Olympic speed skater Apolo Ahno decided to hang up his blades in 2010 and found it difficult to find a way forward.

Eight-time Olympic medalist, however, calls his retirement from the sport that has made him famous, “the great divorce.”

Ohno described the “surprising” experience as “embarrassing; it was rapid, and it was quite scary”.

He said, “I was married to one identity. That had been so generous.” “I had to get rid of this identity so that I didn’t lose any of the attributes that have shaped me today. But also, to discover new things.”

Now 39 years old, Ohno is America’s most decorated Winter Olympian. He has held several post-Olympic positions, including sports analyst, entrepreneur and speaker. He was the 2007 ABC Dancing With the Stars champion.

More information from Invest in You
Want a career change? Here’s what experts say to do
With the help of NFL linebacker, this start-up aims to revolutionize education
Meet three entrepreneurs who quit their jobs to start a businesses

Ohno, who is now a partner in venture capital firm Tribe Capital which invests in founders of early stage technology companies, has assets totaling $1.3 billion and makes investments in them, also owns a number of other businesses.

His most recent book is “Hard Pivot: Embrace Change. Find Purpose. Show Up FullyThis week, “” hits the bookstores. It will contain lessons learned during his retirement from speed skating. He believes these lessons are particularly valuable to those who live in the middle of it all. Great ReshuffleAlso known as The Great Resignation. After reevaluating their lives, many Americans quit their jobs over the past year. Covid-19 pandemic.

Ohno explained that when confronted with tough challenges, the greatest growth happens. “Those are times in which we need reinvent ourselves, and those are when we pivot.”

There were moments when he was even in pain. impostor syndromeThis is where someone has doubts about their capabilities. He said, “There were many times when my mind convinced me to do something or told me I wasn’t competent enough or reminded that I don’t have the ability.”

His goal was to become more than an Olympic medalist. He traveled the world as a corporate speaker, and explored different business areas. This allowed him to discover new things.

The key challenge was to be more flexible when faced with failure. Although he may not have been able to compete in Olympic speed skating, he did maintain the mental strength that allowed him to continue.

“We have to be able to quickly fail, then reinvent ourselves and start again,” he stated.

Ohno said, “I didn’t know this early on.” “I was just like: ‘No. I’m going just to push through this. I’m going by sheer willpower to make this thing succeed. “

This practice is about ignoring the fear of other people’s opinions (FOPO), as Michael Gervais, performance psychologist, explains. has called it.

“This transition process starts from having self-acceptance and self-love — which, by the way, full transparency, I really, really struggled with that,” Ohno said.

“I was very unhappy with what I saw in the mirror. That’s because I was taught that way.”

Ohno focuses on what he calls five golden principles, which he said helped guide his transition: gratitude, giving — not only to others but giving yourself the best possible chance of success — grit to get through the challenges, gearing up your personal expectations, and go, as in “get into action.”

He stated, “Don’t succumb to paralysis from perfectionionism.” Nothing is ever perfect. “There is no perfect moment.”

He suggested that you take the time to write out your objectives step by step and make a plan.

Ohno said that he has found his purpose as an investor, and that he is still learning each day.

Ohno expressed that while I am still learning, she feels like my focus is laser-focused today. I view my life as a gift and it’s made a big, significant difference in me.

SIGN UP Money 101 is an 8-week learning course to financial freedom, delivered weekly to your inbox. Spanish version available here Dinero 101, click here.

CHECK OUT: How a single mom in Atlanta makes $10,000/month on Outschool while only teaching a few hours a weekWith Acorns+CNBC

Disclosure: Comcast Ventures and NBCUniversal are both investors Acorns.