This week, I learned a very important lesson. It's not that I learned new information. I already knew this, but I didn't believe it. I didn't really understand it.
Entrepreneurs have several failed businesses and business ideas before they ever have one successful business. And most... run several at a time.
Me? I'm a perfectionist. I want to do everything right the first time. I want to do everything perfectly the very first time.
I should've realized when I came across a very interesting business card tucked into a variety of advertisements on my favorite coffee shop's wall that it wasn't just something to laugh at, but to ponder. This guy advertised himself as an entrepreneur, stock investor, real estate investor, AND blogger. But on the back of his card, he listed several businesses... roofing, lawn care, and car rentals. None of these seemed connected and I scoffed at him.
But this guy is out there. Likely making a living off of several passions.
How is he any different than I am? What would I put on my card? Entrepreneur, dividend investor, life coach, financial coach, spiritual coach, refugee advocate, dilettante polymath. I think the last one is what describes me best. A dilettante is someone who cultivates an area of interest without great depth, but a polymath is a person with a wide range of knowledge across various topics who can bring the ideas together to solve specific problems. That is to say, I can talk to an approximate depth on a wide variety of subjects. Usually in the areas of language, culture, investment/personal finance, the Bible, human psychology, statistical veracity, and others. There are many, many, many more topics on which I can hold a discussion to a certain extent, but the more intricate knowledge is lacking. Often, my friends and even prior co-workers would comment on the things on which I seem to have knowledge. It's hard being a polymath. Sometimes you get labeled as that person who thinks they know everything about everything. This has forced me to build on my social skills: Asking questions before spouting answers. Praying before speaking to see if what I say would be for their strengthing, encouragement, and consolation.
Entrepreneurs have several failed businesses and business ideas before they ever have one successful business. And most... run several at a time.
Me? I'm a perfectionist. I want to do everything right the first time. I want to do everything perfectly the very first time.
I should've realized when I came across a very interesting business card tucked into a variety of advertisements on my favorite coffee shop's wall that it wasn't just something to laugh at, but to ponder. This guy advertised himself as an entrepreneur, stock investor, real estate investor, AND blogger. But on the back of his card, he listed several businesses... roofing, lawn care, and car rentals. None of these seemed connected and I scoffed at him.
But this guy is out there. Likely making a living off of several passions.
How is he any different than I am? What would I put on my card? Entrepreneur, dividend investor, life coach, financial coach, spiritual coach, refugee advocate, dilettante polymath. I think the last one is what describes me best. A dilettante is someone who cultivates an area of interest without great depth, but a polymath is a person with a wide range of knowledge across various topics who can bring the ideas together to solve specific problems. That is to say, I can talk to an approximate depth on a wide variety of subjects. Usually in the areas of language, culture, investment/personal finance, the Bible, human psychology, statistical veracity, and others. There are many, many, many more topics on which I can hold a discussion to a certain extent, but the more intricate knowledge is lacking. Often, my friends and even prior co-workers would comment on the things on which I seem to have knowledge. It's hard being a polymath. Sometimes you get labeled as that person who thinks they know everything about everything. This has forced me to build on my social skills: Asking questions before spouting answers. Praying before speaking to see if what I say would be for their strengthing, encouragement, and consolation.
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