Costs and Benefits of Following Your Changing Interests

For some of us, meaning and purpose come from moving on.

A collection of toothpicks representing mastery, or perhaps eclecticism. 📷

Long ago I accepted my side in a long-running debate: whether it’s better to become the “master of one topic” or pursue several interrelated interests.

For me it was fairly obvious: I was never going to be the greatest at anything. I simply liked too many things! And while I understood the importance of focus and the need to say no (etc.), I also developed what I now see as a “very ADHD” way of life. I am healthier, better off, and more productive if I follow my interests as they change.

The debate is one of those grass-is-greener things. I’ve talked with very successful people on both sides, and everyone tends to be slightly envious of the other group.

• The people who’ve chosen their one thing and achieved mastery of it sometimes wish they hadn’t been so tightly focused

• The people who never find “their one thing” to focus on sometimes wish they’d been more selective

(So, clearly, there’s room for some general acceptance on both sides.)

I finally came to realize something else: for most people who ponder this question, where you end up is not really a choice. Simply put, most people tend to naturally be good at one of the two approaches—understanding where you fall on that spectrum is more something you learn about yourself than something you decide.

Unless You’re in the “Master of One” Camp, Get Comfortable with Change

From here on, I’m speaking to the generalists. Let’s emphasize this point:

If you change your interests over time, and you follow those changes—meaning you don’t force yourself to keep doing the same thing over and over—there will be consequences.

When you make a change, things happen! If you’re a creator of any kind, you lose audience. The fans want you to play the hits. People are surprised, maybe even disappointed, when you change things up on them. You aren’t who they thought you were, or you no longer meet the needs they were projecting onto you.

But this is another decision I’ve made recently: all things considered, it’s better to keep evolving! Change is new and strange, and not everyone will come along for the ride—but it’s still worth it.

You will be happier, better off, and more productive if you follow your interests as they develop.

Photos: On stage recently at The Conference for Conferences, founded by Jenny Sauer-Klein. After my talk I was given a “dare” to act out the alphabet with my body as the audience recited all 26 letters. I challenged Jenny to join me and fortunately she was a good sport.