power in polymathism
A few months ago, I re-read the book "The Renaissance Soul" by Margaret Lobensteine. She starts off with talking about the history of polymaths also known as "Renaissance Souls" or "generalists." I first came upon the name of "polymath" by watching the YouTube video, "All Power To the Polymath" by Ella Saltsmarshe. In college, I read and discussed mathematical reasoning exercises, ancient roman writings, and analyzed speeches, among other activities, in order to become a "well-rounded" individual.
The Renaissance Era brought about an emphasis on human individuality, a modern concept. This fascination with individuality brought about experimentation in the arts and sciences, something so distant from the sole focus on prayer in the Middle Ages. A liberating period! The arhitect Alberti first came up with the phrase "Renaissance man" which we still use today.
I re-read this book because I have had negative feelings towards my tendency to be indecisive about my interests. My points of focus now are marketing, sales, and writing, but I am also interested in dating culture, the hidden health crisis of loneliness, atheism, and SEO-friendly blogging. Sometimes I interrupt myself by dropping one task to pick up another before it's done. Dabbling in something, but also memorizing russian pop songs, teaching myself the piano, or learning how to track my menstrual cycle for a long period of time. Last year, I tried playing jazz piano again. Unfortunately, the passion wasn't there. Perhaps it will return.
What was the most interesting takeaway? That you don't have to start at the bottom every time you start a new career. There are ways to view your current skill set and knowledge as a marketable asset to serve potential employment opportunities.
There's also the idea of rotating through interests. Some weeks are entirely devoted to a single focus. The other week, there's 100% enjoyment in doing something else. There's a common notion in contemporary culture that people cannot succeed if they don't focus. I reject that.
Lobesteine uses the metaphor of sampling ice cream to rotate through these interests. She calls it "The Four-Flavor Ice-Cream Sampler." Imagine walking through an ice-cream parlor. The shopkeeper says you can choose flavors you've already chosen or pick an entirely new combo of flavors. It's therefore easier to make a decision. The phrase "Renaissance Focal Points" are used to describe "Flavors" in your sampler. She also lists five different career options. One of the best pieces of advice I've heard all year. There are an abundance of exercises related to getting a new job, how to position your skills in the market, how to combine interests in your career or career, calendar blocking.
And Renaissance Souls are ahead of the curve because a lot of jobs are going away! Because I have taught myself a variety of skills and knowledge, I am able to bring more to the workplace. It's something I can pitch and market. And because Renaissance Souls like myself enjoy a challenge, engaging in the learning curve [unlike others], it's easier to learn new things for work, to "upskill" and "re-skill" so to speak
Employers want employees who can adapt because current company culture practices are always changing. People who are adaptable have the broadest range of skills and employment experiences. I've prided myself on the fact that I am able to adapt.
Job hopping should not have a negative connotation. I am a job hopper. We are flexible, have a diverse skill set, have worked with a diverse set of customers, can sense what needs to be changed, and go through the process of pursuing a new tool/skill/project.