In a society that relies on pigeonholing you into a specific major in college or job in the workplace, becoming a jack of all trades is often frowned upon.
But who wants to be defined by just a single thing they do?
When you spend a lot of time doing something, whether you are paid to do it or not, you are bound to have the urge to try out other things.
Just because you get paid to do something for a living doesn’t mean that your career defines 100% of who you are. Just because something is strictly a hobby that costs you a lot of money each month doesn’t mean that it is a waste of time.
Be A Polymath
What we are all really striving for is a sense of balance. We want to have a stable job that pays well, but that isn’t repetitive or boring. We want to pick up new skills and talents without having to invest 10,000 hours.
We don’t want to have to label ourselves with just a single word that describes our occupation.
- I’m an accountant.
- I’m a nurse.
- I’m a photographer.
In a way, doing this is a bit demeaning. We are more than what our resumés or LinkedIn profiles say we are. We are more than what we do for a living.
We are experts at a bunch of things, not just one.
The Bigger Questions
How does it make you feel when you try to explain all the things you enjoy and like to do?
Does it make you feel like you should be “focusing your energy to maximize your output”? We’re not machines. Not everything needs to be so black and white.
Can you even give an elevator pitch about all the different types of things you do to earn a living?
Or are you a polymath that could be labeled by any number of job titles?
Humans are meant for more than to become just a cog in a machine. We’re more than just a widget or tool that is only good at accomplishing one thing. (Hammer the nail, turn the screw, etc.)
What It Takes
All it takes is determining the talents you want to have, putting in the effort to get good at them, and busting your ass till you get there.
It all boils down to effort. Are you willing to work for it?
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That pretty much nails it – “bust your ass till you get there”.
Glad you agree.
One of the major issues with becoming a ploymath is being able to put in deliberate practice for each subject. How can I put in hours required ot learn piano well if I also need to put in the hours for Japanese, drawing, gardening, soccer, etc? Even if my job includes one or two of these (it doesn’t), there is little time for deliberate practice in an office that wants immedate results.
Even with all of the information available, becoming a polymath is still more within the means of the rich, who have the time and resources, rather than with us regular folk. Yes, there are exceptions, as some find their interests early in life and find a way to work toward them.
Not that any of these excuses would stop us from trying. Right, fellow readers?
I absolutely don’t agree that only the rich can have multiple interests. Part of the point is that you do what you love and don’t even try to be world class at everything.
Polymath, as a term, is limiting and intimidating, I think. I coined the term the Leonardo Trait, and am putting the finishing touches on the third edition of the book by that name. I wrote the book, typeset it and designed the cover, as well as the design for the blog I’m creating in the Start a Blog That Matters course.
Being a Leonardo, as I prefer to call us, doesn’t require financial freedom. It does require the willingness to be all of who you are.
Thanks for the post Caleb.
Angie Dixon
I like it! And I agree that while finances may speed up the process, enough drive can take you where you want to go.
Hey Matt,
Thanks for your feedback and comment. While I agree with you that “the rich” might not have to work and therefore would have more time or financial resources to allow them more access to becoming a polymath, with so many free and inexpensive resources available online these days (YouTube, Lynda.com, etc.) I think that anyone without enough drive can get good at what they want to these days.
Cheers!
As a fellow polymath, this post makes me very happy!
Caleb, have you read the book Refuse to Choose by Barbara Sher? It’s all about being a polymath/scanner/renaissance person, and it has great tips on how to balance multiple interests.
– Sarah, an artist, jewelry maker, hula hooper, amateur chef, and writer
Hey Sarah,
No, I haven’t read that book, but just added it to my wish list.
Have you read The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World by A.J. Jacobs? Very similar book.
Cheers!
About a month ago, inspired by a post on EE, I wrote this post:
Becoming A Polymath: My Personal Challenge
http://kaizenjournaling.com/becomingapolymath/
I am happy to say, my Polymath challenge continues.
Love the post Dolly and how you outline the exact things you want to become a polymath in.
I’ve done a similar exercise privately, but congrats on putting it all out there publicly.