Hi multipod friends!
Five years ago, I was living in Denmark, finishing up my law degree abroad. It was a dark time. I was very isolated, and I was dealing with some chronic health problems. But I was also charged like never before…
See, I had this idea for a community-based website & business: a place for people who wanted to do MANY things with their lives. The lack of anything familiar made for an excellent backdrop to this project. I dove in, and gave it all I had. It was my escape.
I didn’t study much law that semester. I didn’t party with my dorm mates, or go out much, but I felt more alive than I’d ever felt. Puttylike was my baby, my way out of a life of corporate lawyering… or floundering (a false dichotomy, of course, but I didn’t know that at the time). It was also a way that I could help people and make a difference, and it revolved around a message that felt deeply important to me.
Five years have past since this time, and my life circumstances couldn’t be more different. There’s less contrast between the joy I feel in my work and the pain of everything else. In fact, there’s little pain now (I will admit though, that the 10 hour days I used to put in effortlessly/borderline mania, just aren’t a thing anymore).
Puttylike turns 5 next week, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to reflect on the last five years. In fact, you know what? Let’s all reflect.
How has your life changed since you learned about the idea of the multipotentialite? Have you become more confident? Have you added more variety to your life and career? Are you noticing more multipotentialites in your life? What else?
Hold off on answering for now. That’s what next week is for. :)
These are the sorts of questions I’d like us to explore and share with each other as a community.
Some ways in which you can get involved:
1. Twitter Party
Use the hashtag #multipotentialite all next week, and share some ways in which you have changed since learning of your multipotentiality.
This is a great way to meet other multipods, so come out and make some friends. It’s going to be fun and inspiring. I can’t wait to tweet it up with you guys.
2. Birthday Sale
From Sept 22-24, Renaissance Business, Productivity for Multipotentialites, and Multi-Passionate Branding will be 40% off. We’ll have an even sweeter bundle deal, if you’d like to pick up all three. I usually only do a big sale like this once a year, so you don’t want to miss it!
I’ll be reflecting on the last five years in the coming week, and I’m planning on publishing a blog post chronicling my growth year by year. I’m really looking forward to celebrating this milestone with you guys, and I can’t wait to hear about your insights and journeys. You make this community what it is.
Love,
Emilie
Emilie Wapnick is the Founder and Creative Director at Puttylike, where she helps multipotentialites integrate ALL of their interests into their lives. Unable to settle on one path herself, Emilie studied music, art, film production and law, graduating from the Law Faculty at McGill University. She is an occasional rock star, a paleo-friendly eater and a wannabe scientist carpenter. Learn more about Emilie here.
Well, I do hope it’s okay already to not only congratulate you, but also *thank* you from the bottom of my heart! I’m pretty new to this stuff, but already I dare say your ideas and your articles have had a huge impact on my life. Can’t see it in practice yet, but at least thanks to you I have a much clearer idea of who and what I am and what I *want* to do!
Aw, thank you, Maryske! That means to world. <3
I don’t even know where to begin. I can not remember how I first came across puttylike- I think I was clicking through blogs- anyway, I can remember the second I found you and puttylike. I was sitting in my father’s living room and the more I read the more emotional I got. I found my place. I found my people. I said both of these things under my breath. I grabbed my stuff and ran to the basement room and began to cry. In just reading what puttylike was all about – I took a deep sigh like never before. I felt a sense of relief that I wasn’t alone and that by being different in this way- there wasn’t something ‘wrong’ with me!!! This may sound dramatic, but I swear that it was that huge for me. I cannot express my gratitude enough for all of those manic hours of work and your commitment to this project. I am forever grateful.
Warmest regards,
Janelle
Janelle: Well, I do know where I came from (Tyler Tervooren’s Riskology blog), but basically, my initial reaction upon finding Puttylike was much like yours. You just managed to put it into words in a beautiful, more “real life” way!
Your blog is changing lives, Emilie. And definitely for the better!
Aw thanks, Maryske! You’re awesome. And honestly, I couldn’t do it without all of the great multipods here supporting me creatively, financially, and energetically. It’s such an honour.
Thank you, Janelle. Just, thank you. <3
I’ve been meaning to blog about multipotentiality, especially right after the TEDx talk was out, but I never got around to it. Now is the perfect time to do it since it’s Puttylike’s birthday! So, at long last, here’s my post celebrating the multipod life! (Shoutouts to the Puttylike community, of course!) :)
http://anartfuldogger.com/2015/09/24/the-multipotentialite-advantage-an-asset-to-the-pet-industry/
Found you on TED this afternoon. Realise now that I’m a “multipotentialite” – nice to know in my early 70s! Throughout my long career I’ve followed my own star! Received a lot of flack from family and well-meaning friends for being ‘flighty’! Beginning as a public school teacher, I transferred my skills to the IT arena as a tech writer/curriculum developer/instructional designer/software trainer/webmaster/project leader – and very successfully! But only as a freelancer because once the ‘project’ was finished, I’d become bored if I didn’t move on to another challenging and totally different project. Although I occasionally questioned myself, I knew that I was being ‘true’. Very validating to hear your talk! Thanks!