If so, you may be what Emilie Wapnick calls a multipotentialite. What’s that? A person who does not specialize, but is excellent at several types of endeavor. A person who could never just pick one thing and do that for their entire lives.
These people are real. I know because I am one.
And so is Emilie; it was great to become friends with someone who understands this. Months ago, I wrote an article about Renaissance People 2.0. Emilie found it and made contact with me and I discovered her notion of multipotentiality. An RP2 (Renaissance Person 2.o) was a similar idea. Long story short, we’re birds of a feather.
We’re not alone. Her site, Puttylike.com, has become an online hub for other “multipods.” She was already successful (on her own terms, I don’t mean like she was filthy stinking rich, or anything) doing her thing, and she started working with other multipods to help them figure out one very important question:
How the hell do you create an online business when you have multiple interests?
Good question, right? Emilie has figured out there are a few methods to this any multipod can apply. I say that now as a matter of course, but when she sent me an early draft of her book, I was wondering how the hell she could pull it off. After I went over her draft, I thought: holy shit, she really did it.
Now the final book is out, Renaissance Business. And I’m excited to be an affiliate for it. It’s not for everyone, because the truth is only a few people are multipotentialites. Most folks can and do pick one thing and stick with it and specialize. But if you feel like you could run 10 different businesses and none of them stand out as “the one,” then this book is definitely for you. Why am I sharing this with you if so few people are true multipotentialites? Because I think that more than anyone else, multipods are attracted to online business. This is because of the one thing that makes it a very bad idea for most people: it’s multidisciplinary. You gotta wear many hats and wear them well.
And… you still have to decide what the business is going to do and look like. Check out Renaissance Business and see if it can help you.
Great post!
I am struggling with this very problem right now in my efforts to polish my online identity. I will be sure to check out the book, thanks very much.
I feel like a sort of multipod myself. I worked in the I.T. field by disliked the specialization and same work every day, so I started my own computer repair shop and now I find myself expanding into different areas of I.T. all the time! Nice post, will have to check the book out.
Starting your own business is a great way to feed all the different mental monsters in our heads.
Hmmm. This sounds remarkably like the kind of site I’ve been dreaming about finding for the last month. EEEEEE! Thanks for the link!
Michael, thank you so much for helping to spread the word and for all the support and encouragement.
You’re one badass RP2! I’m so glad we’re friends.
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You’re welcome and likewise.
I think I’ve already said it here but the best way to start an online business is to start with your passion. Most successful business online are those businesses that made by their creator with what they are passionate about. A good foundation will definitely surpass anything out of just mere business.
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Of course, but the point here is: what if you have more than one passion? Do you pick one for a business and reject the others? Or do you find a way to use them all? Society likes the first one but not the second. Except Multipotentialites don’t fit that mold, so then what? Starting with your passions is something anyone can do. But if you’re a multipod, your next step isn’t the same as other people.
Emilie’s writing is very helpful for those of us who are multitalented, or ‘Scanners’ as Barbara Sher describes people with serial passions. But, as entrepreneur mentor Marie Forleo notes, “When you’re multipassionate, it can get hairy fast.” From her post (with video; on my Inner Entrepreneur site) Should You Combine Your Many Passions or Choose One?
http://theinnerentrepreneur.com/692/should-you-combine-your-many-passions-or-choose-one/
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Barbara is awesome, but every time I hear “scanners” all I can think of that old horror movie with Michael Ironsides.
Hi Michael,
I’m also working in IT like Howard does…I was in the same situation like him, but I decided to go online and start a business about what I am passionate about.
It’s lovely to do it, even if I don’t get the revenue expected before.
Regards,
Marius
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I’ve always said: Online Business is HARD Business! You need a lot of power to follow your dreams….!
It’s nice to hear someone speak about this affliction as if it were a good thing, rather than in the dismissive “jack of all trades, master of none” sort of way. I hold an M.A. in African History of all things, and am currently working on getting I.T. certifications as that is the field I currently work in. There are not too many subjects that could be as diametrically opposed. I will be sure to check out the book for ideas on the pre-production phase of my future website.
This extends to other parts of my life. Am not only having hard times (well managing it now) in choosing just one business model. I cannot even choose a side in a debate. I rather remain a spectator.
I mean how can we honestly say “i thin THIS way”. I cant! There are so many points of view that I personally never putt a definitive word about something. Because we – humans – we only know so much. In fact we dont know anything about EVEN ourselves. Saying that something is right or wrong is ….so close minded.
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@NagelstudioHamburg,
Not only that, but you also have to believe in yourself succeeding!
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The timing on finding this post is impeccable as I sit here procrastinating from writing a business plan. I didn’t feel it captured what I want to do but convinced myself that it was the way I had to move forward.
Thanks so much for the inspiration and sudden boost in mood
Hi,
I can barely pronounce the word but I think today people are suffering from information overload so I think it is good to focus on one area. However, I have a hard time doing that because there is always something new and exciting on the internet so I lose my effectiveness and focus. So if you can focus on more than one thing then you are obviously multitalented.
Thanks,
Jim
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Wow! Michael you have a huge amount of relevant content here in a no fluff, cut to the chase way of presenting it. I appreciate that, and hope to further my business ventures as a result of reading and participating here. Thanks Bill
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I’m finding the main problem with starting any online business is to focus on going in one direction. I think if I read this book, my head would explode! Maybe once you have one success, you can look to branch out…
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I’ll have to pick this one up. Thanks!
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