Daily Inspiration: Meet Eian O’Brien

Today we’d like to introduce you to Eian O’Brien.

Hi Eian, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m driven by learning and transformation—by curiosity, creativity, and the thrill of discovering new ways of seeing and being. This drive isn’t only personal though, I also love to share this passion.

I’ve always wanted to use my gifts and obsessions to build something creative, fulfilling, and alive. And I’ve always had a hunger to grow something of my own—something I could sink my teeth into and scale.

For a long time, I was piece-mealing. I had ambition, I had ideas, but nothing fully clicked. It did, but it didn’t. The turning point didn’t come as a dramatic explosion, it was a quiet realization I had in my room, and it would take over a year to integrate: I needed to align my ambition with my values.

This seems inconsequential at first, however, I think it’s one of the most important things, if not the most important thing to do, as a creative especially.

First, I had to figure out what I actually valued—outside of my programming, ego, and performance. That slow excavation changed the way I saw, the way I saw my work, my goals, my definition of success. If we don’t know what we value; say, we only value ambition and career, then there is no guide or compass, and that may leave us in a driving state of self-abandonment in pursuit of a so-called dream. Our obstacles reflect what we care about—but if we don’t know what that is, those challenges become confusing instead of clarifying.

This idea shows up beautifully in It’s A Wonderful Life. George Bailey dreams of building skyscrapers and traveling the world. But at every turning point, he chooses differently. He chooses love, family, friendship, leadership, community. And it’s only in the end, when everything’s been stripped away, and he sees the world without him in it, he realizes: he’s been living his dream all along. His values—not his ambitions—made his life meaningful and fulfilling, made it “wonderful”.

That’s where I am now. I’ve chosen to build from values I’ve claimed for myself, to drive my ambition from these values. For the first time, my work feels integrated. It feels like mine. And I’ve never been more excited to wake up and get it.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Of course there have been challenges and obstacles, as many as there are weeks in the last 15 years. That’s probably an understatement. But challenges and obstacles are what create strength and perseverance. Without challenges and obstacles life would be uninteresting, and the things worth working for would be worthless.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Today I’ve integrated my interests and talents into a YouTube channel. My curiosities in the art, psychology, philosophy, etc has amalgamated into a single venture that is more fulfilling than any single one of my interests. My channel is called EIAN — Everything I Am Now. It centers on growth mindset and personal development, and at the very moment, I’m in the middle of a series called Deleting Scarcity, where I’m uncovering six hidden scarcities hiding in plain sight, and secretly running our lives.

I’m also working as a freelance director/videographer for content creators for brand partnerships, voice actor, and actor.

I’m open to collaborations too!

Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Curiosity leads, insight follows. Seek and be sought.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eianobrien/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6msrutcBbZS7GmnNNmhkhg