We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful DJ Shattine. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with DJ below.
DJ , so great to have you on the platform and excited to have you share your wisdom with our community today. Communication skills often play a powerful role in our ability to be effective and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your communication skills.
I grew up in a structured and disciplined household, which laid the foundation for my journey towards effective communication. In middle school, I participated in Conflict Mediation and Peer Counseling programs, honing my empathic skills and improving my ability to connect with others.
During my high school years, I took time to reflect on my communication style while bike riding in the mountains of Northern California. I made a conscious effort to change how I interacted with people, resulting in noticeable improvements in my relationships.
I continued to build on my communication skills through a peer counseling program in high school and later through a more direct approach to communication at a private military university. Following college, I completed an advanced internship program with the Department of Defense focusing on leadership development, emotional intelligence, effective communication, and negotiation.
Transitioning to the private sector, I worked with an international organization that required me to adapt my communication style to work with individuals who spoke multiple languages. This experience taught me the importance of patience, humility, and effective listening.
As a part-time professor, I supported a student facing a cancer diagnosis by providing flexibility with deadlines while ensuring they met course requirements. This experience reinforced the impact of coaching and mentorship during challenging times.
Now a senior manager within a large organization, I strive to effectively coach and mentor my team, empowering each member to improve their emotional intelligence, communication skills and resilience.
Within the Acting field, where I’ve been stretching my legs more and more recently, it’s challenging my communication style even more. This new venture has highlighted the importance of listening more and speaking less, pushing me to refine my communication skills even further.
Through these experiences over the past 30 years, I have continuously evolved my communication style and approach, always seeking new opportunities for growth and development in effective communications.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I personally am an individual who seeks out complex or difficult challenges, and then test myself to see if I can overcome it. I’ve got a lot of accomplishments that I tend to overlook and imposter syndrome is definitely real. It’s something you never overcome, but something you tend to just push past.
I would consider myself as a ‘nerd’ and I definitely have been through some challenging times in my life. Bullying, abuse and my own personal struggles have all been challenges I’ve had to work on. I’m still working on coming through on the other side and Acting is something that is allowing me the opportunity to work on myself even more.
I was raised in Northern California where my father was within the California Highway Patrol. This background put ‘security’ into the foundation and core of who I am. I personally was intrigued and interested in Computers, and after watching “The Matrix” more times than I’d like to admit, I put both of these passions together to develop my current career trajectory.
With nearly 20 years of experience in the Cybersecurity and Information Security field, I have found great fulfillment in this career path in working within the Department of Defense, International private sector as well as the American corporate structure. I finished my time leading the Information Security department at the US Army Special Operations Command.
Personally I’ve had the opportunity to travel the globe and have all sorts of unique experiences. One notable one is running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain in 2018. I’m always looking for the next challenge and opportunity to develop myself.
However, over the past 7 years, I have focused my next challenge on pursuing opportunities in the field of Acting within the New England area. I have been fortunate to land background and small roles in notable projects such as Don’t Look Up, Boston Strangler, and Castle Rock.
I am pleased to announce that I have recently secured representation with New England Models Group (NEMG). I am eager to explore the possibility of transitioning into acting as a full-time profession. I am grateful for every opportunity that comes my way, and I approach each new step with humility and gratitude.
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?
I believe the three most important qualities, skills and/or areas of knowledge for myself are the Military background/experience, problem solving abilities and communication skills.
I attended Norwich University, a private military university, and had a unique college experience. On the weekends I was either participating in military exercises or leading them. I was responsible for various roles within the Corps of Cadets that helped build a strong moral code within myself that has made me a task-oriented and values-based leader. It’s also given me the discipline and structure I still follow on a daily basis.
I’ve developed my problem solving abilities based on my studies, I pursued my undergrad degree in Mathematics, and in my own personal experiences. I develop scavenger hunts for my family and I love a good puzzle. Within my professional career I like to present myself as the, “give me the hardest problem you have” guy.
My communication skills I’ve discussed already but I feel that is definitely the most important skillset that’s allowed me to be humble, listen and develop my emotional intelligence to a heightened level.
If I were to provide advice to individuals, I would say to always follow through on your promises, openly communicate if you can’t and adjust the quality of your target if you feel it’s unattainable. Right now the biggest value someone can provide in the current world is the ability to ‘focus’, it’s the new currency since everyone is trying to juggle and multitask. If you have the ability to focus on one thing and see it through to the end – even if it’s not perfect – you’re going to do better than the majority, and it will be more rewarding intrinsically and extrinsically.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I am always constantly challenging myself. Some days are harder than others with the amount I throw onto myself.
Some days I need to clear the plate to ensure I can focus. Some days that doesn’t help. I’m constantly adapting myself to tackle these self-directed obstacles and tasks I put in front of myself.
In the past, during difficult moments, I would engage in self-reflection and question if I was facing a breaking point, asking myself, “Is this the thing to break me?”. In my younger years I would scream into the void, typically accompanied by an expletive, but the answer was always shouted, “NO!”. Over time, I have grown stronger and more confident in facing challenges, responding now, instead of with a shout, but with a stronger, affirmative and resounding “No.” It feels more secure now, with the grit of experience and scars shaping it.
When feeling overwhelmed, I rely on various strategies that I have developed. This includes setting priorities, focusing on the present moment, and taking tasks step by step. Creating a list helps organize my thoughts and quiet the chaos, but ultimately, I strive to remain calm and concentrate on the immediate next step.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nemg.com/divisions/male-31-plus/portfolios/dj-shattine
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/djshattine/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071599284052
Image Credits
JenniferJo Lang Nile Scott Studios
