When the assumption so flawed you really don’t have any choice
or How I discovered my superpower and will no longer apologize for it
I had a perfect storm of events over the past week that came together for me to call bullshirt during an interview this week. It felt good to stand up for something I believe is core to who I am, and why this thing makes me awesome at what I do.
Hey that sounds like me!
Sheldon Levine posted on LinkedIn about being a polymath is his superpower
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6392405684129976320/
and linked to a really cool article here on Medium.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6392405684129976320/
I read it and went…that’s me! I do that. Hell I’ve done that (one look at my LinkedIn profile and a touch of internet sleuthing will tell you this in a heartbeat). I’ve been an archaeologist. I’ve run a research lab. I’ve done tech support. I’ve built websites. I’ve done market research. I’ve blogged (a lot). I’ve written books (four in fact). And right now I do marketing (content is my jam).
Not a bad (and broad) set of experiences. Each thing I’ve done lead from the previous one in some way or another (even if it’s convoluted). Sheldon pointed me to a book about polymaths like us?—?How to Be Everything: A Guide for Those Who (Still) Don’t Know What They Want to Be When They Grow Up eBook: Emilie Wapnick: Amazon.ca: Kindle Store?—?which I bought an devoured in short order.
I felt like all the pieces were falling into place.
The reason I can relate to so many different kinds of customers is that I’ve been and done so many different things. I get it. And what I don’t know I am furiously driven to learn.
Cool.
Then came an interview this week.
So when are you going to decide what you want to do?
That was the question. Or at least close enough. It’s the grownup variation of “what do you want to be when you grow up” or “you need to pick something, you can’t be everything”. I almost said eff you that’s a stupid and insulting question. Instead I said the politer version which is that his question is based on a false assumption.
He assumed that because I had done so many things that I hadn’t been good at anything. Or that I was wishy washy.
Bullsh*t.
I went to grad school on a full ride with a research assistantship on a National Science Foundation grant/program in global climate change. I finished grad school (on time btw) and immediately was tapped to run a lab at a major university.
I pivoted to tech support and had the chance to learn HTML (mid 90s people) and from there I created websites for the largest pharma company in the world to then run and do the same for the Canadian arm of the company.
I (famously) started blogging on a whim and became Canada’s first professional blogger. I’ve taught countless bloggers how to write great stuff since then.
I’ve written three best-selling books on blogging and WordPress.
I’ve even taught university-level classes on technology and society.
My point was, after dumping this all on him, what sets me apart is that not only have I done a lot, but I’ve been awesome at a lot too. I’m self taught and driven to be the best. If you don’t think that gives me an edge, well…buddy you have no idea.
Mic drop.
Maybe that was a bit harsh
I might not be getting a call back for the in-person interview. Probably for the best, though. After thinking and reading the book, more than ever I believe that diversity is the key to success in marketing. All my hobbies over the years (paleontology, gardening, cooking, now aquariums), my passion for learning, all the crazy experiences I’ve had give me depth. I have perspective on things that a lot of people just haven’t had.
And I’m not going to apologize for it. Not any more.
Being an autodidact polymath is my superpower.
Period.
Quick update to this post on the essential for today…continuous learning, reading, and applying new skills.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6392405684129976320/
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