Episode 25 - Making It Through The Backdoor ft. Anna Gordon

"You're gonna get into every space that you want in this life, but you're gonna get in through the backdoor"These are the words that Anna Gordon heard from her high school guidance counselor, which ended up being the cornerstone of her life.Tune in on the newest episode of Back At It as David digs deeper into Anna's roots from the Soviet Union and how that shaped her growing up in America, to embracing her unique path and becoming a successful storyteller and content creator for small businesses and nonprofits.TIMESTAMPS:(00:00) Intro(01:02)  Being born during the final years of the Soviet Union and migrating to New York(04:49) Assimilating into America(10:39) Being raised by a single parent(15:44) Growing up with no direction, not understanding the "why"(19:34) The impact of her high school guidance counselor in shaping her outlook in life(25:20) Fighting comparison with others who are in the same age(30:59) Be honest with yourself(33:11) How her partner complements her personality and inspires her(36:43) What does it mean to "make it" in life?(44:57) Reflecting on how she was unmotivated to living her ideal life(47:16) The toll of the Russia-Ukraine conflict over her own life and her family dynamic(53:44) Scenarios in the past where she could've responded with joy and not anger(57:17) Does being authentic always mean being joyful?(1:03:44) Embracing the human more than the skillset in a professional environment(1:07:17) Tips on how to use the internet to empower yourself and others, compared to doom scrolling(1:11:10) What she wants to be known for in the later years of her life(1:13:53) What is the last thing you want to do before you die?(1:15:21) Showing off her doodles drawn during the recording(1:16:33) Wrapping Up