Polymaths then and now

A person with a wide collection of skills and proficiencies is called a Polymath, a term derived from Greek (polumathēs ‘having learned much,’ from polu- ‘much’ + the stem of manthanein ‘learn.’) The term polymath has been steadily growing for years, according to Google Trends.

Centuries ago we had the Renaissance Man. Today, more people are embracing their own multiple skills.

Jobs for Polymaths

Logically, the “path of the polymath” is full of twists and turns. A polymath may not be able to stick to one career, or if they do, they might be perennially dissatisfied. A polymath has a thirst for knowledge, and at some point, months or years after starting something gets bored with the status quo. Innovative companies embrace the polymath’s thirst for continuous learning. Static, traditional places with a lot of predictability probably are not the best spots for polymaths.

Polymaths and innovation

Polymaths are innovators and full of ideas. If they’ve switched paths many times before, they are probably less afraid of change than the average person. When facing a challenge, these versatile workers draw their inspiration from a wider range of experiences (personal and professional), increasing their creative problem-solving skills.  At the highest levels of innovation, Nobel prize laureates are known to be polymaths.

Have you embraced your multiple interests yet? Let me know!