Ninja Feature—5 Multipotentialite Office Ninjas & Their Passions
Multipotentialite. That’s quite the mouthful, isn’t it? And, if you read our last article about them, you know that it isn’t a species of ancient…
Tag: hobbies
Multipotentialite. That’s quite the mouthful, isn’t it? And, if you read our last article about them, you know that it isn’t a species of ancient…
I love creating/designing jewelry. Over the last ten years, I have really enjoyed sitting down and playing with all the colors of beads, stones, wiring and creating something I or someone else would wear. Over the last few years, my jewelry is becoming well-known and I am accepting commissioned work, which has its challenges of mingling my idea with theirs. I look forward to the day I retire and can create/design all day long!”If you ask us, making jewelry sounds like it would be a super therapeutic and relaxing side gig—especially after a long, stressful day in the office. Plus, you get the added benefit of having your hard work transformed into a beautiful piece of wearable art. And, we’ll gladly say it, Tana’s work is nothing short of gorgeous!
Photo by Elijah Collins of Zeallous Music[/caption]
While I juggle lots of things at work, I juggle a wide variety of hobbies as well! What takes up the biggest chunk of my free time is my band (Your Fearless Leader), in which I play keys and vocals. We are gaining a lot of momentum in the awesome local San Francisco scene, and it's almost like having another job! My bandmates and I do much more than practicing and performing. We're busy writing music, maintaining our website, booking/playing shows, recording our first EP, spreading our music, doing interviews, and networking with prominent local figures in the industry and other local bands.”
Moonlighting as a music superstar? Well, we can’t help but think that’s pretty awesome—even if it does involve a bunch of hard work in her time off. Check out the video of Aeryka’s band up above. Oh, and don’t forget to support your local musicians and go hit up some smaller venues in your town. You won't regret it!
I got into sewing in High School and have been sewing ever since. As for what I enjoy about sewing, it's owning ‘one of a kind’ garments. Art is my meditation and the thing that keeps me whole. My fave fashion periods are the late 60s to early 70s, although my vintage clothing pattern collection has patterns dating back to the ‘ever so glamorous’ 1930s. My fashion style is mostly boho with a lot of vintage mixed in (this is the sort of thing that happens when you live in California for a long time).”Designing and sewing is one of those ideal interests in our book! Not only do you get to flex your creative muscles and channel your artistic energy, but you’re also getting something completely functional as an end result. Plus, now we know just who to talk to the next time we’re searching for a snazzy, one-of-a-kind ensemble!
Overworking (and no sense of work life balance) is what started my yoga practice... as I started to dive in I took a few workshops and one day ended up teaching. In my spare time I teach yoga as a way to fundraise for causes I care about (while my day job pays the bills). Now I teach at a yoga studio with a student base mainly made up of overworked Silicon Valley techies. I teach yin & restorative... teaching stress relief exercises to my students!”
Talk about a great way to unwind! Not only is Janine making time for something that she enjoys, but she’s using her skills to benefit others. Aside from helping those stressed-out techies decompress, Janine uses the profits from her yoga practice to do some pretty amazing things! After the earthquake in Nepal, she raised roughly $15,000. She then used a portion of those funds to bring schools and supplies to an orphanage—and even taught a yoga class there! See? Being a multipotentialite doesn’t always need to be something you do strictly for yourself. Way to go, Janine!
I joined the Duquesne University Women’s Guild in 2004. The Guild was officially organized in 1928. Through the years, the donations of the Guild have varied from the early days when the women made altar clothes and vestments through today to the establishment of an endowed scholarship fund. It was in 2004 that the members decided to direct their contributions to areas that would benefit the students more directly. We started donating funds to our Campus Ministry department so that students could go on mission trips. For about five years, our students went to New Orleans to help rebuild after the devastation from Hurricane Katrina. In 2010, the members decided to establish an endowed scholarship fund for students with financial need. We set a $50,000 goal over five years; we achieved that in three years! Scholarships are awarded from the interest earned on the principle funds. Today, the endowment is worth over $100,000! With an endowment fund, the principle funds will remain in perpetuity. They will be able to continue earning interest and funding scholarships forever!”Here’s another great example of how your skills and interests outside of the office can serve and help others. We think that the work Denise is doing with the Duquesne University Women’s Guild is simply amazing! Plus, in addition to all of that hard work, the Guild also hosts a Freshman Parents’ luncheon in the fall in order to welcome parents to campus and answer their questions. Denise, do you ever sleep? Yep, from indie rockstars and designers to philanthropists and yogis, these Ninjas certainly embody the essence of mutlipotentialism. So, to all of you Ninjas who moonlight as jazz instructors, roller derby girls, or anything in between: We salute you for finding your calling and kicking butt everyday! What hobbies and passions do you pursue?