Job Envy: The Creative Generalist's Struggle and How to Turn It into Your Biggest Advantage
As a multi-passionate, creative individual, have you ever found yourself scrolling through LinkedIn, pausing on a "perfect" job title for a specialist, and feeling a pang (or two or three) of envy? You see someone thriving in a singular, focused role – perhaps a "Senior AI Developer" or an award-winning "Cupcake Master" – and for a fleeting moment, you think, "That's it! That's what I should be doing!" This phenomenon, known as "job envy," is, unfortunately, a common experience for creative generalists.
We live in a world that largely expects us to choose one thing and become experts in it. Growing up, I realised early that this wasn't going to work for me. Creative generalists, also known as multi-passionate creatives, polymaths, or multipotentialites, are wired differently; we need to combine various interests and quickly become bored once we've figured something out. Sound familiar?
This can lead to a "patchwork of jobs" or a history of starting new projects only to abandon them when the initial excitement fades. When you see someone seemingly "sticking with it" and achieving conventional success, it's natural for that inner critic to show up, reminding you of your own perceived lack of focus or commitment.
However, this envy is often a fleeting emotion because deep down, you know that a single, narrow path wouldn't truly fulfill you in the long run. What you're truly envying isn't the entire job, but rather specific aspects of it – the knowledge, the skills, the experience, or even just the sense of clear direction that specialist seems to possess. You’re not alone in feeling like a "mish-mash of random half-baked talents" despite having expensive degrees or diverse experiences. Many creative generalists I support feel misunderstood, out of place, and never good enough when compared to society's standards of success.
The good news is, you can transform this job envy from a source of self-doubt into a powerful catalyst for your own growth and clarity. Here are three strategies that have worked for me and many of my clients to use job envy to your advantage:
1. Deconstruct the envy: figure out what you really like about this job
Instead of wanting the entire job, break down what specifically attracts you to it. What is it about that "Senior AI Developer" role that sparks your interest? Why would you like to be celebrated at a Cupcake Master? Is it the challenge of solving complex technical problems, the intellectual stimulation of working with cutting-edge technology, or the delight of seeing people truly enjoy your delirious creations? For a creative generalist, the desire is often for the knowledge or skill associated with that role, as well as the recognition of it by others, rather than a long-term commitment to a singular career path (as that, in fact, is our kryptonite).
Action: When you feel a pang of job envy, pause and ask yourself:
What specific skills or knowledge does this person have that I'd love to acquire?
What problems do they solve, or what impact do they make, that resonates with me?
What aspects of their daily work excite me, even if the overall job doesn't?
By doing this, you're not trying to become that person; you're extracting valuable "ingredients" for your own unique "portfolio career". You're combining instead of choosing, my favorite thing to do when I'm helping a client create their dream career.
For example, a multi-passionate creative might be fascinated by how an AI developer builds chatbots and workflow automation and realize they want to learn those specific skills to differentiate themselves and teach others (like I currently am), not necessarily become a full-time developer. This clarifies your focus, helping you combine different interests into a meaningful whole (as I share in my book, you're the glue binding them all together, after all), that aligns with your innate curiosity and desire (or, should I say, need) for learning.
2. Disrupt your limiting beliefs and inherited dreams
Job envy often triggers deeply ingrained limiting beliefs and "inherited dreams," as I like to call dreams that we were given through our upbringing and experiences, about what success should look like. You might be subconsciously trying to fit into a blueprint of success that isn't yours, leading to feelings of not fitting in and frustration. Your inner critic might tell you, "This has been done before, it's not original," or "You're not confident enough to be an entrepreneur". These thoughts stem from a "fixed mindset" that resists change and follows conventional paths.
Action: Use job envy as a "disruptive strategy" to challenge these mental blocks:
When your inner critic shows up, question it. Where do these beliefs come from? Are they truly yours, or are they messages you've internalized from childhood, society, or past experiences?
Apply the "Solomon Effect": view your situation from an outside perspective. Ask yourself, "What would I tell my best friend or my child if they shared the same envy or self-doubt?"
Accept that there’s nothing "wrong" with you; you might have simply been "misdiagnosed" by a world that doesn't fully understand your multi-passionate brain. This shift in mindset can help you see new opportunities in all these jobs you'd like to have (without actually leaving your current job for them) and help you to finally feel like you belong (which you do!).
3. Cultivate grit and consistent action towards your vision
The comparison trap, especially professionally, can lead to inaction, leaving you "stuck" in an overthinking loop where you analyze every option but - drumrolls please, do absolutely nothing. You might find yourself "trying everything" but "not sticking to anything". Overcoming job envy requires transforming that envy into something constructive: concrete action, even if it feels uncomfortable.
Action: Move from contemplation to execution:
Question the "One Thing" Myth: Society often pushes us to choose one thing. But as a creative generalist, you don't have to. Allow yourself to have multiple job interests and weave them together.
Celebrate your unconventional path: Your career or work history might resemble a game of Snakes and Ladders, with twists and turns. This reflects the uniqueness of your brain and passions, not a flaw to be ashamed of! Don't compare yourself to the linear paths of specialists.
Recognize the growing value of generalists in the workplace: Luckily, things are improving, and more and more companies are hiring for skills and talents, actively looking for generalists who can juggle many hats and create bridges between ideas, projects, and people.
Remember, your diverse experiences and wide-ranging interests are your SUPERPOWER. They allow you to see possibilities and connections that others often overlook. The path you have walked, with all its twists and turns, is what makes you uniquely capable of tackling challenges with creativity, innovation, and resilience.
Own your story, lean into your strengths, and trust that your vast t-shaped breadth of knowledge and adaptability are exactly what the world needs. You are not an exception - you are an asset. Always believe in the power of being unapologetically, authentically you. I know I do!
Ready to Turn Your Multi-Passionate Job Envy into an Advantage?
Feeling stuck and unsure of how to channel your many passions into a fulfilling career can be overwhelming but here's the truth – your multi-passionate nature is a gift, not a burden.
If you're tired of just thinking about your goals and want to start working on them, let's connect for a free one-on-one coaching session. Together, we can find your own answers, chunk up your big projects, and help you find the flow and confidence to build the life and career you truly want.
