Meet Dijon Means | Actor, Creator, & Business Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dijon Means and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dijon, how do you think about risk?
All that I know is risk-taking! I believe that you have to be willing to take risks, in order to succeed in life. And right along with risk taking is losing your fear of failure. Moving to Atlanta was the biggest risk that I’ve taken so far, and there was a little bit of reservation when it came time to make the move, but it was the best thing that I could’ve done for my career.

When your faith is strong enough, and you allow God to direct your path, your willingness to bet on yourself will be stronger than it’s ever been before. My family heard me say many times last year, that “I’m willing to bet on me”. You have to be willing to bet on yourself, you have to be willing to fail, and you have to be willing to take that leap of faith. Once you reach that point, the world will become your oyster.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an Actor, Writer, Director, Filmmaker, Photographer, Videographer, Graphic Designer, and the list goes on. Many people would describe me as a multi-hyphenate, but I’d simply say that I’m just blessed. I am also the owner of The Creative Eye Productions, LLC and DSM Studios.

As a Creative, I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve put the work in for everything that I’ve obtained and every level that I’ve been able to reach, and I did it without worrying about what anybody else may think or say about my direction in life. I’d never be foolish enough to say that I’ve gotten to this point “all by myself”, because someone had to support me. Someone had to invest in me, and someone also had to believe in my vision. I was able to tune out the noise, the distractions, the naysayers; I gave attention to and listened to the people who believed in me, and it helped my elevation. That’s something that I’m proud of, because it isn’t always easy to ignore the noise in the background. At the same time, it’s important to remember that everyone isn’t going to believe in your ability. Everyone isn’t going to support your dream. Without a doubt, everyone isn’t going to see your vision, and that’s ok. God gave you that specific vision for a reason. Everyone doesn’t need to see it.

Once you’re able to understand and move past the point of the noise, you’ll be able to accept the fact that the journey won’t be easy whatsoever. My journey hasn’t had any ease within my 4 years of pursuit, and I’ve barely started. The only way to overcome the trials, tribulations, and tough times is by being still in your faith and knowing that the desires of your heart will come to pass. Being still in your faith doesn’t mean that you can just sit and wait around though. I’ve learned that you have to consistently prepare for opportunity. Those who do the work, establish a solid foundation, continuously build on that foundation, and keep the faith; those are the people who break barriers that once seemed unbreakable.

If the world were to take anything from me or my brand and story, I’d want them to take away the fact that I found my purpose and I fully believe in it. Why? I know that God placed my purpose over my life because he saw me as the perfect vessel to sow his seed. This is something that I want the world to be able to take away and apply to their own life and situations. Whatever that niche is that you have, the talent that you have, that thing you do better than most people; it’s for a reason, but you have to be willing to walk in it and give it everything that you have in you if you want to succeed.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m only a year and a half in, here in Atlanta. So, whenever my friends do visit the city and they ask me for hot spots, I tell them that they’re asking the wrong person because I don’t really go out. When it comes to food though, a few regulars for me would have to be Hattie B’s, JJ’s Fish & Chicken, Slutty Vegan, and Grub Truck Stop.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First & foremost, God will always get the credit for any recognition or award that I receive throughout my journey. My parents will also always be right behind Him, for endlessly supporting my dreams and goals, without any hesitation.

Next, it would have to be my DSM Studios family! Which is a team of amazingly talented people that I was blessed to be able to unify, who consistently push and challenge each other to reach our next levels. We’ve been able to establish a team that genuinely wants to see each other win. We all set our goals as a unit, we work together to achieve them, and we aren’t afraid to clap for each other when we have our own individual moments of success. In addition to myself, this dynamic group includes Carlett Martin, Ja’Taun T. Durden, Amber N. Bell, Sharae Dupree, Tyler Thompson, KeShun Freeman, and Donald Wayne Brown Jr.

Lastly, two of the most important factors in my success, thus far, would have to be Shon Middlebrooks and Dante Sellers. God allowed me to cross paths with them, and they have both been extremely instrumental in making sure that I know my potential, helping me build on it, and consistently being a support system with or without me asking. The industry can always use more authentic people like themselves.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DijonMeans/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/Dmeanstv