Meet Christopher Sánchez. He’s a multi-careerist based in New York. I met him through a mutual friend who raved about his music. Christopher’s career spans music and finance, and I immediately related to his journey. This is how he navigates his careers.
Christopher’s Careers
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Macro Trader
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Opera Singer
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Producer
On his motivations for having many careers
God gives everyone gifts. People are multi-dimensional.
I find music taps into my passion while markets channel my curiosity.
Do I have to pick between passion and curiosity?
On how long he’s had these careers
I have been a performer for 10 years and a trader for 3 years.
Advice to aspiring multi-careerists
First, anything you aspire to create, start immediately, even if it’s in a small way.
Second, be careful about who you share your dreams with while they are young.
Everyone believes once you have succeeded. Otherwise, many will project the doubts they have about themselves onto you.
On overcoming obstacles
Because I was recruiting for finance positions and studying economics while training, my peers would naturally group me as a hobbyist. It was a major barrier to being viewed as a professional musician
Perhaps I wasn’t prioritized at times because spots were allocated to “real musicians.”
Since then, I have funded and created my own path.
On how multiple careers are beneficial
Being a musician made me stand out in my trading interviews.
I have found I am more memorable socially and have a better path to gaining trust
People trust those who do something they care about, not just what profits.
On personal time
Weekdays I do my day job.
Evenings and weekends I produce my music.
On what he wishes he had learned earlier
I wish I knew there were others early on.
I thought I was alone.
On what to read
I recommend reading the bios of people with multiple careers.
It’s easier to believe you can do it when you see proven examples.
John Legend.
David Solomon (A.K.A. DJ DSol).
On the stigma of having many careers
At work I find people view it as disloyalty, or that I work as a trader in order to quit someday. I have found I need to be private about what I do outside of work.
Of course this depends on the culture of where you work.
People don’t really care what you do in your free time as long as they don’t know about it.
On what to share with others
I started off very open about music at work. Over time I realized it comes having split priorities talking about using vacation days to perform rather than go to Honolulu.
Me doing music isn’t any different from someone who has a family, or is a runner.
However, because music falls into the category of a profession it can be viewed as a conflict.
I don’t think it has to be.
On how to sublimate ego at the day job
I have learned to just be quiet about my private life and do my best to appear as though I have no outside obligations.
On what he wishes he had learned earlier
I wish I knew there were others early on.
I thought I was alone.
On what to read
I recommend reading the bios of people with multiple careers.
It’s easier to believe you can do it when you see proven examples.
John Legend.
David Solomon (A.K.A. DJ DSol).
On the stigma of having many careers
At work I find people view it as disloyalty, or that I work as a trader in order to quit someday. I have found I need to be private about what I do outside of work.
Of course this depends on the culture of where you work.
People don’t really care what you do in your free time as long as they don’t know about it.
On what to share with others
I started off very open about music at work. Over time I realized it comes having split priorities talking about using vacation days to perform rather than go to Honolulu.
Me doing music isn’t any different from someone who has a family, or is a runner.
However, because music falls into the category of a profession it can be viewed as a conflict.
I don’t think it has to be.
On how to sublimate ego at the day job
I have learned to just be quiet about my private life and do my best to appear as though I have no outside obligations.
Day in the Life
5:30 am – wake up
6 am – workout
7 am – trading at the office until 6pm
7 pm – dinner
8pm – vocal regimen and advancing projects.
10pm – sleep
On where to find Christopher
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Kabir Sehgal is a musician, author, and military veteran. Learn how to build your own portfolio career. Get 7 ideas every week when you join Seven Point Sunday.
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