LEARN TO EXPECT THE ENTREPRENEURIAL UNEXPECTED - Joel Young
Dear readers, we have shared with you over the months and many past articles in this column, our thoughts on what comprised the " entrepreneurial spirit." And, research has told us that many times, people become entrepreneurs and join the ranks of the self-employed due to a change in personal circumstance. The true entrepreneur that may find birth through such change in their life through work, family or simply, embracing a period of self-discovery by exercising a passion or intense interest in seeking solutions to a problem or issue in the marketplace can readily fall into this category of life. This week, we will visit a young woman who found her home as an entrepreneur through family circumstance and her acceptance of the challenge to make personal change, not only her reality, but, a reality for hundreds and thousands of people whom she touches with her words and service. Let's visit Melonie Dodaro, Top Dog Social Media Diva of the Okanagan and learn of her journey into the entrepreneurial lifestyle.
I first became aware of Melonie at a monthly Town Hall session of the Okanagan Valley Entrepreneurs Society which had assembled three speakers to address Social Media Marketing for the Small Business Owner. I sat at the front that evening and wished to allow myself an open mind to the discussion as, although I am plugged into every social media tool in the land, not one have I pursued as part of my personal or business life. That evening changed my view of social media considerably as the three speakers, our zealous moderator, Rae Stonehouse stormed the conversation with LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and the like that left the audience and myself with raucous laughter, nodding heads and a joyful recognition and acceptance of the realization that: social media is here to stay folks.
During that evening, the knowledge and personality of Melonie Dodaro stood out immeasurably as she sat between the gents on either side offering her experiences as comfortably as one might imagine leading the audience of wisdom seekers to Twitter paradise. Dear readers, it worked.
At the break that followed, I found myself compelled to, not only compliment Melonie on her presentation skills but extend an invitation for an article in this column.
Shortly, after we met for coffee and an interview, I discovered that this social media star was born in Toronto with a sister and parents that operated two restaurants for a number of years in the metro district. Melonie shared with me that was married at a very young age and also had a son shortly there after. After becoming a single mother when her son was two years old, Melonie decided to attend college and graduated in Business Administration in 1992. Melonie, you were destined to move mountains from the beginning…
(snuck that in, because this woman has charisma plus and never, say never is not in her vocabulary)
Upon completion of her college work, she began her journey in the corporate world with an Ontario telecommunications company and then a steel manufacturing entity and by 1998, she had already began her research in potential business opportunities. Here is where Melonie's entrepreneurial zeal really took hold as she became one of the first venturists in Canada in the weight loss industry and through the parent company, Herbal Magic, opened two locations whereas she quickly advised me - "the timing and the investment was right for her." Although, her educational foray didn’t dwell on self-employment via entrepreneurial pursuit, Melonie found herself a quick study and after successfully building two businesses she sold them both in 2004 and decided the Okanagan was where she needed to be for her future entrepreneurial pursuits.
After her arrival to the Okanagan, Melonie became diverted with another weight loss corporation and opened three locations to continue tackling her desire to help others with weight and self-esteem issues. After four years of managing these enterprises, Melonie sold them in 2008 and to add depth to this career shift, while at a seminar, she met Bob Proctor, star of the blockbuster DVD The Secret, and a notable speaker and author on the philosophy of the mind which prompted Melonie toward the realization that weight loss wasn't merely about what we should or should not eat - but, what we think we ought to do….
Henceforth working with Bob Proctor and learning from his writings and program found herself also addressing the mind and weight control imagery. Melonie wrote a book and developed a program with Bob Proctor in 2008 and then in 2009 authored a couple of books of her own. She is the author of The MindBody FX Lifestyle and 28-Day Fat Blast.
It was while promoting her books, she discovered and fell in love with the world of social media which then transformed her future into becoming one of Canada's sought after social media strategists.
In early 2011 Melonie started her social media marketing company Top Dog Social Media to help businesses and service professionals use social media marketing to increase their profits and visibility. She is currently working on her next publication The Social Marketing Profit Formula which is scheduled for release in fall 2012.
Top Dog Social Media has become a premier Kelowna social media marketing company utilizing 21st century networking platforms, collaborative strategies and expertise to assist service professionals, entrepreneurs and small businesses to increase their visibility, competitive edge and potential revenue by harnessing the power of social media to strengthen their position in their industry and business environment.
To reiterate in closing this story, Melonie's journey from weight loss champion to social media evangelist has not gone unnoticed as she is in demand across this nation and below the border as well. I would highly recommend that you check out her web site at www.TopDogSocial Media.com and learn of her diversity and her books are pretty amazing for weight control as well. A welcome addition to our Okanogan entrepreneurial landscape who has joined our Okanagan Valley Entrepreneurs Society as Vice-Chair of Social Media Relations.
Joel Young is an entrepreneurial leadership educator, coach and consultant and Founder, Okanagan Valley Entrepreneurs Society at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.