Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Khaled Dajani. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Khaled, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

My most meaningful projects have been born out of adversity. I have faced their fair share of adversity, challenges, failures and successes. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. All of my breakdowns, defeats and bad choices came to a head when I got sick. It was rock bottom. It was also one of the best things to ever happen to me. Facing my own mortality forced me to re-evaluate my values and priorities. While I’ve always found fulfillment in creative pursuits like music, writing, and photography, I realized I also craved a deeper connection with others and a desire to serve. This led me to create two initiatives: FYGY (Fuck Yeah! Go You!) and The Better You Co.

FYGY is a monthly meetup that fosters connection and support around personal development and goals. It’s an intimate setting where people go beyond surface-level chitchat to share their dreams and aspirations, whether it’s finally writing that novel, training for a marathon, or simply building a more consistent health and wellness practice. It’s an opportunity to practice performance skills like sharing a song, poem, or even a stand-up routine. We celebrate each other’s wins, offer encouragement when things don’t go as planned, and connect on a deeper level. The structured format and facilitated collaborative feedback discussions ensure everyone gets the most out of the experience, leaving feeling inspired and empowered. Ultimately, FYGY is about building community and reminding each other that we’re not alone in pursuing our dreams. No matter the outcome, we always cheer each other on with, “Fuck yeah! Go you!”

The Better You Co., co-founded with my best friend Chad, a fitness expert with 15+ years experience, curates high-performance retreats that blend adventure, personal growth, and wellness in beautiful locations around the world. With science-backed activities focused on the body, mind, heart, and spirit, our retreats are designed to pave one’s journey towards a life of purpose and passion. Our mantra is simple: A better me. A better you. A better us.

These projects are deeply meaningful to me because they allow me to combine my creative spirit with my passion for service and empowering others. Born from a desire to connect, build community, and help people live more fulfilling lives, they were inspired by my own journey overcoming cancer, along with my successful careers in both music and technology.

Khaled, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m an artist and a techie, a cancer survivor who’s learned to embrace vulnerability and turn challenges into growth opportunities. My journey has taught me the importance of resilience, mindset, and community, and these are the values I bring to my work as an artist, high-performance coach and community builder.

I’ve always been drawn to creative expression, whether through music, writing, or visual arts. But my experience with cancer deepened my connection with myself, my understanding of the human spirit and ignited a passion for helping others. This led me to create FYGY and The Better You Co., where I combine my diverse background – including experience as an immigrant, artist, and senior technical program manager at Google – with my coaching skills to empower individuals and foster a sense of belonging.

Through FYGY, I provide a structured environment for people to share their goals, receive support, and celebrate each other’s journeys. With The Better You Co., I co-create transformative retreats that blend adventure, personal growth, and wellness. As a coach, I guide individuals to achieve their goals by helping them develop action plans, overcome obstacles, and cultivate empowering habits.

What sets me apart is my unique blend of creativity, resilience, and empathy. I believe in a holistic approach that considers the body, mind, heart and spirit. I’m proud of the communities I’ve built and the individuals I’ve helped along the way. In 2024, I’ve hosted 7 FYGY meetups, 1 Better You Co. retreat and coached 5 individuals.

If there’s one thing I want potential clients and followers to know, it’s this: You are not alone. If I can do it, you can do it too. I’m here to help you unlock your potential and create a life you love.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Artists do what they do because their art is their way of making sense of the world and to connect with others. They want to be seen and validated. So the best way for society to support artists and creatives is to give that energy back to the artist. It’s not just about paying for their art. That’s certainly good and you should do that. It’s also important to let them know what their art means to you; how it’s impacted your life. Share their art with others. Build a community around it. Show up to events and champion them. And if you happen to be in a position where you can help them with one of your skills, like photography, videos, writing a press piece about them, building a website, or whatever it is, do it.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Absolutely. Too many to list, but here are a few:

1. How to Win Friends and Influence People. Key takeaway is that achieving win-win outcomes should be the goal in any situation. To do this, empathy is crucial: truly listen to others and identify opportunities that benefit them. This approach not only leads to more effective problem-solving but also provides a foundation for building and maintaining deep, mutually beneficial relationships.

2. Meditations of Marcus Orelius. Key takeaway is to focus on what we can control (our thoughts and actions), accept what we can’t, and find strength in reason and virtue. To live fully in the present moment, appreciate our interconnectedness with the universe, and remember that a virtuous life is the path to true fulfillment.

3. Sapiens. Key takeaway is understanding our context throughout the universe’s history, where we came from, what we’ve done, how we got here, and where we want to go in the future. Looking towards the future, it asks a powerful question: what do we want to want. It is a good inquiry into one’s values and motivations.

4. Steal Like an Artist. Offers a practical guide to the creative process, encouraging embracing inspiration from others, remixing ideas, and developing your own unique style. Ultimately, it’s a reminder that creativity is not about originality, but about connecting and transforming existing ideas into something new

5. Stealing Fire. Investigates the science of flow state, exploring how individuals can tap into this state of peak performance to enhance productivity and creativity. It examines how corporations and governments are utilizing flow state principles to achieve remarkable results, while also offering practical tips for individuals to trigger and prolong these immersive experiences in their own lives to unlock their full potential.

6. The boy, the mole, the fox and the horse. Offers simple yet profound wisdom about life, love, and kindness. It reminds us to embrace our vulnerability, find courage in asking for help, and appreciate the journey, even with its inevitable challenges. It the importance of self-acceptance, the power of friendship, and the beauty of the present moment. Ultimately, it’s a gentle reminder that we are all loved and capable of great things, even when we feel lost or alone.

7. The Fountainhead. The key message is the importance of individualism and integrity. It champions the idea that individuals should live according to their own values and convictions, even in the face of societal pressure to conform. It celebrates the power of the independent mind and the pursuit of personal excellence above all else.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: goodvibes_khaled
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khaled-dajani/
• Other: I will be launching a new social media presence for FYGY, The Better You Co. and my new music release in 2025. Stay tuned.

Image Credits

No need to credit. Friends and family.