“All people deserve your kindness, but none more so than you.” ~ Justin Kan
Dan Antonelli is a Yes Man. He believes the universe thrives on the word “yes.” He’s the founder and creator of the concept of the YESIVERSE. Dan encourages people to recognize that the universe always says “YES” and supports whatever energy we put out. The YESIVERSE is the power of positive thinking for this generation.
Dan is a local artist, entrepreneur and uplifting fixture of the local scene in Winston-Salem. He delivers daily on his positivity message as an integral part of the crew community at Trader Joe’s. He was, in fact, chosen last year as one of only eight employees (out of 65,000 employees) to represent Trader Joe’s at the annual Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena, California. An accolade of which he’s truly grateful for and bolsters such achievements as a TEDx Talk in 2019 delivering his message of doing not what you love or what makes you happy, but rather what makes you love yourself.
He sat down to talk about his message, his latest project and his journey.
Tell us about your upbringing.
I’m the youngest of five children and grew up in Raleigh. I was raised in an upper middle class environment with a dad who worked for IBM as an executive. My life was the typical kid’s life in the 1970s and 1980s. I was out playing everywhere I could and home by dark. I was artistic, creative and inventive. Looking to invent solutions to problems, I had an entrepreneurial spirit from a young age and even started a shoe shine business at the local barbershop.
Tell us about your message that states you should always do what makes you love yourself.
A few years ago, I realized that I have an ability to simplify complex ideas/messages and make them digestible for people. One day, I had the epiphany that people were not fulfilled by just doing what they “loved” or what made them “happy.” There was more that needed to be explored when creating an authentic life. You may love doing something or you may love someone, but you may not necessarily find that it serves you well. The key to me for a life well lived, in your career or personal life, is choosing options that make you love yourself. One quick and easy way to start the process is by offering acts of kindness or, as I call them. “AOKs.” Performing an AOK gets you instantly into a space of gratitude where others appreciate you and you appreciate yourself.
My TEDxTalk is available online on TED.com and explains this in much more depth.
Your business pursuits and your involvement in the service industry are fueled by a seemingly high comfort level with public speaking and a high degree of social interaction. Were these traits learned or did they come naturally to you?
I would say both learned and just who I am. I admire people who can connect and communicate with humor. Each day, I endeavor to hone my communication skills, so I can meet people where they are. Connect on a real level with them.
I lead my interactions through the lens of empathy hoping to understand peoples’ present state of mind or condition. Empathy is such an important component to anyone’s ability to interact. When I speak to a group about my mission or my personal journey, I speak collectively to them as one human spirit. When I interact with someone individually, I do my best to tune into their individual frequency and what they may be facing. I find that I more easily love myself when paying attention to others.
Tell us about your YESIVERSE project.
I love myself when I talk to folks about the concept of a YESIVERSE. It promotes self love, kindness and confidence. I believe in people and want to brighten and support their own self-belief. But, I want to do this in a humorous, non-judgmental way. The apparel, stickers and fun stuff I offer on my website (yesiverse.com) and around town at various retail spots hopefully offer simple, profound and inspiring messages. “Scroll less… Stroll more!,” “Google less… Giggle More!” and “Consume Less… Conserve More!” are just a few examples of my messages.
Speak to why you are excited by promoting your concepts and business in this particular community in the Triad.
Winston-Salem has such an amazing, artistic community. We have so many reasons to celebrate where we live, and this area is truly community oriented. Winston-Salem is the perfect launching point for the YESIVERSE. I feel so lucky to have started here. I will honor the artistic spirit here and work closely with the local Arts Council, UNCSA and all local artists to make the YESIVERSE a collaborative success. Many of my products will be produced right here in Winston-Salem at Mixxer. I want my city to have confidence in their greatness as a hub for artistic ambitious entrepreneurs. If anyone or business wants to help me on my mission, please reach out, I would be grateful for the help!
Visit the YESIVERSE at yesiverse.com.
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