Meet Jeremy “JD” Dodson

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jeremy “JD” Dodson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jeremy “JD” below.

Hi Jeremy “JD”, so happy you were able to devote some time to sharing your thoughts and wisdom with our community. So, we’ve always admired how you have seemingly never let nay-sayers or haters keep you down. Can you talk to us about how to persist despite the negative energy that so often is thrown at folks trying to do something special with their lives?

I don’t think there is such a thing as “haters” or “nay-sayers”. I believe that they are people that see what they truly want to be and achieve in someone else. However, persisting past their words and actions requires resiliency and constant dedication to both your short-term and long-term goals. I choose to focus on my own business, passions, and ethics rather than let someone else’s opinion define my future successes.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My name is Jeremy “JD” Dodson and I am the owner of JD Entertainment LLC in Crestwood, KY. We provide a multitude of services consisting of DJ, Photo Booth, Lighting, Officiant, Videography, Photography, Silent Disco, and other services. JD Entertainment LLC services all of Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Southern Ohio, and Northern Tennessee.

Throughout the week you can find me regularly hosting Music Bingo, Trivia, and Family Feud events within the Louisville, KY and Lexington, KY areas.

I decided to start my own DJ business for a number of reasons. In 2019, I started working for a local entertainment company and thoroughly enjoyed all the aspects of the business. However, I really enjoyed being a part of special moments and events that created memories that would last a lifetime. I have an extensive history of videography and decided to create my own videography business in 2020.

In 2021, I decided to grow my professional career even further by creating my own entertainment company. This allowed me to further my skills and experience whereas I had previously felt my growth being stagnant. Since 2021, both of my companies have been merged and rebranded into JD Entertainment LLC and the growth has been exponential. But, I cannot take all the credit. A lot of the credit goes to my friends, family, and clients for always believing in me and entrusting me with their events to allow me to be as successful as I am today.

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?

The three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are leadership, communication, and creativity.

Leadership has greatly experienced my entrepreneurial journey. I’ve been a leader but have also worked for leaders. By using my personal experiences where I’ve been led both in a positive and negative manner it has shaped me into the leader I am. I’m able to be diligent and delegate tasks as necessary, and cultivate a positive, productive, and ethical work environment.

Communication is a vital skill. You need to be able to express yourself in a clear and concise manner while also being able to get your point across. However, communication isn’t just talking; it is also listening. Communication has allowed me to not just expand my business and connections further but it has also allowed me the ability to give and receive criticism which is crucial as a business owner.

Creativity is the third crucial skill to have. By being creative in anything you do, you’re able to generate new business, ideas, products, and solutions to various situations. This allows me to ensure my clients are taken care of in unique and creative ways while also being able to overcome any challenge that presents itself to me. I’m able to stand out from the competition and ensure that I’m adapting to the clientele.

The singular most important piece of advice I have for anyone who is early in their journey is to never stop learning and networking. By networking and learning from others, you’re able to gain insights into different techniques and protocols that you might find helpful or unhelpful. You’ll also be able to build connections to where you can refer business between each other and further the good rapport between you and others.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents have done is instill the work ethic in me that is evident today. The phrase “As long as you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life” rings true for me. Even on the longest days, the tiring nights, or the never ending days off, I thoroughly enjoy what I do and for me it isn’t work. The ultimate validation for me isn’t the compliments from my clients, the reviews, or the referrals. For me, the ultimate validation is the feeling at the end of the event knowing I did an excellent job and created memorable moments for my clients that they will always remember for years to come.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Where does your optimism come from?

Optimism is the invisible ingredient that powers so much of the incredible progress in society

Confidence
Stories of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and

Resilience
The Power of Persistence: Overcoming Haters and Doubters

Having hates is an inevitable part of any bold journey – everyone who has made