Editor’s Note: Throughout this blog/website I throw the word Multipotentialite around. Today I thought it was only fitting to provide an overview of what a Multipotentialite is. I have also included some awesome resources and a truly inspirational TED Talk. Enjoy:)

Do you start something new and often struggle to finish it?

When you start something new, do you become totally immersed in it? You think to yourself, ‘This is it, I have found what I love’, only to be let down by boredom kicking?

Has this pattern of ‘quitting’ made you feel guilty?

Do you struggle to stick to one thing?

Do you have many passions and interests?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are most probably a Multipotentialite like myself. Don’t worry this isn’t some disease as we shall see. It is a gift that you should embrace.

Definition

Multipotentiality is an educational and psychological term referring to a pattern found in intellectually gifted individuals. Generally speaking a mutlipotentialite is interested in multiple fields or areas. This is in contrast to those whose interests lie within a specific field, also known as specialists.
Wiki Link

Simply put a Multipontialite is a person with many interests and passions.

Also known as scanners, polymaths, renaissance person, multipods and slashers, multipotentialites often struggle with their multipotentiality and face several challenges.

Challenges Faced

A Multipotentialite often finds himself/herself overscheduling, overthinking, feeling confused, making impulsive decisions, anxious and in some instances feeling socially alienated.

Boredom is a common characteristic.

A multipotentialite very often clashes with mainstream society where they may feel undervalued and are perceived as unreliable, lazy and just genuinely flaky.

They also grapple with the idea of having to stick to a niche –  a notion that mainstream society loves to advocate.

Despite the internal and external challenges they face, they have unique gifts that need to be embraced.

Unique Gifts

Some seriously gifted individuals were and are Multipotentialiites. The best known historical example, of what some would regard as a genius, is Leonardo da Vinci.

He failed to complete many of the projects he started.

And in modern times, one has to look no further than Richard Branson.

Indeed moving on to something new is a sign that they have mastered or got what they want out of the process. This is not a bad thing.

Some of the unique gifts multipotentialites have are the following:

1. Multipotentialites are fast learners as they are used to moving from one interest to the next, often totally immersing themselves in the process, before moving on to the next thing.
2. They are incredibly talented at idea synthesis: combining one discipline with another and coming up with something new at the intersection.
3. Due to their very nature, they find themselves being highly adaptable which is crucial for the survival of any business during the 21st Century – Use that as a selling point during your job interview?!

Embrace your Multipotentiality

I personally was always aware of my tendency to go full out at something new, before getting bored.

I never knew however that this was actually a thing, that there was a specific definition for this.

The first time I became aware of this was through stumbling across a website called Puttylike.

Founded by Emilie Wapnick, it is a home for serious multipotentialites.

The whole site is dedicated to providing help and support for multipotentialites. It emphasises that being a multipotentialite is not a problem, it is your gift and should be embraced.

Fantastic resources (such as the Rennaissance Business can be found there, a resource I used in setting up this site).

They even have a community called the Puttytribe (which I am a member of). The main part of this is a forum which provides advice and resources to Multipotentialites.

There you can collaborate, share ideas, ask for help, support, guidance and much more.

I can’t possibly do it any justice through writing this, so be sure to check it out, it’s  doors open once a month.

Stumbling across her community was a big factor to where I am at this very moment.

She has been a huge inspiration and it only seems fitting to share a Ted Talk that she recently gave.

What she does and promotes is a beautiful thing and the video captures this perfectly, better than I ever  can in words. So enjoy.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

Are you a multipotentialite? What are your many interests and passions?