Alex Banayan - The Third Door

“When you change what you believe is possible, you change what becomes possible." - Alex Banayan.

When presented with the need to make a decision, do you often tend to choose the safest path? What is the difference between desperation and obsession when pursuing an objective? Have you articulated your dreams, goals, mission in life... and if so, thoughtfully considered your plan towards fulfilling them?

Join host Chris Schembra in this week's episode of his podcast series, 7:47 Conversations, as he welcomes Alex Banayan, a venture associate named to Forbes' annual '30 Under 30' list. The day before his freshman year final exams, Alex hacked "The Price Is Right", won a sailboat, sold it, and used the prize money to fund his quest to learn from the world’s most successful people. In their conversation, Mr. Banayan explains the genesis of his dream to write the self-help book that he sought to read.

Alex embarked on a seven-year journey to interview industry leaders of business and finance, media, the arts and sciences, and collect their acquired wisdom, mantras, and personal stories about finding professional passion. In sharing this knowledge, Alex hopes to help others define their journey and identify their purpose. "The book is the vessel to share this collected knowledge," he explains.

Cherishing mistakes, taking a break when needed, tapping the hidden reservoir in all of us, doing it "your way," and journaling to uncover "why you're doing what you're doing" are all valuable lessons shared within its pages, and expressed in enthusiastic detail throughout this heartfelt conversation. It becomes clear why the writing of this book turned into a true passion project, and how there is always another way of thinking about a challenge or decision... There is always a "third door."

In 2015, the 747 Club was founded by Mr. Schembra to create a conversational environment promoting Authenticity ~ Empathy ~ Vulnerability ~ Safety. In sparking dialogue between people from disparate backgrounds and experiences, with different interests and viewpoints, a sense of community is formed within this shared experience, creating real understanding and an acceptance of others. Through this podcast, a wider audience will now learn about the 7:47 Club’s incredibly important mission.

If this is your first listen, welcome... and if you've become an ardent listener of this podcast, welcome back. We're glad to have you in the 7:47 Club family.