I'm A Do-er, Not A Talker
A few weeks ago, I
started helping my brother-in-law put his words into a book for
publication. Knowing he’s written since
before I met him in the early 1980’s, I was not prepared to heft the rugged
tote in which he handed to me a few weeks ago.
Expecting a couple hundred pages, thus something light in weight, upon
the transfer of hands, I about fell over!
This was only part of his collection.
Excluded is what he still has in storage. What I held in my hand, blew my mind, yet I
shouldn’t’ve been surprised.
As notebook after
notebook was taken from the bag and set onto the table, all I could do was
grin. In my heart and soul, I was happy to see such an abundance of material. Upon looking through the pages, I wondered
what in hell I got myself into. The man
is a 2-finger typist. Me, on the other
hand, last I knew -years ago- I typed 80+ words a minute …accurately. I do believe, once my fingers start dancing,
my speed has increased over the years.
Even so, being a fast and anxious typist or not, I looked at a daunting
task ahead of me -hours, days, weeks. “Marc, you have more than one book
here. You have two, three, four, or
more!”
I was thankful that the
man sorted his work for me the best he could.
His work was divided into short stories, poems, and random
thoughts. That alone saved a lot of
time. Phew! Within a few minutes of hearing the man
explain his work, I grinned again, “Awesome!”
This, despite all that work that lay ahead. I was still very grateful for the opportunity
to help Marc fulfill his dream of putting his work into book form. Written many books myself, I knew the task
ahead. I also knew that teaching Marc
along the way could become a bit overwhelming for him. I had years of experience. Marc had none.
Since that first meeting,
we’ve met once a week(ish). Each week in
between, Marc was given some homework.
My homework would be to start typing out his short stories and poems
first. Those would be his first
book. Throughout the week, I asked a lot
of questions via Messenger. Either he or his “wife”, Sandy would answer. We instantly had a good system started and
Thankfully, Sandy is supportive of the whole process, Helpful, too!
As I typed out the man’s
hand-written work, I smirked, giggled, and laughed. As I typed out his poems, I saw a side of
Marc I hadn’t known before but should have known was there all along. Some were quite private that will let each
reader touch his/her own soul and become a better person because of it. A few, he admitted, he’d rather not leave in
this book, but rather in a future book just due to the nature of them, word-choices,
too. I say that with a laugh. “Poor Lizzy” I type with a smirk. Yes, best left for a separate book…a
disclaimer, too.
After the short stories, poems,
and a few random thoughts were typed (first book), I started typing out books two
and three. The man has talent, not only
in storytelling and poems but in his random thoughts, too. They are thought-provoking and many of them
stopped my dancing fingers while I pondered their meaning and reflected on them
on a personal level. Marc has a gift,
and it comes easy for him! I’m
envious! Not everyone can accomplish this
type of writing, but everyone can benefit from it. Quite impressed I am!
As my fingers danced
across my keyboard, I quickly saw the potential for several more of what I call,
“Marc Books”. Beside me, blank sheets of
paper with a pen begging to be put into use, I stopped and jotted down a few
book ideas that were right up Marc’s alley.
From time to time, I’d stop and jot a few more ideas onto paper. Without realizing it …well, not fully, I had
a lifetime of book topics/themes ready to suggest to him.
In one of my messages, I
stated that I have a lot more book ideas for you! To that, Sandy replied saying that getting
the first book done comes first. 100% I
agreed, yet here I was already typing out book 3 for the man. I knew this way of me all too well. I am very guilty of starting many projects back-to-back
or at the same time. I also recognized another
habit I have …when I see potential, it is a natural instinct in me that encourages
people to continue, to go further, to do more, to expand, to excel in their
hobby, their wants, and their natural gifts. I also have a habit of becoming excited for
them because I see so much potential that I want to see them succeed, to reach
their full potential …and I’m always willing to help! Honestly, I think I become more excited for
them than they are for themselves, or at least outwardly so. As a matter of
fact, I probably scare the crap out of them ‘cause I make it sound easy. In my mind, it is! And, for me, it is!
Being the type that is
not afraid to fail, as “failure” is an opportunity to gain experience, a
lesson, and a gift all by itself. I’ve
had that mentality all my life. I can’t
learn if I don’t fail, right? Growing up
with that mindset and having it all my adult life, I’ve learned that a lot of
people don’t think that way, but I wished they did. I’ve learned, though, that I don’t tend to
think like most people. Until recently,
I didn’t understand that part of me at all.
Normal for me, is not normal for others.
Well, poop!
It wasn’t until this
short conversation took place:
LORI-ANN: He’s gifted in this area for sure. I have ideas for him and possible future
books. Books I couldn’t ever produce but
for Marc, would be a breeze.
SANDRA: We will see.
Think he better get these done first
I totally agreed and told
them the next time we met up that I tend to become over-zealous at times
because I get excited and can do so many projects at once that one idea leads
to another, and I can have a gazillion thoughts I want to pursue. So, I told them to please keep me in check,
‘cause before the first book was even edited, I was already on book three. All the while, telling him that spacing out
his books is wise so as not to have three published at the same time or close together. Ended by telling them that I’m not an over-achiever,
but I know how to achieve lots of things in a short amount of time.
It was Sandy’s comment, “We will see. Think he better get
these books done first” is what opened my eyes.
It is one thing for me to travel 100 miles an hour, but why am I always
so excited to encourage others to their full potential? Why was I so excited to push Marc that fast,
too…yet telling him it is wise to space his books out every five to six
months? Even in my head, that didn’t make
much sense, yet I was ready to run that marathon. Hell, I was ¾ way through and in my mind,
I hadn’t even run my first mile yet! So,
what did this mean? Why the sprint when
I saw no finish line…. forever in this man’s potential?
After Sandy typed those
words, I turned to Google. I had a
question to which Google must have the answer.
I typed in something like, “Why do I have so many projects going at
once?” The result? The top line in Google was that research
suggests that a person should have no more than 2-3 projects going at the same
time. I remember reading that and
literally laughed at the absurdity of such low numbers. Actually, I think I literally said,
“Bullshit!” as I continued to scroll down the page. I’m not sure how I tweaked the question, but whatever
I typed led me to a discovery that explained a whole lot of me, and scarily so.
“Are you a
Multipotentialite?” was the link that popped up. After taking a couple seconds to break down
the word just so I could pronounce it properly the first time around, I remember
mumbling, ‘I know what each part of that word means, but together? What the hell is that? I don’t know.
Am I? Let’s find out!’
I clicked on another link
that brought me to another, then another, then another, etc. After two or more hours, I finally started
understanding more about myself. Other
names for Multipotentialite: Polymath,
Renaissance Man (person), Scanner, Slasher, Generalist, Multi-hyphenate, Multipod,
Erudite, Multi passionate, etc. Well, the
only word I was familiar with was Generalist.
I spent the next day researching each of those words, examples, history
behind, meanings, etc. That was despite
quickly realizing I could pick and choose whichever of the above titles suited
me most because it seems that everyone has their own name for the same meaning. I also realized that I am definitely that,
whichever I choose to use …or could invent a word of my own! I just might!
While doing my research some
of the same names routinely popped up.
The first was a woman named Barbara Sher. The second was Emilie Wapnick. In typical fashion, I gravitated to the older
woman, Barbara, especially after learning she has Barbara’s Club for
Scanners. Unfortunately, after reading
more about the woman and her research, I learned she passed away a year or two
ago. Not that Emilie was any less
educated, my instinct is always to go with the older generation for
knowledge. Emilie has a lot of
information scattered throughout the World Wide Web, so her material is easier
to access. Already, I had placed an
order for three of Barbara’s books, I saw no sense in ordering Emilie’s …not
yet anyway. However, she does have a
video that I watched, and she has an assessment test that I also took. Yup.
According to Emilie, I am a multipotentialite.
Multipotentialite is a
mouthful to say, and it takes longer to spew than Barbara’s “Scanner”; however,
neither suits me verbally. I more align
with “Generalist”, but I just might come up with my own word for it seems I’m
always inventing new words anyway. Why
not?
On Saturday (two days ago), the books arrived,
and I was fast to sit with a highlighter and read them. The first two I zipped through. Though they helped in a way, both were too
generalized and touched on the topic here and there, but not to the extent I
hoped. Those books are set aside
-already read from cover to cover, of course.
The third book is the one that dropped my jaw and made a whole lot of
sense.
I’ve said many times
throughout the years that, like my father, I’m a thinker, a ponderer, a curious
sort, an examiner, an experimenter, and a study of nature. However, nature may be a more common topic,
it is by far the only topic of curiosity.
We seem to go in many directions, inquisitive in a lot of subjects,
never afraid to learn, and always asking lots of questions. Honestly, I kinda feel sympathy for the
person standing in front of me when a topic comes up that I know very little to
nothing about. I’ll ask tons of
questions and allow them to answer as fully as they wish before I ask another. Lots of times, I know when to stop asking
questions and it is before their obvious body language tells me to stop, but
that is not always the case. Then, I feel bad for being so eager to learn, and so
excited about it, too.
Three questions asked to
me throughout my life were already dreaded and left me speechless and I
never really knew why. I’d go quiet for
what seemed like forever before generally answering their question inside my
head so only I could hear, “what kind of question is that?” However, I knew each question was fair to ask
and a fair question deserves a fair answer.
Unfortunately, much of the time, I drew a blank while just a second
before, thoughts filled my brain to the brim.
What do you want to be
when you grow up?
Is there anything you
can’t do?
After all you’ve done so
far, what’s next?
What do you want to be
when you grow up was a question, I never had an answer for. In high school, my gym teacher told me I’d be
a good physical therapist, so I gave that answer for a while until my Guidance
Counselor discouraged me when I told her that was a thought of mine. She told me it would be eight years of
college and I’d have to take a lot of math classes. Math was never my strong suit and to this
very day, I’m very poor in math.
Is there anything you
can’t do was always an amusing question but asked or stated more as a
rhetorical question so, for years, the only answer I’d give for that is a blank
stare and a slight shrug of the shoulders.
Now, when I’m asked, I tend to reply, “Anything I haven’t tried yet”.
After all, you’ve done so
far, what’s next is a question that also draws a blank. I don’t see avenues ahead of me. It all depends on a conversation, a visual of
something, a statement made, a word I don’t know, an object I wonder how was
made, etc. I bet I research (on a minute
scale) at least a dozen topics a day. A
few delve me into lots of tabs open on my laptop, a few pages of notes, and other
topics that lead me from one to the other, its history, origin, etc. Then, there is an example like the other
day. I looked up a plant and all I had
was the scientific name. Well, tired of
scientific names that meant absolutely nothing to me, I decided to take a
course in Latin so come summer, I can better understand scientific names for
this and that and make that process of learning “everything” a bit easier. That, despite a lot of scientific names
deriving from Greek as well as Latin. I figured
I’d start with Latin first.
See the thing with this (scanner, multipotentialite, etc.) is that we are not afraid to learn, to start
something new, to fail, to change abruptly from one subject to another, and
seemingly in different directions. We’re
simply curious about a lot of things, and none of them have to be related to
the other. You’ve heard of “Jack of all
trades, master of none”, right? That is
only one type of “this” thing that I have.
We
tend to be avid and very curious learners and the topics don’t seem to matter much. Now, this does not mean we have high IQ’s or
are smarter than the next person, though many have moderate to high IQ. It simply means we probably know a little (or
a lot) about a lot of things, and our knowledge may be in areas that are not
typical of our hobbies or job skills. Some things that we tend to be are good teachers, life coaches,
etc. as it is in our nature to help others succeed. We enjoy sharing our knowledge.
We
tend to never want to stop exploring, trying things out, learning how something
works or how something is made, its history, its origin, how it evolved, etc.
without directing our leaning toward any goal in particular. I am a lover of anthropology, and now I know why. We
tend to be “involved” in-the- moment, are often called “interesting”, have
higher energy levels than others, and are generally happy people, too. So, what’s the big deal? A lot of people are like that so what sets a
Scanner apart from others?
We
tend not to be confined by society or stay well inside societal boxes. We love life, are excited about new experiences, are generous people, and we’re not afraid to be different, thus we are more carefree in thought and of our daily actions. We tend to have multiple interests and are
good at a lot of things. We are rapid
learners with a brain like a sponge.
I grew up in a time when
career aptitude tests were given starting in grade school. Well, with the “female” checked off, my
career choices were automatically filtered from the get-go. Though my passion was always science, a girl
“couldn’t” become a scientist or a researcher.
Instead, my test always came back as a secretary or clerical, and that
always pissed me off! I grew up with
parents that didn’t set gender limits. They didn’t guide me or my sisters
toward a certain career choice. Instead,
they told us we could be anything we want to be if we wanted it bad
enough. Tell the world that “back then”!
Scanners tend to have a
moderate IQ and are multi-talented in a variety of ways on a variety of topics,
just as the depth of knowledge per topic/subject varies. There are some topics that I’m more than
happy to learn as “marginal notes” and never look back. Such topics for me seem to revolve around
numbers, math, and currency, though I loved chemistry, algorithms, and learning
computer programming. Those made sense. I enjoy playing cards but never had an
interest in the Monopoly game but love Euchre, Rummy, and Cribbage.
Sitting or standing idle
somewhere as in waiting for appointments or standing in line is nothing more
than a torcher for me. Over the years, I realized
“boredom” was the reason why. Learning that I am “this” confirmed it,
because apparently, for “us”, boredom is excruciating. I concur!
Before cell phones, people knew how to strike up a conversation. Now, I can be in a room filled with people, and not a word is spoken aloud, but all fingers are moving (talking) in a social
media AP instead of the human next to them.
Many of you follow me on
social media and have your own words to describe me. Over the years I’ve been called a lot of things
-creative, smart, generous, kind, helpful, teacher, curious, inventive, energetic,
artistic, a wordsmith, funny, etc. All those words and more define the typical Multipod. Some of “us” are high achievers, and some
are so torn in which direction to learn next that they accomplish very little. Then, there are those that fall somewhere in between. Thankfully, I’ve learned to manage and prioritize,
though sometimes, my eagerness can get carried away if I’m not careful.
An example of getting
carried away is seeing potential either in myself or others. Marc is the example I opened this writing
piece with. Next are a few examples I
see in myself, I won’t allow myself to have more than 10 paintings going at
once, yet I’ll have 5-10 separate art projects going at the same time, have 16
books sitting next to me that I read through periodically with another two
stacks sitting 15 feet away that I’ve partially read, have boxes and shelves of
books that I’ll probably never read, or will read or will read for a 2nd
and 3rd time. Reading stories for pleasure is difficult because my
preference is reading for learning. When it comes to writing, I have a box of papers
a foot thick with notes for probably eight future books and about 6-8 books
partially written, with 3-4 books so close to being published that it’ll only
take a couple hours to finish. All will
be finished at some point, as long as I can keep my art projects in check and
to a minimum. Winters are the time for
writing and my art and I’m quite thankful we have all those winter months, or I’d
be outside and never accomplish anything in the arts/writing area. If I lived in a warmer climate, I’m most
certain I’d’ve never picked up writing or the inside arts.
You’ve all seen me write,
‘I wished I could be 2-3 people at the same time. Well, come to find out that is common for
people like “us”, too. To have so
many ideas and want-to-do’s is frustrating.
I want to be able to spend 10 hours working outside in the yard while
working those same 10 hours in my garden, the same 10 hours snorkeling, the
same 10 hours writing, the same 10 hours walking through the woods, the same 10
hours painting, the same 10 hours sketching, and the same 10 hours researching
a curious topic. Instead, I have to
prioritize, and that is why I have such long To-Do lists each day because if I
don’t keep a list, I won’t get anything done at all because I need to give
myself direction.
According to what I’ve
learned, there are a few tactics out there to help people like me be more productive,
however, I think I have that part of “this” mastered in my own way. One tactic that is taught is keeping a Leonardo
DaVinci-style notebook. There was a method to his “madness” that makes sense. Though it looks like utter chaos to others, to him, it
made perfect sense and to people like him (err, us), it works. I see no sense in adopting his style, but I
might give it a try at some point. Right
now, my notes are in stacks on the backsides of used printer paper, scraps of
paper, and a notebook of my own. Our
oldest granddaughter actually bought me a notebook for my To-Do lists. I really should adopt a “notebook only” style
so my loose/stapled papers take up less room.
However, I know I’d find myself needing a dozen or more notebooks -one
for each subject I’ve delved into. Currently,
I’m in “waste not want not” mode and I don’t like wasting paper so though
notebooks would be easier, I’ve made a choice to reuse, recycle and repurpose 5-7 sheets of used paper each day.
There is a misconception
that people like me have OCD, but that is not the case. We tend to delve into various subjects
quickly and often, but we can stay focused on our tasks and can stop at any
time. The extent of our time spent
learning a subject varies from person to person and subject to subject. I can (and do) research at least a dozen topics
a day. I may read for 5 minutes, or I
may stay on a subject for hours, days, weeks, or months, then stop abruptly before
moving on to the next major subject and still have smaller subjects on the side.
According to Barbara Sher,
there are different types of scanners, but it is common for scanners to overlap
into different types. That is true of me
as well. Though there is one area that I
don’t touch hardly at all. After doing
quite a bit of research and evaluation “tests”, I’ve learned that I’m quite
efficient at being a sequential scanner.
A sequential scanner
doesn’t typically return to a previous area of interest, yet I do. Most of you have read in my posts that I “cycle
through” my hobbies. I write for a spree,
I paint for a spree, I portrait sketch for a spree, I make balls for a spree, I
garden for a spree, I’m a nature photographer for a spree, etc. All those, I’ve learned to “cut short” because
they are what I call seasonal activities -I must prioritize so I can take
advantage of our short summers all the while my brain wants to learn bout several
different subjects, too! Plain and
simple, there aren’t enough Lori-Ann’s!
Sequential scanners tend
to learn a subject until it no longer interests them and then cycle to the
next. I do this with my hobbies. Sequentials can stick to a subject for years before
moving on to something else. In the workforce, they are “career changers”. There is no
proving to others, it is proving to oneself that is important. Often, “we” are quite modest in our
accomplishments. I’ve been accused of
that all my life! Now, I guess people were
right.
According to Barbara
Sher, the type of Sequential I am strongest in is the Serial Master. Like all people
like us, we are eager learners, tend to be well-rounded people, tend to
be teachers, and encouragers, become excited at learning a new topic, aren’t out to
show or prove anything, but instead enjoy sharing our knowledge, encouraging others,
helping others, helping others see their potential, problem-solving, etc. We are the ones asking lots of questions and
listening intently for the answers. Because
we are eager helpers, we tend to be taken advantage of easily and in various ways.
It is difficult for me to
not see potential in everyone and if you’ve known me for very long, you’ve been
a “victim” of my encouragement and know the areas of potential I see in you, too. I want to see others succeed and reach their
goals in life. I want to teach what I
know and hope there are people out there that want to learn …and for free
because I believe knowledge should be shared and built onward and upward. Understanding this whole "Scanner" thing is me trying to help others who may have it, too!
I believe in taking on a
learning challenge and look forward to the struggle of challenging my
limits. To go from total ignorance of a
topic to knowledge via my own effort is quite rewarding and the feeling of
it being my own accomplishment is even better.
I’ve always been strong in the language area. I may not be good at it, but my curiosity is there
strong enough to dabble, and learn the history of the written language, its shape
origin, style on paper, etc. I’m efficient
at writing backward, upside down, and mirror-writing, and though I’m
dominantly right-handed, I can write with my left. Just as I’m efficient and reading all that
with ease as well. I didn’t discover that until I worked with students. I was fascinated at how each student held
their pencil, their styles, etc.
Serial Masters are “collectors”
of information as well as a collector of physical skills. We love learning how to do something, how
something is made, and why something happened.
This may be why I write, paint, sketch, make balls, enjoy photography,
gardening, composting, studying nature, am interested in languages, word origins, dabbling in
music, learning new art forms, etc. I can
do some of those well enough to make a career if I wanted to, but I
don’t. The joy is in learning and
practicing doing such things until my brain says it is time to stop. I could become a better artist, but I have no
want to do that. I reach a certain stage
in a piece, and I can call it “good enough” though I could have done better, my
style and my stopping point are my choice …my satisfaction point. Then, onto another piece, or not.
My mentality is what
helps me accomplish my goals. I go into
a new area without fear or apprehension.
Instead, I have a great self-assurance that I can do this, and quite
honestly, I have no doubt that I can, thus there is no fear of failure because there
is no failure. How can a learning
experience be a failure if I’ve learned something from it? Now, I say this at the same time I say, that
I have no interest in drawing or painting trees, animals, or hair. To me, you may as well throw me a bunch of
mathematical equations -there is zero interest and I always intentionally
half-ass those attempts.
I also scored high in the
Jack of all Trades area because I’m good (at least par) at about everything I try, previous
bosses and coworkers always tried hard to keep me at my jobs, I don’t fear hard
work, and take pride in a job well done no matter the difficulty, I’m capable
and reliable, I’m social and friendly (until you intentionally and repeatedly
piss me off), I like helping others, I’m conscientious, easy-going, and I’m
often asked to further my doings professionally.
My personal being touches
on all types of “scanners” in one way or another, but basically, what it all
boils down to is that I have a curious mind and enjoy learning a variety of
subjects. Recently, I took an in-depth evaluation
which revealed what I already know about myself. I scored high in the “coach” area, I’m a growth
seeker, and an orchestrator, which basically means I’d make a good teacher. I already knew all that and so do all who know me. As a matter of fact, my abilities seem to intimate a few. That's their issue. Not mine. I work well with others. Some just don't have that same knack is all.
According to what I’ve
read, there are about 10-12% of us in the world, but I have to question that. “This” has been around for a long time
…forever, but when the world “job market” became more organized, it became
popular to specialize in certain areas, which means people learn a subject inside
and out and that is their job title, their career choice. So,
people like us are not specialized, yet our knowledge base may be vast and
adaptable, just not specialized in one subject is all. We can be great assets and can
efficiently do about any job because we learn fast and easily especially if
curious and anxious. We are the “ideas”
people that can spot potential and send people in the right direction and/or become a valuable asset otherwise.
Unfortunately, for some,
being this has a drawback. Some
struggle with prioritizing, scheduling, etc. to the point they are unable to
accomplish anything except learning.
Some bounce around from job to job and feel helpless, hopeless, and
filled with despair, yet they have so much potential! How can one choose just one, or two? It’s not because they aren’t capable,
it is because they struggle with all their options. Society wants us to choose a career path
and stick with it. That’s not something
a “Scanner” can do so easily. Having too
many interests and too many talents is a real drawback for those who cannot give
themselves direction. Thankfully, there
are tools to help with that now.
Thankful, too, that many of us have enough talent to easily juggle multiple things
at once!
Recently, as in the past 20-ish
years, the “Renaissance Man” has been” re-discovered”. There are new titles for people like us now. With this “re-discovery” comes new names. Throughout this piece, I’ve referred to “Scanners”
for no other reason than it is easier to type, though I think the title doesn’t
fit. To me, none of the names fit except
for “generalist”, because isn’t that what we are -a person that is competent
and knowledgeable in several fields or activities?
So, I have to give a big
THANK YOU to Sandy for her comment, “We will see. Think he better get these done first.” Because if she hadn’t said that I never would’ve
wondered why I get so anxious and excited as I do with certain things. Knowing this, I learned that I already have
my ways under control, per se. However,
there are a few tactics I can work on thanks to Barbara Sher and her many years
of study on what she called “Scanners”. Unfortunately,
Barbara passed away, but there is that younger woman named Emilie whom I’m
learning from now. We’ve already been in
contact. Maybe there are a few more
tricks up her sleeve. I already know
that Barbara’s work will help our son, daughter, and at least one granddaughter. So, Sandy, I have to thank you yet
again!
If you suspect you are a “Scanner”,
as a start, you might want to read “Refuse to Choose” by Barbara Sher. It is the book that really breaks it all down
and helped me understand the most …and point-blankly. Though this piece is about 10 pages in
length, I could write another 10 pages, but I won’t. I kindah-sortah know my limits. Sometimes.
Maybe.
“a man can do all things if he will.”
-Leon Battista Alberti
