Meet Jenny Doan | Motivational Speaker and World Champion Hula Hooper

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jenny Doan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jenny, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I’ve made big decisions that may seem risky in other people’s eyes but made perfect sense at the time, whether professionally, when I moved to the US for work despite having no friends or family in Chicago, or personally, when I decided to solo ride my bicycle across Canada.

Your appetite for risk depends on your capacity to imagine the possibilities on the other side and sit in the discomfort of not knowing what the outcome will be. With preparation and planning, we can avoid or manage some negative outcomes, but the more often we take risks, the better we become at handling them.

I’ve experienced the most remarkable personal growth due to taking risks and developed strengths I never knew I had within. Each step moved me closer to who I am today and gave me the tools to handle what comes next.

Cycling across 20+ countries taught me that I could adapt to any environment I showed up in, even if I didn’t speak the same language. Moving to the US gave me the courage to go for my first Guinness World Record, longest marathon hula hooping for 100 hours. It expanded my view of what was possible and showed that I have unique abilities that I can share with the world.

Today, stepping into my own business as a motivational speaker and facing my multiple sclerosis diagnosis is daunting. But looking back on all the other things I’ve accomplished, I remember I was scared and uncertain back then, yet I found a way forward.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’m a motivational speaker and three-time Guinness World Record holder for hula hooping. I use both of these skills for keynote speeches and workshops, focusing on topics such as resilience and growth.

My first Guinness World Record was for the longest marathon hula hooping, 100 hours, and I’m excited to share my story and prove that anything is possible. During workshops, I bring hula hoops and teach people to hula hoop; with guidance and encouragement, everyone gets the hang of it. It always brings a smile to my face when I see the look on their faces when it clicks.

When I started my business, I found it hard to feel comfortable with pitching and reaching out to new leads. But it got easier with practice, and I needed to be persistent, even if I wasn’t seeing results right away.

The biggest lesson I learned was that action leads to clarity. I needed to spend more time practising public speaking and testing my content with different audiences. Over time, it became clear which speaking topics I enjoyed most, and the feedback helped me have a greater impact on my audience.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Melbourne is such an awesome city to explore, my top picks would be:
* Markets – endless stalls of food and drink, my favourites are Queen Victoria Market and South Melbourne Markets
* Nature – Dandenong Ranges National Park for hikes, picnics and parks
* Art Galleries – National Gallery of Victoria

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
These amazing ladies have supported me so much since moving to Melbourne. We all come from Vietnamese backgrounds, where we aren’t often encouraged to deviate from the typical path to start our own business. It’s so inspiring to see them lead and chase their dreams.

Thao Vanessa Tran (https://thaovanessatran.com)
Alyna Pham (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyna-pham/)

Website: www.jennydoan.com.au

Instagram: thejennydoan

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenny-doan-0573b5b1/