Here's a little bit more about her life and her work with multipassionate people, in Teresa's own words...
*How long have you been a multipassionate person?
Oh, I've always done 'too many things'! In high school, I participated in national math and science competitions, took ballet lessons & performed with the high school dance troupe, was an editor for the yearbook, worked backstage for the plays & musicals, babysat, and more - all while taking a full honors & AP course load and still managing to graduate a year early.
In college at California Institute of Technology (Caltech), I took graduate-level science classes as a freshman, started the Caltech Cheerleading Squad, taught ballet & jazz for the Caltech Dance Troupe, and went over to the local community college once a week to learn about early childhood education & child psychology (which they don't teach at Caltech!)
Later in San Diego, while owning Applause Dancewear (my first six-figure business), I finished up my degree in Cognitive Science at UCSD, taught dance to preschoolers & adults, did bookkeeping for other businesses, tutored high school math & science, and nannied. I also took up gymnastics, yoga, and ballroom dancing. Oh, and I helped a friend start an elementary charter school!
Now in Los Angeles, I own another six-figure business (A Mother's Haven - a maternity & baby boutique and educational center) where in addition to running and managing the store, I also teach some of the classes (Prenatal and Mommy&Baby Yoga, Sign Language for Babies, and Tiny Dancer for Toddlers). Even though I work a lot at my store, I like to satisfy my other passions by teaching SAT classes, taking acroyoga & cirque classes, and starting other businesses.
*Do you like doing so many things? Don't you get overwhelmed?
Over the course of everything I've done, I've found that I'm happiest and most productive when I have lots of plates spinning, when all of my interests & passions are being addressed in some fashion. Although I am sometimes tired after a day of running around and getting lots done, I feel so fulfilled and alive because I'm doing so many things that I want to be doing!
I've been through several times in my life where I was only working at one job or business, and even though I loved what I was doing and I knew that I was making a difference by doing it, I would get severely depressed because I wasn't able to express my full self. I would be too run-down at the end of the day to have the energy or time to explore my other passions. After learning the hard way a few times, I am now able to quickly recognize when that is happening, and immediately work on changing my situation so that I can be all of me!
