#12 What’s a creative generalist? And are you one?
Podcast transcript:
Hi! Another Monday, another podcast episode. This one, by popular request, addresses the concept of the creative generalist. If you've been listening to my podcast, you might have heard me mention creative generalists a few times, and you may have wondered what exactly it is. If so, you’re in luck! For after this episode you’ll know all about it!
Creative generalists are among my favorite kind of people. They're people - and I count myself as one of them, and so do many of my clients and friends - with a broad range of interests and skills across different fields. They could be teachers, entrepreneurs, artists, engineers, mathematicians, scientists, or any combination. Anyone could be a creative generalist, it simply depends on how their creative brain is wired and the way they choose to use it.
Let me name a few:
A super cool and smart client combines art (painting and drawing), consulting on sustainable development and her passion for Rugby into a career and business that is socially responsible and anything but boring.
Another client, who's an amazing singer-songwriter, also makes unique jewelry pieces, teaches and does social justice work.
Still another one used to be a fashion designer. She started an Etsy shop and also makes ceramics from wild clay (among other things). She's also super witty and clever, which not only makes her fun to be around but also a great online marketer.
These creative generalists demonstrate that creativity isn't limited to a certain type of work or art form. They use their varied talents, interests, skills and passions in unique ways to problem-solve for all sorts of projects and situations.
What makes a creative generalist stand out is the ability to draw connections between different ideas, build bridges between people, mix up different fields, and develop innovative solutions to problems. They can move between different disciplines, roles, and tasks.
Among my creative generalist friends and clients, I have people who write music, make jewelry, design brands, create art, do scientific research, write, build businesses, work in technology, and so much more. All of them have three or more passions and many more interests. Most of them combine their interests into interesting portfolio careers.
One thing that every creative generalist has is a rebellious nature. We are all activists at heart; we can't stand injustice, and when we see a problem, we have a natural urge to want to fix it. It’s not always a good thing, but hey, you can’t change a wild heart.
Let me ask you a few questions:
Do you have broad interests that cross many disciplines?
Are you naturally curious and love learning new things?
Do you like thinking outside the box and coming up with innovative solutions?
Do you want to make a difference and be part of something bigger than yourself?
Are you an activist at heart who can't stand injustice?
If you answered yes to most of these questions, you might just be a creative generalist. Congratulations! And welcome!
Wait, I know what you’re thinking now! “But Murielle, I’m not creative, so this couldn’t be me!”
When I start talking about creative generalists, most people immediately tell me they can't identify with it because they don't believe they're creative. When I give a keynote about the subject I ask who resonates with being creative and who doesn't.
Most people, at first, say they don't. At the end of my talk, most of them change their mind. The reason is that most people - wrongly - think of being creative as being artistic. But they are not the same thing!
Creativity is not about clay or paint brushes, it's about problem-solving. You need to be creative to do art, but you don't need to be artistic to be creative. Being creative is to think outside the box, be open-minded, and challenge assumptions. Creativity involves problem solving and innovation, not just artistry.
You can look at problems from different angles, explore new opportunities, push boundaries, and spark ideas and innovations that could change the world. It's an enriching experience, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise!
Creative generalists are curious multi-disciplinary thinkers who can explore many different avenues for approaching a problem or challenge. You combine your ideas, experiences, knowledge, and problem-solving skills to create unique solutions to tough issues or challenges. What's cool about being a generalist is that you're comfortable working in multiple areas simultaneously, making you highly adaptable.
Take the example of Steve Allen, an American Comedian, Writer, Poet, Lyricist, Composer, Actor, Concert Artist, and Lecturer. He wrote 54 Books! And about 10,000 Songs!
According to my definition, a creative generalist is a:
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.
Check out my online shop for some creative generalist goodies, and a t-shirt I screen printed it on myself, with the help of a designer (of course, who else?).
This all sounds amazing, doesn't it? And it is, but there's also a downside to it. The world isn't made for us - yet. Many creative generalists feel like impostors, we lack self-confidence, we think something's wrong with us, we feel shame and guilt for never sticking to anything (like our parents so generously keep reminding us), and we often don't really know what to do with our lives. We're still waiting for that moment of clarity where we'll find THE thing we're supposed to be doing.
Let me break it to you now: you can stop searching, you can stop feeling ashamed of who you are, and looking for that magical unicorn of a career. It doesn't exist. There's nothing wrong with you; a world of specialists misdiagnoses you! You're a generalist. It's like the story of the ugly duckling. I tell this story to all my clients, and I wrote about it in the Dutch book on creative generalists that I wrote (yes, there's a new and improved English book coming!).
The story goes like this:
Once upon a time, there was an ugly duckling. He was always trying to fit in with the other ducks by acting like them and trying to fly and waddle as they did. But no matter how hard he tried, it never worked. He was different from all the other ducks and didn't belong. One day, after a long journey of searching for acceptance and belonging, the ugly duckling stumbled upon a flock of beautiful swans who welcomed him with open wings. That's when he realized - he wasn't an ugly duckling at all, but a swan!
If you feel like you don't fit in anywhere, or if people are telling you that you're too unfocused or unambitious, it's time to start embracing who you are and stop trying to fit into someone else's idea of success. You're a creative generalist, and that can be your superpower! I know, I know, easier said than done...
Growing up, I could never stick to doing just one thing. I would start something, a new sport, pottery, making paper flowers, and then I'd get bored of it. I would also have more ideas each day than I could do something with. I was always searching for something new to learn, explore and do. Something that's been challenging in my life, and on dating apps in particular - I can tell you that much! My mind still needs that intellectual stimulation. If I can't learn something new, it's hard to stay interested.
When I was younger, I would get very frustrated that I couldn't stick to one interest for long before wanting to move on to the next thing (well, my parents would get frustrated mostly hahaha). As I grew older I would feel shame for starting something new and then quitting mid-way, over and over again. I didn't fit in conventional 'career paths' either. I remember an interview for a big IT consulting firm when I was finishing my Philosophy master. It's the only time I ever interviewed for a job, and the confirmation I needed to go do my own thing.
The white, middle-aged man that greeted me looked at me as if I was from another planet. He had a print-out of the CV I'd put together for this interview and said, looking at me with a grin on his face: I'm not sure I understand why you're here. Then he took the print-out of my cv between his index and thumb and waved it in front of me. “This isn't worth shit.”, he said. “You just wasted four years of your life. A philosophy degree. Really? You should have gone to business school.”
I was speechless and just nodded my head in agreement. But something in me said he was so damn wrong, even if I didn’t have the words to express it. I left the interview shaken up and feeling like a failure.
Six months later, I'd graduated from University and started freelancing as a project manager with a small agency - the first step towards my entrepreneurial career.
Fast forward to today, and I'm a creative generalist who built a portfolio career for herself: I'm an investor in creative business start-ups, I run my own international coaching business, I write books, I make online projects, and I help create social change through community initiatives. I consult and mentor smart, ambitious people from all over the world to find their sweet spot, build confidence and make a living out of their interests and passions.
Yes, I'm still easily bored. But instead of feeling frustrated about not fitting into one specific career path anymore - I've embraced who I am! And that has been the most freeing experience of all.
So if you consider yourself a Creative Generalist too - don't be scared to go for what you want and take risks. And certainly don’t listen to the specialists who have no clue about how your brain is wired and what you need to be happy.
There are infinite possibilities in this world, and if you're open to discovering them and embracing your creativity - there's no limit to what you can do! You have unique talents, experiences, and knowledge that could change the world.
Your brain is a business advantage!
Even though creative generalists don't fit in the traditional job market, they are precious to companies who rely on their adaptability and ability to think outside the box. In today's fast-paced world, more and more employers are looking for individuals with diverse skill sets and backgrounds. Companies are beginning to recognize the value of generalists in being able to work across various departments and functions within an organization, developing new products and services quickly, efficiently, and effectively.
I see more and more people embrace the concept of creative generalists. I see more and more clients add the term to their LinkedIn profiles (I do a happy dance every time!), and I read interviews of successful creatives who identify themselves as Creative Generalists. Just last week, a wonderfully creative friend and energetic entrepreneur gave a talk that mentioned creative generalism as an essential trait. Zaïna this one is for you girl! Well done!
Since it's gaining so much traction, and now that I've got you all excited, let's take a second to look at where the term "creative generalist" comes from?
There are many names for our creative and cognitive condition: jack (or jill)-of-all-trades, polymath, scanner, slasher, multipotential or multi-passionate creative, renaissance woman or man – the latter a legacy of none other than Leonardo da Vinci.
The term 'creative generalist' was coined by Steve Hardy in 2005 when he wrote a manifesto on innovation (I'll add the link in the show notes). In it, he talked about a type of people that can produce innovation and change thanks to a wide range of interests and their unique way of bringing different disciplines together.
In recent years, Emilie Wapnick and Marie Forleo have helped spread knowledge about creative generalists. Emilie talks about "multipotentialites," and Marie Forleo about "multi-passionate creatives." The grandmothers of the creative generalists, as I like to call them, are Barbara Sher and Margaret Lobenstine, who both wrote terrific books that are still helpful to many creative generalists today. I'll include their most important book titles in this episode's show notes.
A definition of "creative generalist" wouldn't be complete without mentioning a recent and groundbreaking book by David Epstein titled Range – how having a broad range of interests makes us better problem solvers. If you like a scientific approach to new knowledge, you'll love this book (I'll add a link in the show notes).
The term "creative generalist" is used loosely, and I think this is great because it allows people to define themselves as they see fit. Being a creative generalist means different things to different people. Still, one thing is sure: that problem-solving, multiple interests, and a hunger for knowledge lie at the core of everything.
Now that you know what a creative generalist is and where this term comes from, let's look into how being a Creative Generalist can be an advantage. But before we do that, let's confirm that you are one.
Listen to the following questions and raise a finger for every time your answer is "yes." Don’t overthink it!
Do you get bored quickly when you figure out how something works, how to do it, or if you have to do the same thing too often?
Do you enjoy learning, researching, exploring, and developing new skills or insights?
Do you keep changing your mind about what you want to do with your life? Are you still wondering what you'll be when you "grow up"?
Is it difficult for you to explain to someone what you do? To answer the dreaded "So, what do you do?" question?
Do you often daydream about everything you want to do "someday" or "still" in your life, both professionally and personally?
Do you often start many things but finish only a few of them? Do you feel like you need to be more focused?
Do you have trouble choosing for fear of losing something?
If you have three or more fingers raised, chances are you're a creative generalist and don't have one but different interests and passions. Congratulations! It means that you have a unique and brilliant brain.
Being a creative generalist has many benefits.
From an individual perspective, it allows you to explore different areas of interest without feeling pressured to commit to a single field or role for too long. It will enable you to take risks and try something new when you feel stuck or uninspired by your current projects.
From a professional perspective, it also allows you to be a valuable asset in any team. You can draw from your diverse background and experiences to perform tasks that others may not have considered, you have a natural ability to learn new things, connect seemingly unrelated dots, and you're skilled at finding an original approach to a problem or creating innovative solutions that are beneficial for everyone.
Being a creative generalist is all about embracing the idea of learning something new every day and never settling into one specific field - but instead being the GLUE that brings those fields together to create something new - aka to innovate! And who doesn’t want that skill in today’s world?
My advice is to take the time to explore your interests, develop your passions, and embrace the power of being a creative generalist. Be proud of who you are, and know that you are worth it! You will be amazed at what you can do when you open your mind to all possibilities.
Mentioned in this episode:
Steve Hardy: Manifesto on innovation
Emilie Wapnick: How to be everything
Marie Forleo: Everything is figureoutable
Barbara Sher: Refuse to choose and Wishcraft
Margaret Lobenstine: The Renaissance soul
David Epstein: Range
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Wow, that's it for this episode. I'm stepping off the soap box now. I hope I inspired you to embrace your many interests and talents and to be the awesome creative generalist you were meant to be!
Before I go, here's this week's "f*ck it, let's do it" experiment: This week, I want you to embrace your inner generalist: on a blank piece of paper, make a list of all your interests and passions, list all the "someday" projects that are swirling around in your mind and all the things you wanted to be when you grew up. Instead of trying to pick something, look for common themes. What - seemingly unrelated things - could you combine into a remarkable career or project?
Doing this exercise made me choose a career in coaching almost ten years ago. I knew I wanted to do something that would combine: writing, teaching, helping others, learning new things, entrepreneurship, philosophy, neuroscience, and spirituality. Through this exercise, I realized it was possible to combine all those passions into one thing - coaching.
If you want to take it a step further, here's this week's little act of daily rebellion: when working on a problem or challenge this week, try to come up with the most extravagant or out-of-the-box solution you can think of. Push yourself to think outside the box, and embrace your creative generalist superpower!
That's it for me. I'm curious to hear what you come up with - don't hesitate to contact me or send me a DM on Instagram @muriellemarie. Thanks for listening. Have a super fun, creative week, and I'll talk to you soon!Bye!
Just a heads up: I am not a therapist or doctor! If you're not feeling your best mentally or physically, and you need some help, please make sure to consult with a medical professional or a therapist.
