Today’s guest is a former professional soccer player, the winner of season 3 Survivor Africa, and an entrepreneur.
Ethan Zohn played goalkeeper for the Highlanders F.C. as part of the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League. Being a professional athlete in Africa came with many new experiences that would prove important in his post-soccer life.
Upon retiring, He was looking for his next adventure, so he applied for the hit reality TV show, Survivor. Ethan was selected to participate in season 3: Survivor Africa.
While recording the show in Kenya, Ethan won a challenge that earned him a day away from the competition. During his sightseeing, Ethan stumbled across a hospital that had dozens of kids hanging out in the parking lot. True to form, Ethan started an impromptu soccer game.
While playing with the kids, Ethan was confused. Why would here be so many children hanging out in the parking lot of a hospital? The answer would lead Ethan to his next purpose. Every child in the parking lot was there, because they were HIV or AIDS positive.
This would turn out to be the pinnacle moment for Ethan. He realized he needed to do something. Understanding the impact of soccer on local communities, Ethan leveraged his influence, took his $1million winnings, and founded the non-profit Grassroots Soccer. Today Grassroots Soccer promotes HIV and AIDS prevention education to Africa's youth, through soccer.
Ethan is an amazing human doing amazing things in the world. Enjoy the episode.
In this episode Ethan discusses
- Stop trying to find your purpose through what gives you joy and focus on what moves you emotionally. Even if it's negative emotion.
- How to leverage your platform to do something important.
- Immerse yourself into the cause before you start your non-profit. Make sure this is what you want to do with your time.
- How to use what you know and what you are good at to solve the problems that are important to you.
Support Grassroots Soccer: https://grassrootsoccer.org
Safe Roots Foundation: https://www.saferootsfoundation.org
Learn more about Ethan: https://www.ethanzohn.com
Mont Kush CBD: https://www.montkush.com
Crunch Bowl: https://www.ethanzohn.com/products/crunchbowl
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