An unique mix of talents

[DaleCall]

Short intro : I'm 27, quite successful by all external measures, but unfulfilled and trying to decide what to do with my life.

I've been thinking about this for a while. I have a very unique mix of skills and talents - as does everyone else. We're all different if you consider personalities alone, and I think this difference is way more pronounced if you also count skills and talents. In my case, I'm an engineer but I'm also a good writer and speaker, I like acting, if I had a second degree I'd be an economist, I like to cook desserts, I love to travel, I like to learn new languages.

Because of the unique mix of skills everyone has, I guess there must be an activity in which you're the best in the world doing that - some kind of activity or occupation which perfectly matches what you do best. The big question is, how do you find it? Or how do you put yourself in a position where you can leverage all of your skills and not only that, but the insight that comes from looking at something from several points of view at the same time?

For example, I'm good at certain technical things, I'm good at teaching these things, and I also like to write - so I'm in the process of writing a textbook. But that's a trivial example. The question is, how to make the most of your multiclass character?

[Meg]

Great question; I'm in the same boat.

I'm great with math, I'm great with languages, great memory for history, not too keen on natural sciences, but I love physic sciences, love to paint and sew and make jewelry, would love to teach, love to cook, I'm an amateur kickboxer, I love to be active, etc.

I'm probably one of the most well-rounded people I know and its all hard to figure out what do with my talents.

[JimOfferman]

I don't think there is necessarily a single activity that provides fulfillment. Maybe there is one for you, maybe not. Maybe you need to find a unique mix of activities to match your unique mix of talents. How do you find what works best for you? Trial and error. You can't reason your way into the perfect set of activities, you have to have experiences to know what works for you or not.

I consider myself to have a single talent: the ability to learn any skill I desire. The possibilities of that are endless. So I've tried a lot of different things. While music, for me, turned out miles ahead of everything else, I like a lot of things and I have the ability to do them all. Just not all at the same time. So now I am committed to do those things in serial.

[DaleCall]

Originally Posted by JimOfferman

Maybe you need to find a unique mix of activities to match your unique mix of talents.

Of course, but that misses my main point - the synergy between your skill set, which maybe only you have in the whole world.

Let's say a company needs to do a task which requires deep knowledge of engineering, economy, and dessert cooking. They could get an engineer, an economist, and a cook, but finding a single engineer/economist/cook would be way more valuable to them - a single person can use all his knowledge combined, without having to share ideas with the other two, and without situations of the type "why didn't you tell me that before?" "I didn't think it was relevant".

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by DaleCall

Let's say a company needs to do a task which requires deep knowledge of engineering, economy, and dessert cooking. They could get an engineer, an economist, and a cook, but finding a single engineer/economist/cook would be way more valuable to them - a single person can use all his knowledge combined, without having to share ideas with the other two, and without situations of the type "why didn't you tell me that before?" "I didn't think it was relevant".

Yes, but the chance of finding such a person is, of course, ridiculously small. Hiring three different people to do the job is much more economically viable - even with the communication overhead - than finding the one needle in the haystack.

The kind of job you are looking for does exist however! Instead of finding a company that has a hole in it the exact size and shape of your unique skill set, you could build a company around your unique skill set. That's basically what Steve has done... SP.com is built around his unique skill set.

I'm no economist-engineer-desert chef (I'm assuming you meant deserts, not desserts), but I am sure there is a product or service that such an individual could offer to cater to certain needs in the global market place.

[nick pagan]

I think that what Jim says makes a lot of sense. Some quests are so obscure and so unlikely to fulfill that what you lose in searching and waiting would probably never be compensated by finally getting what you set out for.

The book "What Color Is Your Parachute" besides being the best book on job hunting that I have ever come across also has interesting strategies on defining a job to suit you unique skills and then how to find out where it is. This book is usually held in public libraries if you don't want to buy it.

I respect polymaths (largely because I consider myself one too) and I'm totally in tune with what Jim says about developing the ability to learn any skill - that's really a wonderful thing to have. However, the days of the renaissance man making a huge difference have long since gone. Much of the advancement of mankind in recent years has come about from the productivity improvements and problem solving that come from specialization. Our economic systems tend to reward specialization and not jacks of all trades. You'd have to go and live on a desert island to find favor for whatever flavor of desserts, designs and dollars you can make work together.

Nick Pagan

[z1freeride]

Originally Posted by nick pagan

I think that what Jim says makes a lot of sense. Some quests are so obscure and so unlikely to fulfill that what you lose in searching and waiting would probably never be compensated by finally getting what you set out for.

The book "What Color Is Your Parachute" besides being the best book on job hunting that I have ever come across also has interesting strategies on defining a job to suit you unique skills and then how to find out where it is. This book is usually held in public libraries if you don't want to buy it.

I respect polymaths (largely because I consider myself one too) and I'm totally in tune with what Jim says about developing the ability to learn any skill - that's really a wonderful thing to have. However, the days of the renaissance man making a huge difference have long since gone. Much of the advancement of mankind in recent years has come about from the productivity improvements and problem solving that come from specialization. Our economic systems tend to reward specialization and not jacks of all trades. You'd have to go and live on a desert island to find favor for whatever flavor of desserts, designs and dollars you can make work together.

Nick Pagan

I agree with Nick here. You should check out his site.

I too have many interests and I found myself desiring to be a professional at many of them. However, it didn't seem like I was achieving my goals at all. I procrastinated a lot because I had so many aspirations that it was subconsciously overwhelming. I've decided to specialize in one or two areas now. I guess it's up to you to decide what you want to pursue. But, IMO, I think it it's much more fulfilling to specialize in one interest and dabble in other areas just for fun (no expectations).

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by JimOfferman

I'm assuming you meant deserts, not desserts

I think I drank too much coffee when I wrote this... of course you meant desserts, not deserts.

[DaleCall]

Thanks. English is not my native language so you made me doubt. Anyway, I never liked the taste of sand

[Dreamlife Hero]

Hi guys, great subject for a post.

I've been wondering the same thing myself for a while. In Chopra's 'Seven Spritual Laws of Success' he states that everyone has a unique talent which takes them into timeless awareness (Law of Dharma). I've always thought that was a pretty bold statement and I'm not sure if I understand him correctly. He says that everyone has a talent which only they can express in a unique way.

My particular 'unique' talent is that I can play the piano 'by ear' and play almost anything without learning it. I just put my hands on the keyboard, hear the song/ tune and play it.

The problem I have is that I unfortunately don't really have a passion for doing that so it's really just for entertaining friends etc. Although I have worked in a professional capacity playing the piano I didn't really enjoy it and it's not the sort of music I listen to. If I'd been born in the 19th Century I would have been very popular at parties!

It seems that my ability is wasted on me as I'm sure thousands of people would Love to be able to play half as well as I can - without any effort or practice at all.

The other thing that I am quite good at and enjoy a lot is writing - but I can't think how those 2 skills could be combined (I wouldn't enjoy being a music journalist or anything like that).

Anyway - just thought I'd add my opinion to the mix.

DLH

[uberinquisitive]

I don't see why I should combine them if it's not "natural" and easy to do it.

I am really great doing marketing stuff in typical white collar corporate world. I also am starting an e-business for my writing. I'm also writing a screenplay, and when I'm done (2 weeks!) I'm off to find an agent. I keep all three separate from each other, and it works fine.

[Markus]

Originally Posted by DaleCall

Short intro : I'm 27, quite successful by all external measures, but unfulfilled and trying to decide what to do with my life.

I've been thinking about this for a while. I have a very unique mix of skills and talents - as does everyone else. We're all different if you consider personalities alone, and I think this difference is way more pronounced if you also count skills and talents. In my case, I'm an engineer but I'm also a good writer and speaker, I like acting, if I had a second degree I'd be an economist, I like to cook desserts, I love to travel, I like to learn new languages.

Because of the unique mix of skills everyone has, I guess there must be an activity in which you're the best in the world doing that - some kind of activity or occupation which perfectly matches what you do best. The big question is, how do you find it? Or how do you put yourself in a position where you can leverage all of your skills and not only that, but the insight that comes from looking at something from several points of view at the same time?

For example, I'm good at certain technical things, I'm good at teaching these things, and I also like to write - so I'm in the process of writing a textbook. But that's a trivial example. The question is, how to make the most of your multiclass character?

Great topic.
I like it, because it touches me somehow. I was the best graduate at school, smart at everything and I couldn't decide what to do.
But you know, I soon found many things I wasn't good it at all. I found weak points.
I guess you got some, too. Mine were social engineering, self enjoying and females. Oh yeah, and decision making of course
The reasons for feeling lost were not my mulitskills. They were my weak points.
Maybe it's similar with you. Maybe you got things you're hopeless bad in which makes you sad, cause these things are important to you. (Women? Instruments? Sports?) Focus on those weak points and it could bring you joy and clarity.

[thirial]

engineers who are good communicators are rare, you can talk engineer to the engineers and English to the sales guys and make one hell of an awesome product

If you like travel and learning languages why don´t you get yourself a job with an NGO in a third world country? They are always searching for engineers and its a chance to make real lasting change for a community much less fortunate than ours in the west

if you´re interested i can talk to an Engineer friend who just finished constructing a Dam in India for advice on where to look...

[oberlee]

It's not a linear thing. I have absolutely no science background, but I refuse to believe in the "right-brained"/"left-brained" theories. I have always been very artistic and creative, and am in the arts as my career, but I love math. To me, it balances me out--it gives a kind of stability that the creative world doesn't have.

I think it's ridiculous to thing that people are either analytical OR creative. Besides, what about all those smart kids that play violin like a maniac and get 1600 on their SAT's?