We were lucky to catch up with Dawson Davidson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dawson, so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.
Always as a young kid, I felt very confident in myself and my talents. I did face hurdles to overcome, but those trials make each person stronger. The tricky part for me was not trying to develop my self-esteem, but more ‘curate’ this skill so that it worked to my advantage with my career. I knew what I had, but I never wanted to come across as cocky. Thus, I began working more on my communications skills; learning how communication could help me bridge the gap between my personal confidence, and the belief other people had in me. After I started that practice, it truly helped mold how I created relationships and when to pull my self confidence forward.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am an Upscale Event Designer in the Belle Meade area of Nashville, TN. I work for a longstanding company called The Tulip Tree, who has a great reputation for high end florals and events. I have worked in Event Planning and Design for Four years now, and after finishing college while doing events in my hometown of Cookeville TN, I wanted to search for a larger scale platform. After meeting with Mark O’Bryan, the owner of The Tulip Tree, I knew that was my next landing spot. Everyday I get to express my creativity through upscale design and accessorization. We create atmospheres for our clients based on their wishes through gorgeous florals and inviting tablescapes.
My personal brand has held steady for my entire career, and still stays true in my workplace now. I am able to showcase my love for upscale southern lifestyle through my work, while also implementing my background of agriculture advacacy.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three qualities I feel were most impactful would include: confidence, team-work, and public speaking skills. I say all of these as they have worked in unison for me throughout my time in the workforce. If you are able to obtain these skills in any way that can positivly affect your career trajectory, I can promise you that you will see major headway in your future career decisions. My best advice for cultivating these skills would be in implement and put them into practice in any way you can. The easiest way would be to begin using them in everyday life. Work on confidently presenting yourself, using team-work to your advantage, and showcasing your ability to speak in large groups without hesitation. These three things have helped me so much in my journey, as I know they will for you also.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
I have chosen John Allen. Putnam County Fair Board President, National 4-H royalty, and an amazing teacher to others. John worked on Capitol Hill for 4-H, plowing the way for many other young people in Agriculture. John went to college, and then landed his first job in Family & Consumer sciences in Atlanta. While he was there, he began his journey through the 4-H program, and truly loved what he did. This still shines through today. John shows so much leadership strength in his ways of leading. He has a very strong personality, and is never afraid to speak his mind. With that being said, he also has this amazing talent and ability to relate to anyone he speaks to, which is such a strong skill especially when dealing with 16,000 people a night at the fair. John also is very compassionate& John knows how to create a space where everyone knows he is the boss, but if we ever had any issue, we could go to him for support and guidance. John is a true agricultural icon, and I am so lucky to have learned under his leadership. Through his many experiences in American Agriculture Policy, and Family & Consumer sciences, John knows the skills it takes to create a well-oiled machine of a team, working towards a goal in which everyone will benefit.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.definitelydawson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/definitelydawson/
- Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dawsondavidson
Image Credits
Zach & Sarah Photography Pictures by Sammy
