Career & Business Coaching Blog.
Inspiration and tips for multi-passionate creatives & entrepreneurs.
How to Create a Portfolio Career as a Creative Generalist
Throughout my life, I never set out to stay doing the same thing for too long. It’s always been my dream to live in NYC, for instance, and while it might not happen for a while, it makes me think about how I organize my life and career into buckets and how unusual that is for entrepreneurs. Most people I meet think they have to stick to one career for their entire lives, but really, we have the power to change and evolve whenever we want.
In my coaching business, I hear all the time how my clients are being pulled in all these different directions and they don’t understand how to rationalize their innate need to do different things, take on different roles, with society’s need to settle them into a specific box. For instance, doctors aren’t supposed to be coffee shop owners who sit on the board for toy companies. And entrepreneurs who own companies that distribute luxury amenities aren’t also supposed to have kitchen cabinets importing businesses…right?
Well, why not? Why can’t we do everything we dream of doing and every opportunity that comes our way that lights a spark inside of us?
Here’s the truth: we can. And I help clients do it every day.
Take my own story for instance, my career portfolio includes business and career coaching, writing books, speaking engagements, investing in small businesses, and creating new businesses - like my conference in the fall and my soon-to-be-launched Creative Generalist Network (more to come on that below!). And before that, even though I went to university to pursue a masters’ degree in philosophy and ended up working for, and founding, several web agencies.
The path we are on right now doesn’t have to be the path we stay on forever. There is no shame in jumping around - in fact, it’s empowering. This need for variety is what makes us creative generalists. We were never meant to fit into the classic 9-to-5 life, and when we fully embrace our creative generalism, we have a leg up when it comes to pursuing our dream career paths!
So how do we pursue a portfolio career that bolsters our ability to excel as creative generalists?
Various income streams. Have various income streams so that as you flow between the different roles, you never have to sacrifice your wants for your needs. You might try adding to your earned income with investments, online courses that require upfront effort to create but quickly produce passive income, and freelance consulting. However you choose to gain income, there’s power in having multiple streams at your disposal.
Don’t choose, combine. Stop trying to choose a particular career or project, learn to combine them. The beauty of a portfolio career is that there are no rules. You can do anything you want! (This is one of my superpowers. Let’s talk if you want help with this!)
Talent stack. Figure out your talents and skills and start stacking them to create a sweet spot that will raise your value in whatever field you’re interested in. For instance, if you are a copywriter who is also an audio engineer, pitch your talent to a podcast production company looking for a marketing guru who can also clean and treat the sound on the rough recordings.
Learn new skills. Are you a web designer who’s always been interested in teaching ballet classes to preschoolers? Or a college student studying molecular biology who also wants to write fiction novels about underwater gateways to other planets? Whatever it is that you think you might enjoy, go after it. Never stop learning. Go where your inspiration takes you!
Stay open-minded. You never know what you might learn from other people’s perspectives. Staying open-minded allows you to connect easily with others, building networks, and furthering your work and life in ways you might not expect.
Find a work-life balance. While individuals in mono-type roles don’t have to worry about their work invading their personal lives, creative generalists do. Our work is so varied and flexible, that sometimes that flexibility works against us, allowing business to bleed into our personal lives. The best way to combat this is to create a work-life balance that is sustainable to maintain.
Embrace change. Instead of trying to fit into a particular role, embrace jumping from role to role. The beauty of a portfolio career is that you don’t have to stick with the traditional career path, which includes sticking it out in a business or job you hate. Feel free to shake things up!
Find your community. Creative generalists tend to be isolated because of the solitary nature of their careers and work versatility, but finding your community is the best way to help you succeed. As a creative generalist myself, I created the Creative Generalist Network to help my clients and readers engage with like-minded individuals who will help them find inspiration and opportunities to grow.
Understand your why. Many people fall into a portfolio career, while others plan extensively for them. Either way, you should know why you are pursuing it now. Do you want more flexibility? Do you want to pursue every idea you’ve ever had? By knowing your why, you will be able to identify your creative generalist values more easily, which will in turn help you create the life you’ve always dreamed of!
Keep at it. Don’t give up when things get tough or confusing. Keep going and know that it will happen. The roles will come. The income will flow. And the fulfillment and success will bloom.
Building a portfolio career - like we generalists like to call it - is a lot easier than you think. There’s no need to toil away at work you don’t enjoy, or to sift through ideas and goals until you find the one most acceptable by the internet. You can have multiple passions or interests, pursue them all, and be better for it. It’s a lot more beneficial to your soul! When our work is aligned with our hopes, dreams, wants and needs, we can achieve anything.
Take small steps everyday and before you know it, the life you want will be right in front of you.
Scared to embrace your portfolio career?
Stepping outside the “norm” can feel overwhelming for anyone, especially if you’re a creative generalist with a streak of perfectionism. But pursuing your portfolio career is less about nonconformity and more about embracing who you are inside.
You were never meant to sit in a job or career you don’t enjoy. It’s time to follow that little voice inside you that tells you it wants more, it needs more…it deserves more. So stop limiting yourself. In our coaching sessions, I not only help you take that first step towards the life you actually want, but I help you build a roadmap to the exact spot you want to land!
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.
Boredom Versus Resistance: How to Know When to Quit?
Creative generalists (multi-passionate creatives) are a rare breed. We have more than one passion, and we don't want to choose just one path in life. But when boredom starts creeping in, it can be challenging to keep up the momentum of being creative or pursuing one or more of our interests. Resistance is often mistaken for boredom, but there's a difference between the two that you should know about if you're multi-passionate like many of my clients and me! In this article, I'll explore boredom versus resistance so you know when to quit on something and when it's time to push through and stay motivated.
Do you ever feel like giving up? Like all your efforts pointless? You're not alone! This feeling is known as boredom. It's when we no longer find a project or passion interesting enough to continue with. Often, we've reached what we came for in that project, job, or interest (usually some form of skill or new knowledge). We got what we wanted from it, so why would we want to keep going?
A new definition of done
We immerse ourselves into playing the guitar diligently every day for two years and then one day put the instrument to the side to not pick it up again for years. Or we decide we want to know everything there is to know about YouTube marketing, create the channel, buy all the courses, post a ton of videos, and suddenly decide to move on to something else.
Why do we do this? For most, finishing means an external endpoint, not for creative generalists. It's more an internal feeling of being done (bored) with something than anything else, often when, to the outside world, we don't seem done at all.
On the other hand, resistance shows up when something is important to us, when we're hitting on what matters most or makes us come alive. It's an inner feeling of not wanting to do something, even though we know deep down we want to or we should, often disguised as stress, anxiety, or fear.
Is it boredom or resistance?
For creative generalists, boredom is the internal feeling of not wanting to do something anymore because it feels like a chore when we've reached what we want from that project, job, or interest and feel no need to push through anymore.
On the other hand, resistance is a biological and evolutionary response to things that are important to us. It's a protection mechanism that is rooted in our fight-or-flight response. What resistance wants is for everything to stay the way it is. So although boredom and resistance can feel pretty much the same, they're each other's opposites! Boredom is a gentle nudge that you need change; resistance is a - often much harder - blow that you want things to stay the same, precisely when you should be moving forward!
Resistance is when we should push through boredom or whatever else we're feeling - fear, lack of self-confidence, doubt, self-loathing, procrastination - and continue with what we're doing for some other, more profound reason. It's that feeling of "I don't want to do this, but I just know it's the right thing for me" because it matters more than anything else in your life right now.
How to know the difference between boredom and resistance?
Knowing the difference between boredom and resistance can help you understand when to quit something and when to push through. Boredom means it's time for a change, while resistance is the only way we can get back in touch with what matters most right now.
If you're not sure whether you're experiencing boredom or resistance, here are some questions to ask yourself:
What is my goal with this project, job, or interest?
Have I reached that goal?
Do I still find this project, position, or interest interesting?
Why do I want to quit?
What would happen if I did leave?
Would I regret quitting later?
Answering these questions can help you determine whether you're experiencing boredom or resistance. If you're bored, it might be time to move on to something new. But if you're feeling resistance, it's probably because there's something vital that you need to do! Instead of quitting, take stock of what's going on emotionally. How are you feeling? What is that telling you about what you're trying to resist?
When to quit?
There's no shame in admitting that you're bored of something or ready for something new. It doesn't mean that you're a quitter or not good at it. It means that you've reached a point where you no longer want to continue with that project, job, or interest. And that's perfectly okay!
In summary, here's how to know when to quit:
The critical difference between boredom and resistance is that boredom feels like the project or job has become too easy. You've learned everything you wanted or needed to know from it, so the boredom feeling is our body telling us to move on and try something new.
Resistance happens when we're doing something important to us, or that needs our attention for other reasons. It feels like, "I don't want to do this, but I have to because it matters more than anything else."
If you're not sure whether you're experiencing boredom or resistance, refer to the questions above to find more clarity.
The most important thing to remember about being ready to move on to something else like a (multi-passionate) creative or entrepreneur is that your cut-off point, when you're "ready" with something, will often be different from that of other, more specialist people. So it's useless to mirror your actions to what they would do. They don't have your multi-passionate brain, and they're not you. How could you then know what you need or what is suitable for you?
So if you're feeling bored, it might be time to move on. But if you're feeling resistance, it's probably because there's something important that you need to do! Push through and see what happens!
Feeling stuck in your career or business?
You're not alone. Many people find themselves at a crossroads, not sure what to do next. That's where I come in - I'm a career and business coach with almost ten years of experience helping people figure out their next steps.
Quit your job? Start your own business? There are many options, and it can be tough to know which one is right for you. That's where I come in – I can help you figure out what to do next and put together a plan to help you achieve your goals.
Why You Might Have More Than One Why (And That's Okay)
Okay, you want to change the world, but you also want to travel in style. Or you want to save the planet, but at the same time, you do love fashion, and you feel best when you look your best - in Chanel and Lagerfeld! Or perhaps you want to paint all day and brighten the world with your art, but you also love finance and AI, and you're dying to enter a program at MIT that you know will mark the future for DeFi.
As someone with multiple passions and interests, I can tell you that the struggle is real. Although after thousands of hours coaching multi-passionate creatives (creative generalists), I know that all our interests and passions are a whole on a certain level, it's often difficult to figure out what that looks like. The same is true for our "whys."
Many creative generalists feel torn between multiple reasons why they do what they do, as well as different dreams or even lives they'd love to live. Those whys and goals might even contradict themselves.
You're a multi-passionate creative, a creative entrepreneur, a creative generalist. In short, a complex, multi-faceted and nuanced human being. You're allowed to be driven by more than one thing. In this article, we'll explore why you might have more than one "why" and how that's okay.
The power of your "whys"
Your whys are a powerful force in your life. They drive your decisions and your actions. If you have more than one, even though you might not think it right now, I consider you very lucky! Some people desperately look for their "why" their entire life, without ever feeling the inspiration you enjoy every day. It might be what makes you so creative and unique. You're not just an artist, scientist, or businessman - you're all of those things at once.
Simon Sinek says that you should find your why before anything else. As a thought leader, he has popularized the idea that everyone needs to have a single "Why" as their driving force in life. But what happens when your "why" changes over time or you have more than one?
In his TEDTalk, "How Great Leaders Inspire Action," Simon Sinek shares how your why is your driving force in life and should be your priority before anything else. He talks about the golden circle of communication for companies and leaders and how their why can inspire cooperation, trust, and change.
It's true; a powerful why can move us. If it's powerful enough, it can even move mountains - or at least start a revolution. So that's not the issue. The problem begins when you have more than one why, but the world keeps on telling you to pick just one. When that happens, you're stuck in multi-passionate choice overload. And as you might be familiar with, this is not a happy place to be.
The many "whys" of multi-passionate creatives
If you're a creative generalist, you probably have many different types of whys in your life. You might have some creative passions like writing or photography and some other, more mainstream "whys" that keep you motivated.
As a multi-passionate creative or entrepreneur, your "whys" can contradict themselves. One day you might be driven by your passion for saving the world, and the next, you might be more interested in making a lot of money. That doesn't mean that one is more important than the other; it's just that your priorities might change from day to day or week to week.
Creative generalists often have multiple whys because they're interested in many different things. They're naturally curious, and they like to explore new things. They're also very adaptable and can easily switch between various interests. This type of creativity is often called divergent thinking, and it's the type of creativity needed for innovation.
As a multi-passionate, you might also have what's called a portfolio career. A portfolio career is a career where you have multiple jobs or roles related to your skills and passions. This type of career is becoming more and more popular, as people are looking for ways to escape the rat race and find more meaning in their work.
So if you're feeling overwhelmed by all your different passions, don't worry. You're not alone. And you're not crazy. You're a creative entrepreneur, and that's a good thing. Embrace your many whys and use them to drive you towards your goals.
How to find balance when you have more than one (contradicting) why?
Even though creativity is a "why" that feels like an escape or release for many people, there are other times when it can feel like your duty and obligation. This is because of another why that you have: your sense of responsibility. You might feel a strong need to take care of those around you, including your team, clients or customers, and family members.
This contradiction can make it hard for creative generalists to find the balance between their two (or more) whys. But it's possible to bridge the dichotomy in two ways:
The first way is by mixing your whys and your obligations so that one does not outweigh the other. This might include delegating your creative tasks to someone else or outsourcing them when you have too many deadlines on your plate.
The second way is creating a pattern or rhythm that reflects your sense of balance between your creative spark and your responsibility. This might be something like scheduling your creative tasks for a portion of the day so that you can focus on your work-related duties during another time slot.
No matter how you find balance, it's important to remember that it will always be a work in progress. Don't be hard on yourself if you feel like you're not living up to your high standards. Just keep working at it, and eventually, you'll find a groove that works for you.
You're a unique creative being; you're allowed to have more than one why! It's your life - and your only one. So take the time to go deep on what matters to you, identify your creative passions as well as your other "whys," and combine them in a way that makes sense to you.
Do you want to make a career out of your passions?
I know what it feels like to have multiple interests – but not knowing how to make them work together. Sometimes, it can feel impossible, but that doesn't mean it has to stay that way forever! If you're tired of feeling like there's no way to turn your passions into a career, then this might be the moment everything changes for you.
Let's explore your unique nature and create a plan together so we can figure out how best to turn your many interests into an extraordinary career and life!
How to Tell if You're a Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur. And Why it Matters.
Do you enjoy multitasking and can't stand to be bored? Do you have an insatiable hunger for knowledge? Do you see challenges or solutions where everyone else sees problems? Does it feel like you always have a million business ideas or things you're passionate about? If so, you might be a multi-passionate creative entrepreneur. Being multi-passionate is not always easy; after all, we still live in a world of specialists. To make the most of your unusual but incredible gifts requires patience, tolerance, curiosity, discipline, and creativity.
In this article, I'll help explain who multi-passionate creative entrepreneurs are, how they can make the best of their gifts and talents, and the benefits of their unique traits for multi-passionate entrepreneurship.
How to know if you are multi-passionate?
Multi-passionate creatives are individuals who have multiple passions and talents. It may not sound that extraordinary, but in a world that focuses on specialists and wants people to choose one thing and stick to it, being someone with a wide range of interests can be tricky, even painful. Especially if you don't know whether this fits into what society calls "normal."
Multi-passionate creatives are usually talented and interested in many things, not just one-off activities like marketing, writing, and dancing. They often are curious and want to know how things work and why. Exploring different areas of interest is probably what defines them the most. They love to expose themselves to new ideas, cultures, music, and so on. Thinking outside the box comes naturally to them.
In other words, a multi-passionate creative is someone who learns fast, is interested, connects dots, and thus can produce high-quality work in multiple fields of choice. If you're reading this article, my guess is you might be part of the family!
Why does it matter?
Multi-passionate creatives have a distinct advantage while pursuing their dream career paths: If you're an entrepreneur, you know that your business is only as good as the people who work for it. And if you're looking to hire someone or to turn an employee into an entrepreneur, multi-passionate creatives are the cream of the crop.
The ability to see the obvious answer is why multi-passionate creatives are in such high demand in today's competitive job market. Multi-passionate creatives like us can do their job well because we have a lot of different experiences to draw on. We're flexible and can deal with changes well. And we excel at problem-solving or coming up with creative solutions to challenges. Because we think differently from others, we can come up with fresh ways to look at issues or problems that others may overlook because it seems like the obvious solution.
Paradoxically, all these abilities and qualities that make us invaluable to employers also challenge finding or even creating our dream career. Multi-passionate people don't easily fit into the classic 9 to 5 work equation because we tend to be interested in more than one (many!) thing. Because of this, many of us might have opted out of a standard job or career path to pursue our dreams, but it takes practice and time before we learn how to manage all our projects well enough so that none of them suffer neglect.
The benefits of being a multi-passionate entrepreneur
We have multiple passions. Multi-passionate creatives have a hunger for knowledge and creativity. We're always exploring new interests and talents, which keeps us from getting bored. And this is important because boredom is our kryptonite!
We're multi-talented. We usually have a particular knack for a wide range of interests and crafts. This makes us incredibly resourceful! A multi-passionate creative is often a master in their craft, but that's not all.
We're curious. Multi-passionate creatives can access different knowledge and experiences that others don't have. This makes us a valuable asset to any team.
We're intuitive. And pick up quickly on different things. People with multiple passions can easily spot connections and patterns, enabling us to solve problems faster. Multi-passionate creatives can understand many subjects rapidly, as our broad range of interests allows us to learn from others and life.
We're flexible. Multi-passionate creatives are known for their ability to work in many different environments and with various people comfortably. We thrive when we have the opportunity to express ourselves creatively. This makes multi-passionate entrepreneurs an excellent fit for self-employment and consulting, as we don't rely on one particular kind of environment or people.
We're open-minded. Multi-passionate creatives usually have an interest in other cultures and backgrounds. We learn from other people's experiences and viewpoints, making it easy to connect with others. And that makes us great team members and networkers.
We love learning. Multi-passionate creatives love to learn from each other and life in general! As mentioned above, we often understand new subject matter quickly, which is a huge asset in today's fast-moving world. That's why most multi-passionate creatives have a natural ability to understand and integrate a lot of information from many different fields.
If you feel like you identify with some of the traits of a multi-passionate creative entrepreneur, then it's important to embrace those qualities! Own your multi-faceted personality and use it to your advantage. Be patient when it comes to exploring new passions and be willing to put in the hard work to make your dreams a reality.
Embrace your multi-passionate creative side and go out and change the world!
Do you have multiple passions?
We are all born with multiple passions, but many of us lose touch with them as we grow up. We start to think that it’s not possible to have more than one passion at a time. But the truth is, if you want to be successful in business and life, you need to embrace your multi-passions. It will help you become happier and more fulfilled in every aspect of your life.
But what if you're not sure what your passions are? Or if you're afraid of pursuing them because you don't want to fail? That's where private coaching can help. I can help you figure out what your passions are and how to use them to create a successful business.
Too Many Ideas? Here are 5 Tips to Stop Feeling Stuck, Lost or Under Pressure When you Don't Know Where to Start
As a (multi-passionate) creative, I know the struggle is real. We have too many ideas, and they all seem so good - all of the time! Feeling stuck or lost because of my lack of time or not knowing where to start used to be a familiar feeling for me. Feeling like I didn't have the legitimacy to do what I wanted to do also haunted me for years, and it still comes up from time to time.
If you're feeling overwhelmed with everything, pressured by the burden of having to do something meaningful that pays the bills, feel like you never have enough time to get started, or don't know what to do, this article is for you. Together let's discover how to stop feeling stuck, lost, or under pressure when you're a multi-passionate creative.
Thinking that we'll never have the time or never be able to do everything can make us restless: we want it all right now! It's not that we're greedy; we don't want to miss any opportunity, and we want to do all of the things! The problem is, we have so many ideas that even if we work relentlessly, we still don't know how to get around and do everything.
But the good news is, there's a way to get unstuck from under that pile of ideas AND take steps towards your dreams.
How to stop feeling stuck when you have too many ideas and don't know where to start. Here are 5 tips to help you get started.
#1 Make a list - braindump and categorize
Make a list of everything that is running the show in your head. Write it down as a brain dump or mind map. Don't worry about how good something sounds or if someone else might do the same thing: write everything down without editing yourself. You can also challenge yourself by writing your ideas out on paper instead of typing, but remember to get rid of distractions such as phone notifications or chatty colleagues or family members when doing this!
When you've got your list or overview, categorize (this is the magic step, so don't skip it!). See which ideas could work together, are related, or build on each other. Very often, a lot of our interests will be connected, even if just loosely. By grouping them, you'll feel less overwhelmed by everything that is asking for your attention, and you'll start to see what you could get started with.
#2 Make time - so you can take action
When you have categorized, start with what you think is most important RIGHT NOW, reminding yourself that you're choosing for now and not forever! All your other ideas will get their turn; you can't do everything all at once.
Take action by starting small; don't think about the result and go for it. Starting small can help you to get out of your comfort zone without feeling too overwhelmed by things that might feel stressful or difficult at first.
#3 Avoid perfectionism - it's nothing but a dream killer
Many of us are scared to start working on something we think might not be perfect, and that makes sense because nobody wants their work to look unprofessional or silly.
Avoid feeling overwhelmed by thinking about how difficult or stressful everything might seem at first, and go for it! Timeboxing your work will help by making you focus on doing something for a certain amount of time, giving you less time to overthink or worry about everything that could go wrong.
If you're struggling to get started because you're afraid your work won't be good enough, perfectionism might not be the only thing at play. It may be that you lack confidence or fear failure: both things we've all experienced at some point in our lives. Instead of focusing on the fear of failure, focus on what you have to gain by taking action and creating something real instead of just thinking about it!
#4 Follow a creativity schedule - not a specialist one
Multi-passionate creatives are rebellious by nature. The problem with most schedules and calendars is that they're made for specialists who don't need a sense of freedom as creative generalists do.
As creative generalists, we have many interests and talents. Still, the flow we need when performing a particular activity cannot just be turned on or off (although that would be incredibly cool!). Often unconsciously, we choose tasks based on the available physical, but especially mental energy of the moment. I, for example, write my articles in the morning because I know I won't get a decent word on paper in the afternoon. If I try to write in the afternoon on a tight schedule, this always leads to frustration and reduced productivity.
The solution is simple: put flexible blocks on your schedule, but only fill them when you're ready to get started. So you can decide when you'll work, but do not lock yourself in with "what" it is that you'll do during those blocks. Use a running list of tasks for the coming weeks, for example, and organize them by priority. Then, when you're ready to work, pick what feels good to you in the moment. When you can freely choose what you work on every day, the feeling you get is indescribable, especially for a rebellious bird like you.
#5 Ask for help - nobody can do it alone
Nobody can do it alone. But as creative generalists, because we're so used to learning quickly and understanding practically any subject, we often think we're supposed to do it all ourselves.
But the truth is: It's not because you can do something that you should. Realizing this changed my life and that of many of my clients.
It's essential to ask for help whenever you think it might benefit your project. Even if you're struggling with something that seems like an easy task, remember this: nobody can do it alone. And nobody should!
To end, I'd love to say once more that you don't have to choose just one idea over all the others. If you find yourself overwhelmed with too many ideas, take a deep breath and go through the tips above (again). You really can build a career or business that includes many of your passions and interests. Believe me, I know, because it's what I help people, just like you do every day!
Are you a multi-passionate creative who is stuck in your career or life?
I can help. My name is Murielle Marie, and I'm a private coach for multi-passionate creatives. If you have too many ideas but don't know what to do with them, let me help you find clarity and direction so that you can live the life of your dreams.
Let me show you how we can work together by scheduling a free 30-minute coaching session call today! Click below right now to get started.