I spent several years coming to terms with, and fully embracing, my identity as a multipotentialite and what it would likely mean for my career. I finally accepted that I would probably never find a single career path that I loved wholeheartedly, or one that fulfilled my diverse interests while allowing for a creative evolution at the same time. While many others chose one route for their professional lives and committed to it, I either spent a few years on one career before changing focus (what Emilie Wapnick calls the phoenix approach) or integrated several part-time pursuits into a balanced work schedule (what they call the slash approach).
By the time I graduated from college—with a major and two minors—I felt certain that cobbling together a financially feasible and fulfilling career for myself would be an uphill battle. But I had spent roughly seven years coming to terms with the challenges and benefits of multipotentiality—beginning in my sophomore year of high school when one of my teachers (a fellow multipotentialite!) shared Emilie’s TED talk with me. Although I thought pursuing a multifaceted career would be difficult, especially at first, I appreciated that the hard work and effort would be worth it and reward me with a meaningful and fulfilled life, both professionally and personally.
But then, I found The One.
?
At least, it seems like I did. My path to a career in music production was a bit circuitous and slightly chaotic, and recounting the whole narrative would risk turning this article into an episode of How I Met Your Mother (career edition!). But last year, I found my way to a music production workshop hosted by the nonprofit Femme House. In a few short weeks, I discovered a new pursuit that seemed to check all of my boxes.
I have been a musician for most of my life, and any career option that didn’t involve music always felt incomplete to me. I also immediately loved the technical aspects of production and mixing, and I appreciated the level of detail involved. As my interest evolved and grew, I became more familiar with the intersections and overlap between production, arrangement, songwriting, mixing, and performance. Suddenly, at the center of these skills and interests, the prospect of a group hug career—one job or business that is multifaceted and allows you to use many different passions, interests and skills—began to emerge.
For the first time in my life, I felt like I had discovered my perfect career path. But a part of me was hesitant, because I had spent so much time and mental energy embracing a vague vision for my career that definitely did not involve committing to any one thing. Despite that apprehension, I could actually imagine myself working as a music producer, in varying capacities, for my whole life. And, imagining what my daily work routines might look like long-term didn’t make me want to quit, run, hide, or escape into something different—which was also a new and slightly confusing feeling.
Now, a year into producing, and two semesters into my master’s program at Berklee, I feel even more committed to production than I did initially. I also have a bit more experience with the nitty gritty, day-to-day aspects of this career, and it hasn’t left me feeling unfulfilled or constrained. Even more importantly, looking ahead to envision the possibilities for my future in this field doesn’t give me intense anxiety, insecurity, or vague dread in the way that some of the other careers I considered did. One downside is that music production and songwriting are highly competitive, but because I love the work so much and it closely aligns with my identity, I feel confident that the challenges will be worthwhile.
Finding a career that I feel so sure of was definitely unexpected, and it launched me on a process of coming to terms with the idea of a single, overarching career identity for myself. As a multipotentialite, this has frankly felt strange and somewhat unbelievable. But, this reassessment of my career plans has provided me with insights about how multipotentiality can inform and guide our lives, regardless of the work that we are doing at any given moment.
If you find yourself wondering if you’ve finally found “The One” in your own life, and are coming to terms with what this means for your multipotentialite identity, here are three things to keep in mind.
1: Honestly assess how and why this career works for you
Finding a single career, or overarching career field, that checks all of your boxes as a multipotentialite likely means that it manages to encompass many of your interests or has opportunities for interdisciplinary overlap. If you think you’ve found your perfect career, try to recognize the ways it nurtures your multipotentiality and assess what has led you to feel differently about this path. These reflections can help you to better understand and appreciate why a particular career path seems so promising and special to you.
In my own case, I wanted to be a musician from a young age but felt like I needed to try my other professional interests before fully committing to a creative career that I knew would be challenging. Also, artistic career paths tend not to be especially respected or appreciated in professional contexts, so I had to come to terms with the fact that my life decisions couldn’t realistically be pleasing to everyone I know.
When I got my first experience in music production, it encompassed my passion for music, my interests in science and technology, and my detail-oriented approach to my work, while also holding the potential to closely overlap with my creative side as a writer and songwriter. One of the reasons that I can see music production working for me as a long-term career is that it’s inherently multidisciplinary. I can use my background in different fields—even psychology and philosophy—to inform how I approach projects and support my collaborators.
2: Don’t let a fear of changing your mind prevent you from committing—or experiencing joy right now!
If you feel wholeheartedly committed to a path right now, don’t let a fear of potentially shifting focus down the road prevent you from enjoying your real excitement in the present moment. If you are deeply passionate about something, don’t let fears of external judgment or your past track record of changing your mind undermine what might be a wonderful and fulfilling opportunity.
I think many multipotentialites can relate to changing our minds several times about what careers we want to prioritize or pursue. So, feeling like you have found one career that you can see a future with long-term and wholeheartedly commit to might be easy to dismiss as “just another phase” or “a fleeting interest.”
Don’t underestimate your ability to assess your own strengths, interests, and long-term plans. If you really feel like this group hug path is more than a temporary detour, trust yourself! I have a track record of changing my mind about big career moves (literally!) but I feel differently about music production than I have about any of my past career interests. Based on this difference, I can feel wholeheartedly committed to my current path, and it brings me excitement and joy!
3: Commit from a place of confidence, self-respect, and intrinsic motivation
For multipotentialites in our twenties, thirties, or even teens, there can be a strong societal pressure to have that one word or phrase that defines us as professionals. For many multipotentialites, it can be healthier and more fulfilling to subvert that career framework entirely.
But, if you as a multipotentialite find that you feel fulfilled by, and passionate about, one long-term career path, this does not make you any less of a multipotentialite! One work model isn’t better than the others; what’s important is finding what works best for you as a unique individual.
If you do find that you feel drawn to “commit” to one career path or field, at least for the time being, do so from a place of understanding and appreciating your own values and internal sense of direction for your life. If you feel like you want to tell people your plans so they’ll think more highly of you or compliment your planning, that’s not a great indicator that you’re committing for your own benefit.
But, if you have a deep passion and excitement for your future in a particular career, and you want to tell everyone you know about it because you’re thrilled about it, that’s a good sign! If you feel internally drawn to a wholehearted commitment to one path, at least for now, then let that impulse be your guide.
Your turn
Have you ever felt like you found one career path to commit to long-term? Do you catch yourself feeling hesitant to commit to a path based on your history with other careers?
Curious about all the ways multipotentialites make a living? Check out Emilie’s master course and learn how to turn your many passions into a career you love!
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