The following article is based on this TED Talk by Emilie Wapnick.
There are two kinds of people in this world.
There are specialists – the people who one thing and do it very well.
And there are multipotentialites, which Wapnick defines as “someone with many interests and creative pursuits.”
Though specialists are highly-valued in today’s culture (and rightly so!) it hasn’t always been that way. Think back to the Renaissance, when it was considered the ideal to be well-versed in multiple disciplines. Perhaps my bias is showing. I confess, I am a multipotentialite.
Wapnick lists three multipotentialite super powers, that are crucial qualities to have as a copywriter.
1. Idea synthesis. Combining two or more fields and creating something new at the intersection.
2. Rapid learning. Everybody has to start at the beginning, but we rise much faster because our variety of skills and experiences that we bring mean we are rarely starting from scratch. We know how to be resourceful to get the job done.
3. Adaptability. The ability to take on various roles, depending on the clients’ needs.
Our world is changing so quickly and unpredictably that we need those who can adapt to meet the needs of the market and solve complex, multidimensional problems.
How would a multipotentialite benefit your business?
