Dreams are not just those that we see with our eyes closed, but also those that light up a deep desire inside us that refuses to die down until achieved. And do we even achieve a dream without a hurdle thrown in the middle? Never heard of that!
When Demetra Davis started her second innings after being honorably discharged from the United States Air Force, she was determined to start her career as a nurse. She completed her studies as a Registered Nurse at the University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, and immediately went to work in the Medical and Surgical ICU in the Baptist Health Care System.
Her career grew swiftly as she made some difficult decisions about the direction of her career and the knowledge that she wanted to obtain about patient care and healthcare in general. She began learning more about the track that patients were taking, their care plans, and discharge plans and soon came into her niche as a RN Case Manager. She obtained her certification in case management from the Commission of Case Management Certification in 2000. She became a Director of Case Management and supervised “great Registered Nurses and Social Workers who also cared about the complex navigation that patients go through in their most vulnerable times.”
All was going smoothly until there came an extremely complex barrier that Demetra could not overcome. She began losing her vision due Glaucoma in her early 30s. While not anticipating the loss of her vision as swiftly as it transitioned; Demetra continued to work through the loss of peripheral vision and the pain that the disease brought with it. “Working in the lighting of the hospital was so painful. My eyes would hurt, they would become so red that the days at work lost their innate joy,” she recalls.
After several eye surgeries, it became too difficult to work, read, and look at a computer screen. In 2014, Demetra had her last days as a Director of Case Management in the hospital setting. Just as Demetra had a desire to serve in the military, and a desire to serve as a Registered Nurse taking care of others, that desire remained in spite of her physical condition. That was the inspiration that led to Gordavi, LLC.
The Dream. The Vision.
Gordavi was established in 2018 as a consulting firm to assist others in bringing their dreams to life. The goal is to assist others with establishing their own business – be it for-profit or non-profit. There is training for those new to owning a business and assistance with process improvement, and strategic and marketing planning for those who are already in business but simply need a helping hand.
In 2021, Gordavi became a government contractor, providing services such as Leadership Development and Training, coaching services, and personal and team personality and work assessments to include 360-degree assessments. In 2022, professional business and life coaching was added to the portfolio of services. In 2023, Demetra obtained woman-owned, service-disabled veteran-owned, and minority enterprise certifications for Gordavi, LLC. She also assists others who desire to become government contractors.
Providing the Healing Touch
In 2022, Demetra started Take20ForLife, Inc. a non-profit that focuses on suicide prevention and intervention. Although there had been a global pandemic, COVID-19, the epidemic of suicide has still not had appropriate intervention as evidenced by the increasing numbers.
Take20ForLife, Inc. has a therapeutic website, focused on providing education, comfort, and mental health techniques to assist in aiding those who are thinking of suicide – to pause – Take 20 minutes to think about what you are thinking about. While, theoretically, it does take longer than 20 minutes to change a mind, the provision of options to help people remember the beauty that still exists in the world is an important option to have and a beginning to saving a life.
The goal of Take20ForLife, Inc. is to heal, encourage, educate, and eventually have a brick-and-mortar facility where mental health providers can provide treatment and care to those who are in need and suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other conditions which may lead to suicidal ideations. The on-site facilities would also provide a place for bereavement support groups for those impacted by the loss of a loved one due to suicide.
What stops people from self-healing?
The biggest obstacle to self-healing, says Demetra, is “self”. Most of us tend to not place as much importance on the need for self-care, self-regeneration, or even self-love.
“One of the things I am trying to do to assist in that area is the beginning of a K-university, National Institute of B.L.A.C.C. Art and Education. B.L.A.C.C. is an acronym for Building Legacy Artistry Community Culture. I believe that for people to truly love themselves, they MUST know and believe in the greatness that exists within them. B.L.A.C.C. will be a place that allows for the education of ALL history, Black History, and other cultures. It is important to know who you are and where you came from. Some powerful people in history are African American:
inventors, politicians, and our newly appointed Supreme Court Justice. These are people who create history and when our youth actually see that they can BE like those who have walked before them, their self-esteem and self-love can grow,” explains Demetra.
B.L.A.C.C. is for all cultures; however, it is important to know that we recognize it is important to combine legacy, education, artistry, and mindfulness of who one is. Demetra often says “Continue to walk in the GREATNESS that is YOU” and when she says that to people, she means it. She wants them to know they matter. Everyone matters. Black Lives Matter.
Reaching Out with Technology
For Demetra, it’s actually quite amazing, being 55 years old, and seeing the changes of technology over the past 3 decades as she has worked in various roles. She agrees that we simply cannot live without it. The use of artificial intelligence for education, grant development, social media posting, and so much more does take some of the edges off of time constraints; however, she also points out that our words are so important that we still have to “humanize” and individualize what the message is.
“We still have to impart our own vision into all that we do. Gordavi has a goal of being a global trader of technology and has partnered with large technology companies to make that dream and goal a reality,” she says.
The Dynamic World and Living a Holistic Life
Holistic life: the caring of all parts of a person including Body, Mind, and Soul, seems to have become less of a priority today, feels Demetra. For people to be their best selves, there has to be some sense of holistic living. The pace of today’s business world, personal life, and spiritual derision encompasses each of us; however, separating that from personal global health, requires the relegating of some things today in order to be here tomorrow. Shifting and prioritizing is a part of existence today and that shifting and prioritizing must also be included for one’s self.
“When business becomes too much, when physical harm, mental stress, and the sheer incarceration of the mind weighs over life itself – one must stop. How feasible?
My grandmother used to say “If you don’t take the time to make sure your body is healed, your body will take the time from you to heal itself”. That stands true today,” shares Demetra.
To stay mindful and stable in today’s dynamic world, the incorporation of goals into a business and maintaining those goals at the forefront of one’s mind is imperative as a business owner.
Without goals, there is no direction.
Although change is a constant in life, in business, and in the world, referring back to the “WHY” of the business and the “HOW” that the goals will be obtained makes it easier for flexibility to occur. In essence, what Demetra wants to say is that if you have direction, then you know where to turn when needed. Having a plan to change the course of a business became an obvious necessity in light of COVID-19. How do you prepare for the on-site of an almost global shutdown? Of course, we didn’t know that could happen – but now that we do, there are processes in place for a quick shift to remote employment, for a quick shift to communication to team members within organizations, and, unfortunately, also measures of “essential services” versus those which can be flexed or delayed. We learned a lot from COVID-19.
Vision for the Future
Gordavi, LLC was created to be a legacy company.
The “Gor” is the first part of Demetra’s grandson’s last name, Lennox Gorham. The “Davi” of course, is her last name.
In the years to come, Demetra would like for her grandson to take the company and turn it into what his vision might be. Having not come from generational wealth, Demetra finds it unfortunate that those who have a true desire to create a business have to start from scratch and indeed struggle. Of course, not everyone comes from a position of money, networks, or power; however, if it is within our ability to leave something to our children – to our legacy – what a wonderful feeling that would be. She wants to do that. She wants to do that. That is why she put his name, in combination with hers, on the business. She hopes that will inspire him to create a legacy for his children one day as well.
Gordavi is motivated by giving. They set aside 10% of all earnings to begin a foundation that will benefit women and children who are in need. “It is a sad day when we hear of single mothers in such desperate situations that they “give up” on life. That should never be. I have a customized small 18-wheeler that I put on my desk. This is the inspiration that one day, Gordavi will ship clothes, food, shoes, blankets, and other necessities to women and children to take the pressure off of those who are doing the very best that they can. Having been raised by a single mother and been a single mother myself, I know that struggle and how it can impact your self-esteem and self-worth. Gordavi will aim to combat that,” concludes Demetra.
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Demetra’s Message for the Young Entrepreneurs:
For me personally, I can’t do anything without the Lord Jesus Christ. I was saved at the age of 13 and cannot imagine my life without the relationship that I have with God. My faith allows me to have comfort, hope, counsel, and continued encouragement when things get tough.
All that said, my advice to young professionals would be to “Do it”. Yes, that would be what I would say.
We all dream about success but feel that success must come on the heels of others. If you want to be an entrepreneur, do it. If you want to own a business and craft your own path, do it.
Yes, there is fear, there is uncertainty but those feelings come in every career. Why not step out and just do it afraid? Will there be a failure? Sure. Success comes through failing…over and over…until you find the success you are looking for. So “Do it”.
Quote:
In all things be true to self. That has been my life motto for the past 30 years.
My life goal is Psalm 27:4 “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.” This gives me direction. This is me being true to myself.
