Why people with multiple interests are more successful than others

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Be open to new things and greedily absorb knowledge from different areas so that someone will say about you: "He's a genius!"

Entrepreneur and author Michael Simmons on his blog M. Simmons. People Who Have “Too Many Interests” Are More Likely To Be Successful According To Research / Medium on Medium noted that many successful people had extensive knowledge in different fields. Steve Jobs, Ben Franklin, Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci, Maria Sklodowska-Curie are just a few of them. They are all polymaths.

Who are polymates

Polymath is a person who is competent in at least three different areas and knows how to integrate this knowledge together.

Simply put, such people take the best in various fields, which helps them become more effective in their main job.

Polymaths have gone and continue to go against the popular concepts of success, which are called deep immersion in one professional area as the only way to gain recognition.

They create atypical combinations of knowledge from different fields, offer disruptive ideas and completely new industries to explore.

For example, humans have studied biology and sociology for hundreds of years. But no one ever studied these subjects together or synthesized them into a new discipline until researcher Edward Osborne Wilson pioneered sociobiology in the 1970s.

Charles Darwin, the creator of the most famous theory of evolution, was also a polymath. Stephen Johnson, author of Where Good Ideas Come From. The Birth and Destiny of Innovation”, describes him as a person of extensive knowledge in the fields of marine biology, geology and natural science. It was his interest in various sciences that allowed Darwin to make a scientific breakthrough.

Why such people are the norm of the modern world

Polymates have always existed. But in the past, such people did not have much recognition. It was believed that the more sciences a person comprehends, the less thoughtfully he does it.

In the modern world, attitudes towards polymaths have changed. Diverse interests are no longer a curse, but a blessing. This is an advantage, not a disadvantage. Such people are more successful financially and career-wise than those who are deeply interested in only one area of expertise.

Successful polymaths are Stib Jobs, who combined design and software. Or Elon Musk is a physicist, engineer, entrepreneur, inventor and investor.

What are the advantages of polymaths

They create atypical skill combinations that lead to success

Scott Adams, creator of the popular satirical comic strip Dilbert, was not the funniest person in the world. He was not an outstanding cartoonist or incredibly skilled worker when he took on a then-unknown project at the age of 20. But he combined the skills of laughing and drawing, focused on the business component of the project and became the best in his niche.

Scott Adams creator of the popular satirical comic strip Dilbert

If you want to be successful, you can be the best in one area or the best in two or more areas. The first is impossible, the second is real. Each has several areas in which he understands more than others. In my case, this is drawing. I can hardly be called an outstanding artist, but I paint better than most people. I'm not funnier than the average comedian, but I'm funnier than most. Combining the two skills is rare, so my job is unique.

They quickly adapt to change

Mobile app developer, drone engineer, YouTube content creator - these professions didn't exist 15 years ago. If we could know in advance what specialties will emerge, go back in time, master the necessary skills, and then become the best in new industries, it would be great. But this is unreal. So you have to adapt to change along the way. And polymaths do it better and faster than specialists in one field.

Polymath can quickly master new knowledge.

He can combine them in unusual ways, so he learns new professions easier. It will take longer for a specialist in an outdated field to adapt to innovation. It will be much more difficult for him to start from the very beginning.

They solve complex problems

The solution to many of the problems facing society lies in several areas of expertise. Consider the example of obesity - the cause of the high mortality rate of people in the world.

You might think that the solution to the problem is simple: eat less, exercise more. But this is not entirely true. Obesity is more complex than it sounds. To eliminate it requires knowledge in the field of physiology, genetics, behavioral psychology, general psychology, sociology, economics, marketing, education and nutrition systems. A specialist in one of these areas cannot solve the problem. Polymath is easier to cope with. Synthesizing a variety of knowledge, they offer non-standard ideas and techniques.

They stand out and are valued higher

Each person has a set of knowledge and skills. They are a commodity. And the price of a product depends on supply and demand. You may have the most valuable skill set, but if someone else has the same, then the price of your item drops.

Polymaths create unique combinations of knowledge, which compares favorably with most. Therefore, if you want to earn more, then study more. Take an interest in different areas to create rare skill combinations.

How to become a polymath

Be curious and open to learning

It's never too late to start learning something new that will be a great addition to your existing knowledge. But don't do it mindlessly. Determine the most convenient and effective training model for you. For example, follow the 20/80 principle.

Develop in different areas

As a child, we liked to explore different things. But as we grow up, interest in the world around us gives way to a clear framework of knowledge. We know what set of skills is needed for the job, and we only pump them. But being a polymath means not being limited to one area.

Don't try to be perfect at everything

Polymates are not specialists in one narrow area. They are above average in various areas. Remember this when you decide to quit learning just because you are still far from the pinnacle of mastery.

For example, your hobby is tennis. But taking first place in the ratings is not at all necessary. Even if you are on the 45th or 128th line, this is already a victory. Getting into the rating itself sets you apart from the crowd. This already means that you are better than most.

Use available sources of knowledge

Don't bury the urge to learn something new just for lack of money. Do not think that knowledge can be obtained only at expensive master classes and trainings.

In the modern world, a huge amount of content from the world's best experts is openly available: hundreds of thousands of online courses, billions of videos. Our time is a golden era for people who want to learn and are disciplined enough to do it on their own.