I got the notification for this newsletter within one minute of thinking about my multiple areas of interest and wondering how there could ever be enough time in life to pursue them. I take this as confirmation that it can be done. I'm going to pick 2 artistic projects and finish them this month.
Do it! You deserve to. We are the new renaissance people. I’m so excited to see what art/ideas/enterprise comes from people owning the full spectrum of their potential.
Dan’s point about modern working structures is something I say to people all the time. With the internet we don’t need to confine ourselves anymore - the job market has proven that, companies don’t care. And with AI in the mix being able to execute singular roles, it’s really going to expedite the need to lean into your uniqueness.
I would also add that having a vision for your contribution to the world will help you determine the priority of your ideas (like how much of each one you ‘need’).
But I believe you have to build something first and not get stuck overthinking + inaction.
Polymaths have a tendency to do that - it’s something I’ve struggled with for years. The desire to solve that problem is the entire reason I started my Substack 🙏🏽
Its so true! Everyone always says “Jack of all trades is a master of none”, but they don’t add the rest which is “But often times better than a master of one.” Its true that you shouldn’t bite off more than you can chew, but we set unrealistic standards too fast and get discouraged when we don’t see progress, but by taking on more and more gradually, youll find yourself more fulfilled and better at time management!
I learned this phrase yesterday from my friend! I was amazed, because was just telling him how passionate I was about helping people take action on their ideas…
But the pervasive stereotype that polymaths aren’t truly proficient in the things they pick up can hold them back from their potential. It’s nonsense really.
People just need good systems to help them see things through and not collect more unfinished ideas. Because the world needs more unique genius. I’m currently building my own system to do that, it’s really exciting
My art teacher once told me “You have such great ideas but you never seem to finish them” and I knew that was true but the fact that she had called me out on it really made me reflect that my executions were enough to get me “by” but I wasn’t proud enough because they didn’t feel like what i really wanted, and living for yourself is where to start. You just got to get through the L’s you take in the process.
I’ve also struggled with starting MANY things but lacking the execution and follow through. I’m in the process of learning to be more particular with which projects and subjects I prioritize so I can see them through. But it’s refreshing to know that having excitement and desire to explore so many paths is not the bad thing most people make it out to be, and many others enjoy it as well!
The following words were written on the tomb of an Anglican bishop in the crypts of Westminster Abbey which is truly inspiring and echo with the first idea.
“When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seemed immovable. As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it. And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.”
Respire. Aspire. Perspire. Inspire. Sometimes growth begins with a breath, a dream, the hard work, and then the spark we pass on to others.
The Prussian school system many of us inherited was designed to create reliable worker bees, not free thinkers.
You were trained to defer judgment to authority, follow instructions, and stay within clearly marked lanes. Smart enough to operate the system. Not independent enough to question it (paraphrasing the late George Carlin).
You don’t need a conspiracy to explain this. Industrial economies reward predictability, not sovereignty.
The production line simply adapted to the modern era and became digital. The obedience requirement stayed the same.
Everywhere I look, I see people like you (with all due respect) shouting: “Get out of your comfort zone.” “Build an agency.” “Make money online.” “Become a niche.” “Start an AI business.”
And honestly, it feels similar to the old traditional script: “Go to school.” “Get a degree.” “Get a job.” “Work until retirement.”
Consciously, I accept the first path building a niche, starting an agency, creating wealth, and making my parents and loved ones happy and safe.
But I’ve realized something scary.
If someone only consumes this content, keeps planning and planning, but never takes action staying in a safe mental zone they might end up worse than both: The one who took action
“Even if you’re anti-social like me, this is one of those events where you come away with so much knowledge and clarity that no course or content can give you. They will make it easy on you to be able to meet and talk to people so you don’t end up sitting in the back of the room like I would.”
This was sent to me and every single word rings true for me. It's as if it was written for me. Now I know I am truly not alone in this particular journey. My interests are vast and I have expertise in two areas but focus in many more. The insistence that I MUST niche ended up putting me at a virtual standstill. But after reading this...no more!
Chat GPT says "Dan Koe and you are swimming in the same current". Honestly (is not the half bottle of wine I just had with my friend) you just read my mind. How do you do it, man?? I am double your age!!??
Multiple interests are fine, but the 10, 000 plus hours required to become even a basic expert in an area are a real physical limit. The narrative that we must all be multi skilled is part of the rhetoric over reality of those who wish to use us as toy soldiers moved on and off the board at their will. Reality has physical limits, we are not unbound from these because we create a fantasy.
I enjoyed this - as a Substacker who writes on philosophy, AI, finance, bread making (soon!), it has convinced me to cover my classical guitar hobby in blog form as well. Highly unlikely to ever make any money out of it but it is fun to do and you never know....more ideas = more possibilities I guess.
I guess the key to successfully implementing your advice is finding the niche/linkage between the things you are interested in and where they can be useful to other people - then get it out there is a persuasive fashion! That bit I shall work on...
I got the notification for this newsletter within one minute of thinking about my multiple areas of interest and wondering how there could ever be enough time in life to pursue them. I take this as confirmation that it can be done. I'm going to pick 2 artistic projects and finish them this month.
Do it! You deserve to. We are the new renaissance people. I’m so excited to see what art/ideas/enterprise comes from people owning the full spectrum of their potential.
Dan’s point about modern working structures is something I say to people all the time. With the internet we don’t need to confine ourselves anymore - the job market has proven that, companies don’t care. And with AI in the mix being able to execute singular roles, it’s really going to expedite the need to lean into your uniqueness.
I would also add that having a vision for your contribution to the world will help you determine the priority of your ideas (like how much of each one you ‘need’).
But I believe you have to build something first and not get stuck overthinking + inaction.
Polymaths have a tendency to do that - it’s something I’ve struggled with for years. The desire to solve that problem is the entire reason I started my Substack 🙏🏽
It seems that having multiple interests can be seen as a weakness, a flaw or just a distracted person that can’t make their mind up.
It’s refreshing to hear a perspective that challenges and promotes pursuing multiple interests.
Its so true! Everyone always says “Jack of all trades is a master of none”, but they don’t add the rest which is “But often times better than a master of one.” Its true that you shouldn’t bite off more than you can chew, but we set unrealistic standards too fast and get discouraged when we don’t see progress, but by taking on more and more gradually, youll find yourself more fulfilled and better at time management!
I just heard the whole of that saying recently.
Also “the customer is always right” is left unfinished as well
“The customer is always right in matters of taste”
thats why I appreciate this app, it surrounds you with like minded people and we can build up and support one another!
100%. I feel blessed that it exists man. Also just realised you started writing the same time as me lol, gonna have a gander at your stuff now
I learned this phrase yesterday from my friend! I was amazed, because was just telling him how passionate I was about helping people take action on their ideas…
But the pervasive stereotype that polymaths aren’t truly proficient in the things they pick up can hold them back from their potential. It’s nonsense really.
People just need good systems to help them see things through and not collect more unfinished ideas. Because the world needs more unique genius. I’m currently building my own system to do that, it’s really exciting
My art teacher once told me “You have such great ideas but you never seem to finish them” and I knew that was true but the fact that she had called me out on it really made me reflect that my executions were enough to get me “by” but I wasn’t proud enough because they didn’t feel like what i really wanted, and living for yourself is where to start. You just got to get through the L’s you take in the process.
I’ve also struggled with starting MANY things but lacking the execution and follow through. I’m in the process of learning to be more particular with which projects and subjects I prioritize so I can see them through. But it’s refreshing to know that having excitement and desire to explore so many paths is not the bad thing most people make it out to be, and many others enjoy it as well!
The following words were written on the tomb of an Anglican bishop in the crypts of Westminster Abbey which is truly inspiring and echo with the first idea.
“When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seemed immovable. As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it. And now as I lie on my deathbed, I suddenly realize: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.”
Respire. Aspire. Perspire. Inspire. Sometimes growth begins with a breath, a dream, the hard work, and then the spark we pass on to others.
They ask us to prune the garden until only one branch remains. But I am the soil, the water, and the wild root refusing to sleep.
To be a single thing is to die while your chest is still moving. Why lock the universe in a drawer labeled with a job title?
I gather fragments of the world to build a mirror that holds the sky. My heart is not a rented room; it is the open street.
Do not apologize for the chaos that makes you whole. We are not here to be filed away like paper.
We are here to burn the filing cabinet and warm our hands.
The Prussian school system many of us inherited was designed to create reliable worker bees, not free thinkers.
You were trained to defer judgment to authority, follow instructions, and stay within clearly marked lanes. Smart enough to operate the system. Not independent enough to question it (paraphrasing the late George Carlin).
You don’t need a conspiracy to explain this. Industrial economies reward predictability, not sovereignty.
The production line simply adapted to the modern era and became digital. The obedience requirement stayed the same.
I’ve started to feel like I’m stuck in a loop.
Everywhere I look, I see people like you (with all due respect) shouting: “Get out of your comfort zone.” “Build an agency.” “Make money online.” “Become a niche.” “Start an AI business.”
And honestly, it feels similar to the old traditional script: “Go to school.” “Get a degree.” “Get a job.” “Work until retirement.”
Consciously, I accept the first path building a niche, starting an agency, creating wealth, and making my parents and loved ones happy and safe.
But I’ve realized something scary.
If someone only consumes this content, keeps planning and planning, but never takes action staying in a safe mental zone they might end up worse than both: The one who took action
and the one who followed the traditional path.
And I’m afraid I’m becoming that person.
It scares me at night.
But in the morning, I still delay and decay.
This is not a reply.
This is just me shouting what’s in my mind. 👍
Just take action… it’s not that deep
Yeah That's where I fail but that's the only option!. "Life rewards action".
This made me lol
“Even if you’re anti-social like me, this is one of those events where you come away with so much knowledge and clarity that no course or content can give you. They will make it easy on you to be able to meet and talk to people so you don’t end up sitting in the back of the room like I would.”
This was sent to me and every single word rings true for me. It's as if it was written for me. Now I know I am truly not alone in this particular journey. My interests are vast and I have expertise in two areas but focus in many more. The insistence that I MUST niche ended up putting me at a virtual standstill. But after reading this...no more!
Chat GPT says "Dan Koe and you are swimming in the same current". Honestly (is not the half bottle of wine I just had with my friend) you just read my mind. How do you do it, man?? I am double your age!!??
That’s synchronicity in action! You’re resonating with the same current because you’ve tapped into a shared archetype. Welcome to the deep end!
Multiple interests are fine, but the 10, 000 plus hours required to become even a basic expert in an area are a real physical limit. The narrative that we must all be multi skilled is part of the rhetoric over reality of those who wish to use us as toy soldiers moved on and off the board at their will. Reality has physical limits, we are not unbound from these because we create a fantasy.
https://animamundi.substack.com/p/the-polymaths-dilemma-what-leonardo I wrote a whole article about that as well.
Cheers to people with multiple interests!! Thanks sharing this, all this time i thought i had ADHD.
Society’s script is so broke.
I saw a video explaining the meaning of a dilettante and it has changed the way I see my world!
I enjoyed this - as a Substacker who writes on philosophy, AI, finance, bread making (soon!), it has convinced me to cover my classical guitar hobby in blog form as well. Highly unlikely to ever make any money out of it but it is fun to do and you never know....more ideas = more possibilities I guess.
I guess the key to successfully implementing your advice is finding the niche/linkage between the things you are interested in and where they can be useful to other people - then get it out there is a persuasive fashion! That bit I shall work on...
hey Dan can you summarize thing into a good post