How to Manage Multiple Interests

Summary

The speaker discusses the struggle of wanting to do everything and the danger of spreading oneself too thin, leading to lack of progress. They share personal experiences and strategies for managing this desire, including creating a hierarchy of interests, effective time management, and accepting that not all interests can be pursued simultaneously. The importance of persistence through challenges and the emotional journey of learning new skills are also highlighted, emphasizing the value of balance and focus in personal development.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Embrace curiosity and the desire to explore various interests, but be mindful of not spreading yourself too thin.
• 🔍 Realize that specialization and a diverse set of skills can coexist; balance is key.
• 📝 Create a hierarchy of interests to prioritize and allocate time effectively.
• ⏰ Implement time management strategies, such as using Google Calendar, to plan your week and focus on important tasks.
• 🎯 Rank your interests based on personal value to determine where to invest your time and effort.
• 🚫 Accept that you may need to temporarily let go of some interests to focus on the most meaningful ones.
• 🔄 Reframing existing tasks can help develop new skills without adding extra time to your schedule.
• 💡 Identify the root cause of the desire to do everything, often stemming from 'shiny object syndrome' and social media exposure.
• 🛑 Understand that the journey of mastering a skill involves ups and downs, including moments of struggle and burnout.
• 🏆 Recognize that persistence through challenges leads to achievement and a sense of accomplishment.
• 📈 Adapt your approach to lifelong learning, understanding that it's a continuous process with room for new pursuits in the future.

Q & A

What does the speaker describe as 'horrible' regarding the idea of being pushed into a box?

The speaker describes the idea of being pushed into a box and deprived of the room to branch out and try different things as 'horrible'. They express a strong aversion to the notion of being limited to a single role or task, which they believe is contrary to the nature of humans as curious, lifelong learners.

How does the speaker feel about the specialized economy and its impact on individuals?

The speaker feels that the specialized economy exacerbates the problem of individuals being pigeonholed into specific roles, which they believe is not how humans are meant to function. They argue that humans are on Earth for more than just being a cog in a machine and that the pressure to specialize can lead to a loss of the desire to explore and learn new things.

What phrase does the speaker dislike and why?

The speaker dislikes the phrase 'jack of all trades, master of none'. They dislike it for two reasons: first, because they believe it's incorrect in practice as people can be good at multiple things, and second, because it suggests that one must be a master to be considered good at something, which is not necessarily true.

What is the 'shiny object syndrome' mentioned in the script?

The 'shiny object syndrome' refers to the tendency to be distracted by new and interesting activities or hobbies, jumping from one to another without making solid progress in any. This can lead to a lack of focus and a dilution of efforts, preventing individuals from achieving meaningful success in any particular area.

How does the speaker suggest one should deal with the desire to do everything?

The speaker suggests creating a hierarchy of interests and making a realistic plan for improvement. They recommend a 10-minute exercise where one writes down all interests and ranks them based on importance. This helps to narrow down the scope and allocate time correctly, focusing on what matters most.

What is the speaker's view on time management?

The speaker initially had doubts about time management but has come to appreciate its value. They started planning every day on Google Calendar, which has significantly improved their productivity. The speaker emphasizes that time management is not about working constantly but about valuing time and using it with intention to achieve goals.

How does the speaker balance their various interests and pursuits?

The speaker balances their interests by allocating time to them based on their importance, as determined by their hierarchy of interests. They prioritize their most meaningful pursuits and dedicate time to them, while also finding small pockets of time for less important activities that bring joy and diversity.

What advice does the speaker give for dealing with the feeling of having to do everything right now?

The speaker advises to accept that doing everything is impossible and to focus on what's most important in the present. They suggest deferring some interests to the future and recognizing that building one's character is a lifelong game, allowing for new pursuits to be added when time and capacity allow.

How did the speaker develop a new skill without adding to their schedule?

The speaker developed a new skill by reframing an existing task. In their case, they had to start cooking every meal for themselves when they went to college. Instead of viewing this as a chore, they decided to learn and improve their cooking skills, turning a necessity into an opportunity for growth.

What is the speaker's perspective on the influence of social media on one's sense of accomplishment?

The speaker believes that social media can lead to feelings of inadequacy and jealousy, as it exposes individuals to a vast array of skills and achievements that others have accumulated over years. They advise using others' success as motivation rather than letting it sabotage one's own progress and to recognize the value of one's own unique skills.

What does the speaker say about the emotional journey of pursuing a new interest or skill?

The speaker describes a five-stage emotional journey: uninformed optimism, informed pessimism, the valley of despair, informed optimism, and finally achievement. They emphasize that struggle and overcoming challenges are necessary parts of growth and mastery, and that understanding this journey can help one persist through difficult times.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 Struggling with the Desire to Do Everything

The speaker begins by expressing a common struggle of wanting to do everything and the fear of being boxed into a single role or task. They emphasize the human need for variety and growth, and the danger of becoming a 'jack of all trades, master of none.' The speaker shares their own experiences of jumping from one hobby to another without achieving success, highlighting the importance of finding balance and focus.

05:01

📈 Prioritizing Interests and Time Management

The speaker discusses the importance of prioritizing interests and managing time effectively. They share a personal exercise of ranking interests and using this hierarchy to plan their ideal week on Google Calendar. The speaker argues that by allocating time to the most important activities, one can make meaningful progress while still making room for less critical pursuits that bring joy and diversity.

10:02

🎯 Embracing a Long-Term Approach to Skill Development

The speaker advises on taking a long-term view of skill development, suggesting that it's okay to temporarily set aside some interests to focus on others. They emphasize the value of time and the need to make sacrifices for the things that matter most. The speaker also introduces the concept of reframing existing activities as opportunities for skill development without adding to one's schedule.

🚀 Overcoming Shiny Object Syndrome and the Power of Persistence

The speaker addresses the issue of 'shiny object syndrome,' where the allure of new and different activities can distract from one's core pursuits. They discuss the negative impact of social media on self-worth and the importance of focusing on one's own skills and progress. The speaker also shares a personal story of learning to cook as a means of skill development without sacrificing other interests, and encourages finding joy in daily tasks as a way to progress in multiple areas.

Keywords

💡Specialized Economy

The term 'Specialized Economy' refers to an economic system where individuals and businesses focus on specific tasks or niches to achieve efficiency and productivity. In the context of the video, it is portrayed as a potential limitation to human creativity and diversity, as it may push people into narrow roles within a larger machine, contrary to the natural human desire for variety and exploration.

💡Lifelong Learner

A 'Lifelong Learner' is an individual who continuously seeks new knowledge and skills throughout their life, rather than ceasing educational pursuits after formal schooling. The video emphasizes the importance of this mindset for personal growth and the ability to adapt to changing interests and opportunities.

💡Jack of All Trades, Master of None

This phrase suggests that a person who knows a little about many things may not achieve expertise in any particular area. The speaker challenges this notion by arguing that it's possible to be well-rounded without sacrificing the ability to achieve proficiency in certain areas of interest.

💡Shiny Object Syndrome

Shiny Object Syndrome is a metaphorical term used to describe the tendency to become distracted by new, exciting, or novel things, often at the expense of focusing on current priorities or long-term goals. In the video, this concept is presented as a common pitfall that can lead to a lack of progress in any particular area.

💡Balance

In the context of the video, 'Balance' refers to the ability to manage and allocate time and resources effectively across multiple interests and activities without neglecting any one pursuit. It's about achieving a state where one can explore various interests while still making consistent progress in each.

💡Hierarchy of Interests

A 'Hierarchy of Interests' is a ranked list of activities or pursuits ordered by their importance or value to an individual. This tool helps in prioritizing and managing time effectively by focusing on what matters most, which is a central theme in the video.

💡Time Management

Time Management refers to the process of planning and exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency, or productivity. In the video, the speaker advocates for time management as a means to align one's daily activities with their long-term goals and interests.

💡Renaissance Man

A 'Renaissance Man' is a term used to describe someone who is well-rounded, knowledgeable in various fields, and skilled in many areas. The video speaker admires this concept and aims to achieve a similar level of versatility and competence across different interests.

💡Memento Mori

Memento Mori is a Latin phrase that translates to 'remember that you will die'. It is a philosophical reminder about the inevitability of death and the importance of living life to the fullest. In the video, the speaker uses this concept to encourage enjoying the present and not feeling pressured to pursue too many interests at once.

💡Polymath

A 'Polymath' is a person with extensive knowledge in various fields, often characterized by their ability to excel in multiple areas of study or expertise. The video speaker aspires to this ideal, aiming to be well-rounded and proficient in multiple interests without sacrificing focus or progress.

💡Valley of Despair

The 'Valley of Despair' is a phase used to describe a period of significant struggle or frustration, often experienced when learning a new skill or starting a new venture. It is part of a larger model that outlines the emotional journey of an entrepreneur or someone starting a new endeavor. In the video, this concept is used to illustrate the challenges one might face when pursuing multiple interests.

Highlights

The speaker expresses a strong aversion to being confined to a single role or task, emphasizing the human desire for variety and growth.

The specialized economy is criticized for potentially limiting personal development and exploration.

The importance of being a lifelong learner and maintaining curiosity is highlighted as a sign of a well-rounded individual.

The danger of spreading oneself too thin across too many activities, leading to a lack of progress, is discussed.

The phrase 'jack of all trades, master of none' is critiqued for being both inaccurate and discouraging.

A personal story is shared about the struggle to find balance between pursuing multiple interests and achieving tangible success.

The concept of the 'Renaissance Man' is introduced as an ideal of mastery in multiple fields.

The necessity of prioritizing and focusing on the most meaningful pursuits is emphasized to avoid dilution of effort.

A practical exercise is suggested for creating a hierarchy of interests to better allocate time and resources.

The benefits of time management are discussed, despite initial skepticism, and a personal success story is shared.

A method for planning an ideal week using Google Calendar is described to align activities with one's priorities.

The acceptance of making sacrifices in less important areas to focus on higher priorities is advised.

The idea of deferring some interests to the future is presented as a strategy for managing the desire to do everything.

The concept of reframing existing tasks as opportunities for skill development is introduced.

The influence of social media on feelings of inadequacy and the need to focus on one's own progress is discussed.

The emotional journey of pursuing a new interest, including the valley of despair, is outlined as a normal part of the learning process.

The final achievement stage, where effort leads to success and a sense of accomplishment, is described.

The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to share their own experiences and advice on balancing multiple interests.

Transcripts

I want to do everything the idea of

being pushed into this box and deprived

of the room to Branch out and try

different things that's horrible to me

and chances are this gets even worse

when you enter a career because of this

hyp specialized economy we've built

that's not how humans work we're on this

Earth for more than being just a cog in

a machine doing this one specific task

and becoming good at one specific thing

and if you share that feeling that's

amazing because that's the sign of

someone curious someone who's a lifelong

learner and someone who's always wanting

to try new things and explore everything

the world has to offer so this feeling

is good but if you don't manage it

correctly you could be digging a hole

beneath yourself one that's going to

sabotage you later on in your Chase to

do everything you end up moving nowhere

because your focus is so diluted across

many different activities you've heard

the phrase jack of all trades master of

none and I kind of hate that saying for

two reasons first because it's wrong in

practice and second of all you don't

have to be considered a master to be

good at something but to give it some

credit we still have to balance our

focus and at least make some progress

somewhere because if you jump from Hobby

to hobby from business to business

you'll never make any solid movement

forward in any direction this is shiny

object syndrome digging a trap for you

and you falling into it and if you're

expecting me to say you have to abandon

this and become specialized then you'd

be wrong because there is a way to

compromise there is a way to do both

things the magic is in the balance and I

know this because I've been through the

struggle the desire to do everything

only to be stretched so thin that

nothing gets done I've tried and failed

a bunch of different Hobbies Pursuits

business plans you name it for example

before I started this channel I jumped

from logo design to Brand identity and

then finally to thumbnail design and I

had nothing to show for it along the way

except the learning I never succeeded in

the traditional sense I love the idea of

the Renaissance Man the character who is

good at many different skills and

reliable but at the same time it's not

an excuse to suck at all of them it's

good to fail and learn from mistakes but

not forever at some point we have to see

some action today I'm happy to say that

I found that balance I found a way to

consistently improve in many different

areas but also not in the sense that

it's unrealistic and leaves me feeling

disappointed I like to read I like to

write I like to lift to play the violin

and of course to make videos that help

you I'm so grateful for having that

balance because it was hard fought it

took a long time to settle down and find

the things that mattered to me but even

today despite all of that I get this

inner voice saying when are you going to

start this when are you going to start

that when are you going to Branch out

when you going to do this and that and

this and that and it's a nightmare so

here I want to share everything I've

learned along the way about managing the

desire to do everything and staying

focused every strategy and every

principle that helps me become a

generalist but at the same time keeps me

focused enough to see consistent results

in each area first we have to face an

uncomfortable truth that doing

everything is impossible we all have the

same 24 hours and we will have a bunch

of essential duties we have to complete

every day so how do you budget your time

with intention how do you avoid

overfilling your plate and then getting

frustrated that you can't eat it all I

did this by making a hierarchy of all my

interests with just a 10-minute exercise

you can really narrow down your scope

and create a realistic plan for

improvement so just over a year ago I

came to the harsh conclusion that I had

to smarten up I couldn't do everything

and it was time to create a plan a plan

of what to do on a piece of paper I

wrote down all of my interests things

like skills to learn Hobbies business

ideas everything so I sat down in the

Silence of my bedroom to have a think

what on this list is most important to

me I chose my answers and I ranked them

based on how precious they were so the

things at the top would be the

activities that I couldn't live without

and as you go down the list they

suddenly become less and less important

since my most meaningful Pursuit settled

at the top of the list it gave me this

Vision this Clarity on where I should be

spending my time because before I was

overwhelmed I had all these ideas in my

head of what to do but once I had them

laid out here I could see things with a

bird's eye view and it made much more

sense on picking what I should

prioritize and what made maybe is more

of a distraction in fact you could even

do this right now where you sit get out

a piece of paper and just jot down some

of the interests that matter to you this

takes just a few minutes and it will set

you up for the next step which is how

you create your personalized strategy

for dealing with them the next step is

the time management itself and I can't

help but cringe a little when I hear the

words time management because I always

Associated to the the finance hustle

Bros and the self-help gurus but

regardless of that link I can't deny the

value of it time management works and I

can voucher it because last year I

started planning every single day my

week on Google Calendar and I must say

it's one of the best changes I've made

in my life for actually getting more

done of course at first I had my doubts

to me this seemed picky and obsessive

like I was micromanaging every minute of

time and not allowing myself to enjoy

life but after trying it myself I

realized I was wrong I had the wrong

picture because it's not an excuse to

constantly work 24/7 nor is it an excuse

to neglect your family and your friends

it's just a way to value your time and

to use it with more intention time is

the raw resource that you need to reach

all of your goals whether they're in

Fitness in your social life in your

business in everything so if you can

effectively manage your time and align

it with your ideals then the success

will follow on from there now let's pull

the idea back to your interests I took

this list of interests that I made

earlier and I went on Google Calendar

and I used this list to plan out my

ideal week one that would give me the

foundations for getting where I want to

be and because you ranked everything in

order of importance you can really

allocate the time correctly and give

more time to what matters the most for

example making quality videos is my

priority at the moment even above

college work which is probably not

something I should be saying but I don't

care it's a priority so I'm willing to

spend way more time on that than even

College work my schedule is full of

editing it's full of script writing and

coming up with new ideas my second most

precious goal is to become a better

writer so naturally I dedicate lots of

time to it sure I'd love to have more

time to practice illustration maybe or

do something with my hands but the point

is I simply don't have the time to give

that because for every hour I spend

chasing some side hobby or interest I

lose one hour for something more

meaningful to me this is a zero sum game

and you have to be willing to make

sacrifices but now for the good news you

can still be well-rounded you can still

make time for the less important things

that bring you Joy and bring you

diversity because once you have your

calendar with the bird's ey view on the

most important things you can find those

little pockets of time for other

activities for example I've been playing

the violin since since the end of 2019

and even though it's been so many years

I'm still not that good at it I'm kind

of bad and I know why it's because I

practice for maybe half an hour maybe

four times a week is that enough to get

proficient no I know that if I wanted to

get better I'd probably have to double

my time spent practicing and maybe get a

teacher too but right now I'm not going

to do either of those things and it

might sound counterintuitive but it

makes sense it all it's all in line with

my strategy to me violin is a side Hobby

and I value my main ones over it I mean

sometimes I'll even quit the violin

session early just because I want to

finish a script or do some more writing

but despite all that there are Pockets

during my week that I can drop

everything and just play some music and

for that small investment of time I

still get the chance to improve my

skills and also enter this whole

different world of creativity to me that

is a powerful balance that is truly The

Best of Both Worlds the next tip is

something I wish someone would have told

me earlier it would have saved so much

mental burden and just freed me of the

feeling that I have to do everything

right now if you want the sustainable

part of becoming well-rounded then I

hate to say it but you may have to scrap

some of your interests just for now just

temporarily I'm quite young sure I might

get hit by a car tomorrow but chances

are I have several decades left to live

and through the mystical power of

YouTube analytics it's probably the same

for you so then why are we stressing why

are we trying to juggle a bunch of

different Hobbies right now that's what

I used to do I had the a narrow view of

time and it made me miserable now I'm

all for momento Mori and I'm all for

enjoying the present but it's no fun if

you feel obligated to fill every single

spare minute with one of your 10

different hobbies and that's why I'm

happy to not follow certain things I

know my plate is full today and I have

no room to add anything to it but at the

same time I'm sure that at some point in

the future I will be given the chance to

create time and create room for new and

exciting Pursuits building your

character is a lifelong game literally

so if you feel the same way maybe

overwhelmed by too many options then I

invite you to reflect what can I defer

to the Future which Pursuits can wait so

that the more important ones can shine

in the here and now this next tip I'm

quite proud of because I haven't seen it

anywhere else and I use it to develop

some new skills without adding anything

to my schedule in other words I spent

zero extra time doing this it sounds too

good to be true but believe me it's not

because rather than adding new things to

your schedule you reframe existing ones

this will make more sense with the story

so bear with me in my first year of

college I had to start cooking every

meal myself yeah tragic I know but no

more could I rely on the home-cooked

meals I was used to and of course it's

no big deal to me now but at the time it

was a big change it was intimidating

even back then I knew all about

cooking so I had two choices do I make

struggle meals for myself every day like

we're under siege or something or do I

learn how to cook maybe you can see

where this is going with my budget right

now I can't afford to eat out very often

nor do I want to screw up my health with

lowquality ready meals so I have to

start cooking I thought to myself since

I can't avoid it I may as well get good

at it so from that day onwards I took a

little bit of extra effort to improve my

cooking skills I would watch technique

videos on YouTube I would find good

recipes I would pick up the ingredients

on the way home from college or whatever

and I would do my best to execute the

recipes properly I learned all the

fundamentals uh basic knife skills

things like heat transfer and how

different foods pair with each other

sure I had my failures and I had

frustrations but what did I get out of

it well I got some damn good food and a

skill that I would use for the rest of

my life and I could do all of this at no

extra cost to any of my other interests

so again I ask you to reflect is there

something every day that you have to do

that you could find joy in improving

maybe you have lots of essay assignments

at school yeah sure the topic may be

boring but you can at least focus on

doing the writing well maybe you manage

a small team at work so you can pick up

a few books on leadership and develop

that maybe you love a good coffee so you

find a new Brewing method and make that

taste really nice the possibilities are

endless and they're exciting so get out

there and find what works for you I have

two more smaller tips that help me

progress in many areas without feeling

overwhelmed the first one addresses the

source of the problem it reveals where

this desire to do everything might

actually come from in the first place

yes being curious and hungry to learn is

part of it but that's not the problem

the real issue is shiny object syndrome

starting the next thing just because

it's different and refreshing and that's

just a distraction from the Pursuits

that matter the most to you and looking

back into my past I can see a subtle but

disturbing influence coming from my

phone and I can guarantee this has

happened to you because whenever I

scroll through YouTube shorts or

Instagram reals I end up just feeling

disappointed with myself and not for the

reason you'd think the time wasting but

something completely different instead I

feel a sense of shame because I have

tricked my mind into thinking that I'm

not doing enough and that I have to keep

doing more and more and more for example

I might see a cool video on soap making

and I think to myself damn that's cool I

wish I could do that and then 2 seconds

later I see someone making me from

scratch in the living room again that's

amazing that's absolutely fantastic I

wish I could do that and maybe 2 minutes

later I see someone showing off their

notebook and it has these beautiful

pencil drawings in ultra realistic

detail of these Renaissance statues and

sculptures and again this is fantastic

within the space of maybe 10 minutes

you've been exposed to results of years

maybe Decades of practice and experience

in like 50 different crafts and hobbies

it's inspiring don't get me wrong but

there's Dark Side to it you might be

left feeling inadequate feeling that

what you're doing is not enough and that

you should be doing everything you're

seeing the worst part is it's totally

irrational and you and I know that you

have your own skills ones that are

valuable to the world and just because

you don't share the same 50 skills you

see online that doesn't make your skills

any less valuable and I have to learn to

block out this feeling of jealousy

almost the jealousy that I can't do what

they do I want other people's creative

success to be motivation for my own not

a form of sabotage so just keep that

mind the next time you scroll through

social media my last tip fixes this

problem from the opposite end and if you

combine it with every other principle on

this list then you've created yourself I

think a bulletproof plan for reaching

that ideal of the the polymath the

renaissance man if you were tired of

harsh truths then I'm sorry cuz there's

one more and I promise it's the last one

following your interests will not always

be fun there will be moments of

annoyance struggle and burnouts and this

is true for everything because Mastery

requires that you overcome challenges to

grow you must struggle you must learn

and you must overcome things that were

holding you back I first saw this graph

from Alex hosi the famous business guy

and it describes the stages of emotion

that a entrepreneur goes through when he

starts a business and this stuck to me

ever since I saw it because you can

apply this to your hobbies as well the

first step is uninformed optimism you

see this new skill and you're excited it

looks fun and you dive into it with all

this confidence in The Next Step things

get darker you start to realize this is

not all fun in games and things might

just get harder from here this step is

in formed pessimism the novelty wears

off and you realize this is harder

than it looks I'm going to have to put a

lot more effort in than I previously

thought and don't worry because it gets

worse in step three you've entered the

valley of Despair when you enter a new

interest this will be the closest you

get to your breaking point in the valley

of Despair all you can see are the

negative things and you realize this is

really damn difficult again you're at a

Crossroads at this point many people

will quit and they'll look to the next

hobby so they can start that whole cycle

all over again however if you choose to

stick with it and push past that dip you

enter step four informed optimism and

from here things start to get better

because you've seen the dark side but

you also know that with effort and

consistency you can push past that and

you can achieve greatness alongside the

struggle and you also see things start

to pay off and that's where you get the

motivation to continue until you reach

step five which is achievement you

achieved something and in this case

that's a healthy set of skills that you

can be proud of and that's it that is

everything and that was a long video so

thank you for sticking around it's

everything I've learned in my journey to

do lots of different things but keep it

realistic and not sabotage myself in the

process the treasure is in the balance

of it of course I still have a long way

to go in my own journey and I'm hoping

that at least one thing from this list

can help you in that same journey and of

course I'd love to hear your experience

on this maybe some advice that you would

give to someone on a similar path or

maybe some experiences you had with

staying focused the comments are open my

emails are open and thank you for

watching