Meet Gillian, who promotes the diverse interests and talents of multi-potentialites

Today we meet Gillian, promotional writer and multi-potentialite. Gillian found the Passions Pilot website on the Internet and contacted me. She wanted to write an article about Passions Pilot and about me for her new website called ‘Multipod Motivator’. I said yes and the rest is history.

 

 

Since then, we have been emailing back and forth and when I asked her for an interview on the Passions Pilot website she didn’t hesitate for a moment. So let’s get to it immediately.

From letter carrier to movie producer/director and promotional writer

Hi Gillian, thank you for doing this interview. Can you first tell me what your origin story is and tell me a bit about yourself and what you do?

Hello! My name is Gillian and I am a Promotional Writer, based in Toronto, for MultiPodMotivator.com, promoting the diverse interests and talents of MultiPods and Multi-potentialites.

I’ve worked in different corporate environments, been a letter carrier, and, over the last 20 years, an Assistant Director and Driver in the film business.

 

Movie reels and film

 

George C. Scott and Sydney Lumet are amongst a few fave celebrities I’ve met, and last year I was an F/X (effects) tech on Guillermo del Toro’s, ‘Shape of Water’. I love film especially the genre, film noir. Where The Sidewalk Ends counts as one of my favourite movies because the camera captures the actors in a choreographed three shot. Watch it! It’s a wonderful onscreen dance.

I love film so much, I decided to try my hand at film making and Produced/Directed, ‘On A Break? ‘ and sang “This Year’s Kisses” on the soundtrack. Music is another passion of mine and living in a culturally diverse city exposes me to a wide variety of rhythms from all over the world.

Travel is a very important part of my life. I’m planning an 18 day trek to Upper Mustang in Nepal to the Forbidden Kingdom of Lo near the Tibetan border. Access to the area was opened to foreign travellers in 1993 and boasts some of the best examples of Tibetan culture including an 8th century temple.

I enjoy learning about other cultures but the jaw dropping poverty I’ve witnessed has made me more socially aware. Kibera Fruitful is an orphanage in the largest slum in Africa where I donated money and school supplies and helped pay for desks for children at the Kangima Primary School in East Tsavo, Kenya so the kids didn’t have to learn their lessons sitting on a mud floor.

 

The power of a soccer ball

 

And in Rio de Janeiro, I gave soccer balls to kids who lived in the Santa Marta favela. These experiences have been some of my greatest teachers and the reward is seeing a child’s face light up when I hand them a soccer ball.

These are small gestures but I feel like I’m making a difference. On TravelCatScribe.com I feature my travel stories and pictures but lately I’ve been writing about the Annex Cat Rescue as a Volunteer Blogger for their Happy Tails page. I love writing and currently working on a novel entitled, The Asylum and, a script called The Big Smoke about the post office and the film business, respectively.

Why some of us don’t have one true calling

Wow that is a whole lot. I’m impressed! Can you tell us when and how did you find out you’re a multi-potentialite?

I was researching pour paint techniques on YouTube when I stumbled across Emilie Wapnick’s TED Talk, “Why some of us don’t have one true calling!”. I had asked myself the same question many times.

 

Pilot of coloured hearts

 

While I had the freedom to settle to one thing, I just couldn’t for long. And, like most MultiPods, I felt there was something wrong with me. Everyone it seemed always knew what they wanted to do. I just wanted to do everything!

Emilie’s description of a MultiPod resonated with me immediately. I sat gobsmacked at my computer screen. The pieces of the puzzle fit together. “Finally!”, I exclaimed. Now I understood my innate need for variety.

The intense passion at the start of every interest. Tackling everything as if I were David slaying Goliath. Feeling anxious when trying to choose which interest to pursue. Growing bored when the flames of a challenge lost their intensity.

Ashamed at all the unfinished projects, I scrapped or abandoned. Only to begin the same cycle again from a place of isolation. But, I’m not alone. Since joining the Putty Tribe I’ve met like minded people from all over the world and feel part of a community.

The greatest successes come when listening to my instincts

I know about unfinished projects and you’re not alone. But there must have been some successes too; What were or are your biggest successes?

My biggest successes come when I propel myself from a rut in a new direction and relish new experiences. Like the first time I travelled solo overseas. I’m not a great flier but the departure rewarded my dream of seeing other cultures first hand versus reading about them in a book.

 

Gillian hang gliding at Pedra Bonita Rio de Janeiro

 

Or, jumping off Pedra Bonita in Rio de Janeiro hang gliding and feeling like a bird circling over the city. I’m actually shocked I did it because I swore I’d never parachute from a plane let alone hang glide! And while I was scared out of my wits, I don’t regret the electrifying experience. Nor getting on a plane to marvel at the pyramids on the Giza Plateau or trekking for 3 1/2 days to Macchu Picchu in Peru.

Professionally, my greatest successes come when I listen to my instincts. Trusting myself opens me up to a wealth of opportunities and a chance to diversify my skills.

The marketplace has changed so much in the last 30 years leading to many positions being outsourced or eliminated all together. Acquiring a tractor trailer licence has opened up income streams at the post office and in the film business.

I credit my ability to see the road ahead and position myself to meet life’s responsibilities and have the freedom to pursue my interests.

About multipod struggles and roadblocks

What were or are your biggest struggles or roadblocks, being a multi-potentialite?

Procrastination, self doubt, expectations and, being overwhelmed by them have been my greatest detractors in organizing my time and prioritizing my pursuits.

 

Woman sleeping in bed with running shoes on

 

For the last 12 1/2 years I’ve been a letter carrier and attribute some of my procrastination to having a physically demanding job that left me with very little energy to pursue my interests. As for self doubt, I have let it get the best of me sometimes.

I wish I’d known I was a Multipotentialite sooner than last September because I notice a definite difference in the person I am today. For too long I’ve felt at odds and wasn’t living my truth, and, have compromised too much of myself.

I got bogged down with the physical and mental demands of an extremely stressful job. As for expectations, I burdened myself with a mental picture of pursuits that were unattainable on my own and made more difficult in my inability to ask for help.

I’ve wavered back and forth deciding what I need or want to do and felt frustrated when I’ve accomplished nothing. I’ve demanded a lot and been very hard on myself expected far too much of one person.

I can imagine that was very hard. Did you find a solution for it? How did you manage to win this struggle?

Winning the struggle and getting around the roadblock has been twofold: Joining The Putty Tribe and consuming Ayahuasca*. Both have helped me put things into perspective. And, aligned me with my life purpose to pursue my goals and meet life’s responsibilities.

I’ve made a concerted effort to not overwhelm myself with too many interests and expectations. Now, I define what’s important and set a realistic timetable. I’ve arranged my apartment to paint in one corner when the spirit moves me. And, along one wall are tracks of sticky notes tracing the lives of characters I’m creating. In between, I have lights set up when I want to play with my camera or do yoga or dance. It sounds crowded but it’s tidy.

Ayahuasca* is a South American plant medicine which aided my bouts of depression. My energy used to be so frenetic but now, I can better manage the highs and lows. While taking a psychedelic may seem extreme to some, it has cleared the emotional clutter from my life. And, helped me focus on the future and the life I see for myself going forward. Prescription remedies failed me but Ayahuasca* was my saviour.

(* Disclaimer by Passions Pilot: In some countries, ayahuasca is a potentially illegal substance, and we do not encourage or recommend the use of it in general and particularly not where it is against the law.)

I also have some tricks to keep me motivated to see the “big picture”. I schedule everything on a Staples wall calendar to keep me on track. When I strike off my accomplishments with a big Sharpie, I feel like l’m moving ahead. To tackle multiple writing projects, I start with the one with the immediate deadline and set the timer for an hour. If I’m stale of ideas, I write an hour on another piece.

And, when I have to negotiate with low energy or sheer procrastination, I enact “The Pair Rule” to always be working toward your goals no matter how small a step. I’ll listen to a podcast while cooking my meals for the week or clean out a junk drawer while watching a documentary.

Stay true with yourself!

Is there any tool or resource you can give us that made a big impact on your life and that could also help other multi-potentialites?

Membership in The Putty Tribe and meeting fellow Ayahuasca* warriors has been a godsend and a huge learning and networking resource for business and friendship. I feel a kinship with these communities and their members continue to motivate whenever I feel stuck.

 

Group of people put their hands together

 

The Putty Tribe has taught me to manage my time to meet commitments by prioritizing tasks in order to expedite my projects more efficiently. I understand and accept I can’t do everything I dream up due to time constraints and other factors.

But if the project is near and dear to my heart, I’ll rework the details and scale it back to see if its feasible. I’m more realistic about what I can accomplish in a day and treat myself with more care.

I’ve also abandoned the need to prove things to myself and people pleasing. I remind myself I’m doing the best I can everyday to fend off the bully in my mind that deems me unworthy. As for the benefits of the Ayahuasca community, I’ve tapped into myself and have gained peace through a spiritual practice.

If you could give us just one piece of advice, what is this one and best advice you can give other multi-potentialites?

The best advice I can give to a fellow MultiPod/Multipotentialite is to stay true to yourself. Allow your innate MultiPod self to guide you as you explore the world beyond the every day. Keep striving to live the rich and varied life you imagine for yourself. And disregard the negative nit picking people who try to define you with their own limited thinking.

Being a MultiPod is a wonderful thing! Embrace your potential and doors will fly open to meet like minded people, offer opportunities to pursue your dreams, and, provide wonderful distractions that will lead you down paths you didn’t expect to follow.

In the last five months, I’ve created a new website multipodmotivator.com promoting MultiPod businesses and regained an appreciation of my skills. I’m working with people from all over the world who are newly discovered MultiPods/MultiPotentialites and looking forward to seeing what 2018 will bring. It’s been a great ride so far. A far cry from the people who sadly believe that life is working a 9 to 5 job, retire and die existence!

If people want to get in contact with you, where can they find you?

They can contact me at multipodmotivator.com to promote their business or interests or on Twitter: @multipodmotivat.

Or they can find me at TravelCatScribe, travel writing and Annex Cat Rescue at travelcatscribe.com or on Twitter @TravelCatScribe

Thank you so much for the interview.
Nickita

Your view?

 

 

Meet Gillian, who promotes the diverse interests and talents of multi-potentialites

6 thoughts on “Meet Gillian, who promotes the diverse interests and talents of multi-potentialites

    • February 14, 2018 at 06:38
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      You’re welcome Gillian,
      We, multi-potentialites must support each other and sharing news, tips and advise from other multi-potentialites adds value to our lives.
      So thank you 🙂

  • February 19, 2018 at 17:15
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    Awesome post! I love the part about following your instincts. As I give in to them more and more they always seem to have some sort of guidance and truth behind them!:) Glad to see you back at it Nickita!!

    • February 22, 2018 at 07:35
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      Thank you Vanessa. I agree we must learn to trust our instincts and gut feeling. What they are telling us to do is usually right. Their task is to keep us alive after all 🙂

  • October 25, 2018 at 22:20
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    Great post! Comforting to read that self doubt, procrastination and other negative side effects of being a multipontialite are a) common and b) manageable. And that’s very good news 😉 thank you both!

    • October 26, 2018 at 07:26
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      Thank you. And yes, there’s no need to worry. There are a lot of multi-potentialites in the world and yes, multi-potentiality is manageable.

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