Myrtle Beach, SC Introducing Nona Danforth, a remarkable entrepreneur with a multifaceted journey of personal growth and professional success. Nona’s story is one of resilience and transformation, marked by significant milestones including a stunning 150-pound weight loss and a leap into the world of real estate, where she found freedom and fulfillment. With a passion for helping others, Nona and her husband offer coaching in creative real estate financing, prioritizing people over profits. Beyond business, Nona’s excitement for French bulldogs is evident as she eagerly anticipates a new litter. Through her experiences and philosophies, Nona exemplifies the power of prioritizing personal growth, putting people first, and embracing life’s diverse passions.
Collins II:
Who is Nona Danforth?
Danforth:
So, I am multifaceted. I’m a little bit wild, a little bit reserved, a bit extroverted, a bit introverted. I absolutely adore—when I say adore, I mean the things that mean so much to me and that others can benefit from. Giving back and sharing things that have personally benefited me, like real estate, which has given me time freedom. I love talking about real estate, hoping someone will say, “Yeah, I need to do that too,” and then they have time freedom too. Health and fitness are big for me, especially nutrition. I lost over 150 pounds and kept it off, largely due to educating myself about nutrition. Also, mindset—what I call mind rewiring. We are born into stories we’re told by our parents and influenced by schools, teachers, and peers. Many people don’t realize they’re molded by these stories, leading to what feels like a midlife crisis, even if you’re not midlife. When you’re conscious that you dislike many things, it often stems from past trauma or stories from childhood. Rewiring the mind helps us move forward positively. I used to be incredibly pessimistic, always preparing for the worst. You can prepare for the worst without being pessimistic; optimism has benefits.
Collins II:
Great. Can you share when you realized life wasn’t going the way you wanted and that you needed to make changes?
Danforth:
That’s a great question. When did I realize I didn’t like the choices I’d made? Early on, as a young mom—I got pregnant at 18, had my first child at 19, and was pregnant again right after. I stayed pregnant for two years with screaming kids; I knew I messed up. Mom was right—though I didn’t like admitting it in my late teens or early twenties. Did this ignite change? No, because I was naive, ignorant, and still felt like I could conquer the world. When we’re young, we have unrealistic, fearless attitudes. I continued living that way until around age 28 when I realized something needed to change. Raising two children on my own as a single mom made me start looking at myself so they wouldn’t repeat my mistakes. I began educating myself around 28, but change didn’t start happening because I didn’t apply my education. I was unsure what to do with it or felt unready or unwilling. It took until I was 32. I tell my kids I’m sorry it took me so long to dive in and start changing myself. At 32, my kids were older, and I began asking them to change some of the stories and lessons I had taught them. From there, I made efforts every day and year to implement changes and evaluate my progress.
Collins II:
One of your big passions is real estate. Can you share with us what you’re doing in that space and why it means so much to you?
Danforth:
Yes, real estate—let me break free from the chains of the traditional 9-to-5. Anyone who’s worked a 9-to-5 understands this. When I say 9-to-5, it’s not just about the hours but the typical job structure. I worked in medical administration for 20 years while doing real estate on the side. I never fully committed or believed in myself enough to leave a job with guaranteed pay, especially as a single mom needing health insurance. Then I met my husband, a contractor, who proposed that I quit my job to join his real estate venture. Initially, I said no, but he convinced me. Within months of starting our business together, we saw rapid success. I was able to walk away from my job without looking back. Real estate investing now provides me with time freedom since it’s automated. It’s the greatest relief—I can breathe freely, not stuck in the grind of a traditional job.
Collins II:
You mentioned meeting your husband at a pivotal time. Could you explain how the changes you made impacted the type of relationship you attracted at that moment?… Especially for women seeking a significant other but facing challenges in finding on.
Danforth:
So, this is going to be a funny story that might surprise you. When I met my husband, I was at a point in my life where I was focused on personal growth. I had just ended an on-again, off-again relationship with someone who wasn’t interested in growth—neither individually nor together. It was clear that we weren’t compatible in that way, so walking away was easy. I had reached a point where I was okay with being single, even if it meant being single for life. I had a supportive network of peers and friends who were all about personal growth, which was crucial.
Fast forward to when I was on Tinder, and that’s where I met my husband. Yes, on the actual dating app, that surprises everyone. Before meeting him, I’m a woman of faith, and I had prayed, telling God that I was okay with being single if that was His plan, but to show me the right signs if someone was meant for me. We met on Tinder, and on the same day we connected on the app, we met in person. We got married three days later—yes, on the third day.
Collins II:
Oh, wow!
Danforth:
We’ve now celebrated six years of marriage.
Collins II:
Wow, congrats!
Danforth:
Thank you. So, this is one of those stories where you might wonder if it really works. I wasn’t chopped up and put in a trunk, and he didn’t take my money. Instead, we grew together. I truly attribute all of this to God, who placed this man in my life and vice versa. He is a man of strong faith, which is something we share. When we met, it was unlike any dating experience I’d had before. Our conversations were like interviews—direct and to the point. We asked each other about our goals, backgrounds, and what we wanted in life. It made things so easy because there was no time wasted. I felt like I’d been doing dating wrong my whole life. I thought, I should have just exchanged resumes and gone from there. It made things so easy.
Collins II:
Yeah, I wanted to ask about that because what you just mentioned could really help others—women or men—to navigate the challenges of finding the right partner in today’s world. Your story of yielding to God, being okay with being single, focusing on self-development, and taking a chance on a dating site—it all led you to finding the person God intended for you.
Danforth:
Yes.
Collins II:
During our virtual coffee, you mentioned helping others get into real estate. Is that through coaching or something similar?
Danforth:
Yes, we have a coaching program for creative financing in real estate. It’s about non-traditional house purchasing, which has fueled our business’s rapid growth. We prioritize people over profits, whether it’s helping sellers who can’t sell their properties traditionally or assisting buyers who can’t qualify for a mortgage. Our program focuses on houses in median price ranges, which allows us to place people into homes they thought they couldn’t afford, with better school environments for their children. We love helping both buyers and sellers in this way.
Collins II:
Nice. Earlier in this interview, you mentioned your passion for health and fitness and your significant weight loss, which I only learned about a few days ago from a photo you posted on Facebook. Could you share more about your weight loss journey and a few tips that helped you lose 150 pounds?
Danforth:
Yeah, I lost a little over 150 pounds. My story isn’t one of being big my whole life. I was pretty average and athletic as a child, into various sports. Then I got pregnant at 18 and had my two kids. I gained weight after my pregnancies—oddly, I was smaller pregnant than after due to birth control. I gained weight, lost some when I went off birth control, then gained more over the years. Later, I had a back injury when I met my husband and was on steroids for a year, causing me to balloon up. I’m 5’3″ and was weighing right around 300 pounds—way too much for someone my height. I tried everything—shots, different diets. I’d try a diet, lose 30 pounds, then gain back 50. It was a nightmare. So, I had to do something. Being older in my forties, I realized I didn’t want to die young or face the health issues that come with being morbidly obese, as I was termed medically. Education was key—I needed a complete lifestyle change, not just diets. If I could change mentally through mind rewiring, why couldn’t I do the same for my body?
I’ve become a certified nutrition and fitness trainer because I’m passionate about sharing what I’ve learned. Doctors often prescribe medications instead of educating patients on lifestyle changes. One big issue I see is lack of protein intake. Protein is crucial for metabolism and burning fat, yet most people don’t get enough. They eat too many carbs for quick energy, which isn’t ideal. Shifting to a protein-based, lower-carb diet can make a huge difference. I don’t feel like I’m missing out—I’ll have a bite of cake here and there, but overall, it’s about rewiring your mindset and preparing your body.
I’m blessed to help others with this journey. One client has lost over a hundred pounds, and seeing others succeed is incredibly rewarding.
Collins II:
So what’s next for Nona Danforth?
Danforth:
Oh, what’s next? Frenchies! I’m a French bulldog lover, and we’re hoping our female is pregnant. We breed Frenchies, and we should find out in a week if she’s expecting through an ultrasound. In about a month and a week, she’ll be due, and then it’ll be all about the Frenchies!
Collins II:
How can people contact you for real estate services or coaching?
Danforth:
They can reach me through Facebook or Instagram. On Facebook, I’m under Nona Danforth, and on Instagram it’s @NonaDanforth.
Collins II:
In conclusion, what would you like to say to the readers of the Anointed News Journal?
Danforth:
Always put people over profits. As a multi-business owner, I’ve learned that putting people first is the key to success. If you genuinely help others, blessings will follow. Thank you.
Nona Danforth’s story is a testament to the transformative power of personal growth and perseverance. From overcoming significant weight loss challenges to thriving in the real estate industry, Nona’s journey exemplifies the importance of prioritizing self-improvement and helping others along the way. Her commitment to putting people over profits underscores her success as a business owner and coach, leaving a lasting impact on those she encounters.
By Christopher Collins II
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