Comments on: How to Live Two Lives in One http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2010/02/04/how-to-be-polygamous/ Live on Your Own Terms Fri, 30 Jul 2010 01:39:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Arsene Hodali http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2010/02/04/how-to-be-polygamous/#comment-31387 Arsene Hodali Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:45:48 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1863#comment-31387 Everyday I tell myself that it's okay to do what do (dancing, photography, & personal development) even when they have nothing in common. Everyone always talks about niche this, niche that, and as you said "specialize". Then people quote Gladwell "if you want to be good at something spend 10,000 hours on it, thus the only reasonable thing is to only focus on one thing". But I have found integration between them. Through dancing you learn how to entertain people, improve presentation, and you learn a hell of a lot about timing. Through photography you learn to notice what others don't, and see art in everything. And this has all helped with my writing and personal development. Then personal development, especially minimization helped with photography and dancing, because I learned to focus on what truly mattered. As an artist you learn that everything is interconnected. If fact most artists struggle with finding something to specialize in, truly specialize in... and they never do. Photography, Design, Music... how many great artists combine these for example? I truly congratulate you on this, and you've proven once again why you have one of the few (10) blogs I read. Everyday I tell myself that it’s okay to do what do (dancing, photography, & personal development) even when they have nothing in common.

Everyone always talks about niche this, niche that, and as you said “specialize”. Then people quote Gladwell “if you want to be good at something spend 10,000 hours on it, thus the only reasonable thing is to only focus on one thing”.

But I have found integration between them. Through dancing you learn how to entertain people, improve presentation, and you learn a hell of a lot about timing. Through photography you learn to notice what others don’t, and see art in everything. And this has all helped with my writing and personal development. Then personal development, especially minimization helped with photography and dancing, because I learned to focus on what truly mattered.

As an artist you learn that everything is interconnected. If fact most artists struggle with finding something to specialize in, truly specialize in… and they never do. Photography, Design, Music… how many great artists combine these for example?

I truly congratulate you on this, and you’ve proven once again why you have one of the few (10) blogs I read.

]]> By: Gianpaolo Pietri | The Optimalists http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2010/02/04/how-to-be-polygamous/#comment-31325 Gianpaolo Pietri | The Optimalists Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:37:09 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1863#comment-31325 Very well said and well written Jonathan. Love the idea of embedding, as well as the term. It goes very well with what you describe. As an architect, I have used that term often when describing a design concept to a client. Architects often have to integrate and 'embed' a great variety of theoretical concepts, existing conditions, and technologies in order to create a project that is as efficient and yet as aesthetic as possible. But it had never necessarily occured to me to think about my personal interests, relationships, and endeavors in that way. After reading this post, it makes absolutely perfect sense to do so. As a result, i will more actively consider how to integrate all the different things I am involved with. If there is something I believe in it's in engaging in all the things that move you. And now I see how they can all be brought together based on the common ground they each share. Very well said and well written Jonathan. Love the idea of embedding, as well as the term. It goes very well with what you describe. As an architect, I have used that term often when describing a design concept to a client. Architects often have to integrate and ‘embed’ a great variety of theoretical concepts, existing conditions, and technologies in order to create a project that is as efficient and yet as aesthetic as possible.

But it had never necessarily occured to me to think about my personal interests, relationships, and endeavors in that way. After reading this post, it makes absolutely perfect sense to do so. As a result, i will more actively consider how to integrate all the different things I am involved with. If there is something I believe in it’s in engaging in all the things that move you.

And now I see how they can all be brought together based on the common ground they each share.

]]> By: Iyabo Asani, The Entrepreneur Success Coach http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2010/02/04/how-to-be-polygamous/#comment-31322 Iyabo Asani, The Entrepreneur Success Coach Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:06:48 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1863#comment-31322 Wonderful! I believe that Daniel Pink in his book, A whole new mind, would consider this "symphony." Integration is critical to business in today's market and I cannot agree with you more. Iyabo Wonderful! I believe that Daniel Pink in his book, A whole new mind, would consider this “symphony.” Integration is critical to business in today’s market and I cannot agree with you more.

Iyabo

]]> By: Albert Ciuksza Jr. http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2010/02/04/how-to-be-polygamous/#comment-31301 Albert Ciuksza Jr. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:41:42 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1863#comment-31301 This is a great articulation of what I've been thinking for years. When I was on my own, I would integrate this stuff as much as humanly possible. The question is being able to do it while working a 9-to-5, where you really have to focus on what they're paying you for. This is a great articulation of what I’ve been thinking for years. When I was on my own, I would integrate this stuff as much as humanly possible. The question is being able to do it while working a 9-to-5, where you really have to focus on what they’re paying you for.

]]> By: Paul http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2010/02/04/how-to-be-polygamous/#comment-31300 Paul Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:56:20 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1863#comment-31300 You make me think of the 80:20 rule; the principle that you get 80% of the reward with 20% of the effort. I believe if you truly want to receive 100% of the reward/benefit from any one 'Love'/'Passion'/'Endeavor', you can't have more than one love. But if your like myself, I can live with 80% of the reward/benefit from any one 'Love'/'Passion'/'Endeavor', I can and do have multiple 'Loves'/'Passions'/'Endeavors' all being serviced virtually in parallel. I also believe I am happier for it. Never spending more than 20% of my time on any one pursuit, keeps them all fresh and interesting. I recognize I will never experience perfection with anything that I pursue... but who really does? You make me think of the 80:20 rule; the principle that you get 80% of the reward with 20% of the effort.

I believe if you truly want to receive 100% of the reward/benefit from any one ‘Love’/'Passion’/'Endeavor’, you can’t have more than one love.

But if your like myself, I can live with 80% of the reward/benefit from any one ‘Love’/'Passion’/'Endeavor’, I can and do have multiple ‘Loves’/'Passions’/'Endeavors’ all being serviced virtually in parallel. I also believe I am happier for it. Never spending more than 20% of my time on any one pursuit, keeps them all fresh and interesting.

I recognize I will never experience perfection with anything that I pursue… but who really does?

]]> By: Craig Thomas http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2010/02/04/how-to-be-polygamous/#comment-31298 Craig Thomas Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:11:22 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1863#comment-31298 Nice post. I love being quirky and knowing little bits about many different things I've tried on a random occurance - definitely makes great conversation starters. Nice post. I love being quirky and knowing little bits about many different things I’ve tried on a random occurance – definitely makes great conversation starters.

]]> By: Farouk http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2010/02/04/how-to-be-polygamous/#comment-31291 Farouk Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:50:08 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1863#comment-31291 yes i agree, few years ago when my friends used to tell me that i am doing lots of unrelated stuff i used to reply saying that i am doing things that appear to be unrelated but they all help me reach the same goal yes i agree, few years ago when my friends used to tell me that i am doing lots of unrelated stuff i used to reply saying that i am doing things that appear to be unrelated but they all help me reach the same goal

]]> By: Lex | uKaizen.com http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2010/02/04/how-to-be-polygamous/#comment-31275 Lex | uKaizen.com Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:06:01 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1863#comment-31275 I must say I agree with this post, mainly because it's one of the things I'm doing at the moment. It may be a tough route to try and excell in more than one area especially if their totally unrelated, but it's usually the hardest route that you gain most from. Interesting read, keep 'em coming :) Lex | uKaizen.com I must say I agree with this post, mainly because it’s one of the things I’m doing at the moment. It may be a tough route to try and excell in more than one area especially if their totally unrelated, but it’s usually the hardest route that you gain most from. Interesting read, keep ‘em coming :)

Lex | uKaizen.com

]]> By: Ryan Hanzel http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2010/02/04/how-to-be-polygamous/#comment-31232 Ryan Hanzel Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:49:40 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1863#comment-31232 Exceptional post bud, I think that integrating several passions into your day is common for many people, finding a way to be proficient at all of them is the tricky part. Finding way's to improve on this through repetitive conditioning is an excellent way. I really enjoyed your post and your view on things! Exceptional post bud, I think that integrating several passions into your day is common for many people, finding a way to be proficient at all of them is the tricky part. Finding way’s to improve on this through repetitive conditioning is an excellent way. I really enjoyed your post and your view on things!

]]> By: Alex Gibbons http://www.illuminatedmind.net/2010/02/04/how-to-be-polygamous/#comment-31226 Alex Gibbons Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:11:41 +0000 http://www.illuminatedmind.net/?p=1863#comment-31226 Hey Jonathan, thought provoking post, thanks. I totally agree that specialisation is not a sustainable strategy. Life is integrated and specialisation takes us into a more fragmented position which, for me at least, is not the way I want to go. The truly great polymath Buckminster Fuller had a lot to say about this so go check him out if you haven't. He was way ahead of his time and believed that specialisation would ultimately lead humanity to extinction if we don't get our shit together. I could write a lot about this but a couple of quotes from Bucky's wikiquotes.org page is probably better: "On personal integrity hangs humanity's fate" "Unity is plural and, at minimum, is two." "One of humanity's prime drives is to understand and be understood. All other living creatures are designed for highly specialized tasks. Man seems unique as the comprehensive comprehender and co-ordinator of local universe affairs." Enjoy. Hey Jonathan, thought provoking post, thanks.

I totally agree that specialisation is not a sustainable strategy. Life is integrated and specialisation takes us into a more fragmented position which, for me at least, is not the way I want to go.

The truly great polymath Buckminster Fuller had a lot to say about this so go check him out if you haven’t. He was way ahead of his time and believed that specialisation would ultimately lead humanity to extinction if we don’t get our shit together.

I could write a lot about this but a couple of quotes from Bucky’s wikiquotes.org page is probably better:

“On personal integrity hangs humanity’s fate”

“Unity is plural and, at minimum, is two.”

“One of humanity’s prime drives is to understand and be understood. All other living creatures are designed for highly specialized tasks. Man seems unique as the comprehensive comprehender and co-ordinator of local universe affairs.”

Enjoy.

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