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I know how you feel because my career path looks kind of like yours. In fact, there's almost a 99% overlap. I have had careers in tech, sales, event marketing
by jonyu 13y ago
I know how you feel because my career path looks kind of like yours. In fact, there's almost a 99% overlap. I have had careers in tech, sales, event marketing and acting (SAG eligible). I helped 2 early stage startups grow from the ground level and worked with another half dozen. I've done everything except start a company myself, raise money, and build a team (more on this later).
Your interests seem random, but they are not. Look at Steve Job's background: he built and sold computer parts, studied calligraphy, was into zen. They are prerequisites, a foundation to which he can draw upon in creating innovation. And he combined his unique background and turned it into products. This is the Generalist's greatest asset. We must use it to be happy, because we are the sum of all our skills.
People are either inclined towards diverse, broad interests/skills (which doesn't mean they are a dilettante), or they prefer to work within a specific domain. Specialists usually end up becoming the best at their field if they are motivated and passionate about it (100/100). There's lots of interesting fields and subfields, so this keeps them happy. Generalists are a different animal. They have the potential to be great (as in 80-90% out of 100 in a given skill) at everything they do, but cannot be the best at any of them. Not because they don't want to, but because their heart is into many things; there's more to life than just acting, just technology etc. I think this is the fundamental dilemma of generalists. In a society that focuses on roles and titles, a generalist has no recognized role or title. Generalists do not fit into a mold; eg., engineer, doctor, dancer, salesman. However, they have the potential to create new paradigms and transform entire industries. It is only through combining skillsets that a generalist can find solace. This is what the world needs at this stage.
It sounds like you are a generalist. My advice to all generalists is this: Become bonafide Polymaths. Cultivate your skills to the greatest, until they don't make sense to continue anymore. Strive to become Da Vinci in your own right. The one and ultimate title to a true generalist would be 'Leonardo'. Hearing that from someone I respect more is like music to my ears that no other compliment or accomplishment can match. Then when you are ready, combine all of your skills. You will know when you are ready and your skills will all come back to serve you and help you with whatever you are building. You might have to independently manage your own business or start a company to be truly satisfied, but you will see opportunities and problems that others overlook.
As for me, I've started my educational tech company. I feel as if I'm secretly living in the 1980s and I'm holding the first personal computer. This is how exciting and revolutionary it is. The starting up phase for generalists is easiest. I can do that in 20% of the time where it takes others 80%. The recruiting is challenging as a solo-founder because it takes an open-minded person to see the vision of something that does not exist yet. But, we have to trust that the path will make sense down the road. Just keep doing what you are interested in, follow your intuition, and see where it leads you. Good luck!