What if you have more than one passion? | Taylor Aller | TEDxChilliwack

Summary

In this inspiring talk, Taylor, a multi-potentialite, shares her journey of embracing multiple passions and redefining success. From cake decorating to entrepreneurship, she highlights the challenges and joys of following diverse interests. Taylor discusses the concept of being a 'hummingbird' – someone who thrives with various passions rather than a singular focus. She shares strategies for navigating this path, including the 'slasher,' 'spider-man,' and 'seasonal phoenix' models. Ultimately, Taylor emphasizes that while success is achievable for multi-potentialites, it requires patience, strategic planning, and collaboration, encouraging viewers to create their own unique puzzle of success.

Takeaways

• 😀 Multi-potentialites are people passionate about more than one thing, often feeling pulled in multiple directions, but this doesn't mean they're failing—it's just a different way of living and succeeding.
• 😀 The term 'multi-potentialite' was coined by Emily Wapnick, and it refers to individuals who thrive on variety and pursue many interests and passions in their lives.
• 😀 Success isn’t only for those with one passion or expertise. Multi-potentialites can redefine success by focusing on breadth rather than depth, allowing them to explore a wide range of interests.
• 😀 People can experience frustration when trying to fit their many passions into a traditional structure. It’s important to recognize that you can pursue multiple things, but not all at once.
• 😀 Embrace your unique combination of interests and create a personalized version of success that aligns with your passions and personal life, instead of trying to conform to traditional definitions of success.
• 😀 Elizabeth Gilbert's story about the feedback she received on her TED talk helped clarify the difference between 'jackhammers' (specialists) and 'hummingbirds' (multi-potentialites), inspiring individuals to embrace their diversity of interests.
• 😀 Multi-potentialites can succeed by pursuing passions through different strategies, such as living life in 'slashes' (e.g., therapist/educator/consultant), having a dual career path (e.g., full-time job and side hustle), or working in seasons (e.g., exploring different interests at different life stages).
• 😀 The success of multi-potentialites like Julia Child, Albert Einstein, and Steve Jobs shows that having multiple passions can lead to extraordinary achievements in diverse fields.
• 😀 The key to managing multiple passions is to pace yourself, focus on one thing at a time, and collaborate with others. This prevents burnout and encourages more creative growth.
• 😀 The puzzle analogy—seeing life as a collection of puzzle pieces—illustrates how multi-potentialites can creatively connect their varied passions to create something unique and impactful in the world.

Q & A

What is a multi-potentialite?

A multi-potentialite is someone who is passionate about more than one thing and does not fit into a single, narrow career or life path. They thrive on exploring multiple interests and talents, often juggling various roles or pursuits.

How does the speaker describe their journey to success?

The speaker describes their journey as challenging and filled with burnout, anxiety, and identity struggles. They share how they transitioned from overwhelming exhaustion to finding success by embracing their multi-potentialism and redefining their version of success.

What epiphany did the speaker experience after watching Elizabeth Gilbert's video?

The speaker realized that they were a 'hummingbird,' someone with multiple passions, as opposed to a 'jackhammer,' who is deeply focused on one single passion. This insight helped them embrace their diverse interests instead of feeling conflicted or burned out by them.

What are the two types of people the speaker references, according to Elizabeth Gilbert?

Elizabeth Gilbert identifies two types of people: jackhammers, who have deep expertise in one field, and hummingbirds, who have many interests and a broad range of knowledge, following curiosity and exploring diverse paths.

How does the speaker's husband respond to their realization of being a hummingbird?

The speaker's husband humorously responds by suggesting that they are not just a hummingbird but a hummingbird with a jackhammer, recognizing that they follow their passions relentlessly despite having many of them.

What is the speaker's revised definition of success?

The speaker's revised definition of success shifts from depth (specialization in one field) to breadth (embracing multiple passions and interests), allowing for more flexibility and creativity without feeling forced into a singular career path.

Why does the speaker encourage the audience to throw the box away?

The speaker encourages the audience to throw the box away because traditional success often requires individuals to fit into a predefined, limited structure. For multi-potentialites, success involves embracing their diverse interests and creating their own unique paths without restriction.

What is the 'puzzle' metaphor used in the speaker's life perspective?

The speaker uses the metaphor of a puzzle to describe life as made up of various, often chaotic, pieces. By intentionally focusing and aligning these pieces, a multi-potentialite can create a beautiful, dynamic masterpiece that incorporates all their interests and passions.

What are some strategies for multi-potentialites to manage their passions?

The speaker offers several strategies for multi-potentialites: 'slasher' (pursuing multiple roles part-time), 'Spider-Man' (working full-time in one capacity while moonlighting in others), 'seasonal phoenix' (embracing different passions in different seasons of life), and 'option D' (a hybrid approach, combining elements of all the strategies).

What key advice does the speaker give to multi-potentialites struggling with burnout?

The speaker advises multi-potentialites to pace themselves, emphasizing that while they can do anything, it can't all be done at once or alone. It's important to manage expectations, take care of mental health, and ask for help when needed.