The Path of Many: Why Generalists Sometimes Struggle
Navigating a Non-Linear Journey
This newsletter series aims to encourage you to celebrate the richness of your inner diversity, since I truly believe that giving more space to our diverse inner aspects have a huge positive impact on everyone around us – our families and friends, our colleagues, but eventually it also has ripple effects on larger parts of society.
Understanding Multipotentiality – making sense of having broader skills.
👉The Path of Many: Why Generalists Sometimes Struggle
Building Bridges: The Renaissance of Generalists – The underestimated potential
Time Wealth and Multipotentiality – Ways to Redefine Success
A Multipotentialite's Path Forward – Embracing Inner Diversity Without Falling into the 'Labour of Love' Trap
And if you want more, feel free to write me an email, so I can send you a recording of my masterclass on «Nurturing Inner Diversity».
Do you ever question your career path—or struggle to fully commit to the one you're on? At the start of your journey, did you feel lost, unsure where to even begin?
When someone asks, "So, what do you do?"—do you freeze?
Maybe you give a rehearsed answer that doesn’t quite fit. Or you launch into a rambling explanation that leaves people more confused than curious.
Have you ever felt like you're too many things at once—and not enough of any one?
Maybe you dive into new projects with blazing curiosity, but quickly grow restless. Maybe you've changed careers more times than your friends can count. You light up talking about a dozen different interests—but people keep telling you to "pick a lane."
If any of that sounds like you, you might be a Multipotentialite—a generalist with a wide range of passions, skills, and callings.
Your curiosity is a gift—but in a world that idolises specialists, it can sometimes feel like a burden.
Here’s the thing: Being wired for many paths doesn't mean you're lost. It means you're living in a system that isn't designed for people like you. But that's changing—and your time is coming.
Beyond the "One True Calling" Myth
Our culture loves linear career paths: study one field, enter that profession, climb that ladder for 40 years. Simple. Clean. But for many of us, that narrative causes more anxiety than clarity.
From childhood, we're asked: "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Note the singular – be, not bes. We're expected to choose one path, one passion, one purpose.
But what if you're genuinely drawn to both music and mathematics? Both psychology and photography? Both teaching and technology?
The "one true calling" is a myth that serves institutions more than individuals. Schools, employers, and society prefer neat categorisation. But human curiosity doesn't work that way.
Multipotentialites aren't indecisive or flaky – they're wired differently. Their fulfillment comes from exploring multiple domains, often simultaneously.
The Invisible Weight of Being "Too Much"
Curiosity and multipotentiality is an immeasurable power. But being one myself, I know that it can come with a dark side. Let's give the struggles a name. Multipotentialites often grapple with:
Decision Paralysis: When everything seems interesting, choosing just one path can feel impossible. It can feel like committing to one option betrays all the others you also care about.
Identity Fragmentation: You might struggle to articulate who you are—to others and to yourself. Are you a developer, a designer, a strategist, a storyteller? The answer shifts depending on the day.
The Impostor Complex: Without years or decades focused on a single field, you might feel like a dabbler among specialists—wondering if you truly “belong” anywhere.
External Pressure: Well-intentioned advice to “focus” or “pick a lane” can feel suffocating, as if your multidimensional nature is a flaw to be corrected rather than a strength to be nurtured.
Job Market Mismatch: Recruiters may side-eye your non-linear path, mistaking range for a lack of direction. Traditional roles often don’t know where to place people who color outside the lines.
Burnout: Trying to “do it all” without a sustainable system can slowly drain your energy. The constant context-switching and internal pressure to “make it work” takes a hidden toll.
Boreout: Being boxed into routine roles or monotonous tasks can be just as harmful as overwork—especially when your natural state is one of curiosity, movement, and exploration.
Sound familiar? You're not alone. Many generalists internalise the message that depth is more valuable than breadth. They carry quiet shame over unfinished projects or nonlinear careers. But that shame isn't yours to bear.
Reclaiming the Gift of Inner Diversity
Here's the radical reframe: your range is not a bug—it's a feature.
Modern research shows that generalists are uniquely positioned for success in today's unpredictable world. In his book Range, David Epstein notes that generalists thrive in "wicked environments"—fast-changing, complex situations where rote expertise breaks down. In those spaces, your agility, idea synthesis, and rapid learning are superpowers.
The workplace is catching on. Post-pandemic disruptions have proven that the ability to adapt—to pivot, blend disciplines, and see the big picture—is priceless. Generalists are stepping into roles as strategists, innovators, and integrators. They're not behind. They're ahead of the curve.
What You Can Do Right Now
If you're feeling stuck between too many options, try this:
Build a narrative, not a label – Don't define yourself by job titles. Tell your story: "I bring together X, Y, and Z to do __." That's what makes you unforgettable.
Find (or build) a multipotentialite-friendly role – That might mean consulting, freelancing, working in startups, or even creating your own job description.
Connect with your tribe – Communities like Puttylike, r/Multipotentialite, or Generalist World, or my own Circle of Resonance offer solidarity and inspiration. You're not weird. You're wired differently—and brilliantly.
Choose a few "focal points" for now – As Margaret Lobenstine, Author of The Renaissance Soul suggested, you don't have to do everything at once. Focus on 2–4 key interests or projects at a time to get going. Don’t be afraid to rotate later.
The Way Forward
Being a generalist isn't always easy. But it is powerful. The world needs bridge-builders, translators, big-picture thinkers, and those who are unafraid to explore. Your depth is in your breadth.
So if you're someone who has ever been told you're scattered, flaky, or "can't commit," consider this: maybe you're not meant to fit the mold. Maybe you're here to remake it.
Your inner diversity is your compass. Follow it—not to one final destination, but through a life rich with possibility.
Because being many things doesn't make you less. It makes you whole.
From one Multipotentialite to another: I invite you to trust in your passions and embrace the beauty of your inner diversity. ✨
With gratitude, Graziella
Wonderfully written, totally resonates not only with me as a generalist on my own but also with my idea of defining work anew.
I’ve always loved this quote: “If you feel like you don’t quite fit into this world, it’s because you are here to help build a new one.”