Today we’d like to introduce you to D.J. Vanas.
Hi D.J., we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I’m an enrolled member of the Ottawa Tribe of Michigan and a former Air Force officer. I’m a proud graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, and after I graduated, I helped the Academy increase diversity as a recruiter for my alma mater for a year. I found that I loved sharing stories of my experiences, promoting the value of higher education, and inspiring others to see the best in themselves; after that special duty assignment, I went into my regular field, which involved Air Force space programs. I stayed with speaking on the side, attending Native American education conferences, schools, community programs, etc. – wherever I was called and did it all for free. I was learning my craft, cutting my teeth. I read and practiced incessantly. I studied other speakers that inspired me and journaled my ideas and ways to improve my delivery and content. I knew, even then, that I wanted to share the message that I do now, which is to show people and organizations how to use our traditional Native American warrior principles to get better results in life, leadership, and service to others. The principles revolve around ideas we can all benefit from: resiliency, grit, personal courage, teamwork, service, self-care, and becoming better versions of ourselves. I’ve found that the biggest obstacles organizations face when it comes to providing great service isn’t a lack of budget, time, personnel, etc. The biggest obstacle is apathy. My message addresses that to create engaged and motivated people who fight for something something positive, something bigger than self, and do it sustainably. I’ve done this with over 500 tribal nations, as well as groups like Intel Corporation, the U.S. military, Amazon, Mayo Clinic, Allstate, Walt Disney, Costco, Subaru, and NASA. I’m a three-time author of the books The Tiny Warrior, Spirit on the Run and my latest is The Warrior Within (Penguin Random House). I was also featured in the PBS documentary The Warrior Tradition and was the host and producer of my own PBS special Discovering Your Warrior Spirit.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Into every life, a little rain must fall… and sometimes it’s an epic, life-changing flood! I’ve been through downturns before, both personally (loss of loved ones, relationships, etc.) and professionally (economic crashes after 9/11 and in 2008, etc.), but nothing compared to the pandemic. Two months into the pandemic, which canceled my speaking schedule, my wife asked for a separation, which lasted for over a year and led to a divorce. It was the darkest, most painful chapter of my life. I was shocked, alone, confused, scared and heartbroken. The fact is, we don’t learn much when things are going well. But when things fall apart, we can learn much — and quickly. What I learned is that the hardest things we ever go through can bring out the best stuff we never knew we had! I finally started to reassemble my life and get back onto my path with a renewed sense of strength, determination, and hope for the future. I poured that suffering into working on myself and on my craft. I re-engaged in a conversation with PBS after I was featured in one of their documentaries, which led to me producing and hosting my own special, Discovering Your Warrior Spirit. It also led me to delve headlong into creating a comprehensive book proposal that not only got me a rock star of a literary agent but also a dream deal with my publisher, Penguin Random House, for my newest book, The Warrior Within. There are always blessings in the muck pile because we can use it as fertilizer for new growth. I wouldn’t trade the pain I went through because it led me to here — a place where I’m happier, wiser, more productive, balanced, self-aware, with more capacity to evolve and a visceral understanding not only that I can do hard things, but those are also the things that made the version of me I am now.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
Native Discovery Inc. is a company dedicated to showing how people and organizations can use our traditional Native American warrior principles in action – to get better results in life, leadership, and service to others. I’m a former Air Force officer, a full-time speaker, a three-time author, and the host/producer of the PBS special Discovering Your Warrior Spirit. I’ve worked with groups such as Walt Disney, Intel Corporation, the U.S. military, Mayo Clinic, NASA, Costco, Subaru, and over 500 tribal nations to promote resiliency, teamwork, personal development, and building leaders of character. I’m most proud of representing my people as an enrolled member of the Ottawa Tribe and sharing the beautiful, powerful, and timeless concepts and philosophies of our tribal cultures with society at large.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something surprising that most people who know and work with me might not know is that I absolutely hated speaking in front of groups when I was a kid. I’d get nervous to the point of shutting down. It didn’t help that I had a terrible experience with a class bully who heckled me from the front row during a presentation I did on Australia when I was 8 years old. However, I got an opportunity to play a ghost in a comedic play, The Ghost of Pumpkin Holler, in the 8th grade. I wore a sheet over my head, complete with eye holes. Though I had no spoken lines, the role was meant to be funny, outlandish and use physical comedy. What I found was a feeling of anonymity that allowed me to be playful, entertaining, and free to interact with the audience. It was truly a breakthrough moment, and I loved it! That led to more and more opportunities and a growing comfort of public speaking that grew into a joy. By the way, we always hear that “the best revenge is a good life.” I thought about the bully from earlier who told me I’d “never go to Australia,”… and twenty years later, I was standing Down Under holding a baby koala, thinking of that day with a big smile.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nativediscovery.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/d.j.vanas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildingwarriors/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djvanas/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DJVanas
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@buildingwarriors
