The Powerful Journey From Immigrant to 1099 Wound Care Success
In this episode of the Medical Sales Podcast, Samuel Adeyinka sits down with Dayana Gill to break down what it really takes to succeed as a 1099 wound care rep, from building discipline, structure, and a strong entrepreneurial mindset to creating your own opportunities in a competitive industry. Dayana shares her inspiring journey into medical sales, how personal experiences shaped her passion for wound care, and why embracing her identity as an immigrant became a strength rather than a limitation. She also dives into the realities of working independently, managing your own territory, staying organized, creating content, and consistently pushing toward bigger goals, making this a must-listen for anyone considering the 1099 path or looking to take full ownership of their success in medical sales.
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Transcription:
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
Hello, and welcome to the Medical Sales Podcast. I’m your host, Samuel, the founder of a revolutionary medical sales training and mentorship program called the Medical Sales Career Builder. And I’m also host of the Medical Sales Podcast.
On this podcast, I interview top medical sales reps and leading medical sales executives across the entire world. It doesn’t matter what medical sales industry, from medical device to pharmaceutical to genetic testing and diagnostic lab. You name it. You will learn how to either break into the industry, be a top 10 percent performer within your role, or climb the corporate ladder.
Welcome to the Medical Sales Podcast. And remember, I am a medical sales expert sharing my own opinion about this amazing industry and how it can change your life.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
So right now you’re a wound care representative.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
Yes. I’m a wound care rep, and I’m 1099.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
Let’s hang out there for a little bit.
A lot of people listening want to get into medical sales. A lot are already in medical sales. We even have physicians and clinicians listening.
Explain to everybody. 1099 wound care. What is that. What does it look like. How does it work.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
When I was searching the medical device industry, I was applying to many different companies and they kept saying, you need at least two years of experience.
And I was like, I’ve been in sales for 13 years. I’ve been entrepreneurial in the fitness and wellness industry. I’m just not in medical device, but I know I can sell.
So I was like, I will be the company that believes in myself. I’ll prove it to myself too.
I needed to get my foot in the door to start.
And I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset. I’ve been a place owner, a franchise owner, and I’ve worked with influencers. So this mindset already existed in me.
Being 1099 is like having your own business.
You need discipline. You need goals. Daily goals, monthly goals, yearly goals. You need tasks.
From this time to this time, I’m doing this. From this time to this time, I’m doing that.
My mind doesn’t stop. It’s constantly thinking how I can reach doctors, how I can keep clients, how I can keep adults, what I can do next.
So you need real discipline.
And I love wound care. It’s sensitive for me.
When I was 12, I lost my dad. In the last months of his life, he was holding on to a mistake to be able to walk because he had a wound on his foot. It was heartbreaking.
Since then, I always knew I wanted to do something connected to health.
That’s why I chose wound care.
My target doctors are podiatrists. I also work with orthopedic surgeons, OB GYNs, and vascular doctors. Any type of wound.
And I love what I do.
I try to diversify my portfolio and bring different options to doctors that can create better outcomes for their patients.
I don’t work in an operating room. It’s more private practice.
That’s what I do.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
In your role, do you work with a team, or are you pretty autonomous with a territory.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
I have my own territory, so I work by myself.
The CEO is in Denver too, so it’s nice because we work together. If I need help, if I have doubts about a product or what to do, he’s there for me.
We have weekly meetings.
But I’m by myself.
And I always think big, how to grow, how to have my own distributorship and have sales reps working with me. Because one mind is great, but two or three minds working together is even better.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
That’s impressive.
So wound care 1099, smaller company, but you’ve driven enough business that it’s doing really well.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
Yes, and like you said, it’s discipline.
You need goals. How many accounts I want to open per month. How much I want to make.
It’s a lot of discipline.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
What I love about your story is it shows people the opportunity isn’t only W2.
If you have discipline and structure, you can take a 1099 role and make it profitable and sustainable.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
It is.
Sometimes you make more money, you pass your goals.
And with W2, it’s about the system. You have goals, but you go through the system to reach them.
With 1099, every small achievement matters. It’s like climbing a mountain.
And not everything goes as planned. You step back, ask what happened, and change what you do.
It’s a learning process.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
How long have you been in the position.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
Since February. Nine months.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
For you to have this much success and fun this early, that’s huge.
I want to talk about being an immigrant.
Some people think if they have an accent, it will get in the way.
You’re proof that’s not the case.
Talk to us about that. Does being an immigrant help, hurt, or force you to navigate differently.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
Sometimes companies are on the fence because you have an accent.
That’s one reason I started doing videos.
I’ve been here 13 years. My Brazilian accent never goes away.
But it’s not because I have an accent that I can’t sell. Or I’m not smart enough. Or I can’t do the job.
It’s just an accent. It’s not going away.
Sometimes I wish it would, but it’s part of me.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
Could it help you.
Because in sales, we need to be memorable. We need to leave an impression.
Having an accent, knowing your stuff, being part of the business, that’s memorable.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
Yes. I think it helps show who I am.
And it’s funny because two girls reached out to me on LinkedIn. One from Thailand, one from China.
One is a nurse and trying to break into medical sales, but she’s worried about her accent.
I told her, embrace it. Bring your personality. Be yourself.
That’s the most important thing. Be yourself. Don’t be afraid.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
Now let’s talk about 1099 wound care specifically.
What type of person should consider a 1099 wound care role.
And what type of person should stay far away from it.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
Honestly, I think everybody can be 1099.
Sometimes you’re just afraid. You have sales inside you. You just need to bring it out and embrace it.
But if you’re still concerned about how you will make money in the beginning, or you don’t know how to build discipline, routines, and organization, then W2 might feel more stable because you have base salary.
But if you have a mindset for bigger goals, and you want to be your own boss, and you have discipline, and you want to prove to yourself you can do it and exceed your goals, then 1099 is for you.
You have more freedom.
And it’s nice because you can build a portfolio. Different doctors like different products, different prices.
If you understand their needs, you can bring solutions.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
What is the biggest challenge. The hardest thing about being a 1099 wound care rep.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
The biggest challenge is knowing where you want to be and making it happen.
My life is a challenge every day because everything depends on me.
I don’t have base salary coming every month.
I have to remember my why, my goals, constantly.
And I need to be organized.
If you’re not organized as 1099, you get lost.
Every single night, the night before, I plan the next day.
From this time in the morning I’m doing this. In the afternoon I’m doing this.
It’s easy to get lost, so organization is a big challenge.
And I’m always proving to myself I can do it.
Don’t be scared. Don’t be afraid. Go make things happen.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
Where do you find the time to create content.
And what has content done for your business.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
After I put my kids to bed, that’s when I have realistic time.
That’s when I read a book, have time for myself, and create content.
I create content because my mind doesn’t stop. As 1099 you need to think all the time how you can be driven, reach the doctors you want, and make them your clients.
I want to help people think the same way.
I think the sun rises for everybody. Everyone has their own shine.
I don’t want to hold anything for myself. I want to spread the word.
If it’s helping me, it can help other people too.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
This was awesome.
Before we wrap, where can the audience find you.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
On my LinkedIn. Dayana Gill.
I’m on Instagram and Facebook too, but LinkedIn is where I’m at.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
We’re going to do the Lightning Round.
Four questions. Less than ten seconds to answer. Are you ready.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
Oh my gosh. Yes, I am ready.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
First question. Best book you’ve read in the last six months.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
Atomic Habits.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
Did it reinforce what you do, or did you learn new things.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
I learned a lot. How important habits are and where you want to be.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
Best TV show or movie you’ve seen in the last six months.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
I don’t watch a lot of TV, but The Boys in the Boat.
It’s a true story about the Olympics. Inspiration. Working together, persistence, and goals.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
Best meal in the last six months. Restaurant, item, location.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
In Denver, in the Highlands neighborhood. The restaurant is Alma, from Delfina.
It’s contemporary Mexican food.
It’s hard to get a reservation. The waitlist is like three months.
The item is the avocado margarita. I never tried that before and it was amazing.
And a sweet potato appetizer with a sauce that was so good.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
We’ll put the restaurant and item in the show notes.
Last question. Best experience you’ve had in the last six months.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
A solo trip to London.
My birthday is July 9, so I went to London by myself.
I was nervous, but it was a cool experience.
I stayed in a hostel to meet people and experience different cultures.
It was beautiful, and it gave me time for myself to think about life and energize my soul.
Samuel Adeyinka (Host):
That sounds beautiful.
Dayana, thank you so much for your time today. Thank you for being on the show. We can’t wait to hear more about your position and everything you’re doing.
Dayana Gill (Guest):
Thank you so much for the opportunity. I really appreciate it.