We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Julie Dion. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Julie below.
Julie, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I know it sounds corny, but reading The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale changed my life. I’ve read it word for word several times ever since first picking it up over 20 years ago in 2002.
As a child, I was naturally optimistic. I really didn’t have any reason not to be. My parents did a good job nurturing me and instilling good values and confidence. But then I grew up. When that happens, we become influenced by circumstances and others around us, both good or bad.
Fast forward to my early 20s. I was early in my career working in the advertising department of a newspaper. I was in the right field, but the job was very low pay. I was disappointed to have graduated from college and now working in a low-paying job that was barely covering my bills, living paycheck to paycheck. Looking back now, it was not only the experience but patience that I lacked.
Most of us naturally grow in our careers, and mine naturally evolved over time and experience. As I developed my marketing and advertising skills working as a marketing director for a large company, I was presented with many opportunities to join committees, do speaking engagements and get involved through networking events. But I didn’t have the confidence to fully take advantage of these opportunities. I felt awkward in social settings and felt that I lacked what others with more experience and better personalities had.
While I wouldn’t say I had a negative attitude, I accepted this about myself – that I was “not good in social settings” and “not good at public speaking.” Over time I realized that only I was the only one telling me that.
Fortunately for me, The Power of Positive Thinking was on a sale bin at Books-A-Million during one of those after-Christmas sales. I remember grabbing it as an after-thought because it wasn’t that thick and could be easily read, and I recalled hearing about that book earlier in life and just being curious.
Now, I have bought the book for many of my friends and a few people who have come to me for advise. It truly transformed my life, helping me see the good in people, things and situations as well as helped grow my confidence and overall outlook on life, which comes with being optimistic!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Dion Marketing is a results-driven boutique marketing firm that offers marketing plan development, PR, advertising and branding and graphic design, We are woman-owned and operated helping businesses grow by sitting down with them, finding out what they need and putting together a plan to help them achieve their goals.
We specialize in marketing and advertising for the amusement industry – that includes theme parks, amusement parks, waterparks, family entertainment centers and major tourist attractions. So basically, we are in the business of selling fun!
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 – Don’t be afraid to try new things! My career has seen the evolution of the fax machine, desktop computers, internet, social media, digital advertising and now AI. As a marketer, we’ve had to embrace technology. 2- Be a good communicator. Not only is being able to write clearly and effectively very important for a career in marketing and most careers, it is also important to be able to talk professionally and clearly on a phone call, Zoom and in person.
3 – Be On Time! I think it is most respectful to show up to work, an event or an appointment on time or early. Showing up late is disrespectful and disruptive. Showing up early or on time shows respect and interest.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
I think everyone experiences feeling overwhelmed, and there’s lots of strategies out there to help cope. I am a big believer in thought control and whatever you think about and talk about is what you walk towards and eventually become. Whether we realize it or not, we are predicting our future by what we think and say about ourselves. When I start feeling overwhelmed, I simply look up and thank God that I am well-equipped to handle whatever comes my way. I even recite a couple of scriptures and think about what Norman Vincent said in The Power of Positive Thinking, which is to “put your trust in God and just go calmly on your way.”
While this is a simple strategy, it isn’t always easy. It takes practice, training and tenacity to choose to not dwell on the negative. But a Dr. Peale said best, “change your thoughts and you can change the world!”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dionmarketing.com
- Instagram: @dionmarketing
- Facebook: @dionmarketing
- Linkedin: @dionmarketing
- Twitter: @dionmarketing
- Youtube: @dionmarketing
