Challenge #1: Recognizing that you are a T-Shaped
"What the hell is a T-Shaped person?" I said to myself as I was scrolling through IDEO's website. Well these are the best explanations I found.
"T-shaped people have two kinds of characteristics, hence the use of the letter “T” to describe them. The vertical stroke of the “T” is a depth of skill that allows them to contribute to the creative process. That can be from any number of different fields: an industrial designer, an architect, a social scientist, a business specialist or a mechanical engineer. The horizontal stroke of the “T” is the disposition for collaboration across disciplines. It is composed of two things. First, empathy. It’s important because it allows people to imagine the problem from another perspective- to stand in somebody else’s shoes. Second, they tend to get very enthusiastic about other people’s disciplines, to the point that they may actually start to practice them. Tshaped people have both depth and breadth in their skills." http://chiefexecutive.net/ideo-ceo-tim-brown-t-shaped-stars-the-backbone-of-ideoae%E2%84%A2s-collaborative-culture/
Challenge #2: Dealing with people telling you to "focus"
Remember "...they tend to get very enthusiastic about other people’s disciplines, to the point that they may actually start to practice them."
From an outsiders perspective, T-shaped people appear unfocused. As a result, these outsiders will resist your ability to cross-disciplines.
They will say :
They don't understand you, or your value.
If you cave into such resistance as a T-shaped thinker, you can be robbed of your creativity.
Thats fucking stupid. Ignore the resistance above, surround yourself with the models that you want to be like.
Find one, two, three arenas that you will absolutely dominate. Run to them.
But Moose, "What if I am a t-shaped person with a lot of things going on at once and I haven't figured out those arenas yet?"
That's fine, you'll get there.
The cool thing about this process of self-discovery is you will "naturally" reign in and focus your interests into one common thread.
That one thread will weave your larger "body of work".
However, multiple interests may pose a challenge.
Challenge #3: Managing Multiple Interests
As a fellow T-shaped person, I understand your pain of managing conflicting interests having struggled through it extensively myself.
The conclusion I've reached about managing interests are:
Don't manage them instead follow them.
The reason why you have multiple interests in the first place is because you are seeing/ intuitively feeling a connection between these interests.
That is meaningful; You are seeing what others can't see. That is the heart of creativity.
Thus, managing your interests is stupid. Managing is assuming that you aren't spending all your time on your interests and attempting to actualize that intuitive feeling you have.
Instead, pour your heart and soul following those interests as far as you can.
You will create something that others have never seen before.
(See The Medici Effect on the Youngun's reading list.)
Take this blog for example, I spent 5+ years reading hundreds of books from different disciplines and backgrounds in order to understand this inexplicable drive that I've had inside of me.
As a result, this blog as spawned as a unique component of self-expression. The scope much greater that just "genius" as it ranges from neuroscience to computer science.
And it took me YEARS to get over the internal battle of bringing all these areas together.
Honor your intuition, follow your interests and create something great.
Then you don't have to worry about managing your interests, because they move from the background of your life to the spotlight.
As you move through this process, you will run into a difficult question where people will ask you to...
Challenge #4: Explain "What You are Doing with your life?"
Eh, come up with some ridiculous answer.
"Drug Dealer."
"Russian Dog Breeder"
"Professional Two-Chainz Impersonator."
It really doesn't matter as long as its interesting. Because guess what the people who stay around you long enough, will quickly say "Holy shit, What does this person NOT do?"
I am working on a script that you can use to decipher this process. I'll get back to you.
Challenge #5: Dealing with "being able to go in many different directions"
I am sure your hear this all the time "There are so many directions you can go with your vast skill set!" Unfortunately, those words aren't helpful because it doesn't help you figure out what you want.
"Wow you could do so many other things with that."
In your head you roll your eyes, "want to punch them in the face," and say "Great, thanks. That was sooo helpful."
However, that is rarely helpful, because they didn't tell you what the specific steps are. Nor, did it help you carve out a unique path for success.
Instead, start carving out occupations based on your interests. I'll get back to you with more detailed steps in a later post.
"What the hell is a T-Shaped person?" I said to myself as I was scrolling through IDEO's website. Well these are the best explanations I found.
"T-shaped people have two kinds of characteristics, hence the use of the letter “T” to describe them. The vertical stroke of the “T” is a depth of skill that allows them to contribute to the creative process. That can be from any number of different fields: an industrial designer, an architect, a social scientist, a business specialist or a mechanical engineer. The horizontal stroke of the “T” is the disposition for collaboration across disciplines. It is composed of two things. First, empathy. It’s important because it allows people to imagine the problem from another perspective- to stand in somebody else’s shoes. Second, they tend to get very enthusiastic about other people’s disciplines, to the point that they may actually start to practice them. Tshaped people have both depth and breadth in their skills." http://chiefexecutive.net/ideo-ceo-tim-brown-t-shaped-stars-the-backbone-of-ideoae%E2%84%A2s-collaborative-culture/
Challenge #2: Dealing with people telling you to "focus"
Remember "...they tend to get very enthusiastic about other people’s disciplines, to the point that they may actually start to practice them."
From an outsiders perspective, T-shaped people appear unfocused. As a result, these outsiders will resist your ability to cross-disciplines.
They will say :
- “oh you need to focus on one thing at a time"
- “you never get anything done”
- “you won't be able to get a job”
- “you will never make sure you will never make any money”
- “you will not succeed.”
They don't understand you, or your value.
If you cave into such resistance as a T-shaped thinker, you can be robbed of your creativity.
Thats fucking stupid. Ignore the resistance above, surround yourself with the models that you want to be like.
Find one, two, three arenas that you will absolutely dominate. Run to them.
But Moose, "What if I am a t-shaped person with a lot of things going on at once and I haven't figured out those arenas yet?"
That's fine, you'll get there.
The cool thing about this process of self-discovery is you will "naturally" reign in and focus your interests into one common thread.
That one thread will weave your larger "body of work".
However, multiple interests may pose a challenge.
Challenge #3: Managing Multiple Interests
As a fellow T-shaped person, I understand your pain of managing conflicting interests having struggled through it extensively myself.
The conclusion I've reached about managing interests are:
Don't manage them instead follow them.
The reason why you have multiple interests in the first place is because you are seeing/ intuitively feeling a connection between these interests.
That is meaningful; You are seeing what others can't see. That is the heart of creativity.
Thus, managing your interests is stupid. Managing is assuming that you aren't spending all your time on your interests and attempting to actualize that intuitive feeling you have.
Instead, pour your heart and soul following those interests as far as you can.
You will create something that others have never seen before.
(See The Medici Effect on the Youngun's reading list.)
Take this blog for example, I spent 5+ years reading hundreds of books from different disciplines and backgrounds in order to understand this inexplicable drive that I've had inside of me.
As a result, this blog as spawned as a unique component of self-expression. The scope much greater that just "genius" as it ranges from neuroscience to computer science.
And it took me YEARS to get over the internal battle of bringing all these areas together.
Honor your intuition, follow your interests and create something great.
Then you don't have to worry about managing your interests, because they move from the background of your life to the spotlight.
As you move through this process, you will run into a difficult question where people will ask you to...
Challenge #4: Explain "What You are Doing with your life?"
Eh, come up with some ridiculous answer.
"Drug Dealer."
"Russian Dog Breeder"
"Professional Two-Chainz Impersonator."
It really doesn't matter as long as its interesting. Because guess what the people who stay around you long enough, will quickly say "Holy shit, What does this person NOT do?"
I am working on a script that you can use to decipher this process. I'll get back to you.
Challenge #5: Dealing with "being able to go in many different directions"
I am sure your hear this all the time "There are so many directions you can go with your vast skill set!" Unfortunately, those words aren't helpful because it doesn't help you figure out what you want.
"Wow you could do so many other things with that."
In your head you roll your eyes, "want to punch them in the face," and say "Great, thanks. That was sooo helpful."
However, that is rarely helpful, because they didn't tell you what the specific steps are. Nor, did it help you carve out a unique path for success.
Instead, start carving out occupations based on your interests. I'll get back to you with more detailed steps in a later post.