Have you ever wanted to accomplish multiple things in your life? Maybe you have a huge list of things you want to dive into or learn about. This, my friend, is called multi-passionate.
It’s a great thing to have a passion for so many things, but it also means it can be hard to navigate and actually act on any of those passions. Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all the things you want to do, so you end up doing none of them?
Dan Janjigian is a multi-passionate person who has been involved in an array of different things. From representing Armenia in the 2002 Winter Olympics to becoming an actor, to owning a financial business, to co-authoring a book, Dan has done it all.
But how does he actually make it all happen?
How to make all those passions a reality
One of the biggest tips Dan relays is that you need a list. If you don’t have a list, it’ll never happen. But what even goes into this?
Dan has an exercise he puts his coaching clients through, and it’s known as the Warren Buffet exercise.
Warren Buffet exercise steps:
Create a list of 25 things you’d really like to accomplish in your life. (It could be a combination of short-term and long-term goals.)
Out of those 25 things, which stand out to you the most? Which do you want to accomplish the soonest? Highlight those.
This part may be the hardest, but you need to take a hard look at the 20 other things and know you won’t have anything to do with those 20 things until the first 5 are accomplished. This will ensure you’re not going to be distracted by all the other things you want to do, and you stay focused on those first 5 things.
Overcoming the fear and anxiety with taking the leap
Whatever it is you want to do, there can be feelings of fear and anxiety that come up with accomplishing your goals. Is rejection around the corner? What if I fail? All questions one may ask themselves when they’re on their journey to following their dreams and passions.
Dan highlights this discomfort in a different way. In fact, he says, “When something feels uncomfortable to me, I usually realize that that's probably what I should be doing.” There is no growth in comfort. It’s in the times where we throw ourselves in the discomfort where we see real change and growth in ourselves. It’s the discomfort that will help us reach our goals that much faster.
We have to put our fears into perspective. Think about the worst possible outcome of going out and attempting to follow those passions. Will they seriously harm you or is it something you’re over analyzing in your mind? That’s the thing with our minds, they tend to think the worst situations and we feel like they’re 100% real, but they’re not. Reminding yourself of this will help you overcome those fears and anxieties as they come up.
Focusing on the journey rather than the destination
Many of us are so concerned with getting to that final destination. To win the race. To check off that goal on the list, and so often we forget about how rewarding the entire journey is.
Dan qualified in the 2002 Winter Olympics in bobsledding. He emphasizes that it wasn’t just getting to the Olympics that was so rewarding, it was all the work that went into it and the years of training and discipline that got their team to that moment.
All the training he committed to translated to all aspects of his life. It wasn’t just sports, but it was in business, and in relationships because they all have a common factor in place: commitment.
If you want to accomplish anything, you have to have a devotion to it. A commitment to follow through even when things are difficult.
Making decisions and filtering out the outside noise
There’s no doubt that Dan has been able to accomplish tons of different things in his life already, but how did he actually come about following his gut and going for it despite what others may have said?
Dan highlights that we’re all living with our own consciousness. Because at the end of the day no one can make decisions for you, and we’re all responsible for our own decisions. We have to live with the decisions we make, and we have to ask ourselves the question, “can I live with these decisions?”
We’ve only got a limited amount of time, and we’ve really got to make the most of it. The truth of the matter is we won’t regret ever trying the things we want to, but we will regret if we don’t try. It kind of reiterates the theme of the podcast, doesn’t it? If Not Now, Wen? ;-)
Defining success
Success can mean different things to everyone, but Dan describes it in one short sentence.
“It’s all about good times.”
For him, it’s the time he gets to spend with family and friends that really make him feel successful. All the other things he’s been able to accomplish are cherries on top. They’re hobbies and endeavors he’s been able to pursue.
Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs
It’s not about just doing it (whatever your goal is) the way everyone else is doing it. It’s about putting your own twist and expertise on it that will carry you along the way.
Comments