We were lucky to catch up with Dillon Kivo recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dillon, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
It’s the values instilled in me by my parents and by the religious environment I was brought up in. My father, despite health challenges, provided a nurturing and caring atmosphere, while my mother’s tireless efforts to keep the family financially afloat showcased the importance of hard work, perseverance, and faith. Their combined efforts, alongside the principles of humility, service, and diligence emphasized in and out of my home life, formed a strong foundation for my own work ethic.
The adversities faced by my parents, underscore the transformative power of resilience, ambition, and a pursuit of betterment. Everybody, I believe, has a story, that, though unique in its trajectory, echoes a common theme of overcoming challenges through perseverance, adaptability, and a ceaseless desire to improve — traits that I, too, strive to embody in my professional and personal endeavors.
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?
My professional odyssey has always revolved around the media, marketing, and public relations domains, with a cornerstone mission of aiding brands in discovering their distinctive narrative and sharing poignant stories. My enterprises, Authority Titans and Kivo Daily Magazine, are designed to offer a platform for individuals and businesses to magnify their message and carve a strong market standing.
A milestone in my journey is the authoring of the Wall Street Journal best-selling book, “The Authority Playbook: How to Become the #1 Authority in Your Niche.” This book is a capsule of what I’ve learned on sculpting authority in a specific field.
The most exhilarating aspect of my work is the opportunity to assist brands in articulating their values and narratives to their intended audience. It’s about sharing the energy behind a budding startup finding its ground or a well-rooted brand aiming for a renaissance. What’s attractive, to me, is molding and disseminating stories that enlighten the reader, and even motivate them to take positive action.
In the world of public relations, I had the honor of serving as the PR Director for cbdMD, the inaugural CBD company to debut on the NYSE. This effort showed how smart PR can really help in navigating complex areas. It’s especially useful when dealing with new industries.
And speaking of new industries, I am ecstatic to share my new venture as the Chief Marketing Officer at NewsAnchored. NewsAnchored is a nexus of 30 online publications dedicated to empowering clients in boosting their business or personal brand online. Currently, we are beginning to introduce some pioneering tools designed to streamline the process for clients to get their stories published and read quickly and efficiently — a breakthrough aimed at redefining the velocity of digital media PR.
The ever-changing world of digital media excites me. We now have an opportunity to broaden the reach and impact of our PR and media services. With Authority Titans, Kivo Daily Magazine, and now the exciting venture of NewsAnchored, I am thrilled to dive into the next wave of tools designed to cut through the digital chatter and to spotlight brands, helping them flourish and shine despite the noise. The innovation we’ve seen so far in 2023 is exciting and motivates me every day to do more and try harder!
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?
1. Resilience and Adaptability. My advice: adapting to change and bouncing back from failures are crucial traits. Embrace challenges as learning experiences, and be open to change. It’s essential to develop a growth mindset, where failures are seen as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks.
2. Industry Knowledge and Continuous Learning. My advice? Stay curious and keep learning. Having a deep understanding of their respective industries and staying updated with the latest trends and technologies helps. Engage in professional development, read extensively in your field, and consider finding a mentor who can guide you.
3. Networking and Relationship Building. My advice: attend industry events, engage in online communities related to your field, and don’t hesitate to reach out to individuals whose work you admire. Networking is about building meaningful relationships, not just collecting contacts. Building strong professional relationships and having a good network can open doors to opportunities that would otherwise remain closed. PR helps. 😉
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
I am truly thankful to my parents for providing a nurturing and liberating environment during my childhood. Growing up in the 90s and early 2000s, I was fortunate to experience what I consider the perfect childhood. Our neighborhood was a close-knit community of like-minded families where us kids spent countless afternoons playing outdoors, inventing games, socializing, and just being kids in the truest sense. This environment, where I could freely express myself and explore the world around me, laid the foundation for my love of storytelling and communication.
My parents’ support in allowing me to “be a kid” and explore my creativity unbridled, without the pressures that come with premature adulthood, was a priceless gift. It fostered in me a natural curiosity and a love for authentic expression, both of which became the cornerstones of my career in Public Relations.
In PR, much of what I do revolves around helping clients articulate their unique narratives and express their brand identities authentically. Just as my childhood environment encouraged me to explore and express my identity, my goal in my professional life is to create a space where clients can do the same for their brands. It’s about capturing the essence of who they are and what they stand for, and communicating that in a way that resonates with their audience.
The parallels between the freedom and authenticity of my childhood experiences and my professional endeavors in PR are profound. It’s a beautiful full circle, from being encouraged to express myself freely as a child to now empowering brands to express their unique identities. This journey has instilled in me a deep appreciation for the art of genuine storytelling and the power of a well-crafted narrative.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://authoritytitans.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dillonkivo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dillonkivoofficial
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DillonKivo
Image Credits
Times Square photo: Roger Rojas Other photos: Emma Burcusel
