Warning: Being Insanely Interested in Everything Can Be Bad For Your Career - And a One Line Comment From Seth Godin
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Just the other day when I was listening to an audio version of Seth Godin’s book, The Dip, it hit me: What if you really need to concentrate in just on thing to be successful in life?
And if it’s true, does it mean that by being insanely interested in everything you will just ruin your career, lose your health and become a one-eyed bum living on the streets?
If that would be the case, then at least my blogging career would be doomed. After all, wouldn’t it be unethical of me to write posts that recommend a way of life that is likely to destroy my readers’ careers instead of improving them?
In “The Dip
Does this mean that being insanely interested in many things is the worst choice one can imagine?
So many questions, so few answers.
I did the only reasonable thing I could do to find the answer and sent just one, well targeted question to Mr. Godin:
“What is it that you are the best at?”
Here’s what he replied, just five minutes after receiving my e-mail:
I’m lucky in that I’ve figured out how to be the best in the world at being me… apparently, there’s a market for that!
How’s that for insight?
Finding the thing you are the best at doesn’t always mean zooming in and narrowing your focus! It can also mean looking at a wider range of interrelated topics: zooming out. Finding what is in common between all your different interests, and making that the key identifier for who you are.
So, what is it that you are the best at?
And what are you doing in order to be the best in the world at being you?
Let’s talk!
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January 28th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
Nice…
First it felt like having all my interests running parallel to each other, like any parallel lines, and they have nothing in common. But we know since Euclid they might meet somewhere in infinite…
So, my task is only to reduce the time and find the spot where they intersect…
January 28th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
Hey that’s a great, mathematical way to look at the challenge! I like it. How close do you think you are to finding the point of intersection right now?
January 28th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
You know, I have the feeling they are already criss-crossing each other (I think we can easily enter 3D). But this whole thing is hidden in some sort of fluffy, foggy layer.
So I have two choices.
1. Get hold on one line and hence finding the intersections, or
2. Carry on with everything and wait until the fog lifts up, so I will get a better view of the big picture and get my A-HA, of which, probably, I have been aware all along (subconsciously).
January 28th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
My friend once told me a story, an analogy about ‘getting down’ to the meaning of life, or the core of it, so to say. He said to me “Picture that the ‘meaning of life’ lays under one thick, infinitely vast ice-berg. What you should do in order to get to the ‘meaning’, is, obviously, break the ice above it. And if you disperse your strength on different points on the ice, the chances are you won’t be able to break it. But if you streamline your power, if you focus it at only one spot, than, after a time you will surely rupture the iceberg.”
This story got me worried for some time back than (and I still often think of it), since I was certain that my pressure was not enough ‘focused’, as I was certain that I will hardly ever get it as focused as necessary to break the ice. But somehow, as the time passed, I was more and more convinced that everyone has their own personal story of getting to the ‘meaning’, their own personal perception for the obstacles and means they can use for surpassing them.
As Antony de Melo in “Waking Up” said, the first step in dealing with the problem is recognizing that it exists.
But do I actually believe that I have a problem being ‘insanely interested in everything”? Do you, Jarkko, believe that you have a problem being the way you are? What does ‘being successful’ mean in your book? Being rich, being famous, being powerful, build and foster a cosy and warm home for your family, die knowing you’ve reached self-actualization,… all of the above??
What I’ve learned for myself until now, is that the only thing I’ve been really good at, is being curious.
Should I worry about finding a market and ‘selling’ that?
I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it…
January 29th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
That seems quite evasive of Seth. Of course he is the best at being him. Would be creepy if he wasn’t. That said though, the world has specialists and generalists. We generalists are the glue that fills the gaps between specialists. Quite important. Keep rocking Jarkko.
January 29th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
@Shane: Yep, that’s the other way to look at it. But you know I prefer to be a bit naive and think that he really meant what he said - and try to find the wisdom in his words. ;)
January 31st, 2008 at 11:51 pm
Yeah, I’m pretty sure I could be Seth Godin, but he’s definitely the best in the world at it, so I’ll stick with whatever my one thing is. I’ll have to figure that out first, I guess.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:13 am
Good thinking here Jarkko. I too worry that I’m not focused enough at times, but then one of the strengths of being me is that I enjoy looking at both sides of every issue. I’m curious and love learning - it’s what keeps me going.
That’s why I’m drawn to your insanely interesting blog. Keep up the great work!
February 1st, 2008 at 1:24 am
My favorite quote is from Paulo Coelho’s Alchemist: “The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.”
My interpretation of the quote might be too casual, but I like to think those oil drops present work/income in my life. It’s the stuff I need to take care off but not let it rule everything.
Once I’ve taken care of the oil drops, I can spend rest of my time enjoying the wonders of the world and be as insanely interested in as many things I want :) I’m eager to learn new things and I like the “wows” I get when I find interesting stuff.
But if you want to have financial success, lots and lots of money, then you really have to focus to the thing you do. I think that sucks, since I’m most of the time I’m starting something new, not focusing on the things I’ve started :) I’m not rich but at least I’m happy :)
February 1st, 2008 at 4:35 pm
@Dren: Sorry for taking this long to get back to your question.
> Do you, Jarkko, believe that you have a problem being the
> way you are?
Not really. Every now and then I think the way to materialistic success (blogging success, business success) would be faster if I would be more narrowly focused. But on the other hand, that wouldn’t be me, so no - I like being the way I am :)
> What does ‘being successful’ mean in your book?
Good question. Michael Brito posted a nice take on this just today, How I became rich.
Most important for me would be to do things that matter to me, and to build something I can be proud of. More specifically, there are two top things: the cosy and warm family environment you mention, and building a business that makes a difference (and lets me make most out of being insanely interested in everything ;))
@Dave: Let me know when you figure it out!
@Shirley: Yep, I think we just need to accept ourselves as we are and realize that curiosity is our greatest strength rather than something to be ashamed of.
@Harri: I just finished reading the Alchemist about a week ago and in fact I spent a while wondering the meaning of that very quote you shared. I didn’t get to any final conclusion of what it meant, but your interpretation definitely makes sense!
What I’d like to do though would be to combine the drop of oil with the marvels of life… :)
February 6th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Great post, Jarkko!
You know what’s insanely interesting to me? That Seth Godin still posts his email address, answers email, and does it in, like, five minutes. I’ve had the same experience, and it really does impress me.
As for careers, I still believe that generalists kinda run the world - they seem to be really good at finding the right specialists to get the job done.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Dan, you’re absolutely right. In both thoughts that you bring up in your comment.
I was so amazed when I got the reply from Seth almost immediately after sending my question. It makes you feel appreciated.
And what you say about generalists running the world. That’s so true. I think I’ll do an interview with a bunch of upper managers sometimes in my series of interviews with people insanely interested in everything.
And if you look at Jonathan Fields’s interview today, you’ll already see the pattern. He says that one of the most important skill for a multibusiness entrepreneur is knowing how to pick the right people…