Career & Business Coaching Blog.
Inspiration and tips for multi-passionate creatives & entrepreneurs.
Why Creative Generalists Get Bored (And How to Fix It)
Do you pick up new skills with surprising speed, only to lose interest once you feel you've mastered them? Do you have a graveyard of projects, some almost finished, that you just can’t bring yourself to complete? If this sounds familiar, you might be a creative generalist - also known as a multipotentialite, polymath, or scanner. And that feeling of recurring boredom isn't a character flaw; it's a sign that something needs to change.
For years, I’ve worked with brilliant creatives and entrepreneurs who felt stuck, anxious, and deeply frustrated. In my coaching practice, they told me over and over again how they believed something was wrong with them because they couldn't just "pick one thing" and stick with it. The truth is, their unique brain wiring simply didn't match a world that glorifies specialization.
If you feel seen right now, welcome! This post is for you. We’ll explore why your mind works this way, why boredom is an inevitable part of your process, and how you can shift your mindset to not just cope, but to truly thrive.
The Generalist's Dilemma: Rapid Learning, Rapid Boredom
The core of the generalist experience is the speed of learning and an insatiable hunger for knowledge. You're wired to absorb information, connect random ideas, and reach a level of competency faster than most. This is your superpower. But it comes with a catch. For you, the thrill is in the challenge, not in the outcome. The steep learning curve, the problem-solving, the act of figuring it out. The chase is so much better than the catch.
Once you’ve cracked the code and the initial challenge fades, boredom sets in. It’s not because you're flaky or lack discipline. It’s because the intellectual stimulation that got you all excited and ready to go in the morning is gone. You’ve conquered the mountain and your eyes are already scanning the horizon for the next, more interesting peak.
This cycle often clashes with societal expectations. We're told that success means deep specialization and a linear career path. When your path looks more like a web of interconnected interests, it can lead to anxiety and a feeling of being perpetually stuck. You might wonder if you'll ever finish anything or build something of lasting value.
When There Is No Creative Variety
Think of boredom as a signal. It’s your mind telling you that the container you’re in has become too small - there is no creative variety to your life or work. You’ve outgrown the role, the project, or the hobby. It’s time for a new challenge, a new problem to solve, a new world to explore.
Honoring this need for variety is not a weakness; it is essential to your well-being and success. Trying to force yourself into a specialist's box is like trying to convince a bird to live underwater. It goes against your very nature. When you feel that familiar restlessness, don't suppress it. Instead, ask yourself: What new knowledge am I yearning for? What problem would I like to solve?
Embracing this cycle allows you to build a unique and powerful toolkit. Each skill you acquire, each subject you master, to the level you believe is enough, becomes another tool you can use to solve problems in creative and unexpected ways.
The Overwhelm of Infinite Ideas
A direct consequence of your wide-ranging curiosity is a constant, overwhelming flood of ideas. Your brain is a powerful ideation machine, always making new connections. You might see a documentary on urban farming and immediately sketch out a business plan for a vertical garden startup. The next day, you’re drafting a screenplay inspired by a biography you read. And the day after, you're connecting that play with your garden.
This can feel less like a gift and more like a burden. How do you choose? How do you focus when every idea feels exciting and full of potential? This is where many generalists get stuck - and precisely where I come in to help them. The sheer volume of possibilities leads to inaction.
Worse, it contributes to a graveyard of unfinished projects. Your hard drive is likely filled with half-written novels, business plans that are 95% complete, and countless other brilliant concepts that were abandoned just before the finish line. This happens because the most stimulating part - the creation and problem-solving - is over. All that’s left is the less exciting work of finalizing, polishing, and shipping (not our forte as generalists, believe me, I know).
Strategies to Overcome Boredom and Get Unstuck
You don't need to change who you are; you need to build systems and mindsets that work with your nature, not against it.
1. Reframe What "Finished" Means
You don't have to complete every project in the traditional sense. Redefine "done" for yourself. Maybe "done" for a new hobby is learning until you feel proficient. Maybe "done" for a business idea is creating a detailed plan that you can file away for later. Give yourself permission to move on once you've extracted the value you needed: the learning, the experience, the excitement. Not every seed you plant needs to become a towering tree.
2. Design a Portfolio Career
Instead of trying to find the "one perfect job," build a career with variety built in. This could look like:
A "Good Enough" Job and Passion Projects: Have a stable job that funds your life and leaves you with the mental and emotional energy to pursue your myriad interests on the side.
The Slash/Slash Model: Embrace being a consultant/writer/developer. Juggle a few part-time roles or freelance gigs that tap into different parts of your brain.
An Umbrella Business: Create a business with a broad mission that allows you to explore different projects under one roof. My work as a coach and startup mentor, for instance, lets me dive into everything from tech and AI to philosophy and entrepreneurship.
3. Use a Project Incubator System
Don't let good ideas overwhelm you or disappear. Create a system to capture and incubate them. This could be a notebook, a Trello board, or a folder on your computer. When a new idea strikes, write it down with enough detail to remember it. Then, let it sit. Revisit your incubator periodically. Some ideas will have lost their shine, while others will ignite a new spark of excitement. This allows you to pursue ideas with intention rather than impulse.
4. Find Your Glue - Your Meta-Skill
Look across all your seemingly random interests. What is the common thread? Perhaps you are drawn to storytelling, which manifests as writing, marketing, and filmmaking. Maybe you love building systems, which you've applied to coding, project management, and even gardening. Identifying this underlying "glue" or "meta-skill" can provide a powerful sense of purpose and direction, helping you frame your many different experiences into a cohesive whole.
Your Variety Is Your Magic
It’s time to stop seeing your innate curiosity as a problem. It's your greatest asset. In a world that is constantly changing, it is the generalists - the creative, adaptable problem-solvers - who are best equipped to navigate the future. Your ability to learn quickly, connect seemingly unconnected ideas, and pivot is not just valuable; it's a form of magic.
So often in my coaching practice, I see creative minds who are tired of feeling “too much, ”too scattered, too restless, too unconventional. Here’s the truth: you’re not too much. You've just been misdiagnosed. And you're not alone on this journey.
Accept and enjoy your need for intellectual stimulation. Celebrate the flow and happiness of the learning curve. Build a life that has enough room for all of your passions to breathe. When you stop fighting your nature and start working with it, you will unlock a level of creativity and fulfillment you never thought possible.
I believe in you!
Ready to break free from the multi-passionate boredom loop?
Are you tired of feeling uninspired, stuck, or misunderstood as a creative generalist? I get it. You crave variety, new challenges, and meaningful growth. My coaching is dedicated to helping creative professionals like you find the clarity, confidence, and momentum you need.
Imagine a career and life built around your strengths – a portfolio of passions that truly inspire you. You’ll gain personalized support, insights, and strategies to conquer boredom and transform your generalist wiring into your ultimate superpower. Curious about what's possible?Frequently Asked Questions
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A creative generalist is someone who thrives on learning new things, has a wide range of interests, and excels at connecting ideas across different fields. If you lose interest after mastering something or constantly crave new challenges, you might be a generalist.
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You may be a multipotentialite if you resist choosing a single specialty, are energized by variety, and accumulate many projects or skills over time. It’s about embracing the value of having multiple interests.
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Generalists tend to learn rapidly. Once the initial challenge wears off and they feel competent, the excitement fades. Boredom is a sign that you need a new intellectual adventure - not a flaw.
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Not at all. In fact, generalists are highly adaptable and creative problem-solvers. The key is designing a career path that honors your need for variety, such as a portfolio career or a combination of roles that stimulate you.
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Redefine what “finished” means to you, incubate your ideas, and seek out your meta-skills that tie your projects together. And don’t hesitate to reach out for support, my coaching practice specializes in helping generalists set meaningful goals and find focus.
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Use an idea incubator system (notebook, Trello, digital folder) to capture ideas, review them periodically, and pursue only those that reignite your passion and align with your core interests.
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A portfolio career blends several roles, projects, or interests rather than focusing on just one path, making it perfect for those who crave variety and lifelong learning, like generalists or multi-passionate creators.
Monetize Your Multi-Passionate Ideas: A Creative's Guide to Financial Freedom
Are you an artist, creative generalist, or entrepreneur who feels caught between the pressure of earning a decent living and the desire for meaningful, creative work? You're talented, driven, and educated, and you have an abundance of creative ideas. Yet, that creative energy is often overshadowed by financial anxiety, procrastination, overthinking, or the sheer exhaustion of having too many ideas and striving for perfection.
The result, as I witness daily in my coaching practice, is often stagnation and frustration. You want financial independence, but worry that making significant money requires sacrificing your creative work, leading to a job that feels empty and meaningless or a career that is slowly sucking the life out of you.
Breaking Free from the Cycle of Paralysis
After a decade supporting creatives to get unstuck, I know that the fundamental challenge for creatives and entrepreneurs, especially generalists, is transforming their multifaceted nature, often characterized by idea overload and the paralyzing fear of choosing the wrong thing, into a sustainable, profitable system that works with their complex mind and not against it.
Many creatives feel stuck in a golden cage, clinging to stable jobs out of necessity or fear, even if those roles lead to burnout or leave them feeling undervalued. But there are ways to break free from this trap and create a fulfilling, successful career that aligns with one's unique talents and passions.
Strategy 1: Redefining Value by Combining, Not Choosing
Creative generalists often have multiple projects floating in their heads, ranging from starting a business to pursuing various artistic disciplines. The internal pressure to specialize is immense in a world geared toward experts. But forcing yourself to pick only one interest often leads to rapid boredom and abandonment, famously known as "The Dip".
The key to financial stability without sacrificing your creative soul is realizing that you don't have to choose; you can combine.
Instead of trying to fit into a tiny box defined by others, seek out your unique "glue," the common thread that ties all your seemingly disparate interests together and gives them meaning. This process begins by understanding that your diverse skills, from strong writing to complex problem-solving and communication, are marketable assets.
For instance, a client with multiple interests might realize their true value lies not in what they do (e.g., writing, teaching, design), but in how they combine those skills to connect ideas, inspire change, or simplify complex concepts. When you start identifying career opportunities that utilise your full, multifaceted skill set, the work instantly becomes more engaging and sustainable.
Tip: Map out your "superhero powers," your strongest points. Then, identify the overarching purpose or value (your glue) that motivates you, even if it feels small or internal. This could be building community, equitable resource distribution, or simply inspiring genuine connections.
Strategy 2: Action Over Analysis for Breakthroughs
A common pattern I see with creative clients who are stuck is trading external hustle for internal analysis: endlessly conceptualizing and overthinking ideas to the point of "analysis paralysis". This is often driven by perfectionism, in which the inner critic demands unattainable ideals before allowing any visible action.
You cannot think yourself out of being stuck; you must take action. To break free from this cycle and find genuine momentum, focus on Execution (the E in the MOVE Method that I've developed).
Small, Consistent Steps: Instead of relying on a burst of willpower (which is a finite resource) to tackle the "huge" project, commit to consistency. I love the principle of the Compound Effect: small steps repeated over time lead to incredible, exponential results.
Tip: Implement the "Don't Break the Chain" philosophy (aka The Seinfeld Strategy). Choose one micro-action related to your new combined passion (e.g., writing for 45 minutes, outlining a business structure, or reaching out to one potential collaborator) and once you've done it, mark it with a big, bold X on your calendar for the day. The only thing you have to do is not break the chain.
Extra tip: If you're struggling with follow-through, external accountability (such as a coach or a peer) can be highly motivating too!
Strategy 3: Designing Systems for Flow, Not to Grind More
Financial stability for a creative entrepreneur with many passions and ideas means designing a work-life structure that supports your need for flow and creative rest while maximizing income potential. Many clients struggle because their work requires constant energy and presence (as a manager, designer, or event producer), leaving them exhausted and with little bandwidth for what they're actually passionate about or even the more mundane marketing, admin, or generating passive income.
To achieve financial abundance without burnout:
1. Prioritize Passive Income Streams: Actively look for ways to monetize your knowledge or creative output that detaches your income from your direct time and energy output. For creative generalists, this might involve creating an online course or digital product that simplifies a complex process or teaches people something you excel at.
2. Integrate Technical Skills Strategically: Use your intellectual curiosity and learning strengths to incorporate technical skills (like analytics, AI, or system design) not as a main job, but as tools to make your business or work more efficient. This allows you to delegate wisely and maintain focus on your creative domain.
3. Cultivate Flow and Rest: Since you thrive on creation and easily experience flow when engaged in meaningful work, structure your time to enter this state daily. I do this with a morning writing routine and daily creative habits. Be mindful that overwork and distraction can drain this energy.
Achieving financial freedom as a creative requires action. If you're waiting for confidence or clarity before doing anything, remember that being ready is a decision, not a feeling. Confidence is built through doing the thing you fear, not waiting for the fear to disappear.
Ready to build your financial foundation?
If you're tired of the constant stress, analysis paralysis, and the nagging feeling that you're not living up to your full potential, it’s time to move forward. You're an ambitious, resourceful creative leader who deserves a life that is both joyful and financially secure.
Gaining clarity and a strategic roadmap is the first step to conquering financial anxiety and multiplying your creative pursuits.
Escape the 9-to-5: How to Combine Your Many Passions into a Fulfilling Career (Without Choosing Just One!)
Why Specialization Isn’t the Only Way
Are you a multi-passionate, creative generalist who feels like you're constantly battling the world's insistence on specialization? Do you have a multitude of interests and talents, yet feel overwhelmed by thousands of ideas, always questioning which path to pursue? If you're tired of feeling "stuck" in a traditional 9-to-5 that drains your energy and kills your creativity, you're not alone. Many creative generalists struggle with the pressure to choose a single focus, fearing it will suck the life out of them. The good news is, you don't have to choose – you can learn to combine your passions into a thriving, fulfilling portfolio career.
Overcoming Overwhelm: Silencing Your Inner Critic and Finding Direction
From coaching creatives for a decade I've learned that the core challenge for many creative generalists is an internal conflict: they're passionate about many things and hate the idea of giving any of them up. This often leads to feeling overwhelmed by ideas and struggling with procrastination and mental blocks that prevent them from taking action. The inner critic often chimes in too, creating self-doubt and fear of not being good enough, or telling them that their dreams aren't real or possible. This can lead to a sense of being perpetually stuck or feeling like you keep looking in the wrong place.
Furthermore, many clients express a lack of clarity and direction when it comes to their career path or business ideas. They might be at a tricky point or crossroads in their life and career, wishing for financial independence and a business they love, but struggling to balance these big dreams with the demands of daily life.
The good news is that your multiple interests are a superpower. Your unique generalist brain operates differently from specialists, and understanding this is your first step out of the 9-to-5 trap.
Actionable Tips for Multi-Passionates: Build a Portfolio Career Without Losing Yourself
Here are some tips to help you navigate your multi-passionate journey:
Understand Your Generalist Brain: Accept that your brain naturally wants variety and connection, unlike a specialist's. This is an asset, not a flaw. You don't have to conform to the norm of picking "one thing".
Embrace the "Puzzle" of Your Passions: Instead of feeling scattered, view your interests as pieces of a unique puzzle waiting to be combined. The goal isn't to eliminate interests, but to weave them into a cohesive whole that makes sense for you. This can lead to a career or business that really lights you up every morning.
Silence Your Inner Critic: That voice telling you you're not good enough or that it won't work out is often just trying to keep you safe from perceived harm or judgment. Learn to question your thoughts and regain control over your mind.
Aim for Clarity, Not Certainty: Many wait for absolute certainty before taking action, but waiting to feel ready or confident enough is often what keeps you stuck. Focus on identifying what truly matters to you and what direction feels right, even if the entire path isn't perfectly clear.
Take Small, Consistent Steps: Overcoming procrastination isn't about grand gestures but about consistent, small actions. This compound effect creates profound change over time and helps build momentum. Remember, action comes before the courage to act.
Align Your Environment with Your Goals: Your surroundings can either support or hinder your progress. Make conscious choices to create a physical and mental environment that nurtures your creative pursuits and minimizes distractions. This reduces reliance on willpower, which is a finite resource anyway.
Build Your "Glue": Identify the common thread, your unique "glue," that brings all your interests together and makes sense of your many passions. The clearer you are about this, the easier it becomes to choose what to focus on and make progress.
Through this approach, clients gain clarity and confidence, develop a strategic plan, and finally move forward and get unstuck to achieve their goals and create a truly fulfilling career and life.
The journey to a multi-passionate portfolio career is deeply personal, and often requires a different frame of mind and external guidance to find your unique answers.
Embrace your unique creative brain. You've got this!
Ready to stop feeling stuck and start combining your many passions into the fulfilling career you deserve?
In a safe and confidential space, we’ll dive into your desires and challenges, uncovering what truly drives you.
Together, we’ll craft a clear path that taps into your unique talents, helping you move from overthinking to action.
Schedule your free session today and take the first step towards your bold, wild, and free future!
How to Break Free From a Specialist World and Take Control of Your Life
There's a particular kind of suffocation that comes with being gifted with multiple talents but not being recognized for them or able to use them. You know the feeling - that restless energy that tells you could be doing more, creating more, becoming more, yet somehow you find yourself frozen in place. If you're a creative generalist reading this, chances are you've felt it: the cruel paradox of having endless possibilities but feeling utterly and absolutely stuck.
I've been there. Actually, I've lived there for months at a time before I understood the unique nature of my generalist brain. And over the past decade of working with brilliant multi-passionate individuals, I've discovered something fundamental: being stuck isn't a character flaw or a sign of weakness. It's often the telltale sign of a mind that sees too much, wants to learn all of it, and is pressured by the weight of all that's possible.
The Anatomy of Stuckness: Why Creative Minds Get Stuck
When I work with creative generalists, I see the same patterns emerge again and again. The surface story is always different - maybe you're a marketing professional who dreams of writing novels, or a consultant who's secretly building an art practice, or an entrepreneur whose ideas multiply faster than your ability to execute them.
But underneath, the mechanics are remarkably similar.
The Overthinking Maze: Your mind, that beautiful instrument capable of making connections others miss, becomes your prison. You analyze every angle, consider every outcome, and map every possible failure until action becomes impossible. Analysis paralysis isn't just procrastination - it's your brain trying to protect you from uncertainty by demanding certainty that doesn't exist.
The Perfectionism Trap: Because you can envision the masterpiece of what you could create, you become paralyzed by the gap between your vision and your current reality. I call this "the mountain." You make it in your mind, then get discouraged at the thought of climbing it. You'd rather not start than create something that falls short of your impossible standards.
The Identity Crisis Spiral: Society tells us we need to be specialists, to "pick a lane." But your interested and creative soul rebels against such constraints. So you find yourself caught between who you think you should be and who you actually are - a creative generalist whose power lies in the intersections, not the straight lines.
The Fear of Choosing Wrong: When you can see multiple paths before you, each with its own potential and question marks, choice becomes terrifying. What if you pick the wrong direction? What if you waste time? What if you discover you're not as good as you thought? So you choose nothing, which is, of course, still a choice.
The Hidden Patterns That Keep You Stuck
Here's where it gets interesting - and where hope begins to emerge. After years of helping people break free from these cycles, I've learned that being stuck isn't random. It follows patterns and has specific triggers.
Think about the last time you felt stuck.
What was happening in your life?
What thoughts were on repeat in your mind?
What emotions were you avoiding?
Most people can't answer these questions clearly because they're too close to their own experience to see the patterns. But patterns exist.
Maybe you always get stuck after periods of high achievement, when the fear of not being able to replicate success paralyzes you. Perhaps your stuckness shows up with transitions - job changes, relationship shifts, or life milestones that trigger deep questions about direction and identity.
Or maybe, like many creative generalists, you get stuck when you're forced to choose between competing interests, when the world tells you to be one thing but you know you're many.
The power in recognizing these patterns isn't just awareness - it's freedom.
The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
The real breakthrough doesn't come from external strategies or productivity hacks. It comes from a fundamental shift in how you relate to your own complexity: accepting your unique creative generalist nature.
Your multiplicity is not a bug - it's a feature. The world needs generalists who can bridge disciplines, see connections others miss, and bring fresh perspectives to old problems. Your inability to "pick just one thing" isn't indecision; it's intelligence recognizing that the most interesting work happens at the intersections.
Imperfect action beats perfect inaction every time.
The masterpiece you're afraid to start doesn't exist in the realm of perfection - it exists in the messy, imperfect world of iteration and improvement. Your first attempt doesn't have to be your best attempt (even though I know you would love it to be, I know, I would!); it just has to be an attempt.
Being stuck is information, not identity. When you feel paralyzed, you're not broken - you're receiving data about misalignment, fear, or competing values. Instead of fighting the feeling, get curious about it. What is it trying to tell you?
Breaking Free: Your First Step Toward A Life That is Made for You
So how do you begin? How do you take that first step when the weight of possibility feels overwhelming?
You start exactly where you are, with exactly what you have, knowing exactly what you know right now (which is more than you think, believe me).
Begin with radical acceptance. Accept that you are a creative generalist. Accept that this comes with unique challenges. Accept that the path forward won't be linear.
Choose one small experiment. Not a life-changing commitment, not a new career, not a complete identity change. Just one small experiment that allows you to explore without the pressure of permanent decision-making. Maybe it's writing one article, taking one class, or having one conversation with someone working in a field that you're interested in.
Document your patterns. Start paying attention to when you feel stuck and when you feel flow. What were you doing? What were you thinking? What was happening around you? This awareness becomes your map for navigating future challenges.
Embrace the both/and. You don't have to choose between being practical and creative, between security and adventure, between depth and breadth. The magic happens when you find ways to honor multiple aspects of yourself simultaneously.
The Truth About Breaking Free From a Specialist World
Freedom isn't the absence of constraints - it's the ability to work with them. For creative generalists, breaking free looks like building a life that works with your complexity while allowing you to create meaningful impact in the world.
It's not about having no limits; it's about choosing your limits consciously. It's not about being everything to everyone; it's about being authentically yourself in all your multifaceted amazingness.
Being stuck isn't permanent. Your complexity isn't confusion - it's your competitive advantage waiting to be put to work.
The first step isn't finding the perfect path forward. The first step is recognizing that you have the power to create that path as you walk it.
Your complexity is your superpower. It's time to start using it.
Ready to move past these blocks and step into your true generalist nature?
The journey from feeling stuck to happiness and success begins with understanding your unique patterns and designing strategies that work with your generalist nature, not against it.
I've spent years helping creative minds like yours break free from the cycles that keep them small, and I'd love to explore how personalized guidance can help you get unstuck and start building the multifaceted life you've been dreaming of.
Creative Generalist, What’s Your Glue?
Every creative and generalist has that one thing - the intangible thread that ties everything they love, excel at, and dream about into a cohesive story that makes sense to them. It’s not always obvious, and it might not make sense to other people, but it’s the thing that holds everything together. It’s your glue.
But what exactly is your glue, and why does it matter - especially in a world leaning more and more into automation and artificial intelligence?
We’re going to explore exactly that. Along the way, I'll share how you can uncover your unique glue, why it’s more vital than ever in today’s landscape, and how you can maximize your creative potential and your income-stream potential.
What's Your Glue?
In Get Unstuck!, I describe “your glue” as that unique thread that makes everything in your life come together and make sense. Sometimes it’s a calling, a feeling, or a spark that shows up when you’re in flow - doing what you love most. It’s not always loud or heroic, but it’s yours. It’s what gets you lost in the work, keeps you up with inspiration, and connects your passions, values, and dreams.
Ever feel like your skills and ideas are puzzle pieces only you know how to put together? That “pattern” is your glue - the thread makes sense to you, and that ties your talents and dreams together.
Forget the pressure to craft the perfect "why." Often, glue hides in the small moments - when you’re immersed in a project, following curiosity, or connecting unlikely dots.
Want to find it? Ask yourself: What brings you to life, time and again? Where do you feel most energized and true to yourself?
My Creative Generalist Glue
For me, my glue is about understanding what it means to be human and how to live a good life. This shows up in many ways: always building something new (like CoachMila.ai right now), finding flow through writing or drawing, exploring my heritage through genealogy, diving into philosophical ideas, or coaching others to get unstuck or create successful careers and businesses.
In those moments of writing, creating, or coaching, I feel most alive and aligned with who I’m meant to be. That creative generalist glue ties everything together for me.
Why Your Glue Matters in an AI-Driven World
The accelerating pace of technology, particularly AI, has fundamentally reshaped what’s possible in both work and creativity. While some fear AI might replace creative or human-driven efforts, the truth is far more empowering - AI supports your glue.
Think of all the busy work that eats up your time - the administrative tasks, the endless research, the repetitive grunt work. AI can lighten that load, freeing up your mental bandwidth to focus on the things that only you can create.
When you lean into your glue, you’re focusing on your unique creative generalist skills - your intuition, creativity, and ability to connect dots others might not even see. These qualities are irreplaceable. And with the help of AI, you can double down on them. Instead of working harder on the parts of your work that drain you, you can work smarter, pouring your energy into what you love most.
It’s not about doing more; it’s about doing *better.*
How to Discover Your Creative Generalist Glue
Finding your glue doesn’t happen overnight, and it’s not something you can force. It's one of the hardest things for creative generalists to get clarity on. But it is discoverable if you know where to look, and when you do, it changes everything.
Here are a few steps to help you connect the dots:
1. Reflect on Flow Moments
Think about the times when you’ve felt completely absorbed in an activity. Flow moments are a key sign of your glue at work. When time disappears and you feel fully alive and “in the zone,” you’re probably tapping into why you do what you do.
2. Explore Your Happiness Anchors
What makes you light up consistently? What work or activities bring you genuine excitement or comfort? What do you always feel drawn to, even in moments of uncertainty? These anchors - things that energize you regardless of external outcomes - offer valuable clues to your glue.
3. Uncover Patterns
Your glue is often hiding in plain sight. Look back at your past projects, hobbies, career moves, or even childhood interests. Is there a common theme? For example, do you always lean toward problem-solving or creating beauty in everyday life? Pay attention to these recurring patterns.
4. Follow Your Curiosity
Sometimes, your glue unfolds when you explore what intrigues you. Allow yourself to pursue ideas, hobbies, or projects that spark curiosity. You don’t have to know where it will lead - following that thread without resistance often reveals hidden parts of your glue.
5. Lean Into What Feels Aligned
Your glue is not a “one-size-fits-all” revelation. It doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Give yourself permission to be authentically you. When you stop forcing yourself into molds that aren’t a fit, your glue comes forward naturally.
What’s Next for Your Glue?
Your glue is an ongoing discovery. It might take time, or it might be clearer than you think. But once you uncover it, there’s incredible power in leaning into it, trusting it, and amplifying it.
If you’re ready to take action, there’s no better time. I’m thrilled to announce my 6-Month AI-Powered Portfolio Career Accelerator for Creatives, launching on September 29th. This program is designed to help you use cutting-edge AI tools to maximize your glue, craft aligned opportunities, and create meaningful impact without burnout.
What’s the glue that holds your vision together? What lights you up? Take a moment to reflect on it.
And if you’re ready to explore where your glue can take you, check out the link to learn more about the accelerator program. It’s time to take your creativity, career, and purpose to the next level.
Are You Ready to Thrive as a Creative Generalist?
Imagine a future where your unique vision becomes reality - where your creativity and purpose inspire meaningful change, and balance is no longer a dream but your new normal.
With my accelerator program, launching on September 29th, you'll gain access to the tools, strategies, and community you need to achieve your creative potential. Discover how cutting-edge AI can align with your passions to craft opportunities that truly matter, without sacrificing your well-being.
The Portfolio Career Advantage in an AI-Driven World
The traditional career ladder is collapsing. In the last ten years, supporting creatives to change careers, I've seen firsthand how technology has disrupted old models of work. The rise of AI has only accelerated this shift, making adaptability and a wide range of skills essential. A portfolio career - where you pursue multiple projects, roles, or income streams - is a great way to thrive in this new landscape.
Instead of relying on a single role or rigid career path, a portfolio career allows you to build upon your unique mix of skills, passions, and experiences. Whether you're combining freelance work, consulting, creative ventures, or even learning something completely new, this approach gives you a dynamic edge. It’s about playing to your strengths while staying flexible in a rapidly evolving job market.
AI tools can take this even further. They enable faster creation, smarter decision-making, and new opportunities to diversify your income streams. This means that as a creative generalist, you’re not limited to the time you have, the budget you have, or the people willing to help you - you’re now finally able to create a career that is as multi-faceted and innovative as you are.
Why the AI Era Is Perfect for Portfolio Careers
Portfolio careers thrive in the AI era because they emphasize adaptability, creativity, and wide and versatile skill sets. With AI handling repetitive tasks, you can focus on what truly matters -innovating, connecting, and pursuing passions that align with your purpose.
This shift empowers you to build a career that reflects all facets of your identity (finally!), rather than confining you to a singular or specialist path. Whether you’re a writer, designer, entrepreneur, or all three, you now have the tools to create a professional life that evolves with you.
It’s no longer about choosing one thing - it's about exploring everything that you love and that supports your growth and ambition.
Diversification = Security
If one income stream slows, others can fill the gap.AI Increases Productivity
Automation lets you manage multiple ventures without burning out.Faster Experimentation
You can test new ideas quickly without betting your whole career on them.Cross-Industry Resilience
Skills and ideas transfer more easily across fields.
AI as the Portfolio Career Engine
Today’s AI tools turn the once-overwhelming idea of running multiple projects into a realistic plan. Each tool 10x-es your ability to organize, create, and adapt, giving you the freedom to focus on what truly matters. Whether it’s automating repetitive tasks, brainstorming innovative solutions, or analyzing data faster than ever before, AI is the catalyst and skilled team to your creativity and resourcefulness.
Instead of feeling stretched thin, you can feel empowered to thrive in multiple areas at once. Imagine using a writing assistant to craft blogs for one venture while simultaneously using analytics tools to refine strategies for another.
With AI as your partner, your portfolio career isn’t just a possibility - it’s an exciting, attainable reality where you dictate the direction, pace, and scale of your success. Here are a few of my favorite tools:
n8n.io – Automates cross-project admin.
Jasper.ai – Creates content for different business arms.
Gemini - Generates images and videos content in minutes.
RunwayML – Produces video & design assets for varied offers.
NotebookLM - Creates Ideal Client Personas and perfect copy to attract them.
Lovable.dev – Builds MVPs fast for new ideas.
These tools mean you can run a consulting gig, a digital product shop, and a creative agency - all as one person.
Case Study: My AI-Powered Portfolio
While I'm building CoachMila.ai, I'm also running client sessions, developing a coaching quality seal, working on an AI Accelerator Program, leading a coaching marketplace, while studying for a Master's in Management. AI made it possible to:
Built a low-cost and fast MVP using vibe coding.
Streamline administrative tasks that used to take hours, allowing me to focus on creative and strategic work.
Create personalized, high-quality materials for clients in minutes, not days.
Manage multiple projects simultaneously without feeling overwhelmed.
Automate lead generation so I can focus on building genuine connections with potential partners and investors.
By maximizing my adoption and use of AI, I’ve discovered how to work smarter, not harder.
This isn’t about replacing human effort but amplifying it. With AI as my co-pilot, I’ve felt a new sense of freedom to dream bigger and explore ideas I once thought were out of reach - simply because I didn't have the time or money to "do it all."
Inside the AI-Powered Portfolio Career Program
Seeing my own portfolio career and creative generalist ideas take off so much is what inspired me to create the AI-Powered Portfolio Career Program. I wanted to share what I’ve learned and help others reach their portfolio potential, too.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a creative professional, or someone simply looking to reshape their career path, this program is designed to empower you with actionable strategies and insights. Together, we’ll discover how to use AI to free up your time, double down on your talents, and open doors to opportunities you never imagined possible.
Over 6 months, this program helps creative generalists:
Identify their most valuable skill combinations
Design offers that scale across multiple markets
Build AI workflows for consistency and speed
Develop resilience against market shifts
It’s not just career planning - it’s career architecture.
Imagine waking up every day with a clear sense of direction, knowing that your unique blend of skills and creativity is not just valued but thriving in a market you’ve shaped for yourself. This program empowers you to take control of your career, harnessing the immense potential of AI not as a replacement but as an extension of your capabilities. You’ll feel confident navigating change, tackling challenges with innovative solutions, and uncovering possibilities that align with your personal vision. And, you'll become an AI expert in the process!
Action Plan to Start Your AI-Driven Portfolio Career
If you've been thinking about integrating AI into your work because you know it's time to future-proof your career, then this action plan is designed for you.
The first step is simple yet powerful - identify how AI can complement your unique skills and passions. Reflect on your experiences and consider how AI tools can maximize your strengths, whether that's automating repetitive tasks, analyzing complex data, or sparking fresh creativity.
Next, start experimenting. Choose a couple of accessible AI tools and integrate them into small, manageable projects. This hands-on exploration will uncover new insights and build your confidence.
From here, you'll be ready to outline your goals and take deliberate steps toward building a career portfolio that showcases your expertise in blending human ingenuity with AI innovation. Remember, this is your chance to stand out in a world that's increasingly shaped by technology - embrace it with enthusiasm and a clear sense of purpose.
AI can feel like a threat to traditional jobs. But for those who design portfolio careers, it’s a gift - multiplying options, improving efficiency and productivity, and making creative independence more possible than ever.
Go for it!
Are You Ready to Start Your AI-Driven Portfolio Career?
Imagine a career where you’re in control - combining your passions, exploring creative possibilities, and turning AI into your unfair advantage. Yes, it’s possible to design a portfolio career that thrives in the age of innovation.
Don’t wait for the future to happen to you - create it. Start your transformation today and book your free session. Together, we’ll design a portfolio career that’s uniquely yours, supported by smart technology and a confident vision for success.
Building Your Creative Income: 7 Practical Steps for Financial Freedom with a Portfolio Career.
Even though the days of job security and one job for life are long gone, the idea of it being replaced by a career solely focused on one area of expertise is also becoming outdated. Especially with the rise of the gig economy, more and more people are turning to portfolio careers to build their creative income. A portfolio career means having multiple sources of income, often in different industries or areas of work, rather than relying on one full-time job.
For many creatives, especially generalists, this type of career may already be familiar - working on freelance projects while having a part-time job or taking on various side gigs. But with careful planning and deliberate action, a portfolio career can be a sustainable and fulfilling way to build your creative income and achieve financial freedom while doing work you love!
In this article, I share insights from working with creatives (for a decade now!) on how to create a portfolio career that works for you. I hope it will inspire you to follow your career dreams and embrace the opportunities that come from having a portfolio career.
Embrace your unique generalist nature
As a creative generalist or someone with many interests and passions, the traditional linear career path with a single job and source of income often leads to bore-out, especially if your talents are being underutilized (which they usually are). Instead, a portfolio career combines multiple income streams aligned with your passions, interests, talents, and skills. That's the amazing part! But, however exciting this approach can be, it often feels financially precarious.
Many of my clients have expressed concerns about financial stability while pursuing their creative endeavors, a recurring theme when onboarding new coaching clients. They might feel like they don't have their "shit together." Or they might have innovative business ideas they're unsure how to market, like this wonderful creative who has been in wine and restaurant management before having a child and who came to me while working on a nut-free energy bar recipe geared towards new mothers, also considering an app focused on mother care. A typical way for a creative generalist to connect seemingly unconnected dots or, as I like to say it, discover their unique "glue."
7 Practical steps for financial freedom with a portfolio career
As a creative (generalist) and entrepreneur, building a multi-source income stream is crucial for long-term financial sustainability while allowing you the freedom to do work that truly fills you up. Here are some practical steps that worked for me and many of my clients to help you create your own thriving financial foundation:
#1 Map your talents and skills, and learn to appreciate them
As someone with a creative and entrepreneurial mind, you have many skills, talents, and interests. That's a given. But being clear about what you're good at and enjoy doing isn't always straightforward. Make a comprehensive list of everything you can do, from your professional experience to your hobbies and creative pursuits.
Consider how each of these can potentially generate income or how you could combine a few into a career. Don't underestimate the value of seemingly unrelated skills or interests; they can often be combined in unique and profitable ways.
#2 Diversify your income streams strategically
Multiple income streams are the cornerstone of a portfolio career and decide its financial sustainability. This can include freelance work, a part-time job (or "good enough job," as Barbara Sher calls it in her book Wishcraft), selling creative or online products, teaching workshops, consulting and coaching, or developing online courses.
The goal is to create a mix that provides both a stable base and opportunities for growth. Consider how you can use your different skills, talents, and interests to create a mix of income streams for your portfolio career.
#3 Understand that fear is the dreamkiller
As you start building a portfolio career, or if you've been thinking about what you could do for a long time but haven't taken any substantial action toward one or more ideas yet (hello, unfinished projects on the shelf, I see you!), it's important to acknowledge and understand that fear can be a major roadblock. Fear of failure, rejection, and not being good enough are all common fears that can hold us back from pursuing our dreams. The insidious thing is that fear often doesn't show up as fear. It disguises itself in very well-packaged excuses, such as "I don't have enough time" or "I'm not ready yet," or as perfectionism, people-pleasing, or procrastination.
It's important to remember that fear is just a feeling, and feelings can be managed and overcome. It's about shifting your perspective and learning to work through your fears.
#4 Price your services and products high enough
Many creatives struggle with pricing their work. Remember that your unique mix of skills and perspective brings significant value. Research industry rates, but also consider the value you bring to each project. As mentioned in my book "Get Unstuck!," building a business that feels right and using marketing practices aligned with your values is important.
Don't undervalue your expertise out of fear of not being good enough. Instead, price your services and products high enough to reflect the value you bring to the table. It is important for you to get fair compensation for your work and to help you build a sustainable business model.
#5 Collaborate and network with other creatives
Collaboration and networking are key components to any business or career, but as a creative generalist, I find it's more important than ever. We are still living in a world of specialists, and that can erode our self-worth and talk us out of our portfolio career dreams. By connecting with other creatives, you can expand your skills and knowledge through learning from others. Additionally, collaborating with others allows you to work on projects that may have been too large or complex to take on alone or that you were too scared to even start with!
My exclusive community, "Gen Spark," is here to do just that: facilitate collaboration and connection among creative generalists. Click here to discover more and become a member.
#6 Manage your finances mindfully
Financial management is key to making your portfolio career work - or any career or business for that matter. After working with creative entrepreneurs and generalists for a decade, I know that the admin and financial side of their careers and business are often not their strong suit. However, this doesn't have to stop you from being successful. With mindful and intentional financial management, you can stay on top of your finances and make good decisions about your career and business.
To start, it's important to understand the basics of personal finance, such as budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt. This will give you a solid foundation for making financial decisions that align with your goals and values. I know it sounds scary, but you can do it!
#7 Never stop learning and growing
Continuously learning and developing your skills is important for a successful portfolio career. But one thing that is more important than any other is learning how your creative brain works. That is why psychoeducation into the uniqueness of your creative brain is part of my work with my clients.
How good is it to know how you should do something if you are unaware of how your brain actually operates? Understanding your strengths and weaknesses and how to work with them can be a game changer in your portfolio career.
Building your creative income as a creative generalist takes time, intention, strategic planning, and an unwavering belief in the value and uniqueness of your multifaceted self. But once you have laid the foundation and established a solid portfolio career, the possibilities are endless.
Ready to take real steps towards building your own thriving portfolio career?
Are you done with being confined to just one career path and ready to embrace your multi-passionate nature? Are you tired of feeling like you have to choose between your different passions and skills?
I can help! In fact, liberating creative generalists from the 9 to 5 is what I do best. Let's discuss your unique skills, passions, and financial goals and start mapping out a strategy for your portfolio career.