Embracing Multipotentiality

Jul 7, 2024

Embracing Multipotentiality

Introduction

  • Question: "What do you want to be when you grow up?"
    • Typically asked around age 5
    • Causes anxiety for many
  • Personal anecdote of having too many interests
    • High school: English, Math, Arts, building websites, playing guitar
    • Pattern of deep interest followed by boredom

The Anxiety of Career Choices

  • Concern: Turning multiple interests into a career
  • Fear of having to choose one thing and getting bored
  • Self-doubt about inability to stick with anything
    • Concerns about commitment and self-sabotage

Cultural Norms and Expectations

  • Learned to see multipotentiality as wrong or abnormal
  • Society pressures specializing in one field
    • Cute childhood responses vs. serious adult expectations
  • Narrowly focused life is romanticized
    • Idea of destiny and one true calling

Multipotentiality Defined

  • Multipotentialite: Someone with many interests and creative pursuits
    • Also known as polymaths, Renaissance people, or scanners
  • No single agreed-upon identity for multipotentialites

Strengths of Multipotentialites

  • Idea Synthesis: Combining fields to create something new
    • Example: Sha Hwang & Rachel Binx - Meshu (geographically inspired jewelry)
  • Rapid Learning: Quick absorption of new information, less fear of new beginnings
    • Example: Nora Dunn - from concert pianist to fast typist and compelling pitch writer
  • Adaptability: Ability to take on various roles
    • Example: Abe Cajudo - various roles including video director and web designer

Importance of Multipotentialites

  • Multipotentialites bring creative, out-of-the-box thinking
  • Adaptability: Most important skill for the 21st century (Fast Company Magazine)
  • Need complex, multidimensional problem-solvers

Specialist vs. Multipotentialite

  • Specialists and multipotentialites can form effective teams
    • Specialists: Deep dive and implement ideas
    • Multipotentialites: Bring breadth of knowledge

Conclusion

  • Embrace your inner wiring, whether specialist or multipotentialite
  • Multipotentialites: Follow your curiosity, explore intersections
  • Embracing inner wiring leads to authenticity and happiness
  • The world needs multipotentialites