Becoming a Polymath

How to manage multiple interests and actually excel in them

In the age of the Renaissance, being well versed in a multitude of fields was the hallmark of an admirable man — hence the term ‘Renaissance Man’. Figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Blaise Pascal, and Niccolò Machiavelli didn’t rest their laurels on any one specialization but pursued excellence in mathematics, sciences, and the arts. Yet it seems today, society steers us further and further from the pursuit of becoming a polymath.

The age-old expression, “Jack of all trades, master of none,” gets tossed around as a warning against such diversification. Our society requires specialists. It prefers labels. It wants you in a box. This is your role. This is your career for the next 40+ years. This is who you are. And that never sat right with me.

Yet despite my contrarian nature, I found myself faced with resounding resistance. Struggling to tread water in an abundant sea of interests, the desire to do everything resulted in me drowning with nothing to show for it. Obstinately I’ve refused to give up in my attempts to balance my various passions. For me, curiosity is at the heart of the human condition. It fuels us. It fills us with meaning. I had to find an answer.

So over the years, I’ve worked hard to find that elusive answer. I’ve ran ultra marathons, started different businesses, picked up new skills, and began to learn a language. In this post, I want to share the answers I’ve found, argue that specialization is overrated, and explain why the pursuit of various interests leads to a more rich, fulfilling life.

Curiosity Makes Life Sweeter

By indulging yourself in the desires of the heart, you’re able to find joy in all the trivial moments of life. Every morning I wake up and derive a deep satisfaction from the aroma of fresh coffee I carefully brewed. Completing my daily workout gives me a surge of pride and sense of accomplishment. Passionate reading of classic literature coats the way in which I experience the world, making simple interactions feel more poetic.

These are just anecdotes that I’ve experienced but they paint the picture of how developing an expansive range of knowledge and skills can generate widespread fulfillment.

“Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.” - Leonardo da Vinci

So how can we achieve this polymathic approach? How do we actually excel in the pursuit of multiple interests rather than find ourselves stretched too thin with diluted results? Here are three suggestions: