Crushing the Alaskan Winter Blues
By Casey Flores
I want to use this space to talk about one of the top dealers featured in this issue.
When I first heard about Dillon Marion and CCA Motorsports in Anchorage, Alaska, I was immediately intrigued. It’s not just the above-average numbers he’s putting up in a smaller city that caught my attention, but the extra steps Dillon’s had to take to beat back mental health challenges in the state with the highest incidence of mental health issues in the country.
As someone who has to be vigilant regarding mental health, Dillon’s necessarily proactive stance on mental health is particularly inspiring. In Alaska, the suicide rate is nearly twice the national average and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) affects 9% of the population. That said, Dillon’s efforts to create a supportive work environment are heroic.
Dillon relies on vitamins himself, especially Vitamin D, which is said to help with SAD and is part of a broader strategy I’ve developed over the years to perform optimally, especially during winter.
Like Dillon, I’ve found that a combination of physical and mental practices can make a world of difference. In addition to focuses on vitamins and fostering a family-like atmosphere at work, I’ve discovered the benefits of practices like fasting, cold showers and regular sauna sessions.
Fasting, for instance, has been a game-changer for me. It’s not just about physical detox (and saving money in this economy!)— it provides mental clarity that can be hard to achieve otherwise.
Similarly, cold showers or ice baths, which might seem daunting at first, have an almost immediate impact on my mental alertness and mood. You’ve experienced this if you’ve ever done a “polar bear plunge” or even jumped in a cold pool. Doing this regularly provides additional and consistent brain benefits.
Dillon’s commitment to his employees’ well-being is particularly inspiring. His story about personally checking on an employee who suddenly stopped showing up for work is a powerful
reminder of the importance of human connection, especially in a place like Alaska where isolation can be a serious issue.
What stands out most about Dillon’s approach is his understanding that mental health isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a business issue too. By prioritizing his employees’ well-being, he’s created a loyal, stable workforce in a location where that can be tough.
His commitment to keeping his staff employed year-round, even during the slow winter months, is particularly noteworthy. Instead of layoffs, he focuses on shop improvements and renovations. This not only provides financial stability for his employees but also helps combat the isolation and depression that can set in during long, dark winters.
Dillon’s story is a powerful reminder that success in business isn’t just about the bottom line. It’s about creating an environment where people can thrive, even in the face of challenging circumstances.
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