We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dice Moreno. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with dice below.
Dice, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
At 19 years old, I was taking community college classes and working as an Emergency Medical Technician. The training is short and intense, and then you begin riding along with more senior staff. I remember being in awe of their ability to remain calm under pressure. No matter the chaos on a scene, if one spoke with authority and measure, patients and bystanders would respond accordingly. Clear communication and a soothing tone can open doors and build bridges.
These lessons have stayed with me in every board room, and on every stage since. Self regard wasn’t always my strong suit, but I credit my success with being able to embody confidence.
I think the other key to my success is a willingness to put myself out there and make mistakes. Mistakes literally form new neural pathways in our brain and cements new knowledge. New things can be hard and scary, but life is long, with plenty of time to reimagine ourselves. This is the start of my second career. Starting over was not easy. I worked long hours, pushed myself mentally, physically, and emotionally. I put myself out there for critique, and wrestled with my own sense of worth. What I learned is that the hard things have big rewards. It’s never too late!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
We built our business around the idea that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and kindness. We wanted to be able to give back in tangible ways to our community. In the last year that looked like free haircuts for houseless neighbors, donations to local QTPOC and LGBTQ serving organizations, and mentoring and educating youth in cosmetology/film/media. We’re honored to work alongside so many creatives in San Diego and beyond. Whether we’re producing 48 Hour Film Projects, doing photo shoots, or hair and makeup at our friends’ weddings, we are blessed to be surrounded by people who share our values and support each other endlessly.
Maybe I don’t say it enough, but my wife and business partner Veronica has opened up my world in ways I didn’t know were possible. Her well of creativity is only topped by her positive attitude and courage. She inspires me to keep growing, keep honing my craft, keep peeling away the layers of life’s possibilities.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
As a young person, I felt like I spoke another language from the people around me. I felt I wasn’t understood despite my best efforts. This drove me deep into literature and later into a Bachelor’s in English. Relationships, the work place, friendship, civic life; all of these hinge on our ability to choose the right words. I have no romantic attachment to the old school except when it comes to face to face discussion. Where we get stuck these days is behind a screen. Face to face there is accountability. Face to face there is room to build trust. My advice to anyone early in their journey is to invest in yourself with reading and critical analysis. Learn to hold on to what you want to say until you’ve chewed on it for a bit. Learn to say precisely what you mean. Look for opportunities to ask deeper questions, practice active listening, and be humble enough to apologize.
Mainstream media will have you believe it’s normal to “hustle” between multiple jobs to make ends meet. I don’t think it’s normal, but I do think it’s necessary. The realities of AI and globalization are here. The way I’ve kept food in my belly is through versatility. A “say yes” mentality means I’ve said yes to plenty of jobs I barely qualified for on paper. It means I’ve taught myself plenty of skills on the fly, and “faked it til I made it” plenty more. From that position, your brain is in overdrive. It literally builds new synapses to make the thing happen. Trust it!
Breath work! In life, pain and discomfort are not optional. Whether it’s a job that pushes you to your limit, or an injury that distracts your mind, breath work can bring you back into your body. Breath work can bring you closer to your God. Breath work can show you parts of yourself you’ve neglected. Breath work can stretch your back after a long day. Breath work can buy you a minute while your mind catches up. Make room for it, and it will make room for you.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
On Becoming a Person by Carl Rogers is one book that has changed my approach to life and serving others. Rogers coined the phrase “unconditional positive regard.” He asserts that everyone is doing their best every single day. Even when you don’t love the behavior someone is presenting, holding this core belief allows you to show up to the conversation with a sense of empathy and patience. Badly behaved people are often hurt people, and their actions are coming from a place of fear or anxiety. Knowing this allows me to release my own need for self preservation. Their actions truly have nothing to do with me. If I can show up with that curiosity and love, the possibilities for a positive outcome unfold.
Another golden nugget from this book is “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.” I love this so much because I think our culture works hard to suppress our true authenticity. People’s hesitance to post raw images of their face, or of their vulnerable moments is proof of this. In my own life, it wasn’t until I was able to embrace my imperfection that I began to grow. Accepting my own judgmental tendencies, my own perfectionism, my own rebelliousness, has allowed me to identify and hone in on cosmetology as a place I can thrive. It wasn’t until I figured out what I didn’t want, that I could truly see what I did.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://geofox.studio/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geofox.studio/
Image Credits
@alybuckles took the orange photo
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
