Career & Business Coaching Blog.
Inspiration and tips for multi-passionate creatives & entrepreneurs.
15 Dream Jobs For Creative Generalists (aka Multi-Passionate Creatives)
A creative generalist (also known as a polymath, a jack-or-jill-of-all-trades, a multipotentialite, a multi-passionate creative, or even a Da Vinci man or woman) is someone who has diverse skills, interests, and knowledge. They see connections between unrelated things and solve problems in unconventional ways. Because of their unique brain wiring, they need a lot of variety to remain engaged in their work. It's vital for them to feel challenged to learn new things, utilizes their skills, and that their job is meaningful and serves a greater purpose than themselves.
My definition of creative generalists reads like this:
Curious and adventurous dabbler, explorer, and fast learner - someone with many talents, broad interests, and a hunger for knowledge across many topics. A natural program-solver and bridge-builder with thicker skin for failure and a capacity for change. Doesn't fit into a specific career path. Easily bored. Loves to get started over and over again. Always in for a challenge.
Creative generalists can bring a unique perspective and innovative thinking to any job, but some careers are especially suited to their skill set and to keep them happy and interested.
Here are 15 dream jobs that creative generalists might consider:
1. Art Director: If you want to work in a field that requires diverse artistic and creative expression, this is a great place to start. Art directors create visuals and campaigns for advertisement and branding campaigns, direct photo shoots, and manage visual style guides. They combine various skills to create a cohesive story for their clients. Generalists are particularly suited to be art directors because they can draw on many sources, interests, and talents to create something truly unique.
2. Travel Photographer: If you have many interests and talents, a career as a travel photographer can be gratifying. It's an ideal career for those who love exploring and capturing gorgeous images and learning something new daily. If you don't want to be tied down to one place, need variety in your work, like meeting people and exploring different cultures, and have a knack for photography, this career might be ideal for you.
3. Art Therapist: Combining art, psychology, and emotion, art therapy helps people express themselves through creativity, understand themselves better, and find healing. Art therapists use traditional art-making materials such as paint, clay, ink, and various philosophies of life to guide and counsel their clients. Creative generalists who like helping others can apply their diverse skillset to this field to facilitate healing and help people increase self-awareness and cope with emotional distress.
4. Credit Manager: A credit manager is responsible for managing a business's money flow. This work involves overseeing customer accounts, approving loans, and managing repayment plans. You need to have strong analytical skills to be able to forecast cash flow and make decisions based on financial trends, but also tap into a wide range of topics and can understand different contexts to come up with creative solutions to money-related problems—an ideal career for hungry for knowledge and problem-solving creative generalist.
5. UX/UI Designer: UX (user experience) and UI (user interface) designers combine the technical aspects of design with innovative thinking to create aesthetically pleasing and easy-to-use products. You'll need to think on your feet to solve complex design problems, but you'll be rewarded with the satisfaction of using your skills and ideas to create something new - and of great use to others! It's an excellent career choice for the creative generalist who loves psychology, technology, problem-solving, and building things.
6. Video Producer: From short documentaries to corporate videos, video producers are the people who bring stories to life. Video producers need to be able to write, direct, shoot and edit videos, so a diverse skill set is essential. Creative generalists with an eye for detail and a passion for storytelling can easily find their place in this fast-growing field, where their technical and artistic skills can shine.
7. Copywriter / Ghostwriter: Copywriting is about creating compelling content that grabs attention and drives action. A creative generalist with a good grasp of language and the ability to dig into and learn about new subjects can make a great copywriter. The same is true for ghostwriters, who write content for books, speeches, or articles but are not credited for it. Both professions are perfect for those who can't live without learning something new and crafting stories that stand out.
8. Digital Marketer: Digital marketing requires knowledge of both digital media and traditional marketing principles, making it ideal for creative generalists who have experience with both. They need a wide range of interests and skills to juggle all the aspects of digital campaigns, from content creation and strategy to analytics. A digital marketer brings together words, images, videos, and other content to create effective campaigns that reach their target audience.
9. Event Planner: For the creative generalist who thrives on imagination and loves planning and organizing events, this career is a great way to combine their passion for people, design, and coordination. Event planners create unique experiences that capture an audience's attention; they need to be creative, understand their client's wishes, think outside the box, and handle all the technical details involved in event planning. This career is perfect for those who don't want two days to look the same.
10. Business Consultant: A business consultant offers guidance for businesses on a variety of topics, such as marketing, finance, operations, and strategy. Creative generalists with a broad range of knowledge and savvy sales and business experience make excellent consultants, as they can combine their expertise and hunger for knowledge with creative problem-solving skills to help businesses reach their goals. This career is perfect for those who want to use their creativity, need for variety, and ability to understand complex concepts and experiences to help others succeed.
9. Video Game Designer: If you have a lot of imagination and love technology and telling or creating stories, this could be your career. As a video game designer, you'll plan out levels, design characters, develop storylines and write code that makes the game playable. Strong computer programming skills are a plus for this job, although this is undoubtedly something generalists can learn as they go (don't you love your brain!). Applying your understanding of how stories are created, worlds are built, and how people interact with technology will keep this job interesting.
10. Social Media Manager: If you are passionate about staying up-to-date on the latest trends in social media, becoming a social media manager could be the perfect fit. As a social media manager, you'll need to stay on top of the newest platforms and technological trends and create engaging content that will draw people in and encourage them to take action. Good writing skills, an eye for design and detail, and an understanding of how different platforms work are essential for this job. Never a dull day in the office for creative generalists here!
11. Project Manager: Project managers are the people who oversee and coordinate complex projects. It's a versatile and rewarding job for creative generalists who fear boredom like Superman feared kryptonite. It does require analytical thinking and spreadsheet and detailed planning, so it won't be for all generalists, even though their skills come in handy in this job, as project managers need to be able to understand a wide range of topics, communicate effectively and juggle multiple tasks. If you like solving puzzles and working with people, then project management might be the career for you!
12. Brand Strategist: A brand strategist is responsible for developing strategies that help build a company's image and reputation. You will be responsible for researching the competition, identifying target markets, and devising creative campaigns that capture attention. For this job, you'll need good analytical skills, excellent communication abilities to effectively convey the strategy to stakeholders, and a love for design and storytelling.
13. Software Developer: Software development can be a great career choice for the creative generalist who thrives on challenges. This job involves coding, troubleshooting, and debugging software applications for various platforms. You'll need strong problem-solving skills to create the software your client or employer will need. A degree in computer science or a related field is handy. However, many companies today teach you the skills you'll need on the job. Software development is an excellent career for those who like the challenge of tackling tough problems!
14. Animator/VFX Artist: An animator is responsible for bringing characters and stories to life through motion graphics or 3D animations. Working as an animator requires understanding how people interact with visuals and technical skills in animation software. Additionally, VFX artists create special effects in videos and films, so knowledge of video editing software is also necessary. Staying on top of new trends and techniques will help you stay ahead in this field.
15. Entrepreneur: Of all the careers creative generalists can go for, one of the most rewarding and suited for their particular strengths and creative needs is to become an entrepreneur. This career path involves developing a unique idea for a product or service, creating a business plan, launching the business, managing resources, and developing strategies for growth. Entrepreneurship requires creativity, learning new things, being able to wear different hats, ambition, dedication, and problem-solving skills to succeed.
A note about portfolio careers
All of these careers are perfect options for creative generalists who want to use their broad range of knowledge and experience to make something new and innovative. For some generalists, however, even these multi-skill careers still feel too limiting. This may be the case for you. If so, you're not alone.
Many generalists don't have one but at least two such careers they juggle or work where they combine the exciting bits of different jobs into what is known as a portfolio career: a career that's tailored to you and your passions; and encompasses a multitude of areas, skills, and interests.
The key with portfolio careers is to find a way to make all of your different interests fit into one coherent career and ensure that what you need to be happy - variety, purpose, challenges, and fun - are present. Building the foundation of a portfolio career can take some time, but if you have the dedication and drive, it's a gratifying experience and something you can achieve!
I know because helping generalists find their dream job or create their dream careers is what I do. If you'd like to explore this, don't hesitate to get in touch! Plus, you can find many remote job opportunities for perfect creative generalist jobs like software, back-end, and junior front-end developers on platforms like Jooble.
Feel overwhelmed by your many talents and interests?
I can help you make sense of it all. As a professional coach, I provide guidance for creatives and entrepreneurs to find their dream job or develop their unique portfolio career from their diverse range of experiences, skills, knowledge and passions.
Imagine how great it would feel to finally create the lifestyle that allows you to do work you love while living the creative and entrepreneurial life of your dreams.
How to Overcome The Fear of Choice: 5 Tips For Those With Too Many Ideas And Interests
When you're a creative generalist (multi-passionate creative) or someone with many passions and interests, the fear of choice can be a real challenge. How do you know what the "right" thing to do is? How do you know which idea to pursue? How do you know which direction to take your career? This article will explore how to overcome the fear of choice and make decisions without feeling paralyzed by all of your options.
Not choosing is also a choice.
The first step is to understand that you don't have to choose forever. It's something I took a long time to learn and probably one of the most freeing things I teach my clients. If you're thinking about starting a new project but are afraid to commit, remember that you can always change your mind later. You really - really - never choose anything forever.
The second step is to understand that you can combine interests and ideas. It's one of the things that makes creative generalists so special. We can see connections between disparate things and bring them together into something new. So if you're feeling pulled in two different directions, try combining them into something new instead of choosing one or the other.
The third step is to choose temporarily. It goes hand-in-hand with the understanding that you can always change your mind later. When making a decision, remember that it doesn't have to be forever. You can always try something new later. It takes the pressure off of making a "perfect" decision and allows you to experiment without fear.
It's about the choice that's right for you at the moment.
When creative generalists are confronted with a choice, many are overwhelmed to the point that they do nothing anymore. But the truth is: that no choice is also a choice. If you don't decide, someone else will do it for you. So instead of being afraid of making the wrong choice, embrace your many passions and use them to your advantage. You never know where they might lead you. Remember, there is no "right" thing to do - there is only what is right for you at this moment. And even that can change tomorrow. So don't be afraid to experiment, combine interests, and change your mind. It's all part of the creative process!
Do you struggle with the fear of choice? Here are five tips to help you overcome indecision and move forward with your life.
Write down everything that interests you and look for the common themes. Are there things you can combine or that build upon each other? For example, if you're interested in fashion and design, you could pursue a career in fashion journalism or start your clothing line.
Look at your interests from different angles. What are the skills you have that are transferable to other contexts or environments? Instead of thinking in terms of knowledge gaps, what are your knowledge strengths? Remember that you don't have to choose just one thing. You can have multiple interests and pursue some of them simultaneously. The key is to be flexible and open-minded and not get too attached to any one idea.
By understanding your values, you can start to narrow down your options. What is most important to you? Is it creative expression? Making a difference in the world? Financial security? Once you know what you value most, you can begin to make choices that align with those values.
Try not to get caught up in the details. It's easy to get bogged down in all of the "what ifs" and "buts" when making a decision. But at the end of the day, there is usually more than one correct answer. So don't overthink it – go with your gut and trust that you will figure out the details along the way.
Sometimes, the best way to make a decision is to weigh your options and see which one feels right. But don't get too caught up in this process – at the end of the day, you must go with your gut feeling. So if that means combining things that look different to everyone else but make sense to you, go for it! Make a list of pros and cons for each option, but don't agonize over it.
Making decisions can be challenging, but it's important to remember that you don't have to choose forever. You can always change your mind later. So embrace your many passions and use them to your advantage. You never know where they might lead you. So go ahead and let your inner creative generalist out! Don't let the fear of choice keep you from pursuing your dreams.
Feeling lost in your career?
Overwhelmed by all your interests and the things you "could be doing"?
You're not alone. A lot of people feel stuck at some point in their careers. That's where private coaching can help. I will help you get unstuck and figure out what you want to do next.
Imagine having a job that combines all your passions into one cohesive career. It's possible, I see it every day in my practice, and I can help make it happen for you. We'll work together to find the best way to use your skills and talents, so you can finally be happy with your work life.
10 Advantages of Being a Creative Generalist in a Specialist World
In general, people are encouraged to specialize. In a world where everything is specialized and compartmentalized, generalists often feel like the odd ones out. As a multi-passionate creative myself, I've lived through the agony and pressure of a world that wanted me to 'find one thing and stick to it.' It took me a long time to figure out I could never live up to the specialist expectation because that's not who I am.
Like other creative generalists, I need variety, a sense of purpose, a mix of interests and passions to keep me going. I have to be able to learn something new (almost) all the time, and my attention does move from one thing to another faster than I can take a breath sometimes. For the most significant part of my life, I thought this was a problem. Until I realized it was my strength.
In this article, we'll discuss the advantages of being a generalist or multi-passionate creative in an increasingly specialist world and how what might look like weaknesses on the surface are your superpowers.
It's a great time to be a creative generalist
“If you're creative generalist, it's a great time to be alive.” - David Epstein.
In his book Range: How Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, David Epstein documents how generalists are more necessary than before today, in an era that demands more and more specialization. Creatives who have mastered multiple skills can now leverage these abilities in ways like never before, generating new opportunities for themselves and their clients. It's a brave new world for creative generalists - but we've never had it so good!
To add some weight to this point, here are 10 advantages of being a creative generalist in a specialized world today:
#1 Innovation
Creative generalists can be more innovative and creative than their specialized peers because they have a more comprehensive range of interests and skills to bring together. They are great at connecting seemingly wholly different pieces of information and pull from a wide variety of life and career experiences.#2 Curiosity and adventure
Creative generalists are often more curious and adventurous than other types of people because they're used to exploring uncharted territory, with thicker skin for failure and a capacity to be a beginner over and over again. This gives them (us) a competitive advantage in many technological and business fields today that require finding new ways to approach problems or the market.#3 Employability
Multi-passionate creatives (aka creative generalists) can work in multiple fields thanks to their incredible hunger for knowledge and wide range of interests, translating into broader employment opportunities. The term "creative generalist" has even become a category on job sites now. Companies are looking for you at this very moment!#4 Leadership
Creative generalists make better leaders because they can see things from multiple angles. Because of their natural curiosity, they have an easier time stepping into someone else's shoes and understanding all stakeholders' needs involved in a project or team.#5 Building bridges
Creative generalists can work across disciplines and have a general understanding of the workings of different industries because they're interested in so many things. As a result, they're great bridge builders who bring together people and ideas who would probably never meet if it wasn't for them.#6 Problem solving
Multi-passionate creatives can draw from past experiences when solving problems or facing challenges in new circumstances. Because they have such an active, dot-connecting mind, they love challenges, which makes them my favorite type of natural problem solvers. They're more challenge seekers than problem solvers. To them, everything is possible, they need to figure out how to do it, and that's what drives them.#7 Diplomacy
Creative generalists may be more adept at navigating ambiguous situations than specialists because they're used to seeing things through many lenses. With a natural inclination to try and understand people, conditions, and contexts, creative generalists tend to find some truth in pretty much everything. It might not be the best position when you need to take a firm stance on something, but it sure makes you a hell of a diplomat at the dinner table or in the meeting room.#8 Adaptability to change
Creative generalists are more easily adaptable to change than specialists and have a bigger capacity for resilience. Because they're used to juggling multiple jobs or interests simultaneously, switching between things doesn't require as much effort to them as to someone who's only focused on one thing. That's not to say that all creative generalists bend like leaves in the wind, but we do tend to adapt quickly to new environments, ideas, and people.#9 Fast learners
Creative generalists might not go in-depth into one specific area, but that might just be the advantage they need to be better able to see the long game, which can help their career prospects in a world that changes rapidly. Research shows that creative generalists learn faster and remember things longer because they switch between interests and return to them more often, instead of focusing on one thing for too long.#10 A badge of honor
Creative generalism is not a dirty word anymore - in fact, it's seen as more of an asset than ever before. Be proud to wear it!
There are many other advantages to being a creative generalist, and in an increasingly specialist world, they outweigh any drawbacks that may exist more and more. If you have multiple interests or passions but feel like your options are limited - don't despair.
Every day there are more ways (and reasons) creative generalists can thrive in a specialist world. Whether you're generalizing for your professional life or personal hobbies, there is a world of opportunities waiting for you out there - so get creative!
Do you feel like your interests are all over the place?
You're not alone. Many people have a hard time figuring out how to make their many interests work together. It can be frustrating and confusing. I help creative generalists figure out what they want to do with their lives and then get them on the path towards making it happen.
If you're ready for a change but don't know where to start, I can help you find clarity so that you can move forward confidently and successfully toward your goals. Let me guide you through my unique 5-step process so that you can create the career or business of your dreams!
How to Answer the "What Do You Do?" Question as a Creative Generalist
"What do you do?" must be the question that creatives (and generalists) dread more than anything else in the world. It's a difficult question to answer for them because of the many job titles, careers, and responsibilities most multi-passionate creatives can have, not to mention all the additional interests and passions. While there isn't any perfect answer for this common question, it may be helpful to have some strategies when asked.
Most job descriptions are straightforward. You work at a company, and you do X job for them. But what if you're not one of those people? What if you have multiple interests, or your job description is more general? If that sounds like you, then it's time to learn to answer the question, "What do you do?"
In this article, we'll explore three approaches that might help ease the pain of answering the question in the first place. I mean, how do you put a multidimensional human being with a million ideas and interests onto a tiny square business card?
#1 Who's asking, and why?
"So, what do you do?" is an essential question at any networking event, but it can be challenging to summarise it for someone you don't know, especially if you have many interests. Who is asking you? And what are they looking for in your answer? It can help to know what to say.
The person you're talking to might be a potential employer or business partner, so they're just trying to understand your work from that angle. In this case, it's best to keep the response professional and focused on what you do that might fit with what they're looking for. Never mind your other jobs or interests. You don't need to share the fullness of who you are. It might be better not to share too much to avoid confusing those without an extraordinary brain like yours.
Perhaps you're talking to someone who seems interested in more than just your job title. Again, depending on where you are and who you're talking to, you might decide to share a little more about the multitude that you are.
Just remember you're allowed to answer this question the way you feel, and it can vary from occasion to occasion and from person to person.
You don't owe anyone an elevator pitch about who you are and what you do. In fact, by adding variety into how you answer this question, you're remaining true to the multi-passionate creative that you are!
#2 The Instagram bio approach
This one is pretty familiar to creatives and generalists: the teeny tiny Instagram bio. How to summarise what you do in 150 characters or less? Impossible, you think. Well, most of us multi-passionate creatives reach a point - after much agony and turmoil - where we're OK with it being impossible. Why? Because it lessens the pressure of coming up with a bio that covers all our things! There aren't enough characters to do that anyway!
So how to use the Instagram bio approach to answer the "What do you do?" question? Share your favorite snippers of who you are: the things that excite, inspire, or interest you in some way, and then offer to tell them more about it if they're interested! In this scenario, "What do you do?" becomes a conversation starter rather than an elevator pitch.
The key is being clear about what you want to share and what you don't. Professional contacts may not need to know everything about how your imagination works, but if they're interested in hearing more, then that's a perfect time!
This approach is also great when encountering new people because it allows them to get to know you without feeling like they need to know everything.
Blogging is one of my passions, so depending on context and who's asking, I might say, "I blog about creativity." If the person I'm talking to works as an editor or writer, they might be interested in blogging, and we could talk more about it. If not, I can tell them that too - there's no need to be perfect or cover all my bases.
#3 The "But what do you do?" reply
Another way to get out of the "What do you do?" conundrum is by answering that question with a question.
This is a fun and playful way to reply that clarifies any uncertainty about what would be best to share about you. It also has the bonus of possibly leading to an inspiring conversation or a discovery of shared interests!
Here are a few ways to return the question with a question:
I'd love to share more about what I do with you, but I'm too curious. Would you mind telling me a bit more about you first?
Well, I do a few things. Perhaps it would be easier to share if I knew a bit more about you first. Would you mind telling me what you're passionate about?
It's hard to define myself as one thing, but that also means there are always new things for me to explore. Would you mind telling me a bit more about you first?
Finally, I want you to know that whatever the context, how the person you're talking to responds will tell you a lot about whether or not to pursue the relationship further. Both professionally and personally, if the person isn't excited or interested in what you have to say or downright responds negatively, it might be best to move on.
There's no correct answer to this question - share what feels right for you! Remember that you don't owe anyone any explanation about who you are and what you like to do. It doesn't matter if you're a job seeker, a business owner, or an artist.
Are you wondering about what to do next?
Do you have too many interests and don't know how to make them work together? If so, you're not alone. There are so many creative generalists out there with the same issue.
Luckily, it doesn't need to be this way! There are tools for making sense of all these different interests and skills, like my private coaching services, which help you find your "one amazing thing" (or two or three) because you know what: you don't have to choose!
Multi-passionate Creatives: Why our Flakiness Is a Symptom, Not a Flaw
As multi-passionate creatives we're often told we're flaky, we can't stick to anything long enough to make it work. But the truth is, our flakiness is not a flaw but the symptom of a bigger problem.
As multi-passionate creatives we're forced into an education system that doesn't let our creativity flourish and where our many interests have to be put on hold. On the outside we do as we're told, but inside we rebel against a system that isn't made for us and we refuse to choose. It might not be obvious at first, but as time goes on our inner rebellion leaves a trail of unfinished projects on the shelves.
This makes us look flaky. We often stop before others think we're done, or get discouraged by the lack of support we get when we finally have the courage to follow an interest or creative idea!
Flakiness is a symptom, not a flaw.
As multi-passionate creatives, we're flaky because deep inside our needs for creativity, freedom and self-expression are ignored.
Growing up, I always thought that I would eventually be okay with having to choose one thing over all the others. But as time went by and my creativity became more and more expansive, it became increasingly difficult for me to choose just one thing to focus on.
Every day I thought about how much of myself was lost in all these pursuits: a quarter of me here, a third of me there. I felt so scattered because of how I thought I needed to approach projects, and the time I was supposed to spent on them.
There are so many things that I want to do - from writing to teaching to coaching to getting new and inspiring businesses of the ground.
If I had to choose the "one" thing, I wouldn't be able to come up with anything.
Now, I know better.
The problem is not that we can't choose one thing to focus on, it's not that we're flaky - the problem is that there are so many things out there for us to explore and try! We don't need to choose, instead, we need to figure out how to make all of our interests work together into a life that is worth living.
This pressure to choose is why we're flaky.
As multi-passionate creatives, our flakiness is a symptom of a bigger problem that needs to be solved: our hunger for knowledge, our need for diversity, and our unique creativity must be allowed to flourish and every interest must receive the attention we're willing to give it.
Multi-passionate creatives need to be allowed to explore and not be forced to choose.
It starts by learning more about how our brain works and learning the tools that will keep us focused without robbing us of our many interests.
Here's a few tips on how to get started:
Tip #1: Give yourself a creative break: When you feel like quitting on an interest, put it on the shelf for a while first. Sometimes we need a break to get back into the flow of our passions.
Tip #2: Work on what you're enjoying right now: Don't focus only on the things you "need to do". Make time to do the things you enjoy, too. Especially if they don't serve any other purpose than to feed your creative nature.
Tip #3: Cut down on distractions: Turn off your phone or get into another room so you can focus. Even if you have many interests, when working on one leave the others at the door.
Tip #4: Create multi-passionate boundaries: People will always try to tell you what to do. A great way to avoid having to listen to them, is to create what I call strong multi-passionate boundaries. It's OK not to share what you're currently interested in or working on with others. The less they know the better.
Tip #5: Find your magic number: From personal experience and working with hundreds creative entrepreneurs I know that focusing on 3 to 5 projects at a time seems to work well for most multi-passionates. It keeps boredom at bay and is still manageable. What's great about having a number is that you know you can always pick something else later.
Tip #6: Organize your interests and passion projects: Keep track of all your projects in binders, on your computer, in a note on your phone. The more information you gather about all your interests, the more likely you are to take them further. As a bonus, you'll also feel less scattered, which is always great for a mind like ours.
Tip #7: Get creative with flakiness: When you're feeling flaky, go ahead and let an interest slide. Don't worry about what anyone will think or say, because you know best. And remember that you can always come back to the original one later.
I know it sounds so simple! But really, these tips will help you to feel more in control of your many interests and less flaky as a result.
Try them out, you'll see.
If you've ever felt like you have to choose between your many interests, you're not alone.
Through my work I help people find a way to combine their passions and interests and make them work with their career goals. I'll help you explore what's possible so that you can live the life of your dreams.
You deserve more than just an average job or an exhausting business where you're stuck in one place for 40 hours a week. You deserve something fulfilling, challenging, and rewarding. The world needs more people like you who are willing to embrace their unique creative gifts and go after their dreams because you know there is nothing better than living your life doing work you love every day.
Dear Multi-passionate Creative: You Don't Need More Knowledge, You Need More Action
I don't know about you, but I'm a knowledge junkie. I love to learn and gather knowledge on everything from cooking healthy food, being a good writer, and how best to market my company. I'm sure you know someone like me (psst! if you're reading this article, it's probably you): they love knowledge and are never too tired to learn something new, but using that knowledge and taking action on it isn't always that easy.
"I'm not multi-passionate... I'm not even creative!" is a phrase I hear every day in my coaching practice, even though I coach A LOT of them. The confusion is, I'm sure, partly semantic. As a society, what we associate with passion and creativity is not always how these traits express themselves in us. Traditional creative expression is the form of the arts is probably not how creativity shows itself in most multi-passionate creatives! Problem-solving is much more prevalent as a creative trait than, say, being able to handle a paintbrush or writing poetry (although we can love to do that too!).
Knowledge is our one true passion.
In reality, however, knowledge gathering is what most multi-passionate creatives consider to be their one and genuine passion.
You can see knowledge as the fuel for our creativity. It's what feeds the fire of our ideas and helps them grow into something more tangible - if we take action on them, that is. In that sense, it might be more accurate to call us multi-interested than multi-passionate, with knowledge-craving brains that soak up information like sponges.
The problem is: knowledge can also keep you from taking action on your ideas because there's always something else to learn first!
You might feel like you need another degree or certification before you can do something about your dreams - which in turn holds you back from doing anything and being successful.
If that's you, read on for tips on how knowledge gathering can hinder you and what you could do instead.
Tip #1: Knowledge only takes you so far - set yourself a goal for each knowledge-gathering session to take action afterward (e.g., don't just buy the cookbook and read through it, actually learn how to cook one new dish per week).
Tip #2: Keep knowledge gathering sessions short - try to limit your trips down the YouTube or Google rabbit hole to no more than 20 minutes. After each session, take a few minutes to write down what you learned and set an action for yourself. What's the next thing you can DO (not learn!) with what you've just researched, read, watched?
Tip #3: Focus on one thing at a time - if there's too much knowledge coming at you simultaneously, you won't be able to take action on anything. Turn your knowledge parties into their little projects: it's ok to enjoy it, but have an end goal in mind. Always ask yourself what you can do with what you've learned?
Tip #4: Don't feel guilty for indulging in knowledge-gathering - in the end, all knowledge is good knowledge. It won't hold you back forever, and it's good for you to enjoy your passion just for the sake of it sometimes.
Tip #5: Remember there's always knowledge to gather - when you feel anxious about not being able to learn or know all the things, remind yourself that knowledge never goes away and that you can always make up camp at the library later.
The key is not necessarily finding more knowledge but taking some action after learning - no matter how big or small that action might be.
It's ok for a knowledge enthusiast like you to indulge in knowledge for the sake of it, but remember that as multi-passionate creatives, we also love building things and seeing them come to life.
When we love knowledge for knowledge's sake and don't take any steps to follow through with our thoughts and dreams, we're just knowledge hoarders.
It's time to stop only gathering knowledge and start taking action too.
Being a lifelong learner will keep you growing as a person (which is fantastic) but being a lifelong doer will add purpose to your life and help you change the world!
You're passionate about learning and knowledge, but you need help taking action?
I'm a certified business and career coach who can help take your passion for knowledge and your many interests and turn them into something tangible. I'll work with you to create a plan that will get you from where you are now to where you want to be (even if you're not sure where that is) - all while still being able to learn new things!
Let's talk more about what we can do together.