Ep 254: Daree Allen Nieves – Follow Your Multi-Passions

Chasing our dreams will demand persistence to learn and explore various options and oftentimes, it will call for multi-passion experiences. 

My good friend Daree Allen Nieves is back on Chasing Dreams. She was on episode 77 and now she’s here to tell us about her multi-passions. Daree has been doing a wide variety of things in her life and she encourages people to do the same. She shares how it helped her relationships, perspectives, and life in general.

ONE THING THAT CHANGED IN DAREE’S LIFE & SHE’S HAPPY ABOUT

Looking back on the five years since Daree has graced the Chasing Dreams podcast, she’s asked about one thing that has changed in her life that she has no complaints about.

In a heartbeat, Daree answered, “I am allowing myself to do things or not do them and be okay with it.” She used to have a perfectionist mindset where everything she does should be excellent. Although this is perfectly okay, Daree realized that she’s become so rigid and there’s no more room for flexibility and enjoyment. 

One of Daree’s life examples is her podcasting journey. There was just too much pressure of releasing an episode. She needed to be committed to the hustle and prove to everybody else that she is indeed working hard. 

Until she came to a point in her life where she became at peace in not being too hard on herself, that she’s not going to beat herself up for not going through all the hassle to finish something.

However, Daree’s actions are not an indication that she’s lost accountability. What she expresses is giving herself the freedom to loosen the chains of perfectionism and you don’t have to bombard yourself with information and sensory overload.

Daree added, “just because you can do something, doesn’t mean that you necessarily should.” You don’t have to keep up with everybody else. This means that you need to evaluate what you need to prioritize and focus on it.

QUOTES

“Just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you necessarily should. You don't have to do all the things.”

THE OUTCOMES OF THE HUSTLE CULTURE

Glorifying the hustle culture has affected people’s mental health. We become so pressured about doing all things at once and doing them perfectly. People call themselves failures if they’re not able to follow the same exact path that others used to reach success. 

With the hustle culture, people wear themselves out to make sure they get everything accomplished. Others may say that an individual is not hustling because of having a day job.

As Aimee stated, “my day job allows me to take care of my family, have insurance, and have these passions.” For someone who does a lot of things in her life, Daree declares that certain people in life will make you feel that “you’re not a legit entrepreneur unless you do it full-time.”

She recognizes all the struggles and challenges that full-time entrepreneurs go through to ensure their business is successful. But for her, it’s important to go outside the business and learn new skills. She does this by broadening her horizons and committing to knowledge that...

Chasing our dreams will demand persistence to learn and explore various options and oftentimes, it will call for multi-passion experiences. 

My good friend Daree Allen Nieves is back on Chasing Dreams. She was on episode 77 and now she’s here to tell us about her multi-passions. Daree has been doing a wide variety of things in her life and she encourages people to do the same. She shares how it helped her relationships, perspectives, and life in general.

ONE THING THAT CHANGED IN DAREE’S LIFE & SHE’S HAPPY ABOUT

Looking back on the five years since Daree has graced the Chasing Dreams podcast, she’s asked about one thing that has changed in her life that she has no complaints about.

In a heartbeat, Daree answered, “I am allowing myself to do things or not do them and be okay with it.” She used to have a perfectionist mindset where everything she does should be excellent. Although this is perfectly okay, Daree realized that she’s become so rigid and there’s no more room for flexibility and enjoyment. 

One of Daree’s life examples is her podcasting journey. There was just too much pressure of releasing an episode. She needed to be committed to the hustle and prove to everybody else that she is indeed working hard. 

Until she came to a point in her life where she became at peace in not being too hard on herself, that she’s not going to beat herself up for not going through all the hassle to finish something.

However, Daree’s actions are not an indication that she’s lost accountability. What she expresses is giving herself the freedom to loosen the chains of perfectionism and you don’t have to bombard yourself with information and sensory overload.

Daree added, “just because you can do something, doesn’t mean that you necessarily should.” You don’t have to keep up with everybody else. This means that you need to evaluate what you need to prioritize and focus on it.

QUOTES

“Just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you necessarily should. You don't have to do all the things.”

THE OUTCOMES OF THE HUSTLE CULTURE

Glorifying the hustle culture has affected people’s mental health. We become so pressured about doing all things at once and doing them perfectly. People call themselves failures if they’re not able to follow the same exact path that others used to reach success. 

With the hustle culture, people wear themselves out to make sure they get everything accomplished. Others may say that an individual is not hustling because of having a day job.

As Aimee stated, “my day job allows me to take care of my family, have insurance, and have these passions.” For someone who does a lot of things in her life, Daree declares that certain people in life will make you feel that “you’re not a legit entrepreneur unless you do it full-time.”

She recognizes all the struggles and challenges that full-time entrepreneurs go through to ensure their business is successful. But for her, it’s important to go outside the business and learn new skills. She does this by broadening her horizons and committing to knowledge that can help her in future endeavors.

WHY WE NEED TO BE MULTI-PASSIONATE

In the two decades that Daree has stayed with her job, she wasn’t just working. She also became busy learning new skills such as podcasting, voice-over, writing a book, getting certified as a life coach, speaking engagements, and lots of other things. 

These skills became exceptional highlights when it came to looking for another job. It allowed her to showcase that she’s not a one-trick pony; too skilled in only one area yet doesn’t have anything else to offer.

Daree acknowledges that it’s fine to not have all these side hustles, if a person wants to continue with his ways of making money, it’s perfectly okay. 

What she advises us is that there is beauty in trying new things and deciding whether it’s for you or not. If you’re starting as an entrepreneur, the first advice you will get is “focus on one thing, do it really well and then if you want, maybe you can branch out on other things.”

Aimee added that just because you’re doing something out of a hobby doesn’t mean that you should earn from it. This comes from other people’s pressure that we should be getting money from the things we love doing and this shouldn’t always be the case.

It’s important to try different things and see where it will take you. It may not lead to the usual path that others take but at least you learn something new and learn more about yourself.

TWEETS

“You can enjoy something and let it just be a hobby.” #chasingdreams

“Try different things.” #chasing dreams

QUOTES

“Even if you're not doing all these side hustles, it's fine. It's okay to make your money how you want to make it.”

“Focus on one thing, do it really well and then if you want, maybe you can branch out on other things.”

MANAGING PUSHBACKS IN LIFE

Some people have a very stiff mindset, or probably they were raised into believing that the only way to achieve success is by becoming successful in a job. Daree believes that you can be successful and make money at whatever level you are.

If we look around the world, people find it hard to accept that we are allowed to have different schools of thought and be able to change our minds if we want to. 

When Daree’s asked what her weaknesses are, she’ll say, “I don’t want to go around telling grown adults what they need to be doing” and this is the reason why she doesn’t want to be a manager.

Not wanting to become a manager regardless of the company, is a shocking revelation for some people. Others may also see this as crazy talk, but we need to accept that not all people will want the same things that we want. We are allowed to think differently and go through our lives the way we want.

As humans, we are also allowed to change our minds if we deem it necessary. We are not bound to have the same mindset that we have 5 years ago. There are so many times that our society and our work culture establish what a normal path to success is. 

We focus too much on what society pressures us to do that we no longer think about the other possibilities we have. Instead of being too obsessed with outside noise, institute your own definition of success. 

TWEETS

“You can change your mind. How you felt 5 years ago can be different to how you feel today.” #chasingdreams

My success definition is different from someone else's success definition. #chasingdreams

QUOTES

“There are so many times that society and workplace culture define what the path is.”

“We focus too much on traditions, societal norms, and stereotypes that we don't think about alternate possibilities.”

HOW CAN PEOPLE FIGURE OUT THEIR PASSIONS

Although there are different paths to knowing our true passion, it’s never easy to figure it out and how to go about it. Daree mentioned some of the ways she used to find out her passion and it includes surveys and career inventories. But she knows that not everyone has the time to do these things.

As Daree stated, the simplest way is to “think about the things that bring you joy.” You can do this by thinking about your hobbies and the things you want to do. It can also be things that you’ve once put off and now is the perfect time to go back and explore it more.

She adds, “it’s never too late to go back and explore things.” Our age is just an indication that we are wiser to know things and we have gained the time to fully enjoy what we want. Moreover, Daree mentions, “you're never too old to have fun and to be happy.”

You shouldn’t force yourself into thinking that every hobby you take should be a side job, sometimes it’s all about what you feel. Being genuinely happy and fulfilled because of doing things you love is more important than always thinking about the revenue.

One golden nugget that Daree gave away is “if you do decide that you want to try and pursue something, be persistent long enough to give it a chance.” You don’t want to quit too early, because you’ll never know the results if you do so.

Doing our passions is an investment, it will require time and effort. We have to do whatever we need to do to give it a chance to flourish. There’s no telling how long it will take, it may take a month or even a year.

It’s significant to remember that life is too short, we have to have fun in whatever hobby we engage in. 

TWEET

“Think about the things that bring you joy.” #chasingdreams

“You're never too old to have fun and to be happy.” #chasingdreams

“Do whatever you're going to do long enough to give it a chance.” #chasingdreams

“Life is too short, have fun.” #chasingdreams 

QUOTES

“It's never too late to go back and explore things.”

“If you do decide that you want to try and pursue something be persistent long enough to give it a chance.”

“When something is very fulfilling usually, it doesn't come very smoothly.”

Guest Recommendation: ONE action for a dream chaser to take – 

When chasing your dreams, you have to be patient with yourself. The moment you start chasing your dreams, it may feel like everything is getting in the way but don’t let this stop you. Although it’s important to have a timestamp for achieving your dreams, it’s not obligatory. Keep in mind that when obstacles happen, they are mere signs that you are on the right path. Continue on, be steadfast, commit to your happiness, and be patient with yourself. 

OUTLINE OF THE EPISODE

[01:52] The things Daree is grateful for[03:20] One thing that changed in Daree’s life & she’s happy about[05:53] The outcomes of the hustle culture[07:21] Why we need to be multi-passionate[11:50] What has she tried and figured wasn’t for her[14:00] Managing pushbacks in life[17:15] The changes in the corporate and business operations [22:28] How Daree helps her daughter navigate the future[26:39] The effects of having an arrogant/ overly confident mindset[30:50] How can people figure out their passions?[36:07] How do we figure out what to do in life?[44:39] Why do we need to be patient with ourselves?

Resources Mentioned

Daree’s websiteDaree’s InstagramDaree’s TwitterDaree’s FacebookKickin' It with DareeWhat's Wrong With Me?: A Girl's Book of Lessons Learned, Inspiration and Advice10 Ways to Love Yourself (Even if He Doesn't)Ep. 77: Daree Allen Nieves – Know Your Why and the Importance of Accountability

FAVORITE QUOTES

“Just because you can do something doesn't mean that you necessarily should. You don't have to do all the things.”“Focus on one thing, do it really well and then if you want, maybe you can branch out on other things.”“We focus too much on traditions, societal norms, and stereotypes that we don't think about alternate possibilities.”“People limit themselves because this is what previous generations have told us.”“A lot of the older generations or certain families may not have taught us the basic life skills.”“It's never too late to go back and explore things.”“If you do decide that you want to try and pursue something, be persistent long enough to give it a chance.”“When something is very fulfilling, usually, it doesn't come very smoothly.”

TWEETS YOU CAN USE

“You can enjoy something and let it just be a hobby.” #chasingdreams“There are people with different mindsets and mentalities and that's fine.” #chasingdreams“Just because you can, don't mean you should.” #chasingdreams“You can change your mind. How you felt 5 years ago can be different to how you feel today.” #chasingdreams“My success definition is different from someone else's success definition.” #chasingdreams“There is no recipe or formula to life.” #chasingdreams“The harder the fall, the longer it will take to bounce back.” #chasingdreams“You're never too old to have fun and be happy.” #chasingdreams

GUEST’S BIO

Daree Allen Nieves is an award-winning technical writer, certified UX writer, certified life coach, group fitness instructor, podcaster, author, and voice actor in Virginia. Her voice-over credits include The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), American Heart Association, Stand Up 2 Cancer, Boeing, NBCUniversal, 23andMe, Live Nation, Huntington Bank, Walmart, and The Ad Council.

She has spoken at VO Atlanta, DC Podfest, Afros & Audio Podcast Festival, The Society for Technical Communication (STC), and many others.

Daree also enjoys reading, traveling, and jumping into a line dance. Find out more about her work at KickinitwithDaree.com and DareeVoiceover.com.

https://youtu.be/pvMm3_l0lDY