We were lucky to catch up with Ken Hill recently and have shared our conversation below.

Ken, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

The most important lesson I can share regarding learning a new craft is to stop everything and ask yourself, “How do I best learn a skill, knowledge, or habit that I can actually apply?”

How do you best retain knowledge? Do you need to write it down? Do you recite it in your head? Do you have to take baby steps? Do you need to take bold, daring jumps into chaos? Do you need a fully written plan? Is it better to have a basic idea and improvise until you find a way that works? Understand that we all have different processes, especially as creatives, and knowing oneself is the most empowering skill you can ever learn. Otherwise, the way you are storing, processing, and using your information is going to be in a default system which may not be your best. And trust me, if you are not using your best processes for the job, it is very easy to lose balance and get knocked out of the game.

For me, I have to obsess over an idea. My initial idea is fantastic, but my follow-up ideas for how to accomplish that are usually terrible, unless I’ve already done it before. It becomes a process of brainstorming, research, application in small doses, adaptation, and especially patience. I am a creative individual, but I also value destruction as much, if not more, than the creative process. Most ideas need to be torn down and rebuilt many times. So when you have a great idea, how do you optimize that process? And what are ways you can innovate that idea?

Ken, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve worn many hats throughout my life, and my journey has been nothing short of fascinating. I’ve been a musician, poet, martial arts instructor, circus arts performer, entertainment business owner, influencer, and interactive technology programmer. My entire life has revolved around honing my skills and presenting my craft in a unique and captivating manner.

One of my notable achievements is running a successful YouTube channel where I’m recognized as one of the leading nunchaku instructors, amassing over 8 million views. Additionally, three of my songs have been featured on the Travel Channel. I also took the initiative to establish a corporate circus entertainment market in a city that previously lacked such offerings.

Collaborating with esteemed entertainment companies like Quixotic and The Volta Creative, I’ve had the privilege of traveling across the United States, Bahamas, Costa Rica, and more, showcasing my incredible talents. Throughout my life, I’ve consistently challenged myself, pushing the boundaries of my limits, as that’s where I truly come alive.

In my latest venture, I’ve delved into the world of programming projectors to enable interactive use in performances, demonstrating my knack for staying on the cutting edge of technology and entertainment.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I quit my job in IT at a hospital to fully pursue my circus career. When I started, I was relatively clueless.  I withdrew and burned through my 401k within the first year. Consequently, I accumulated a substantial amount of credit card debt. It may not have been my wisest decision, but it felt like I was trying to learn to swim by being tossed into the ocean.

After several years, things slowly began moving in my favor when suddenly, creditors wiped my bank account clean. With no money left for rent, I thought there was no way to bounce back from this setback.

The people around me were concerned as it had been a struggle to make this dream a reality.  They were optimistic to hear that I was going back to a secure full time computer position.  At least for myself, I didn’t have close entepreneuer friends at the time, so I had to keep my own fires lit.  I was able to easily line up a new full-time IT job.  However, on the day I was supposed to begin, I made a bold decision to quit.

I was nervous and felt alone on this decision.  I realized that my time was limited, and so I took a dramatic step and joined a clinical research study.  They kept me on for a few weeks, which allowed me to cover my rent for a couple months. The following month, we landed our first big show, which turned out to be a home run. From that point on, more gigs started coming in. I have been a full time performer now for six years.  And to think… I almost gave up one month from a turning point in my business.  I’ll never forget that.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One important lesson I’ve had to unlearn is that the value of money is subjective and primarily depends on how the client perceives it, rather than how I personally value it. If I believe I’m worth a million dollars, it’s irrelevant unless someone agrees. However, there’s a notable exception: if I genuinely believe I’m worth $10, it’s likely that the client will perceive the same value. This is because one’s perception of value significantly influences how they present themselves. Therefore, the key lesson here is to understand the client’s perception of value and maximize it. It’s akin to a waiter attentively listening to customers to discern their desires or a doctor carefully considering symptoms to make an accurate diagnosis. The ultimate goal is to create an experience that aligns with the highest value the client perceives, and never do anything to jeopardize that trust.

When I initially started this business, I found myself sweating and nervously quoting rates that wouldn’t come close to the rates I give now. If you’re in a similar situation, that’s perfectly okay. The second most important lesson I’ve learned is that every experience should be treated as a training opportunity. Every chance, whether it leads to success or mistakes, is a form of training. You are in a constant state of learning and growth. Even when you achieve a major client or success, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you’ve stopped training. Avoid letting success close your mind to this concept; otherwise, you may face unforeseen challenges down the road. When those lessons inevitably appear, maintaining a training-oriented mindset allows you to continue learning and evolving. If you don’t, be prepared to repeat the same mistakes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://omahacircusarts.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenhillfire/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWTqLfuiG-nfypxCx2AWyeg

Image Credits
Quixotic