Apolo Ohno overcame his self-doubt through Olympic speed skating.

After retiring from competitive speed skating in 2010, Apolo Ohno struggled to find a new direction in life.

The eight-time medalist refers to his retirement from the sport that brought him fame as "the great separation."

Ohno said that the experience was abrupt, fast, and a bit scary.

He stated, "I was married to an identity that provided me with so much, but I needed to divorce from it in order to explore new attributes and not lose the experiences that built my character today."

Now 39, Ohno holds the record as the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian. Since retiring from competition, he has taken on various roles such as sports analyst, entrepreneur, speaker, and author. Additionally, he won the title of "Dancing With the Stars" champion in 2007.

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Currently, Ohno is a partner with venture firm Tribe Capital, which specializes in investing in early-stage founders and technology companies and has $1.3 billion in assets under management.

This week, his new book, "Hard Pivot: Embrace Change. Find Purpose. Show Up Fully," will be available in bookstores. In it, he aims to share the lessons he has learned since retiring from speed skating, which he believes will be particularly valuable for those navigating the Great Reshuffle, or the Great Resignation. Over the past year, millions of Americans have left their jobs after reevaluating their lives during the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Ohno, the most significant development occurs when we encounter the toughest obstacles. These moments demand us to innovate, to shift direction.

‘Impostor syndrome’

Although he had previously achieved success, Ohno confesses to experiencing insecurity when attempting to establish himself in a new environment.

He experienced impostor syndrome, where he doubted his abilities, and his mind talked him out of doing something, told him he wasn't good enough, and reminded him that he didn't have what it took.

He aimed to be acknowledged beyond his status as an Olympic athlete, so he embarked on a journey to discover his true identity. This quest led him to engage in international speaking engagements as a corporate representative and to delve into diverse industries, which necessitated acquiring new knowledge.

One of his main challenges was learning to be more flexible when faced with failure. Despite abandoning the Olympic speed-skating competition, he remained committed to his mental training and perseverance.

He stated that we must master the art of failing quickly, reimagining, and starting anew.

I didn't realize that early on," Ohno stated. "I simply thought, 'No, I'll just force my way through this, and I'll make it succeed through sheer determination.'

Great Reshuffle advice

For those seeking a career change, Ohno suggests looking inward, as he did.

Performance psychologist Michael Gervais refers to that practice as dismissing the fear of people's opinions, or FOPO.

Ohno began the transition process by struggling with self-acceptance and self-love.

I felt deeply dissatisfied with my reflection because that's how I was conditioned.

Ohno's five golden principles, which he believes helped him navigate his transition, include gratitude, self-giving, grit, setting high expectations, and taking action.

Avoid being paralyzed by perfectionism," he advised. "There's no such thing as perfection. It's always the wrong time.

He advised to put the plan into action by writing down what you want to accomplish, step by step.

Ohno, who has found a career as an investor and a purpose in helping people, stated that he is still learning every day.

I am still growing, but today, I feel laser-focused," Ohno said. "I view life as a gift, and that's been a huge change for me.

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