A Bit of a Polymath
Lately, I’ve been reading about polymaths (a.k.a. multipotentialite, a.k.a. Renaissance man). I relate a lot with the descriptions I’ve read:
- Has a wide variety of interests
- Lover of learning
- Naturally makes connections between seemingly disparate fields
- Has difficulty sticking with one field or project for a long time
To be honest, though, calling myself a polymath feels both arrogant and degrading. It feels like I’m saying, “I’m good at everything!” half the time and “I’m mediocre at everything…” the other half. Besides, I’m no Da Vinci. I feel pretty ordinary, just with a bit of a generalist flare, so it just doesn’t feel quite right to outright call myself a polymath.
So for lack of a better term, I’m just going to call myself a curious generalist, or sometimes I might say I’m “a bit of a polymath.”
I have a theory that my brain is organized differently than a specialist’s brain. A specialist’s brain structure enables them to focus intensely on one task in a specific domain and not get sidetracked. When they need to go from point A to point B, they find the most direct route there and proceed briskly.
When I need to go from point A to point B, I can’t help but meander. Who knows what useful things I might pick up along the way? Or maybe I’ll find a shortcut!
My brain is optimized to forge and utilize connections, and that requires being extremely thorough (sometimes unnecessarily thorough) when studying something or solving a problem. As my brain thinks, it tries to rely on existing knowledge while simultaneously making new connections. That means processing through more neurons than a specialist’s brain would, and that’s just going to take longer.
I’ve studied physics, computer science, and business, plus a fair amount of layman psychology, and I love making connections between all of them! It’s slow going sometimes, but it enables me to reach a fairly deep level of understanding in many cases. If I can connect a new concept to something I already know from physics or computer science, then I instantly have a fairly deep understanding of it.
In my first job out of college, I’ve felt a lot of shame. I’m slow. I’m inept. I’m not good enough. It’s the first time in my life I’ve felt that way in relation to school and work. Maybe I’m not really cut out for this. Maybe I’m not as smart and talented as I thought I was. But through much introspection, I’ve concluded it’s not a matter of ability or even capability; it’s more a matter of fit and passion. The role I’m in doesn’t naturally suit a curious generalist like me.
I have two options:
- Find a role that naturally utilizes my talents
- Find ways to use my talents in my current role (even if it’s unconventional)
I think doing both is best. I’ll always be searching for the ideal role for me, but until I find it, I’ll jerry-rig it. :-)
