I had the pleasure of visiting the Leonardo da Vinci exhibit at the Denver Art Museum with my son, Tom.
As we enjoyed an afternoon exploring da Vinci’s multi-faceted genius (e.g., think flying machines. The Mona Lisa. The Vitruvian Man. Scuba gear.), I kept thinking…
“What if someone had told Leonardo da Vinci to PICK A LANE??”
What if they saw him painting and said, “You’re a really good artist. You should set everything else aside and stick with this.”
What if they saw him charting human anatomy and said, “Stop distracting yourself with these other projects. You need to discipline yourself and focus.”
What if, while using his engineering skills to design war machines for the king (which is how he earned his living), he abandoned all his other interests?
The world would have missed out on his many creative contributions.
I think many creatives have a multitude of talents, not just one.
And if we follow the advice to dedicate our entire career to ONE THING and ONE THING ONLY – we miss out on other options that could be equally fulfilling.
They say variety is the spice of life – I think variety can also be the spice of a fulfilling career.
If your primary motivation is to make a boatload of money and become the go-to expert on ONE topic, then, by all means, pick a lane.
If, however, you have a variety of talents and interests and want the freedom to explore ALL of them, then maybe a Renaissance Career is right for you.
ACTION
What does success mean to you? Reflect on what truly matters to you. Is it mastery of one field, or is it the freedom to explore multiple passions? If it’s the latter, follow the next steps.
Call in your creativity. Grab your journal and make a list of all the interests and talents you’ve set aside because they didn’t “fit your lane.” Could exploring one of them bring new energy, joy, or fulfillment into your life or career?
Implement a ‘da Vinci hour’. Dedicate one hour a week to working on a project or skill outside your main focus. This small step can spark creativity and remind you that variety fuels growth.