Daryn Kagan is a former CNN anchor, author, and founder of DarynKagan.com. From the Web site:
“Daryn Kagan is the creator and host of DarynKagan.com, an inspirational online community that features a daily Web cast of stories that, “Show the World What is Possible.” DarynKagan.com has become a daily destination for thousands of Internet users who seek news stories that inspire. Launched in November 2006, the Atlanta Journal Constitution described DarynKagan.com as “a lively gathering spot,” while the Boston Globe noted DarynKagan.com is “bucking the media tide,” with its “emphasis on stories that illustrate the triumph of the human spirit.”
You can read more about Daryn here.
Daryn is a former CNN anchor. She worked there for twelve years before she was told that her contract wouldn’t get renewed. At first she was sad, but inside she knew she was done. She talked about how we all do daily news casts in our heads. You collect stories in your head and she realized that inspiration comes in pieces.
While it was upsetting, she knew that something was coming. She looked at the possibility of launching a site about positive news (awesome). She was inspired by another reporter who focused on war zones. And she thought “why not positive stuff?”
Incidentally, she featured Allison Clarke as one of her first features on her site. She does love bucket stories… all great love stories. She does daily videos, email blasts, and focuses on uplifting stories. Daryn reinvented herself from what the world knew her as. She talks about what happens when the thing that you do and how you define yourself goes away? She says it’s an opportunity to reinvent yourself as something bigger and better.
Daryn doesn’t miss the news world. She loves that she did it, but she loves what she’s doing even more. The most surprising thing for Daryn has been finding out that you can’t do everything yourself. That’s what she wanted to do in the beginning, but her younger sister convinced her otherwise.
Daryn actually pitched her positive site idea to Yahoo! And they passed. So she did it herself. Her sister encouraged her to start her own site, rebrand herself and grow from there. Daryn had no desire to own her own business. Daryn says she has thing about getting picked. By doing her own thing, she was able to “pick herself.”
You can tell she loves her life and she loves what she does. Again, the excitement in the air is infectious. Daryn goes on to discuss that when you give your all and when you stay positive, what you need shows up in front of you.
Daryn’s first big step was to register her own domain. She picked her name. When she went to purchase it, the name was taken. She had been cyber squatted. She was told to prepare lots of money. She sent the current owner a nice email. He called her the next day and they chatted. He told her she could have it without any issues and it all went smoothly.
Daryn’s book, What’s Possible, is all about people who overcome amazing obstacles and do amazing things. She features two Launching Ladies in her book. She has done a lot in 18 months: a new site, her new book, and two documentaries.
Daryn has a great business strategy. She doesn’t have a Web site – she has a media company. She owns her own stories on the site, corporate speaking engagements, and advertisements all work to her revenue model. She talks about how individuals are getting the power that newspapers and traditional media has.
Awesome lady. Awesome site. Check it out.
