Alex Banayan, founder of Professional Pursuits, is one of the most ambitious and successful young adults in Southern California. Professional Pursuits, an online article series, gathers the stories of industry leaders in order to inspire young adults to align their careers with their passions. Alex has personally interviewed prominent leaders from Microsoft, Kaiser Permanente, the University of Southern California, the Los Angeles Times, and other prestigious organizations. His article series can be found online at www.alexbanayan.com and his pieces have been published in the Beverly Hills Courier newspaper—the best-read newspaper in the city of Beverly Hills.Currently, Alex has begun a new project that he claims will, “change the social dynamic of my generation.” With his upcoming book, Alex hopes to share the stories of the world’s most prominent figures in order to inspire and motivate his generation.
As one of the foremost thought leaders of his generation (which is now dubbed as “Generation Z”), Alex shares his keen social observations online via his blog and twitter.
Q: What were some of the obstacles that you had to overcome to get to where you are now? How do you overcome failure?
Looking back, I’ve realized that I’ve encountered one obstacle time and time again: myself. When you think about it, the person that says no to you more than anyone else is yourself. Fear of rejection coupled with social stigmas used to hold me back from chasing my dreams. As I began to learn more about myself and become more comfortable in my own skin, I quickly began to realize that the only thing holding myself back was myself. That realization was surprisingly liberating.
Q: What projects are you currently working on?
I’m still continuing my online article series, but I have a new project that stirs a new level of excitement for me. I’m currently composing a book that will truly change the entire social dynamic of my generation. The core of the book is, “Conversations with the world’s greatest leaders on their secrets to successful careers, thriving passions, and everlasting happiness.”
The idea that spurred my passionate crusade to write this book is that there is a social discrepancy between the have and have-nots when it comes to inspiration. Truly inspiring talks from world leaders usually come with the price of an Ivy League tuition, a fashionable zip code, or a strong pedigree. My dream is that people of all socioeconomic backgrounds can have access to the motivating stories of the biggest successes of our time, without having to pay a high price tag. Imagine all the young lives and underprivileged youth (and even the adults!) that can be positively impacted if they had the opportunity to learn from the valuable advice leaders like Bill Clinton, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, and others similar to them have to offer!
I’m working on interviewing the top figures of our time in order to gather their stories, which would make the book an anthology of stories/advice. So, instead of an entire book focused on one person’s life, this book will concentrate on each leader’s stories for about 10 pages, and then will move on. This will ensure both breadth and depth.
My ultimate vision for this book is for it to be a national bestseller, topping the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists. The reason behind that vision has nothing to do with financial motives; I simply want this book to reach the hands of as many people as possible. This is quite an ambitious goal, to say the least, so if anyone has any advice or way to help, I’d love the opportunity to connect (alex@alexbanayan.com).
Q: Can you tell us of an interesting story from your professional life? (an embarrassing moment may be).
Toward the end of my senior year of high school, I was an intern at Ferrazzi Greenlight— a relationship management consulting group. The company’s CEO, Keith Ferrazzi, was a hero of mine that I always wanted to get to know (my admiration for him was one of the main reasons I decided to intern for the company). I met him once earlier that year, but we spoke for maybe 10 seconds at the most.
As the months went by, I continued working at Ferrazzi Greenlight and before I knew it was almost the end of summer, which signified the end of my internship. To that point, my sole interactions with Keith Ferrazzi included smiles and the occasional “good morning” in the office. It was my third to last day of my internship and as I was ready to head home I saw Keith walking out of the office. I decided at that moment that I was going to man up and actually talk to him. As I climbed out of my cubicle, before I knew it I was frozen in my tracks, my throat was clogged, and I couldn’t move an inch. The idea of the intern talking to the CEO was ludicrous at the time! I like to say that Fear can either paralyze you or catalyze you, and at that time it definitely paralyzed me.
Later that night, I beat myself over the head because I was so disappointed in my failed attempt to talk to Keith that day. Luckily for me, I got a second chance the next afternoon.
As I saw Keith leaving the office the next day, I put on my game-face and instinctively began running for the door with the hope of catching the elevator with him. Little did I know, Keith forgot his laptop in the office and as he turned the corner to reenter the office I almost ran directly into him! I can barely remember what I said, but it must have been something good because Keith was kind enough to let talk with him for the next few minutes. From that day on, my relationship with him slowly grew, and today I happily call him a mentor and a great friend.
It was on that day, after almost bumping into Keith in the doorway, that I realized something that changed my life: the biggest obstacle facing me is my fear of the unknown. For no good reason, I was scared of what would happen if I would approach the CEO of the company. I had no idea what Keith would say, and it was that unknown that paralyzed me the first time. It was at that moment in my life where I learned that being bold can payoff.
Q: What is one advice that you can offer to your readers?
As a writer, I spend a lot of time reflecting on ideas as well as on the observations I pick up from day-to-day events. Additionally, sitting down with some truly inspiring leaders as well as observing the nuances of my generation for years has allowed make some keen observations on the secrets to successful careers and lives. If I had to sum it up in once sentence, it would go like this: Know who you are, know what you want, be persistent, and make sure you are having fun while you do it.
Q: What do you do for fun?
I’m lucky because everyday is full of “fun” for me. I’m an undergraduate at USC right now, so whether I’m in class, with friends, or on the racquetball court, I’m always having a good time and learning new things. Of course, I especially enjoy spending time with my family.
Q: Are there any other achievements that you’re proud of?
Haha, I don’t know if this counts as an achievement, but one of my favorite moments that occurred this past year was when I won the showcase showdown on The Price is Right! Before that point, I never watched the show much, but I decided to go on a whim and attend a taping of the show with a few friends. With some preparation and a little bit of luck, I was able to walk out of there a winner. Boy, it was exciting!
Q: What is your favorite gadget or software that makes your life easier and more productive?
I’m eternally grateful for GoogleSync. Plain and simple, it synchronizes my online Google Contacts and my multiple Google Calendars wirelessly with my BlackBerry. I would be a mess without it.
Ways to Connect with Alex:
Homepage: alexbanayan.com
Email: Alex@alexbanayan.com
Twitter: @AlexBanayan
SpeakerWiki: Alex_Banayan
LinkedIn: abanayan
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