September 7, 2023 ā¢ 51 mins
What would happen if we all took a moment to listen? Truly listen, not only to others but also to ourselves. That's the intriguing conversation Diaz Dixon and I get into in this enlightening podcast. We explore the quiet power of active listening and how it uncovers the path to conscious leadership. We delve into the importance of understanding our biases, embracing failure, and recognizing the joy and fulfillment in our everyday lives.
The self. It's our greatest ally and sometimes our biggest hurdle. Self-confidence, self-esteem, and values - these interconnected aspects lay the foundation for our self-concept. But they're often distorted by fear and doubt. Diaz and I break down how we can confront these fears, understand our role in the world, and take the journey to becoming our complete selves. We also discuss how to balance emotional investment with self-care - a crucial lesson in a world that's always buzzing.
But finding our purpose and leading consciously is just the tip of the iceberg. We also dive into emotional intelligence, and its pivotal role in social interactions. We emphasize the importance of understanding and managing our emotions for effective social interaction and the power of being present and mindful of our feelings. Finally, we reflect on the power of positive relationships and the importance of showing appreciation for those in our lives. Join us in this compelling exploration of resilience, purpose, and leadership that promises to leave you enlightened and inspired.
Connect with Diaz:
https://hammerandnailsgrooming.com/coming-soon/southreno-nv/
About Marcie Walker
Marcie Walker is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Shamanic Practitioner dedicated to helping individuals transform their inner landscapes. She specializes in guiding clients to heal past traumas, overcome self-criticism, and embrace their highest potential, all within a safe and supportive environment.
Connect with Marcie & The Wild Sage Society
Ready to embark on a transformative journey?
Book your FREE 30-minute discovery call now and let's explore how I can support you in achieving your goals and creating a life of purpose and fulfillment. Don't wait, take the first step towards unlocking your true potential today!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Jpaddy (00:01):
This is the Wild Sage Society Podcast, where we
explore the ideas and practicesthat help us live healthy,
connected and purpose-filledlives.
Each week, our host, marcyWalker, connects with healers,
spiritual leaders, doctors andsmall business owners on topics
such as human resilience,conscious leadership and modern
(00:24):
shamanism.
Here is your host, marcy Walker.
Marcie Walker (00:31):
Welcome back to the Wild Sage Society Podcast.
I'd like to welcome Diaz Dixon.
Welcome.
Diaz Dixon (00:38):
Thank you, marcy, I'm so glad to be here.
Marcie Walker (00:43):
I am ecstatic to be here and have a fine time on
your busy schedule.
Out with your cape, out helpingpeople, being a superhero to so
many.
Diaz Dixon (00:54):
Well, I don't know if I'm necessarily a superhero,
but I know that the people whoare battling the issues and
challenges they have when yousee people come on the other
side of those that's definitelyheroic.
For me, it's inspirational.
Marcie Walker (01:10):
We were talking a little bit beforehand about how
I see you as being Reno famous.
I don't think you can goanywhere in Reno and not know
Diaz Dixon.
Diaz Dixon (01:23):
Well, to be fair, it is the biggest little city.
Reno may look big on the map,but if you've been around as
long as I have, you're kind oflike mold.
People do recognize you.
Marcie Walker (01:36):
Oh, I don't know if I would have described you as
mold.
Diaz Dixon (01:41):
Well, I've been around for a while, so I've just
been really glad to be able tomeet a number of people.
Maybe there's a betterdescription than mold, but after
a while.
Marcie Walker (01:52):
So you were invited to join me on the
podcast today to talk abouthuman resilience and purpose and
conscious leadership, so Idon't know where you want to
start.
Diaz Dixon (02:05):
Well, first thing that comes to mind.
First thing that comes to mindis one.
Again, thank you for having me.
I'm honored that you would beable to name those particular
topics and then think of me andgive me an opportunity to be
able to talk about those things,because I am really huge on
people finding their purpose andunderstanding their process.
(02:26):
Once they find that and theyfigure those things out, it
makes life so much easier.
You know, if that's what we'rebeing driven by, we have a much
greater chance at having impact,particularly in a world that
has so many struggles.
And I've been blessed in somany ways that when I work with
(02:46):
women and children withsubstance use issues at Step 2,
or whether I was working at anyhouse, homeless youth those have
all put a lot of perspective onhow good I actually have some
things and seeing people'sstruggles, that it's, I think,
has to celebrate their triumphas they were working their way
through.
(03:07):
I'm a big believer in that.
We're all a product of our ownexperiences in our environment.
So if we pay close enoughattention to our own experiences
in our environment, that's whywe get to the point where we get
older and we start havingwisdom.
But those things are what leadheavily into us understanding
our past and how to find them,how to pursue them.
(03:30):
I also think that it's huge inseeing other people's pathways
helps you understand more aboutyourself, and too often these
days we are always looking totry to figure out who we are in
our own selves without lookingat ourselves.
Marcie Walker (03:50):
I love all of those points and there is a fine
parallel in knowing yourpurpose, I believe, with knowing
your values and yourself-esteem 100% and think about
how long it takes before youknow your value, self-esteem,
all the cousins self-esteem,self-concept, just pure self.
Diaz Dixon (04:11):
They're all related and it's a battle somehow as we
work our way through, and it'snot until we really can grasp
those and appreciate them thatwe have the last one with the
self-confidence.
Self-confidence really bolstersall of them and continues to
feed its cousins and allows usto really navigate in a world
(04:33):
without worrying about whateveryone else is thinking,
without worrying about all thefears that are sitting around us
of what we might become or whatpeople might think of us.
Because I also say, fear isfalse evidence appearing real,
and it's that false evidencethat stops us from doing what we
need to do, that stops us frombecoming our complete selves.
It also stops us from reallyunderstanding what the world is
(05:00):
asking of us.
What is this universe asking ofus as individuals?
And it's a much bigger picture.
And the most selfishindividuals and that's the bad
cousin, selfish is they're notcontributing and when we're in a
selfish mode that we can easilyfall into, we're not showing
compassion, we're not showingempathy, and that puts us in
(05:22):
rest.
Marcie Walker (05:23):
Or just even stuck in like deep, deep mud.
I know I've been there for sureit can be in the deep, deep mud
, deep, deep mud.
So from someone on the outsideof your life, it always looks
like you have everything put alltogether.
I'm curious which one of thosecousins was the biggest
(05:44):
challenge for you to overcomewhen you rewind the tapes and
look at a life of diastasis.
Diaz Dixon (05:50):
Oh boy, oh boy.
That is like a.
That's a great question, youknow, I think part of it is
self-conscious, beingself-confident, but probably
being too self-confident becauseI had experienced so much
success.
And I'll give an example At onepoint in time, say 20 years ago
(06:14):
, I was writing a book.
I started to write a book, Iwas feeling really good about
myself and the things that I'maccomplishing in my career and
my relationships around me, andI wrote a book.
I started writing this book andit was called Duck or Pig, and
what the concept was saying isare you like when it comes to
adversity?
Are you like a duck and you letit just roll off your back like
(06:37):
water, or are you a pig?
You're wallowing?
It's that mud you were livingto just a few minutes ago.
And I was like for sure, I'm aduck.
And then I got a divorce and itwas really through the divorce
that I started looking aroundand going, okay, wait a minute,
I didn't mean to waste it and ittook a while.
(06:58):
At the very beginning of that Ididn't want to grasp it and
learn, I wanted to just pursueit as fast as I could, which
also meant that I wanted to goaround it how do I get out of
this and go around it?
And it wasn't until later thatI realized you've got to go
through these steps so that youcan be stronger in pulling your
(07:19):
legs up and taking each step andmoving through and wading
through it.
So that's one that I can say.
That was such a painful but agreat experience for me as being
a product of the experienceenvironment that shifted my
environment and gave me moreexperience to look at things
(07:40):
differently.
Marcie Walker (07:42):
Beautiful answer Okay.
Diaz Dixon (07:43):
Very beautiful answer.
Marcie Walker (07:48):
So you've helped so many people in our community
by being working like what yousaid step two and the Eddie
House and the Nevada HumaneSociety and all of the things.
So what would you say?
How you help people the most?
Diaz Dixon (08:05):
No, I think how I help people probably the most
Well, one in all of thoseorganizations I always make sure
I had smarter people around.
So the great success that thoseorganizations had was never
because of me, it was reallybecause of me.
So I understood that it'smission first and I just helped
(08:31):
provide the vision and theguidance and directing with it.
But it was critical that therewas more than just my
perspective, my solutions ofwhat I thought would be most
impactful.
So what that takes is thattakes the ability to be able to
listen, and a lot of peopledon't understand that listening
(08:52):
and silent have all the sameletters and sometimes you have
to push that ego to the side andbe able to just really listen.
And I think that I really helppeople the most when I listen.
Because instead of me gearingup what I think the answer
should be or what the solutionis going to be, because
oftentimes someone says, oh, Igot a problem with this flat
tire and before you can evenfinish, I'm going well, all you
(09:15):
need to do is get there, all yougot to do is drag down the big
O and you just get there, get itpassed up in air and they're
not even talking about that.
The problem is the whole thingis slow, but I didn't stop and
listen.
So I think when I'm thinkingabout how I help people most is
when I realize that people havea problem.
I don't jump quickly throughwhat I think the solution might
(09:36):
be.
I truly listen to the problemand try to understand it from
their perspective, like, how arethey doing and how does this
problem because Dias is going tocome up with his own solution
and then when I understand whatthey're saying, then I can
collaboratively walk with themthrough it.
What is the potential solution?
And the biggest feature is, ifthey come up with it or we come
(09:57):
up with it together, then theyget to own it and so when they
have the impact at the very endand the solution at the very end
, it's something that they own.
And we want people to haveanswers so that when they come
back to this situation againbecause they're going to come
back to something very similarwe want them to be strong enough
(10:19):
to know that they can solve it.
You know it's aboutsustainability.
It's not about being dependent,and oftentimes we build systems
that are to be dependent ratherthan be sustainable.
Marcie Walker (10:35):
I think that's a great segue to conscious
leadership.
How would you define consciousleadership?
Diaz Dixon (10:42):
Oh boy, I think conscious leadership is well.
First and foremost, you have tobe able to kick your own time
and understand your own implicitbiases.
We all have, and those arecausing us to think or react in
a certain way, without evenunderstanding how we do it,
(11:02):
unconsciously.
So when we look at thoseunconscious biases and those
preconceived notions that wehave about people or certain
things or concepts, we realizethey drive us in a certain way.
And in order to be an effectiveleader, no one ever asks a
great leader to only lead asmall group of people.
Those people who are leadingjust a small group of people, or
(11:25):
they're only looking to capturea small group of people, or
maybe just enough for them towin a boat, those are two
leaders, those are cult leaders.
And so I think that you got tokick your own tires.
First and foremost, acknowledgewhere your strengths are and
where your areas of concern, andconsciously working on those
areas of concern regularly andasking for feedback as you work
(11:47):
your way through.
And then the people and theteam that you're working with.
You're looking at them asindividuals.
How do you build leaders?
And there's a couple of thingsto that I think you have to show
up, pay attention, to be honestand don't be afraid of the
(12:07):
outcome, because being afraid ofthe outcome means we're trying
to control the whole thing andwe don't want anything ever to
go bad or we don't want anyoneever to fail.
Some people have to be able tofail.
You've got to give people roomto fail and know that this is a.
You're going to fail.
Hey, I'm going to fail too, butwhen we fail, we're going to
fail forward.
Marcie Walker (12:26):
Beautiful.
You perfectly describeconscious leadership for someone
that's starting theirleadership journey and they are
really struggling.
And we're sitting here talkingabout herbis and finding our
purpose and finding our why.
What advice would you have forthat growing leader that needs
(12:50):
to really tune into their why?
Diaz Dixon (12:54):
Well, I think that if you are looking to tune into
your one, you've got to askyourself, first and foremost,
what are the things that give metechnical fulfillment, what are
the things that bring me joyand not just make me happy, but
what's something that brings mejoy?
What are the things that do theexact opposite of that?
(13:18):
So there are certain thingsthat I just can't stand and they
don't make me feel good.
That will help us give you theguideline to your continuum,
because they always say, ifyou're doing what you love, it's
not really work.
But the first place is beingable to identify what is
fulfilling me and it really is,creating a positive feedback
(13:42):
loop that sustains yourdedication, because then it's
just firing you up and you'recoming back to it and firing you
up again and firing you upagain.
Now you're going to sputterfrom time to time and then, on
top of that, I think the nextstep is like how do you build?
Start connection, because yourpassion and purpose can help you
connect with other like-mindedindividuals or organizations
(14:05):
that help foster collaborationand partnerships that have a
greater impact on what you loveand what you love.
And but you've got to bebalanced, because you've got to
be very careful not to just getin with a bunch of people that
you fall into this group thing.
But you can learn so much fromthose people, there's so much to
bounce off of them that comesback and will reflect in your
(14:26):
very soul.
And I always say that whenyou're part of a group and
you're all moving in a certaindirection but you've got
diversity of thought, that's amovement, that's great.
If you're with a part of agroup and you're all thinking
the exact same and moving in thesame direction at the cult and
a lot of times people in a cultthey don't even realize it.
And then I think the last pieceof advice I would give them or
(14:47):
another piece, I won't call itthe last piece is take close
attention to burn.
We've got the end of the stuffso constantly we burn out really
fast.
You see people burn out so fast.
They went in so fast.
They had all these greatexpectations.
But if you're paying closeattention to it, it helps you
(15:10):
balance your emotionalinvestment with your own
self-care and support that youneed Learning how to ask about
things.
Marcie Walker (15:21):
How do you?
I love it, keep going.
So how do you support yourself-care and avoid burn out?
Diaz Dixon (15:31):
Oh, wow.
So I've got a couple ofdifferent ways.
You know I love my doctor, sono matter what, when I come home
they're always, they alwayslove to see me.
So that's one thing that I knowthat is consistent feels really
good.
Animals are really good foryour mental health.
(15:52):
The next thing there, I think,the well-being.
That's one thing.
I make sure that I'm engaged inactivities.
So whether you know, for a longtime I was playing basketball,
but if I make sure that I getout and I do things that take my
mind off of the daily grind, soif I get out and golf, and even
if I'm not having a really goodgolf grind, I'm not thinking
(16:14):
about all those other thingsthat I have to do, because it's
just what's sitting in front ofme, like why am I struggling to
hit this little white ballstraight when it's really cold?
But you know, working my waythrough that gives me a recess.
So what are the things thatgive me a recess?
Kind of time I'll poop, I'mgoing to do things.
Behind me there's my eagle andmy face there and a moose up
(16:36):
there.
Those are things that can againstep my brain down and then I
also would give me peace, as ifI can inspire others.
My thought is if I can inspirepeople with something that's
positive, it's going to create aripple effect that's positive
(17:00):
to me, hopefully, in mycommunity.
Things that are around me,those things are good and, you
know, food's good too.
So if I'm struggling and foodthere are a lot of times
oftentimes I'm thinking fromgoing to a certain place that
may be a favorite restaurant orfinding a hole in the wall
restaurant, some mom pa, please,it's good.
Marcie Walker (17:27):
So what I heard that seemed to be a consistent
name through some of those ispresence.
Is you taking your mind off?
Is being embodied and presentin the current moment?
Diaz Dixon (17:41):
Oh, being present in the current moment is so
important because we live in aworld of despair.
You know we're constantlybuzzing over our phones or the
television, quick access to theremote and telling them what's
going on in the world, likethere's all kinds of stuff, all
(18:01):
types of distractions that arethrown in, and I think
technology has been a blessingand a place in so many ways, but
it's stopped and it's reallyhurt the way we communicate.
So I think it's important whenyou're talking about, you know,
you bring up being present.
I like that you're saying this,because being present really
(18:23):
helps to clarify what we'redoing in that particular moment.
It helps us make betterdecisions, it helps us stay more
focused and at the same time,it helps us understand what
really, really matters to us.
And if we're understanding whatmatters to us, that's when
we're again we're understandingwhat's understanding.
(18:44):
It's the meaning, we understandour motivation and drive and
then we have a greater clarityin making decisions, because
that you know our why tends tobe our guiding principle in our
decision.
Marcie Walker (19:03):
Absolutely, you've got to check it with your
values and then it's out ofalignment and, as someone that
was working out of alignmentwith their values for a really
long time, I just didn't havethat in my awareness until I had
a health crisis.
Diaz Dixon (19:17):
Oh yeah, Like that would have to be really tough.
That's like a kind of a wake-upcall, right.
Marcie Walker (19:21):
It's kind of scary.
Diaz Dixon (19:22):
I would imagine.
Marcie Walker (19:25):
It was not awesome, I'm not going to lie
but it was that I had ignoredall the simple signals for so
long that it was finally like mybody is like OK, you need to
wake up right now.
Diaz Dixon (19:40):
Yeah.
So, figuring out and reallyhearing it.
Marcie Walker (19:47):
You know honestly is when I cut the high-stress
career that I had.
My symptoms all went awaywithin three weeks and I think
that's the power of stress andsays something about human
resilience.
Diaz Dixon (20:04):
Yeah, strictly the big one, and you know, remove
that and then allow your body tonaturally do what it wants to
do.
But that's just huge.
Marcie Walker (20:18):
Yes, it is.
So, as someone who had sometime to prep and meet with you
in anticipation of this podcast,your phone was buzzing quite a
bit.
How do you manage stress anddistractions with a constantly
(20:38):
buzzing phone?
Diaz Dixon (20:46):
Yes and yes.
So you know I read.
What I've learned is I have togo into my calendar and I have
to schedule some meetings andwhat I do, because if I don't
I'll fill it and I'll fill itwith all those emails or all the
texts, calls, that have come inthrough, and so the best way
(21:10):
particularly when I starteddoing individual consulting, I
didn't have that direct wire andorganization that was attached
to the mission when I wasworking.
So then I began to take on thisvarious project, which also
made me more likely to takesquirrels, and it started
driving me crazy.
I started kind of losing it fora little bit, going.
(21:31):
I can't figure this out.
This is even more successful.
And then someone gave me a tipthat you really schedule some
time and you let it be your timeand don't fill it.
No matter what, don't fill it.
So if you've got to get anothermeeting in, you have to find
another place to put it and thenyou fill that time with what
(21:52):
you want to do, and if youchoose to do some success at
work, that's great becauseyou'll feel better about it, but
it will decrease the stress.
Marcie Walker (21:58):
That was huge for me and really kind of expressed
for me being able to have thattime You've managed and been the
director of so many differentbusinesses, how did you know
when it was time to take the bigleap into entrepreneurship and
running your own small business?
Diaz Dixon (22:18):
Well, you know, I was really a question because I
was dabbled in consulting for awhile, even when I was at step
two for a little bit.
I did it when I worked at theuniversity as an athletic
director, but I guess mostrecently I was when I left Eddie
(22:39):
house.
I was really to run theNational Foundation for Common
Spirit Health, and so when Iwent into Common Spirit Health
as a assistant vice president,it was a wonderful opportunity,
surrounded by great people withan incredible class.
But I also know that I wasworking remotely.
I was the only one in rena,everything was done, so
(23:05):
basically zoom, because it wasin the heart of COVID, and so
one thing that I really learnedabout myself is that I need to
be around people, and we reallyneed to be around people who are
constant, sometimes maybe justneed a little extra support.
So it was a huge leap to believethat's a pure position, and I
(23:32):
have been just saying I'm goingto do this full time, because
when I left there were a coupleof nonprofits that reached out
asking if I was interested incoming to work outside of this
leadership.
But I made up my mind before Ileft.
I said I'm going to give this ashot and let's hope that I can
keep food on the table, and it'sbeen a little over a year and a
(23:58):
half.
No, I'd say a couple of monthsover the years.
It's been about 14 months and Ihaven't looked back and it's
been absolutely amazing andthere's a lot of challenges with
it.
But what has helped me do wasre-perfit a lot of the wines
(24:18):
that I've had in the past andput them in a position that, my
experience, gives benefit tothose in the organization.
Marcie Walker (24:30):
You set this question up, so what is your why
?
Diaz Dixon (24:33):
Well, you know, my wife has shifted every decade
and I used to be a firm believerin your why, is your why and
it's what you're born with, andyou just look behind it and find
it.
You're ready to go.
But what I've learned islooking back.
(24:55):
My wife has shifted and it'sbeen different probably with
every decade, and there was atime where I had little kids and
they were my wife.
When my daughter was born, thefirst time I realized that life
(25:15):
wasn't about me, and it also wasthe first time I realized that
I was a servant and so it was agreat role in taking that on.
And then things just becausethe kids get older and that
changes.
So I would say, now the kidsare gone and most of the things
(25:39):
that I'm doing, my why isfiguring out how to create
conversations between peoplethat lead with love.
That's where I'm feeling rightnow.
Marcie Walker (25:52):
And how do you do that?
Diaz Dixon (25:55):
Well, a lot of other things that I was talking about
right now.
So, and it's it's, it'sprepared, being prepared to be
uncomfortable and telling peoplethat they should be
uncomfortable.
And it's okay to beuncomfortable I feel okay to
even make it but people need tobe.
You don't go to the gym andjust look at all the machines
and then walk out and go.
(26:15):
That was great.
We wish there was that.
You got to go in and you got tobe uncomfortable.
You got to care muscle, you gotto be sore and then you got to
go down.
You got to do it withpersonality and then you got to
keep going.
And that's the same thing withpeople in conversations.
That's the same thing withproblem solving.
(26:36):
We got to look at what thestruggles were having for us and
we're not going to just have aquick fix, Not a matter of just
looking something up on,Googling it and then having the
solution and then walking away.
It's how do we go?
How do we get uncomfortable?
Jpaddy (26:52):
with it.
Diaz Dixon (26:53):
So we can work our way through it, and so and it
happens like it happens to meall the time where I'm
uncomfortable in particularmoments and I'm trying to really
make the right decision as Iwork my way through.
But it's a process, Nothingquick.
Marcie Walker (27:09):
And your hell yes .
When you feel that in your body, what does that feel like?
When you know you're making theright decision.
Diaz Dixon (27:17):
Of a nine, of a nine .
So and I'm a scared, I'm scaredI'm not personally scared of it
, but when you make thatdecision about nine and you're
scared, you're kind of and beingfearful of being up to earth.
Marcie Walker (27:36):
My felt sense hell yes is I feel like in the
center of my body from my spinalcord.
It feels like my spine lightsup and everything in my body
just feels like it's really bigexpansion and it's yeah, that's,
I think, the best way I canactually know.
Diaz Dixon (28:00):
Being in a kind of way, yeah, I guess.
Marcie Walker (28:02):
so it's just what I've always known and I know
that my hell no.
Or when I don't make the, or,you know, like when I shouldn't
over commit myself, it's when itdidn't know.
It feels like a constrictionand a shrinking.
So I had to, really going backto where I was talking about
working outside of my values.
I had to really be paidattention and be present and
(28:24):
start to feel those feelings inmy body.
Diaz Dixon (28:31):
And that's great awareness.
Marcie Walker (28:34):
Thank you.
Emotional intelligence and Iknow that you do a lot of
training at corporate trainingsand education around diversity
and equity and inclusion andbelonging, so tie all that
together for me.
Diaz Dixon (28:53):
So you know I like to really talk about I do, or
talking about DVR.
I always make sure that thebelonging piece is done, because
most of the time, people aredoing whatever they can to fit
in.
Fitting in is not belonging.
Fitting in is actually theopposite.
You know you're in that, beingyour true, authentic self.
(29:15):
So what we need to realize isthat we're all a part of
diversity, inclusion andbelonging.
We all come from differentbackgrounds and it's important
for us when we're looking atthis and trying to understand
one another.
Emotional intelligence really isthe ability to understand,
manage and use our own emotionsto help us navigate through
(29:40):
social interactions.
Sometimes those emotions thatwe're all frightened up or angry
about are coming from outsidestimuli that we're receiving.
Someone told us this, so we sawthis on the news and that does
not.
That's the opposite ofemotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence helps usnavigate those social
(30:00):
interactions, buildingrelationships, making sound
decisions, and really itencompasses knowing who you are.
Who am I?
Let's kick around, tyler.
Emotional intelligence also ishow to self-regulate, managing
and controlling those emotionsand those urges that pop up,
also being motivated, and thebiggest thing that we're missing
(30:22):
these days is empathy thecapacity to understand that the
feelings and perspectives ofother people, and that involves,
back to the listening piece,observing nonverbal cues and
being very sensitive to theemotional needs of people that
are around you.
But there are so many differentthings that emotional
(30:42):
intelligence ties in to reallyunderstanding other people,
other cultures, otherbackgrounds, other genders,
other sexual orientations thatare different than ourselves,
and not being threatened by itBecause when you're threatened
oh no, go ahead.
When you're threatened that'sfear, that's that false evidence
(31:04):
appearing real and that willstop you from having improved
relationships or effectiveleadership or enhanced decision
making, and that's only going toincrease more theft.
And when you have more theft,you will never be good with
conflict resolution.
You will never be good with theconflict resolution inside your
(31:25):
own.
Marcie Walker (31:26):
You're talking a lot about regulating nervous
systems or nervous systemregulation throughout, a
collective right.
And having that emotionalintelligence to know and be
self-aware enough toself-regulate and then regulate
in social regulation One hundredpercent.
Diaz Dixon (31:44):
I mean, you have to nail on it and it's all linked.
But when do we stop thinkingabout it?
When do we stop thinking aboutit?
When do we stop thinking aboutit when we would ever talk to
the attention to it?
We more than likely haven'tbeen, because it was maybe a
little uncomfortable or it wastoo risky or risky.
So we've got to be better.
(32:06):
We have to pay close attentionto how emotional intelligence
plays a significant role inpersonal and professional
success.
Marcie Walker (32:17):
Do you think that there's a parallel between lack
of emotional intelligence andbaby boomers?
Diaz Dixon (32:25):
That's a lovely question.
Marcie Walker (32:28):
Well, with five generations in the workforce
right, baby boomers, from myexperience, have learned from
the generation before them andthey weren't touchy-feely.
Diaz Dixon (32:36):
No, they weren't.
So I'm trying to do thiswithout making any
generalizations.
I do believe, because we're aproduct of our experiences in
our environment, that they werein an environment that didn't
give them any experiences to beable to express themselves with
(32:57):
it.
So many of them, maybe, unlessthey were really evolved, many
of them could fall into thatcategory.
Marcie Walker (33:07):
I'll just put it that way yes, that was very
politically correct of you and Iappreciate that.
Diaz Dixon (33:16):
I want to open up my door and have 17 baby boomers
after.
What are you saying?
Marcie Walker (33:28):
Typically, all of my guests have come in and have
shared their story and it'sbeen one of pain to purpose.
Diaz Dixon (33:36):
Pain to purpose.
Well, I did a TED talk yearsago.
I talked a little bit about mypoint of view in the project as
a kid.
Due to an unfortunate incident,my best friend, and I were in
kindergarten together.
(33:58):
We were up burning in anabandoned car and the car had
just ran home and his dad camehome and killed him.
I still didn't stay and see theopen test.
It took a number of years.
I said we need to move, we needto do something different.
It took them three years tomove.
(34:20):
So when they moved we ended upmoving to what was called the
white family.
I go from living in a schoolthat was only white kids to
elementary school.
The lesson that came out ofthat was the recognition of the
(34:42):
different worlds I was living in, the ability to learn how to
navigate between those ones andbe able to do so effectively.
What it taught me was thedifference between fitting in
and belonging.
It doesn't matter how hard Itried to fit in on certain
things.
(35:02):
I didn't know it was going tobe long.
It taught me a much biggerpicture that we can all belong
if we lead with it.
We use values as a bridge.
It doesn't have to be theappearance of your skin, it
doesn't have to be your gender.
It is finding core values thatbridge it and allow us to open
(35:25):
doors and then open the doors ofacceptance.
That is where my purpose is.
Marcie Walker (35:32):
Thank you for your vulnerability and sharing
that story.
Diaz Dixon (35:36):
Thank you for allowing me to share it.
Marcie Walker (35:39):
Yeah, that's a big story.
Diaz Dixon (35:43):
Yeah, it's a big story, yeah.
Marcie Walker (35:49):
With you are the CEO of performance driven
consulting.
We've touched on many of theareas and the magic that you
create and how you share yourmenacing.
How else is performance driven?
How else do they show up forthe community?
Diaz Dixon (36:11):
Well, there's a lot of stuff that I do.
I remember football in O'Connor.
So, in terms of, really, it'sabout meeting an organization
where they're in or the leaderof them.
I do this in the office.
I do this in the office.
But how performance drivenconsulting really benefits
(36:32):
organizations in our communityis by looking at the problem or
the TSI, recognizing thedifferent types of solutions and
then asking the question ofwhere the impact is going to be.
And oftentimes I will ask themwhat is the impact they want to
have first, before looking atthe problem, because we
(36:54):
oftentimes look at the problemand they're not just talking.
It's huge, but teaching peopleto look at where are you trying
to go, what are you trying toget, what are you trying to
accomplish, all within yourmission and your vision, if
they're even real, then we workour way back.
And even if these solutionsaren't something that you can
put in place right now, whatwould they be if I was your
(37:14):
fairy godmother?
What would be your uglygodmother?
They had a wand.
What would that end up lookinglike?
And then people can startseeing it that way.
So performance drivenconsulting helps people look at
things by the way that they'vebeen looking at the problem and
we're really pushing hard ondeveloping that emotional
intelligence with theorganization.
Marcie Walker (37:40):
So I could definitely see why you've been
hired for a director and therole that you've taken as a
visionary because that's theimpact is the vision that you're
talking about.
Diaz Dixon (37:51):
Thank you, that's a compliment, what?
Marcie Walker (37:54):
is a compliment.
Diaz Dixon (37:56):
Yeah, thank you.
You know it's fun and it is alot of fun and it's fun to see
things actually work and itbolsters my own self-confidence
because there are times you gointo it and you go.
You know, impart the syndromeis a real thing and you know,
(38:16):
even when I took the job atEddie, my question to myself was
can I do this again?
Can I really take anorganization and be a part of
this transformation, or was it afluke?
And so, in diving in, it was alot of fun, it was a lot of work
, it was super successful, great, I love what they are now, but
(38:41):
doing the consulting allows meto do the same thing without
necessarily having some of theheadaches that come along with
being responsible for the wholeorganization and a bunch of
people when they start.
Marcie Walker (38:54):
When did you know what your purpose was?
Diaz Dixon (39:06):
I know it's moving and I know that in the moment
I'm going to stay in the bubbleof it and then when I start
slipping and I'll start thatbubble again.
But I do know my greaterpurpose is to make this place a
better place than I came into itBeautiful.
Marcie Walker (39:24):
So you use your visionary skills with your guard
rails of values and coursecorrecting as you're driving
down the freeway of life, trynot to shred those tires.
Diaz Dixon (39:38):
Exactly Trying not to go into cruise control and
trying not to go bumping intothe guard rail, but I still bump
into them.
Marcie Walker (39:48):
Well, that's human nature, right, and I think
it just is a matter of notgetting stuck by bumping into
the guard rails or allowingyourself, grace to make mistakes
.
Diaz Dixon (40:00):
Yes, how are you going to fail First attempt in
learning?
Marcie Walker (40:06):
So you've met my son and he and I were having a
conversation the other daybecause he's 25 and he's
searching for purpose in hislife, and he was talking about
how he felt, or he was curiousabout whether, if you have
decide what your purpose is inlife, do you have to monetize
(40:29):
that.
If you were having aconversation with my son right
now, what would your advice be?
Diaz Dixon (40:35):
Say no.
I don't think, as anorganization or a person, you
should have a taste of it,because if you taste in dollars,
you're doing things for thewrong reason.
That is going to shift Now.
If you make up your mind thatyou don't want to, you're not
looking for purpose, you're notlooking for passion, that you
just want to go get rich andwhatever that might be, and
(40:58):
that's a mindset of kind ofpeople and supports for them.
But I think if you're someonewho really gets to the point
where you're looking for yourpurpose, you still got to make
sure that you're taking care ofyourself.
It doesn't mean that you aregoing to neglect everything and
go do everything for free andnot have a check come in because
you don't want to be living outin the street.
You don't take care of yourself.
You can't take care of others.
(41:19):
When the plane's going down,the mask comes on.
You got to put the mask whenthey drop down on you before you
put it on everyone else aroundyou.
So you still have to take careof yourself.
You got to find that balance.
But your end goal is not to say, well, I absolutely love fly
fishing, otherwise it's onemillion.
You'll be out of things, tryingto match those things.
Marcie Walker (41:50):
Yes, if this episode was a red sweater and
you were going to pull a redstring from that sweater to tie
everything all together, whatwould you say?
Diaz Dixon (42:04):
If I was going to pull, if I was going to pull.
Marcie Walker (42:08):
This conversation .
We've had so many pieces, andso I'm asking you to tie it all
together.
We've talked about emotionalintelligence.
We've talked about humanresilience.
Diaz Dixon (42:19):
We've talked about oh Drop some what I was doing,
dionistics and wisdom on us.
What I was first to do with myuniversity Nevada blue sweater
is the first thing that I wouldpull on.
It would be picking your owntires to see where you sit in
(42:44):
different categories.
What is it?
How are you with yourrelationship with yourself?
How are you in yourrelationship with others?
What are the things that stressyou out and what are the things
that fill you with your, andout of that, an understanding of
(43:05):
your own adaptability, in yourown communication skills,
conflict resolution skills.
All of those things willinevitably come out, but the
biggest piece that comes out isyourself, a win.
Marcie Walker (43:19):
Beautiful.
I know you have a big projectthat's going to be happening
next month and this episode willair right before that big
project.
Would you like to talk about it?
Diaz Dixon (43:29):
Yes, I would love to talk about Hammering Nails.
So I am opening up a barbershopalong with a really good friend
of mine.
It is called Hammering Nailsand it is in the South End of
Reno, and there's another onethat will be opening up three to
four months behind us inNorthwest.
But Hammering Nails is a luxurygrooming shop for men, although
(43:55):
women can go as well.
There's no colors, but it's fora shave, a haircut, a manicure,
a pedicure, facials.
It's really an environment thatallows people to receive a
little bit of mental health anda shave almost in a spa kind of
way.
It's membership based.
(44:16):
People can just walk in as well, but membership if you have a
membership, it's actuallycheaper.
It's $80 a month for twotreatments and it's going to be
a lot of fun.
And the big part is why canpeople come in and take part in
something that gives them thatlittle peace?
(44:38):
And then they come out.
You look good, you feel good.
Marcie Walker (44:42):
How did you make the leap from helping people
find their purpose to luxurygrooming?
Diaz Dixon (44:48):
Well, a good friend of mine who is also a top of
that and one of those guys whois still there.
I always feel at peace when I'mwith him.
We've always had a fun and it'ssomething.
He's been in this type ofbusiness for a long, long time
and he just said come join me.
And I said I will, because Iknew it was going to be an
(45:09):
opportunity to learn, and mylife motto is every individual
has an opportunity to learn,change and grow, and if you're
not learning, changing andgrowing on a daily basis, you're
not doing it.
So I got a lot of learning todo.
Marcie Walker (45:26):
I love that for you, thank you, I'm enjoying it.
How can my audience find you?
Diaz Dixon (45:35):
You can find me at.
You know I've got my formativeconsulting business at
cdcrinonet.
It's my website.
You can also find me looking upon the Nail Reno.
You can find me there.
I'm always ready to engage inconversation, but for this last
(46:03):
45, 50 minutes.
Marcie Walker (46:07):
Well, I love that , you love talking and I just I
appreciate you taking your time.
There's Ace, acting a fool inthe background.
Diaz Dixon (46:16):
He's allowed to protect in the house.
Marcie Walker (46:19):
He's protecting me against Amazon right now?
Diaz Dixon (46:22):
Oh that's good Doing his job.
Marcie Walker (46:23):
Yeah, so that means he is doing.
Diaz Dixon (46:26):
You're going to have to come on like that.
People kept him.
Oh, I love that, you and your.
Marcie Walker (46:35):
Mmm, my emotional support animals For myself and
my clients.
Actually I was, I was designingsomething in Canva and it was
kind of like a service menu andthen, in the format or the
template of in Canva, said ourteam, and I was really toying
with the idea of whether or notI should put part of the content
(46:56):
and put pictures of the dogsand introducing them, and I
think I'm leaning towards that.
Diaz Dixon (47:01):
I think that's really cool.
Marcie Walker (47:03):
It's silly, but I mean.
Everybody that comes to asession loves the emotional
support animals, so I feel likeit fits Well.
Thank you again for taking timeout of your busy schedule.
I we've had this schedule formonths and I just, I just really
appreciate you and I'm soinspired by how you show up in
(47:25):
life and in our community.
So thank you for doing all thethings that you do.
Diaz Dixon (47:29):
Well, thank you for having me and thank you for all
that you do Hearing andcommunity, and what you're doing
and that's wonderful.
Give it to us Look at healingand many non-clipping.
Thank you.
Marcie Walker (47:48):
Until next time.
Thank you everyone for tuningin.
This is the Wild Sage Society Podcast, where we
explore the ideas and practicesthat help us live healthy,
connected and purpose-filledlives.
Each week, our host, marcyWalker, connects with healers,
spiritual leaders, doctors andsmall business owners on topics
such as human resilience,conscious leadership and modern
(00:24):
shamanism.
Here is your host, marcy Walker.
Marcie Walker (00:31):
Welcome back to the Wild Sage Society Podcast.
I'd like to welcome Diaz Dixon.
Welcome.
Diaz Dixon (00:38):
Thank you, marcy, I'm so glad to be here.
Marcie Walker (00:43):
I am ecstatic to be here and have a fine time on
your busy schedule.
Out with your cape, out helpingpeople, being a superhero to so
many.
Diaz Dixon (00:54):
Well, I don't know if I'm necessarily a superhero,
but I know that the people whoare battling the issues and
challenges they have when yousee people come on the other
side of those that's definitelyheroic.
For me, it's inspirational.
Marcie Walker (01:10):
We were talking a little bit beforehand about how
I see you as being Reno famous.
I don't think you can goanywhere in Reno and not know
Diaz Dixon.
Diaz Dixon (01:23):
Well, to be fair, it is the biggest little city.
Reno may look big on the map,but if you've been around as
long as I have, you're kind oflike mold.
People do recognize you.
Marcie Walker (01:36):
Oh, I don't know if I would have described you as
mold.
Diaz Dixon (01:41):
Well, I've been around for a while, so I've just
been really glad to be able tomeet a number of people.
Maybe there's a betterdescription than mold, but after
a while.
Marcie Walker (01:52):
So you were invited to join me on the
podcast today to talk abouthuman resilience and purpose and
conscious leadership, so Idon't know where you want to
start.
Diaz Dixon (02:05):
Well, first thing that comes to mind.
First thing that comes to mindis one.
Again, thank you for having me.
I'm honored that you would beable to name those particular
topics and then think of me andgive me an opportunity to be
able to talk about those things,because I am really huge on
people finding their purpose andunderstanding their process.
(02:26):
Once they find that and theyfigure those things out, it
makes life so much easier.
You know, if that's what we'rebeing driven by, we have a much
greater chance at having impact,particularly in a world that
has so many struggles.
And I've been blessed in somany ways that when I work with
(02:46):
women and children withsubstance use issues at Step 2,
or whether I was working at anyhouse, homeless youth those have
all put a lot of perspective onhow good I actually have some
things and seeing people'sstruggles, that it's, I think,
has to celebrate their triumphas they were working their way
through.
(03:07):
I'm a big believer in that.
We're all a product of our ownexperiences in our environment.
So if we pay close enoughattention to our own experiences
in our environment, that's whywe get to the point where we get
older and we start havingwisdom.
But those things are what leadheavily into us understanding
our past and how to find them,how to pursue them.
(03:30):
I also think that it's huge inseeing other people's pathways
helps you understand more aboutyourself, and too often these
days we are always looking totry to figure out who we are in
our own selves without lookingat ourselves.
Marcie Walker (03:50):
I love all of those points and there is a fine
parallel in knowing yourpurpose, I believe, with knowing
your values and yourself-esteem 100% and think about
how long it takes before youknow your value, self-esteem,
all the cousins self-esteem,self-concept, just pure self.
Diaz Dixon (04:11):
They're all related and it's a battle somehow as we
work our way through, and it'snot until we really can grasp
those and appreciate them thatwe have the last one with the
self-confidence.
Self-confidence really bolstersall of them and continues to
feed its cousins and allows usto really navigate in a world
(04:33):
without worrying about whateveryone else is thinking,
without worrying about all thefears that are sitting around us
of what we might become or whatpeople might think of us.
Because I also say, fear isfalse evidence appearing real,
and it's that false evidencethat stops us from doing what we
need to do, that stops us frombecoming our complete selves.
It also stops us from reallyunderstanding what the world is
(05:00):
asking of us.
What is this universe asking ofus as individuals?
And it's a much bigger picture.
And the most selfishindividuals and that's the bad
cousin, selfish is they're notcontributing and when we're in a
selfish mode that we can easilyfall into, we're not showing
compassion, we're not showingempathy, and that puts us in
(05:22):
rest.
Marcie Walker (05:23):
Or just even stuck in like deep, deep mud.
I know I've been there for sureit can be in the deep, deep mud
, deep, deep mud.
So from someone on the outsideof your life, it always looks
like you have everything put alltogether.
I'm curious which one of thosecousins was the biggest
(05:44):
challenge for you to overcomewhen you rewind the tapes and
look at a life of diastasis.
Diaz Dixon (05:50):
Oh boy, oh boy.
That is like a.
That's a great question, youknow, I think part of it is
self-conscious, beingself-confident, but probably
being too self-confident becauseI had experienced so much
success.
And I'll give an example At onepoint in time, say 20 years ago
(06:14):
, I was writing a book.
I started to write a book, Iwas feeling really good about
myself and the things that I'maccomplishing in my career and
my relationships around me, andI wrote a book.
I started writing this book andit was called Duck or Pig, and
what the concept was saying isare you like when it comes to
adversity?
Are you like a duck and you letit just roll off your back like
(06:37):
water, or are you a pig?
You're wallowing?
It's that mud you were livingto just a few minutes ago.
And I was like for sure, I'm aduck.
And then I got a divorce and itwas really through the divorce
that I started looking aroundand going, okay, wait a minute,
I didn't mean to waste it and ittook a while.
(06:58):
At the very beginning of that Ididn't want to grasp it and
learn, I wanted to just pursueit as fast as I could, which
also meant that I wanted to goaround it how do I get out of
this and go around it?
And it wasn't until later thatI realized you've got to go
through these steps so that youcan be stronger in pulling your
(07:19):
legs up and taking each step andmoving through and wading
through it.
So that's one that I can say.
That was such a painful but agreat experience for me as being
a product of the experienceenvironment that shifted my
environment and gave me moreexperience to look at things
(07:40):
differently.
Marcie Walker (07:42):
Beautiful answer Okay.
Diaz Dixon (07:43):
Very beautiful answer.
Marcie Walker (07:48):
So you've helped so many people in our community
by being working like what yousaid step two and the Eddie
House and the Nevada HumaneSociety and all of the things.
So what would you say?
How you help people the most?
Diaz Dixon (08:05):
No, I think how I help people probably the most
Well, one in all of thoseorganizations I always make sure
I had smarter people around.
So the great success that thoseorganizations had was never
because of me, it was reallybecause of me.
So I understood that it'smission first and I just helped
(08:31):
provide the vision and theguidance and directing with it.
But it was critical that therewas more than just my
perspective, my solutions ofwhat I thought would be most
impactful.
So what that takes is thattakes the ability to be able to
listen, and a lot of peopledon't understand that listening
(08:52):
and silent have all the sameletters and sometimes you have
to push that ego to the side andbe able to just really listen.
And I think that I really helppeople the most when I listen.
Because instead of me gearingup what I think the answer
should be or what the solutionis going to be, because
oftentimes someone says, oh, Igot a problem with this flat
tire and before you can evenfinish, I'm going well, all you
(09:15):
need to do is get there, all yougot to do is drag down the big
O and you just get there, get itpassed up in air and they're
not even talking about that.
The problem is the whole thingis slow, but I didn't stop and
listen.
So I think when I'm thinkingabout how I help people most is
when I realize that people havea problem.
I don't jump quickly throughwhat I think the solution might
(09:36):
be.
I truly listen to the problemand try to understand it from
their perspective, like, how arethey doing and how does this
problem because Dias is going tocome up with his own solution
and then when I understand whatthey're saying, then I can
collaboratively walk with themthrough it.
What is the potential solution?
And the biggest feature is, ifthey come up with it or we come
(09:57):
up with it together, then theyget to own it and so when they
have the impact at the very endand the solution at the very end
, it's something that they own.
And we want people to haveanswers so that when they come
back to this situation againbecause they're going to come
back to something very similarwe want them to be strong enough
(10:19):
to know that they can solve it.
You know it's aboutsustainability.
It's not about being dependent,and oftentimes we build systems
that are to be dependent ratherthan be sustainable.
Marcie Walker (10:35):
I think that's a great segue to conscious
leadership.
How would you define consciousleadership?
Diaz Dixon (10:42):
Oh boy, I think conscious leadership is well.
First and foremost, you have tobe able to kick your own time
and understand your own implicitbiases.
We all have, and those arecausing us to think or react in
a certain way, without evenunderstanding how we do it,
(11:02):
unconsciously.
So when we look at thoseunconscious biases and those
preconceived notions that wehave about people or certain
things or concepts, we realizethey drive us in a certain way.
And in order to be an effectiveleader, no one ever asks a
great leader to only lead asmall group of people.
Those people who are leadingjust a small group of people, or
(11:25):
they're only looking to capturea small group of people, or
maybe just enough for them towin a boat, those are two
leaders, those are cult leaders.
And so I think that you got tokick your own tires.
First and foremost, acknowledgewhere your strengths are and
where your areas of concern, andconsciously working on those
areas of concern regularly andasking for feedback as you work
(11:47):
your way through.
And then the people and theteam that you're working with.
You're looking at them asindividuals.
How do you build leaders?
And there's a couple of thingsto that I think you have to show
up, pay attention, to be honestand don't be afraid of the
(12:07):
outcome, because being afraid ofthe outcome means we're trying
to control the whole thing andwe don't want anything ever to
go bad or we don't want anyoneever to fail.
Some people have to be able tofail.
You've got to give people roomto fail and know that this is a.
You're going to fail.
Hey, I'm going to fail too, butwhen we fail, we're going to
fail forward.
Marcie Walker (12:26):
Beautiful.
You perfectly describeconscious leadership for someone
that's starting theirleadership journey and they are
really struggling.
And we're sitting here talkingabout herbis and finding our
purpose and finding our why.
What advice would you have forthat growing leader that needs
(12:50):
to really tune into their why?
Diaz Dixon (12:54):
Well, I think that if you are looking to tune into
your one, you've got to askyourself, first and foremost,
what are the things that give metechnical fulfillment, what are
the things that bring me joyand not just make me happy, but
what's something that brings mejoy?
What are the things that do theexact opposite of that?
(13:18):
So there are certain thingsthat I just can't stand and they
don't make me feel good.
That will help us give you theguideline to your continuum,
because they always say, ifyou're doing what you love, it's
not really work.
But the first place is beingable to identify what is
fulfilling me and it really is,creating a positive feedback
(13:42):
loop that sustains yourdedication, because then it's
just firing you up and you'recoming back to it and firing you
up again and firing you upagain.
Now you're going to sputterfrom time to time and then, on
top of that, I think the nextstep is like how do you build?
Start connection, because yourpassion and purpose can help you
connect with other like-mindedindividuals or organizations
(14:05):
that help foster collaborationand partnerships that have a
greater impact on what you loveand what you love.
And but you've got to bebalanced, because you've got to
be very careful not to just getin with a bunch of people that
you fall into this group thing.
But you can learn so much fromthose people, there's so much to
bounce off of them that comesback and will reflect in your
(14:26):
very soul.
And I always say that whenyou're part of a group and
you're all moving in a certaindirection but you've got
diversity of thought, that's amovement, that's great.
If you're with a part of agroup and you're all thinking
the exact same and moving in thesame direction at the cult and
a lot of times people in a cultthey don't even realize it.
And then I think the last pieceof advice I would give them or
(14:47):
another piece, I won't call itthe last piece is take close
attention to burn.
We've got the end of the stuffso constantly we burn out really
fast.
You see people burn out so fast.
They went in so fast.
They had all these greatexpectations.
But if you're paying closeattention to it, it helps you
(15:10):
balance your emotionalinvestment with your own
self-care and support that youneed Learning how to ask about
things.
Marcie Walker (15:21):
How do you?
I love it, keep going.
So how do you support yourself-care and avoid burn out?
Diaz Dixon (15:31):
Oh, wow.
So I've got a couple ofdifferent ways.
You know I love my doctor, sono matter what, when I come home
they're always, they alwayslove to see me.
So that's one thing that I knowthat is consistent feels really
good.
Animals are really good foryour mental health.
(15:52):
The next thing there, I think,the well-being.
That's one thing.
I make sure that I'm engaged inactivities.
So whether you know, for a longtime I was playing basketball,
but if I make sure that I getout and I do things that take my
mind off of the daily grind, soif I get out and golf, and even
if I'm not having a really goodgolf grind, I'm not thinking
(16:14):
about all those other thingsthat I have to do, because it's
just what's sitting in front ofme, like why am I struggling to
hit this little white ballstraight when it's really cold?
But you know, working my waythrough that gives me a recess.
So what are the things thatgive me a recess?
Kind of time I'll poop, I'mgoing to do things.
Behind me there's my eagle andmy face there and a moose up
(16:36):
there.
Those are things that can againstep my brain down and then I
also would give me peace, as ifI can inspire others.
My thought is if I can inspirepeople with something that's
positive, it's going to create aripple effect that's positive
(17:00):
to me, hopefully, in mycommunity.
Things that are around me,those things are good and, you
know, food's good too.
So if I'm struggling and foodthere are a lot of times
oftentimes I'm thinking fromgoing to a certain place that
may be a favorite restaurant orfinding a hole in the wall
restaurant, some mom pa, please,it's good.
Marcie Walker (17:27):
So what I heard that seemed to be a consistent
name through some of those ispresence.
Is you taking your mind off?
Is being embodied and presentin the current moment?
Diaz Dixon (17:41):
Oh, being present in the current moment is so
important because we live in aworld of despair.
You know we're constantlybuzzing over our phones or the
television, quick access to theremote and telling them what's
going on in the world, likethere's all kinds of stuff, all
(18:01):
types of distractions that arethrown in, and I think
technology has been a blessingand a place in so many ways, but
it's stopped and it's reallyhurt the way we communicate.
So I think it's important whenyou're talking about, you know,
you bring up being present.
I like that you're saying this,because being present really
(18:23):
helps to clarify what we'redoing in that particular moment.
It helps us make betterdecisions, it helps us stay more
focused and at the same time,it helps us understand what
really, really matters to us.
And if we're understanding whatmatters to us, that's when
we're again we're understandingwhat's understanding.
(18:44):
It's the meaning, we understandour motivation and drive and
then we have a greater clarityin making decisions, because
that you know our why tends tobe our guiding principle in our
decision.
Marcie Walker (19:03):
Absolutely, you've got to check it with your
values and then it's out ofalignment and, as someone that
was working out of alignmentwith their values for a really
long time, I just didn't havethat in my awareness until I had
a health crisis.
Diaz Dixon (19:17):
Oh yeah, Like that would have to be really tough.
That's like a kind of a wake-upcall, right.
Marcie Walker (19:21):
It's kind of scary.
Diaz Dixon (19:22):
I would imagine.
Marcie Walker (19:25):
It was not awesome, I'm not going to lie
but it was that I had ignoredall the simple signals for so
long that it was finally like mybody is like OK, you need to
wake up right now.
Diaz Dixon (19:40):
Yeah.
So, figuring out and reallyhearing it.
Marcie Walker (19:47):
You know honestly is when I cut the high-stress
career that I had.
My symptoms all went awaywithin three weeks and I think
that's the power of stress andsays something about human
resilience.
Diaz Dixon (20:04):
Yeah, strictly the big one, and you know, remove
that and then allow your body tonaturally do what it wants to
do.
But that's just huge.
Marcie Walker (20:18):
Yes, it is.
So, as someone who had sometime to prep and meet with you
in anticipation of this podcast,your phone was buzzing quite a
bit.
How do you manage stress anddistractions with a constantly
(20:38):
buzzing phone?
Diaz Dixon (20:46):
Yes and yes.
So you know I read.
What I've learned is I have togo into my calendar and I have
to schedule some meetings andwhat I do, because if I don't
I'll fill it and I'll fill itwith all those emails or all the
texts, calls, that have come inthrough, and so the best way
(21:10):
particularly when I starteddoing individual consulting, I
didn't have that direct wire andorganization that was attached
to the mission when I wasworking.
So then I began to take on thisvarious project, which also
made me more likely to takesquirrels, and it started
driving me crazy.
I started kind of losing it fora little bit, going.
(21:31):
I can't figure this out.
This is even more successful.
And then someone gave me a tipthat you really schedule some
time and you let it be your timeand don't fill it.
No matter what, don't fill it.
So if you've got to get anothermeeting in, you have to find
another place to put it and thenyou fill that time with what
(21:52):
you want to do, and if youchoose to do some success at
work, that's great becauseyou'll feel better about it, but
it will decrease the stress.
Marcie Walker (21:58):
That was huge for me and really kind of expressed
for me being able to have thattime You've managed and been the
director of so many differentbusinesses, how did you know
when it was time to take the bigleap into entrepreneurship and
running your own small business?
Diaz Dixon (22:18):
Well, you know, I was really a question because I
was dabbled in consulting for awhile, even when I was at step
two for a little bit.
I did it when I worked at theuniversity as an athletic
director, but I guess mostrecently I was when I left Eddie
(22:39):
house.
I was really to run theNational Foundation for Common
Spirit Health, and so when Iwent into Common Spirit Health
as a assistant vice president,it was a wonderful opportunity,
surrounded by great people withan incredible class.
But I also know that I wasworking remotely.
I was the only one in rena,everything was done, so
(23:05):
basically zoom, because it wasin the heart of COVID, and so
one thing that I really learnedabout myself is that I need to
be around people, and we reallyneed to be around people who are
constant, sometimes maybe justneed a little extra support.
So it was a huge leap to believethat's a pure position, and I
(23:32):
have been just saying I'm goingto do this full time, because
when I left there were a coupleof nonprofits that reached out
asking if I was interested incoming to work outside of this
leadership.
But I made up my mind before Ileft.
I said I'm going to give this ashot and let's hope that I can
keep food on the table, and it'sbeen a little over a year and a
(23:58):
half.
No, I'd say a couple of monthsover the years.
It's been about 14 months and Ihaven't looked back and it's
been absolutely amazing andthere's a lot of challenges with
it.
But what has helped me do wasre-perfit a lot of the wines
(24:18):
that I've had in the past andput them in a position that, my
experience, gives benefit tothose in the organization.
Marcie Walker (24:30):
You set this question up, so what is your why
?
Diaz Dixon (24:33):
Well, you know, my wife has shifted every decade
and I used to be a firm believerin your why, is your why and
it's what you're born with, andyou just look behind it and find
it.
You're ready to go.
But what I've learned islooking back.
(24:55):
My wife has shifted and it'sbeen different probably with
every decade, and there was atime where I had little kids and
they were my wife.
When my daughter was born, thefirst time I realized that life
(25:15):
wasn't about me, and it also wasthe first time I realized that
I was a servant and so it was agreat role in taking that on.
And then things just becausethe kids get older and that
changes.
So I would say, now the kidsare gone and most of the things
(25:39):
that I'm doing, my why isfiguring out how to create
conversations between peoplethat lead with love.
That's where I'm feeling rightnow.
Marcie Walker (25:52):
And how do you do that?
Diaz Dixon (25:55):
Well, a lot of other things that I was talking about
right now.
So, and it's it's, it'sprepared, being prepared to be
uncomfortable and telling peoplethat they should be
uncomfortable.
And it's okay to beuncomfortable I feel okay to
even make it but people need tobe.
You don't go to the gym andjust look at all the machines
and then walk out and go.
(26:15):
That was great.
We wish there was that.
You got to go in and you got tobe uncomfortable.
You got to care muscle, you gotto be sore and then you got to
go down.
You got to do it withpersonality and then you got to
keep going.
And that's the same thing withpeople in conversations.
That's the same thing withproblem solving.
(26:36):
We got to look at what thestruggles were having for us and
we're not going to just have aquick fix, Not a matter of just
looking something up on,Googling it and then having the
solution and then walking away.
It's how do we go?
How do we get uncomfortable?
Jpaddy (26:52):
with it.
Diaz Dixon (26:53):
So we can work our way through it, and so and it
happens like it happens to meall the time where I'm
uncomfortable in particularmoments and I'm trying to really
make the right decision as Iwork my way through.
But it's a process, Nothingquick.
Marcie Walker (27:09):
And your hell yes .
When you feel that in your body, what does that feel like?
When you know you're making theright decision.
Diaz Dixon (27:17):
Of a nine, of a nine .
So and I'm a scared, I'm scaredI'm not personally scared of it
, but when you make thatdecision about nine and you're
scared, you're kind of and beingfearful of being up to earth.
Marcie Walker (27:36):
My felt sense hell yes is I feel like in the
center of my body from my spinalcord.
It feels like my spine lightsup and everything in my body
just feels like it's really bigexpansion and it's yeah, that's,
I think, the best way I canactually know.
Diaz Dixon (28:00):
Being in a kind of way, yeah, I guess.
Marcie Walker (28:02):
so it's just what I've always known and I know
that my hell no.
Or when I don't make the, or,you know, like when I shouldn't
over commit myself, it's when itdidn't know.
It feels like a constrictionand a shrinking.
So I had to, really going backto where I was talking about
working outside of my values.
I had to really be paidattention and be present and
(28:24):
start to feel those feelings inmy body.
Diaz Dixon (28:31):
And that's great awareness.
Marcie Walker (28:34):
Thank you.
Emotional intelligence and Iknow that you do a lot of
training at corporate trainingsand education around diversity
and equity and inclusion andbelonging, so tie all that
together for me.
Diaz Dixon (28:53):
So you know I like to really talk about I do, or
talking about DVR.
I always make sure that thebelonging piece is done, because
most of the time, people aredoing whatever they can to fit
in.
Fitting in is not belonging.
Fitting in is actually theopposite.
You know you're in that, beingyour true, authentic self.
(29:15):
So what we need to realize isthat we're all a part of
diversity, inclusion andbelonging.
We all come from differentbackgrounds and it's important
for us when we're looking atthis and trying to understand
one another.
Emotional intelligence really isthe ability to understand,
manage and use our own emotionsto help us navigate through
(29:40):
social interactions.
Sometimes those emotions thatwe're all frightened up or angry
about are coming from outsidestimuli that we're receiving.
Someone told us this, so we sawthis on the news and that does
not.
That's the opposite ofemotional intelligence.
Emotional intelligence helps usnavigate those social
(30:00):
interactions, buildingrelationships, making sound
decisions, and really itencompasses knowing who you are.
Who am I?
Let's kick around, tyler.
Emotional intelligence also ishow to self-regulate, managing
and controlling those emotionsand those urges that pop up,
also being motivated, and thebiggest thing that we're missing
(30:22):
these days is empathy thecapacity to understand that the
feelings and perspectives ofother people, and that involves,
back to the listening piece,observing nonverbal cues and
being very sensitive to theemotional needs of people that
are around you.
But there are so many differentthings that emotional
(30:42):
intelligence ties in to reallyunderstanding other people,
other cultures, otherbackgrounds, other genders,
other sexual orientations thatare different than ourselves,
and not being threatened by itBecause when you're threatened
oh no, go ahead.
When you're threatened that'sfear, that's that false evidence
(31:04):
appearing real and that willstop you from having improved
relationships or effectiveleadership or enhanced decision
making, and that's only going toincrease more theft.
And when you have more theft,you will never be good with
conflict resolution.
You will never be good with theconflict resolution inside your
(31:25):
own.
Marcie Walker (31:26):
You're talking a lot about regulating nervous
systems or nervous systemregulation throughout, a
collective right.
And having that emotionalintelligence to know and be
self-aware enough toself-regulate and then regulate
in social regulation One hundredpercent.
Diaz Dixon (31:44):
I mean, you have to nail on it and it's all linked.
But when do we stop thinkingabout it?
When do we stop thinking aboutit?
When do we stop thinking aboutit when we would ever talk to
the attention to it?
We more than likely haven'tbeen, because it was maybe a
little uncomfortable or it wastoo risky or risky.
So we've got to be better.
(32:06):
We have to pay close attentionto how emotional intelligence
plays a significant role inpersonal and professional
success.
Marcie Walker (32:17):
Do you think that there's a parallel between lack
of emotional intelligence andbaby boomers?
Diaz Dixon (32:25):
That's a lovely question.
Marcie Walker (32:28):
Well, with five generations in the workforce
right, baby boomers, from myexperience, have learned from
the generation before them andthey weren't touchy-feely.
Diaz Dixon (32:36):
No, they weren't.
So I'm trying to do thiswithout making any
generalizations.
I do believe, because we're aproduct of our experiences in
our environment, that they werein an environment that didn't
give them any experiences to beable to express themselves with
(32:57):
it.
So many of them, maybe, unlessthey were really evolved, many
of them could fall into thatcategory.
Marcie Walker (33:07):
I'll just put it that way yes, that was very
politically correct of you and Iappreciate that.
Diaz Dixon (33:16):
I want to open up my door and have 17 baby boomers
after.
What are you saying?
Marcie Walker (33:28):
Typically, all of my guests have come in and have
shared their story and it'sbeen one of pain to purpose.
Diaz Dixon (33:36):
Pain to purpose.
Well, I did a TED talk yearsago.
I talked a little bit about mypoint of view in the project as
a kid.
Due to an unfortunate incident,my best friend, and I were in
kindergarten together.
(33:58):
We were up burning in anabandoned car and the car had
just ran home and his dad camehome and killed him.
I still didn't stay and see theopen test.
It took a number of years.
I said we need to move, we needto do something different.
It took them three years tomove.
(34:20):
So when they moved we ended upmoving to what was called the
white family.
I go from living in a schoolthat was only white kids to
elementary school.
The lesson that came out ofthat was the recognition of the
(34:42):
different worlds I was living in, the ability to learn how to
navigate between those ones andbe able to do so effectively.
What it taught me was thedifference between fitting in
and belonging.
It doesn't matter how hard Itried to fit in on certain
things.
(35:02):
I didn't know it was going tobe long.
It taught me a much biggerpicture that we can all belong
if we lead with it.
We use values as a bridge.
It doesn't have to be theappearance of your skin, it
doesn't have to be your gender.
It is finding core values thatbridge it and allow us to open
(35:25):
doors and then open the doors ofacceptance.
That is where my purpose is.
Marcie Walker (35:32):
Thank you for your vulnerability and sharing
that story.
Diaz Dixon (35:36):
Thank you for allowing me to share it.
Marcie Walker (35:39):
Yeah, that's a big story.
Diaz Dixon (35:43):
Yeah, it's a big story, yeah.
Marcie Walker (35:49):
With you are the CEO of performance driven
consulting.
We've touched on many of theareas and the magic that you
create and how you share yourmenacing.
How else is performance driven?
How else do they show up forthe community?
Diaz Dixon (36:11):
Well, there's a lot of stuff that I do.
I remember football in O'Connor.
So, in terms of, really, it'sabout meeting an organization
where they're in or the leaderof them.
I do this in the office.
I do this in the office.
But how performance drivenconsulting really benefits
(36:32):
organizations in our communityis by looking at the problem or
the TSI, recognizing thedifferent types of solutions and
then asking the question ofwhere the impact is going to be.
And oftentimes I will ask themwhat is the impact they want to
have first, before looking atthe problem, because we
(36:54):
oftentimes look at the problemand they're not just talking.
It's huge, but teaching peopleto look at where are you trying
to go, what are you trying toget, what are you trying to
accomplish, all within yourmission and your vision, if
they're even real, then we workour way back.
And even if these solutionsaren't something that you can
put in place right now, whatwould they be if I was your
(37:14):
fairy godmother?
What would be your uglygodmother?
They had a wand.
What would that end up lookinglike?
And then people can startseeing it that way.
So performance drivenconsulting helps people look at
things by the way that they'vebeen looking at the problem and
we're really pushing hard ondeveloping that emotional
intelligence with theorganization.
Marcie Walker (37:40):
So I could definitely see why you've been
hired for a director and therole that you've taken as a
visionary because that's theimpact is the vision that you're
talking about.
Diaz Dixon (37:51):
Thank you, that's a compliment, what?
Marcie Walker (37:54):
is a compliment.
Diaz Dixon (37:56):
Yeah, thank you.
You know it's fun and it is alot of fun and it's fun to see
things actually work and itbolsters my own self-confidence
because there are times you gointo it and you go.
You know, impart the syndromeis a real thing and you know,
(38:16):
even when I took the job atEddie, my question to myself was
can I do this again?
Can I really take anorganization and be a part of
this transformation, or was it afluke?
And so, in diving in, it was alot of fun, it was a lot of work
, it was super successful, great, I love what they are now, but
(38:41):
doing the consulting allows meto do the same thing without
necessarily having some of theheadaches that come along with
being responsible for the wholeorganization and a bunch of
people when they start.
Marcie Walker (38:54):
When did you know what your purpose was?
Diaz Dixon (39:06):
I know it's moving and I know that in the moment
I'm going to stay in the bubbleof it and then when I start
slipping and I'll start thatbubble again.
But I do know my greaterpurpose is to make this place a
better place than I came into itBeautiful.
Marcie Walker (39:24):
So you use your visionary skills with your guard
rails of values and coursecorrecting as you're driving
down the freeway of life, trynot to shred those tires.
Diaz Dixon (39:38):
Exactly Trying not to go into cruise control and
trying not to go bumping intothe guard rail, but I still bump
into them.
Marcie Walker (39:48):
Well, that's human nature, right, and I think
it just is a matter of notgetting stuck by bumping into
the guard rails or allowingyourself, grace to make mistakes
.
Diaz Dixon (40:00):
Yes, how are you going to fail First attempt in
learning?
Marcie Walker (40:06):
So you've met my son and he and I were having a
conversation the other daybecause he's 25 and he's
searching for purpose in hislife, and he was talking about
how he felt, or he was curiousabout whether, if you have
decide what your purpose is inlife, do you have to monetize
(40:29):
that.
If you were having aconversation with my son right
now, what would your advice be?
Diaz Dixon (40:35):
Say no.
I don't think, as anorganization or a person, you
should have a taste of it,because if you taste in dollars,
you're doing things for thewrong reason.
That is going to shift Now.
If you make up your mind thatyou don't want to, you're not
looking for purpose, you're notlooking for passion, that you
just want to go get rich andwhatever that might be, and
(40:58):
that's a mindset of kind ofpeople and supports for them.
But I think if you're someonewho really gets to the point
where you're looking for yourpurpose, you still got to make
sure that you're taking care ofyourself.
It doesn't mean that you aregoing to neglect everything and
go do everything for free andnot have a check come in because
you don't want to be living outin the street.
You don't take care of yourself.
You can't take care of others.
(41:19):
When the plane's going down,the mask comes on.
You got to put the mask whenthey drop down on you before you
put it on everyone else aroundyou.
So you still have to take careof yourself.
You got to find that balance.
But your end goal is not to say, well, I absolutely love fly
fishing, otherwise it's onemillion.
You'll be out of things, tryingto match those things.
Marcie Walker (41:50):
Yes, if this episode was a red sweater and
you were going to pull a redstring from that sweater to tie
everything all together, whatwould you say?
Diaz Dixon (42:04):
If I was going to pull, if I was going to pull.
Marcie Walker (42:08):
This conversation .
We've had so many pieces, andso I'm asking you to tie it all
together.
We've talked about emotionalintelligence.
We've talked about humanresilience.
Diaz Dixon (42:19):
We've talked about oh Drop some what I was doing,
dionistics and wisdom on us.
What I was first to do with myuniversity Nevada blue sweater
is the first thing that I wouldpull on.
It would be picking your owntires to see where you sit in
(42:44):
different categories.
What is it?
How are you with yourrelationship with yourself?
How are you in yourrelationship with others?
What are the things that stressyou out and what are the things
that fill you with your, andout of that, an understanding of
(43:05):
your own adaptability, in yourown communication skills,
conflict resolution skills.
All of those things willinevitably come out, but the
biggest piece that comes out isyourself, a win.
Marcie Walker (43:19):
Beautiful.
I know you have a big projectthat's going to be happening
next month and this episode willair right before that big
project.
Would you like to talk about it?
Diaz Dixon (43:29):
Yes, I would love to talk about Hammering Nails.
So I am opening up a barbershopalong with a really good friend
of mine.
It is called Hammering Nailsand it is in the South End of
Reno, and there's another onethat will be opening up three to
four months behind us inNorthwest.
But Hammering Nails is a luxurygrooming shop for men, although
(43:55):
women can go as well.
There's no colors, but it's fora shave, a haircut, a manicure,
a pedicure, facials.
It's really an environment thatallows people to receive a
little bit of mental health anda shave almost in a spa kind of
way.
It's membership based.
(44:16):
People can just walk in as well, but membership if you have a
membership, it's actuallycheaper.
It's $80 a month for twotreatments and it's going to be
a lot of fun.
And the big part is why canpeople come in and take part in
something that gives them thatlittle peace?
(44:38):
And then they come out.
You look good, you feel good.
Marcie Walker (44:42):
How did you make the leap from helping people
find their purpose to luxurygrooming?
Diaz Dixon (44:48):
Well, a good friend of mine who is also a top of
that and one of those guys whois still there.
I always feel at peace when I'mwith him.
We've always had a fun and it'ssomething.
He's been in this type ofbusiness for a long, long time
and he just said come join me.
And I said I will, because Iknew it was going to be an
(45:09):
opportunity to learn, and mylife motto is every individual
has an opportunity to learn,change and grow, and if you're
not learning, changing andgrowing on a daily basis, you're
not doing it.
So I got a lot of learning todo.
Marcie Walker (45:26):
I love that for you, thank you, I'm enjoying it.
How can my audience find you?
Diaz Dixon (45:35):
You can find me at.
You know I've got my formativeconsulting business at
cdcrinonet.
It's my website.
You can also find me looking upon the Nail Reno.
You can find me there.
I'm always ready to engage inconversation, but for this last
(46:03):
45, 50 minutes.
Marcie Walker (46:07):
Well, I love that , you love talking and I just I
appreciate you taking your time.
There's Ace, acting a fool inthe background.
Diaz Dixon (46:16):
He's allowed to protect in the house.
Marcie Walker (46:19):
He's protecting me against Amazon right now?
Diaz Dixon (46:22):
Oh that's good Doing his job.
Marcie Walker (46:23):
Yeah, so that means he is doing.
Diaz Dixon (46:26):
You're going to have to come on like that.
People kept him.
Oh, I love that, you and your.
Marcie Walker (46:35):
Mmm, my emotional support animals For myself and
my clients.
Actually I was, I was designingsomething in Canva and it was
kind of like a service menu andthen, in the format or the
template of in Canva, said ourteam, and I was really toying
with the idea of whether or notI should put part of the content
(46:56):
and put pictures of the dogsand introducing them, and I
think I'm leaning towards that.
Diaz Dixon (47:01):
I think that's really cool.
Marcie Walker (47:03):
It's silly, but I mean.
Everybody that comes to asession loves the emotional
support animals, so I feel likeit fits Well.
Thank you again for taking timeout of your busy schedule.
I we've had this schedule formonths and I just, I just really
appreciate you and I'm soinspired by how you show up in
(47:25):
life and in our community.
So thank you for doing all thethings that you do.
Diaz Dixon (47:29):
Well, thank you for having me and thank you for all
that you do Hearing andcommunity, and what you're doing
and that's wonderful.
Give it to us Look at healingand many non-clipping.
Thank you.
Marcie Walker (47:48):
Until next time.
Thank you everyone for tuningin.
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