Alex Banayan dropped out of college to hunt down and ask legends like Bill Gates, Steven Spielberg, Maya Angelou and more how they accomplished their dreams so he could share it with the world. These stories as told in the best-selling book, The Third Door, reframe what most consider “secrets” to success into human journeys of failure and persistence. Business author and one of the youngest VC’s ever Alex Banayan shares the wisdom from his and many others journeys on this episode of Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu. Impact Theory is proudly sponsored by: Blinkist. Visit www.blinkist.com/IMPACT to try out the premium service completely free for 7 days! ButcherBox. Use the discount code: "IMPACT" at butcherbox.com to get 20$ off and FREE BACON Skillshare. Start learning on Skillshare today at skillshare.com/impact SHOW NOTES: Alex breaks down The Third Door mentality and how he used it to fund his dream. [2:37] Alex on how external voices and rejection factored into his journey. [9:23] Alex tells the power and importance of friendship in his success. [17:54] Alex talks about fear within uncertainty and how to work with it instead of against it. [24:06] Alex shares Steven Spielberg’s incredible story of turning rejection into a new path. [28:35] Alex shares the story of Qi Lu and how he redefined the word “luck”. [34:43] Alex touches on insecurities and developing self-awareness. [42:40] Alex reveals the impact he wants to have on the world. [47:05]   QUOTES: “The difference between fearlessness and courage is that fearlessness is jumping off of the cliff without thinking. Courage is acknowledging your fear, analyzing the consequences, and deciding you still care so much about it, you're gonna take one step forward anyway.” [4:37]   “You will never win against the voices in your head if you try to argue with them. What I've learned is that if you, instead of focusing on the voices and the fears, you focus on the desires.” [12:04]   “And I think no matter what your dream is, if you're able to find a larger purpose, a larger impact that lives beyond you, all of a sudden all of your bullshit that's holding you down becomes a lot less relevant.” [12:17]   “I've learned that insecurities will never leave you, just like with fear. They're a natural part of the human condition. So your goal shouldn't be to rid yourself of insecurities. It should be to become so aware of them that they could be yammering away and you go, "Oh, that's just the insecurity.” [44:25] “The second you speak something out loud, it doesn't have power over you anymore.” [45:15]   “When you change what someone believes is possible, you change what becomes possible.” [49:24]   FOLLOW ALEX BANAYAN: TWITTER - https://bit.ly/2tf2FL1 FACEBOOK - https://bit.ly/2yubDKj LINKEDIN - https://bit.ly/2ljSDo1 INSTAGRAM - https://bit.ly/2tnyxgD   PEOPLE MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Blake Mycoskie - https://bit.ly/2lgrwKz [13:50] Qi Lu - https://bit.ly/2M1Qyse [34:32]   COMPANIES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Alsop Louie - https://bit.ly/2tixBdj [0:50]   BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The Third Door - https://amzn.to/2MxoDSa [1:00] When Things Fall Apart - https://amzn.to/2JTcxkt [26:07]