04/03/2025
Do you have a lot of things on your mind about your career plans, life plans or a passion project? Could you consider yourself as one of those called 'multipotentialities'?
Here are 10 lessons from How to Be Everything: A Guide for Those Who (Still) Don't Know What They Want to Be When They Grow Up by Emilie Wapnick. This book celebrates "multipotentialites"—people with diverse interests and talents—and offers guidance on thriving in a world that values specialization.
1. It’s Okay to Not Specialize
Multipotentialites thrive on variety and are not defined by a single career path. Embrace your diverse passions and resist the pressure to specialize.
2. You’re Not Alone
Many people struggle with choosing one "calling." Knowing there’s a community of multipotentialites can make you feel less isolated and more confident in your approach to life.
3. Your Skills Are Valuable in Combination
Being good at multiple things allows you to connect ideas across fields, innovate, and create unique opportunities that specialists might overlook.
4. There Are Multiple Work Models for Multipotentialites
Wapnick outlines four work models:
Group Hug Approach: One job incorporates all your interests.
Slash Approach: Pursuing multiple jobs or projects simultaneously (e.g., writer/teacher/musician).
Einstein Approach: A stable job funds your passions outside work.
Phoenix Approach: Switching careers entirely when interests evolve.
5. Follow Your Curiosity
Instead of feeling pressured to pick a "forever career," explore what excites you right now. Your curiosity is a reliable guide for growth and fulfillment.
6. Fear of Starting Over Is a Myth
Multipotentialites are excellent learners and adapt quickly. Skills you’ve gained in one area often transfer to new endeavors, reducing the “starting from scratch” feeling.
7. Prioritize What Matters Most
Learn to manage your time by identifying which interests bring you joy, income, or growth. Not every passion needs equal attention at all times.
8. Multipotentialites Excel at Problem-Solving
Your ability to draw from diverse experiences and perspectives makes you a natural problem-solver and an asset in both personal and professional contexts.
9. Overcome Perfectionism and Impostor Syndrome
Multipotentialites often fear being "not enough" because they don't specialize. Recognize that depth isn’t the only measure of success—breadth can be just as powerful.
10. Redefine Success on Your Own Terms
Traditional career paths and definitions of success don’t apply to everyone. Create a life that reflects your interests, values, and goals, even if it’s unconventional.
