We were lucky to catch up with Dejah Mason recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Dejah with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?
I really do get my work ethic from my dad. He’s worked day and night to provide for our family and with that, it showed me that this is how a hard working, determined person is supposed to work. Both of my parents were in the army so there was little room for error when it came to how hard we were supposed to work.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Hi guys! I’m your foodie friend, Dee, and I go around to different local food places (particularly in St. Louis because that’s where I live but I’m not limited there!) and tell you guys about them. I love finding places and telling my friends and family about them so having this platform is so fun and adventurous! I get to meet more people that just want to support the community and eat great food in the process. Sometimes you just need to switch it up and that’s why I’m here! I also try and bring a foodie friend along with me to each place so they can also tell others about the places we go!
I have a lot of content coming out so stay tuned and check into my IG Stories for first looks!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Communication, curiosity, and adaptability.
In this journey, communication is key because if you don’t reach out to places to put yourself into those spaces, or if you don’t reach out to the same people that are doing the same things as you, how will you get the experience? I love being able to talk to others that have waaay more followers than me to see what they do, and they even bring me along which I’m always grateful for.
Curiosity is so needed because if you are just doing things to collect a check, where’s the fun in it? I love seeking out new food places and new coffee shops wherever I go and my friends know to always be with me when there’s a new place because I will always find a great spot!
Adaptability is a useful skill to have because the world is forever changing. Social media algorithms are a rollercoaster so you have to learn and tackle it head on before it swallows you up (which I’m still learning!).
If you’re early on in your food influencer journey, don’t be afraid to reach out to that influencer with all the followers! I bet they’d love to have you on board. Saint Louis is so welcoming and community driven, we are just all trying to make it.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
There are so many people that come to mind!
@bradenstl has been such a help throughout this whole journey! It can be so easy to not respond to the small fries (literally though he’s so tall) but he takes the time to invite me places, hosts talks and workshops to help people know how to do this whole things and to hone in on their craft. He’s always welcoming and I can’t wait to see what he has in store for his new foodie food festival.
@itsepiceats is also another guy that is very authentic. I love seeing him at events because he seeks me out and always checks in to see how I’m doing, while also making sure to tell me to record content and get it out there always! He’s got 90K followers and is still always so humble and trying to show St. Louis all the spots.
Sorry last one! @originaldante usually is behind the scenes but his content and his creator tips and tricks are always so great to see. It’s literally masterclasses as to how to become a content creator, and he makes it fun in his YouTube videos!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foodie_friend_dee?igsh=aTVobTQzc3RreWZv&utm_source=qr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@foodie_friend_dee?si=qqwhD9GQybDCC1fY
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=BWUZMEvBr6NSJzFf89KtKQ&utm_source=ishare
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@foodie_friend_dee?_t=ZT-8xwIT9GfEwR&_r=1
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
