How Ross Palmer Balances 3+ Careers (DJ, Startup, Host)

by | Jul 29, 2022

Meet Ross Palmer. He’s a multi-careerist based in Los Angeles.

I took his online DJ Course and was impressed with how easily he explained difficult concepts. I looked him up and discovered that he had many careers. Naturally, I had to feature him, especially because of his unique disposition.

Ross’ Careers

  • DJ
  • Start-up builder
  • Digital marketer
  • Writer
  • Public Speaker
  • Podcast Host

On his motivations for many careers

I’ve always been passionate about multiple things in my life.

I can’t help but be fascinated by many different things, and I can’t imagine cutting things I love out of my life.

When I become interested in something, I get obsessed and want to learn and know more.

Even though I’ve chosen a difficult path, it’s the only way I know!

Advice to aspiring multi-careerists

If you’re a weirdo like me, you’ll need better examples of success.

If you hate reading about how Tiger Woods only ever played golf his whole life, you’ll want to draw inspiration from people like you who have succeeded doing multiple things at the same time…

My advice is follow your curiosity, and don’t be afraid to forge a path where there was none before.

On overcoming obstacles

People find it very hard to believe that a DJ could also be passionate about comedy, writing, or sustainability.

My whole life, my soccer coach didn’t understand why I also wanted to play baseball.

My coaches didn’t understand why theater and improv comedy was so important to me.

I’ve learned that most people in this world don’t genuinely pursue multiple interests, and this can make it tough for them to believe that anyone could be truly good at multiple things.

Society tells us that someone who is multi-passionate can’t be particularly good at any one thing.

On how careers are mutually beneficial

The biggest benefit is seeing connections.

My greatest strength is that I can see the connections between seemingly unrelated things.

It’s easy for me to see the common thread that binds performing music, comedy, sales, and the environment.

To see how everything and everyone is interconnected is the greatest gift any human can experience.

On finding balance

My family is number one.

I have structured my life so that I can be an excellent father and husband.

I have worked very hard to set up the structures in my life that enable me to earn money being who I am.

It was no easy task, but I’ve always kept my freedom and time at the forefront of all my major life decisions, and that has paid off for me.

 

On what he wished he knew earlier

I wish I had known that every career “reset” requires years of thankless work before you get established.

I’ve switched gears hard many times, and I’m always unpleasantly surprised at how long it takes me to get into the next thing.

As I write this, I’m trying to build a new career outside of music, and it is taking me a very long time.

For others, it seems to be easier, but for me, it appears that my life requires incredible amounts of grinding and determination, with no guarantee of success.

Overcoming the stigma of multiple careers

There is definitely a stigma. We are asking ourselves to go beyond the norm.

We must shoulder double or triple the responsibilities of “normal” people. We need to finish one job and then begin another.

The work involved can be extreme, and the mental toll can be very high. The only way to overcome this is to know why you are doing what you are doing.

Having a North Star is key in the tough moments.

On what to share with others

I’m a very honest person in general. I answer questions candidly, although I don’t bring things up because I know square-box people won’t understand.

If someone wants to know more about me or my ideas, I tell them! If not, I don’t bring it up.

 

On how to sublimate ego

Again, this is about understanding why you do what you do.

I do a lot of boring work. But the reason is to provide for my family and my daughter.

I understand that this banal work can facilitate the other work. For example, I can buy equipment needed to give my passions a real chance of success.

A Day in the Life

I wake up around 6:30 and make coffee while taking a short, only cold shower.

I’m at my desk working around 7:15 am.

I work until I pick my daughter up from school, around 3:30pm.

I pick my daughter up via bicycle to get in exercise, then I come back and answer emails, put out fires, etc.

I have dinner around 6PM, put my daughter to sleep, and then I’m pretty exhausted!

I either read or watch some streaming service.

Where to find Ross

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Kabir Sehgal is a Multi Grammy & Latin Grammy Award winner, as well as New York Times bestselling author.

Follow Kabir on LinkedInInstagramFacebookTwitterSpotifyYouTube.

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