Interview: Maryann Navarro-Davis, retired Air Force Chief Master Sergeant and entrepreneur over multiple businesses
1. Tellus about yourself. What is it that youdo for a living? What is the scope of your responsibilities (number oflocations you operate or manage and number of people you lead) and whom do youserve as customers?
My name is Maryann Navarro-Davis, people call me “ND” for short. I just recently retired from the United States Air Force after 23 years of faithful service to our nation. I am married to Perry, and we are raising three young Kings. Prior to my retirement, I held the Mission Support Group Superintendent position at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, where I served as a key resource and adviser to senior leadership and staff on human resources and operational activities at the Air Force’s second largest training installation and also led over 1,600 personnel in six diverse branches executing combat support, logistics and services activities for 114,000 customers while operating on a $4.4B budget. Since I retired, I have not pursued working for another government or corporate position; instead, I am soaking up the freedom that I feel being retired and being a stay-at-home mother. However, my husband and I both jumped into the entrepreneurship world and have been blessed to own a franchise business with Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. I also recently partnered with the #1 global brand for healthy living inside and out, Arbonne, to elevate my passion towards changing people’s lives through health and wellness. Lastly, I just became a state certified REALTOR in the state of Florida and recently signed with Keller Williams Realty brokerage to kick-off my real estate business and commit to manifest people’s realty dreams into reality through unparalleled service with lasting relationships as my slogan.
2. Whendid you realize this is what you wanted to do as a profession? How did you know?
To be honest, this significant turn in my career was somewhatrandom, to say the least. I did not haveany plans to retire when I welcomed 2018, but God had other plans that weresomewhat written on the walls, but I just didn’t pay much attention because mymilitary career was moving so fast and I was only focusing on what otherswanted me to do…to be a Command Chief. But I never thought that it would happen so soon and didn’t payattention to what’s really important in my life during these times. Not to say that my Air Force wasn’timportant, but my family was suffering such a huge toll, especially mychildren, and I did not even notice! Needless to say, when the unexpected hit me in the face without anywarning, that’s when I knew it was time to make the hardest decision…which wasto choose career or family. It took acouple of months to really let this thought settle in to ensure I wasn’t makingan irrational decision based on emotions. But after really digging deep into my heart and soul and having “realtalk” conversations with my husband, I chose family over career. I applied for early retirement, got approved andretired in less than 90 days. Afterretirement, I did absolutely nothing but just cherished the blessings to beable to wake up and just relax and spend time with my family. My husband and I have lofty goals as newentrepreneurs trying to leverage our skills gained from the military and apply themto our businesses. How did we reallyknow this was the path we wanted to dive into? It was quite simple…we did not want to work for another person, corporationor government at all. Our goal was toestablish generational wealth so that our children wouldn’t have to worry aboutworking for someone else if they didn’t want to when they grew up. It was about having the peace of mind of nothaving to depend on someone else to put food on our family’s table or worryabout if we have enough money to raise a family. We wanted to break that cycle.
3. Where do you draw your inspiration?
I draw my inspirationfrom God and my family. I try to live mylife through my 3F philosophy of Faith, Family, and Fitness and applying themto my 5Gs method of putting God, Gratitude, Goals, Grind and Grit in thatrespective order. I’m also a huge “Lawof Attraction” believer, I strive daily to put out positive thoughts and vibesout so it echoes back the same energy I put out. It’s simple…thoughts become things…visualizeto actualize what you want in your life.
4. Whatis the biggest challenge in your industry or profession and how do you solveit?
The biggest challenge in our businesses right now sadly revolveson the quality of people…they are just not made from the same cloth compared tothe military. The struggle to findpeople who work hard and have a strong work ethic is a huge adjustment forus. Although we experienced these typesof people in the military, it seems like they are everywhere in the civilianworld…the values gap is definitely very noticeable. We haven’t really found a solution to thischallenge, but we have learned to adjust expectations and applied a lot moretraining and education, to build upon a foundation that we’d like to base ourbusiness on pure relationship. I totallybelieve that when a relationship is nurtured from the beginning, you can changea person’s work ethic and perspective in how they see that particular job orprofession. As far as my health andwellness business, trust is a huge challenge because people think that I’m justtrying to sell them something to make a profit, instead of focusing on thebenefits of what the program can do to change someone’s life. I have found that feeding my audience theright educational tools and helping them see the value that I’m bringing tothem really helps breakthrough the wall of trust.
5. Describethe experience of recognizing that others were responding to you as a leader.
I have found that planting the seeds of TLC (Trust, Loyalty, andCommitment) towards any person will bring anyone tremendous success and lastingrelationships. Sprinkle the seeds with adose of humility as well and it will immensely provide growth not only to you,but to those who look up to you, and next thing you know, you’ve built a tribethat cannot be broken apart.
6. Howdo you define work-life balance and how do you attain it?
I don’t believe in this at all…to be honest, this is a mantrathat no one, in my humble opinion has ever achieved. It’s great to attempt to apply it, but at theend of the day, you’ll get exhausted or overwhelmed trying to fulfill both at100%. This is straight up fantasy. There will be weeks when you feel like you’represent in all areas, but another week where you feel strongly pulled on oneside. I just don’t think “balance” isthe right word, it’s unattainable to me. Trust me, I’ve tried it but haven’t been successful. So, I prefer tolook at it as “work-life harmony.” Harmony is such a better word and is very subjective so it’s literallyup to the person on how to interpret or apply this in his/her own life. So, for me, it starts off with settinggoals/expectations. This is a familyaffair…every decision made should be a family decision, that’s how you maintainharmony/peace. Time management is a hugeplayer. You have to deliberately carveout time for “go-do’s, “me” time, family time, and rest. Getting into a routine that involves all ofyour life priorities will help maintain that harmony. Don’t make excuses why you can’t make thetime…we all have 1,440 minutes in a day, we just all carve them outdifferently, be deliberate about it because time is the most precious commodityand once it’s spent, you can never take it back. So, spend it wisely with the people you loveand most important to you.
7. What3 books do you recommend to others who wish to follow a similar path?
My 3 favorite books are: As a Man Thinketh, H3 Leadership, andThe Alchemist. These books willdefinitely change anyone’s perspective in life, like it did for me.
8. Describeyour definition of a “defining moment” and if you are willing, please share oneof yours.
“Defining Moment” for me is when you have to choose between lifeor death, or something of such huge value/importance to you. My “defining moment” definitely happened whenI had to choose between my Airmen and my family. It was the toughest decision I had to makebecause I truly love my Air Force and the family that I have gained throughoutmy career, but at the same time, I had to tell myself that I’ve shared 23 yearsof my life with my Airmen and that it was time to part ways because my familycould not share it with them anymore, unless I wanted to finish this careeralone. I still look back to this day andreflect at those times, and I can’t help by smile to know that I’ve left alegacy where my presence is sorely missed.
9. Howdo you define success?
I define success not by measurement of how much money you havein the bank, how many businesses you own, how big your house is, or whateverother materialistic or narcissistic reasons that most people these days wouldmeasure it by…I simply define success by how much I make others feelvalued. It’s all about the emotionalconnections you have with people and how you’ve changed their lives for thebetter. That’s what makes me sleep goodat night and that’s what I strive to do every day…making a difference, oneperson at a time.
10. If you could have a conversation withanyone present or past, who would it be? What questions would you ask?
Wow, this is a tough one. I would pick Martin Luther King. I would simply ask him what he would do totackle the issues our country is facing right now. And what he thinks of how our country hasevolved since the march.
11. Favorite motivational quote?
I have tons of motivational quotes that I constantly use to getme going but my favorite is this: “Character is how you treat others who can donothing for you!”
12. What’s the best advise you have everreceived?
I’d say best advise I’ve ever received is “Never allow anyonesteal your joy, stay true to yourself, and go for what makes you happy!”
13. What rituals or practices do you doto keep you motivated?
Crafting my goals and progress keep me accountable andmotivated. There’s nothing sweeter thanseeing the fruits of labor when you put in the work. But before you’re able to see that, you mustset a goal, trip on it every day, and crush every milestone you’ve set so youcan get to the finish line. Once there,reward yourself then repeat! I totallybelieve that there’s absolutely no way you can achieve success unless you’veset a goal and roadmap to get there. Youcan’t get to the goal without a plan. Whetheryou like it or not, a plan is required.
14. Any final words you’d like to pass onto the readers?
- I’d like to say THANKYOU to all of you for taking the time to read Llama Leadership articles, thisis a profound venue to help all of us elevate each other and find commongrounds to get through life’s challenges. Thank you, JB, for allowing me to be a part of this journey. Lastly, I’d like to put a “shameless plug”for my health and wellness and real estate businesses. If you’d like to jumpstart and take controlof your life, visit and like my FB page ND’s Healthy Living Tribe or contact meat NspireDeliberately@gmail.com. And ifyou’re looking to buy, sell, or invest, please contact me at NDresidences@yahoo.comJ