So true. This piece totally resonated. I'm a generalist through & through. Currently working on my PC. However I'm currently searching for a role to earn some $$ while still chipping away at my PC. Why is it so difficult to get a foot in, for generalists especially? I would've thought that we would be extremely useful & valuable in any organisation! Go figure..
If you haven't already, take a listen to the audio in this post! I talk a bit about this - I don't actually think it's because there aren't opportunities out there for generalists, I think it's because most of us haven't learned how to effectively articulate what we can do and sell.
Oh man, this was so refreshing. Thank you for talking about the shame that is felt for not feeling like an expert or specialist. I feel that so deeply and have been wrestling with it for months. Finding your work and Generalist World has helped me work through that shame more than you know🫶🏼
oh my gosh this is so me. from blogging to youtube, from medicine to marketing, from photography to UX, I wondered what was wrong with me. Thank you for writing this!
Good God have you landed like an angel in my inbox at the exact right time in my life… This is ME. I thought I was just a weird unicorn but I’m so glad there is support for people like me! I’m so excited to dive into your resources and newsletter!
"Experimenters, lifelong learners and free spirits at heart who want to carve out something that’s uniquely ours." You got me at thiss!!
When the world said to have that good 9 to 5 job, all I felt was a betrayal of my dreams, and a suffocation, of being caged, of not belonging! Sometimes I wanna be a designer, a writer, a business entrepreneur, a creative director, and today it's me understanding that I can be all of it without sacrificing things! All at my pace, even if it's different! Thanks to this beautiful piece, Anna!!
The shame of it is what I am currently trying to overcome. I also resonated hard with how you articulated sitting at the table but feeling out of depth or imposter vibe. This is meeeee..... im on to it enough to be in the meeting but not quite up to speed to feel complete at ease being there.
For me, that confidence grew over time and realising that even though I was a generalist in broad roles, I was able to deliver results and build great relationships across the organisation. And now, working for myself in a portfolio career capacity, I know for CERTAIN that my generalist skillset and broad business mind is a strength. It will come!
I'm curious though - if you're doing similar work as you were in the past, does the imposter syndrome and feelings of not being deep enough go away?? Or are you just setting different expectations?
I don't feel this way any more because I've been working for myself for six years, and I've built a lot of confidence in my approach because I've done some great things! I'm also older and wiser (almost 36 🫣) and feel like a lot of my confidence has come with experience.
This makes so much sense! I've also been a Generalist my entire life, i always feel like I need a balance of creativity, practicality and multiple diverse tasks to challenge me in role. I just thought I like to challenge my brain. Literally had no idea there was a name for this until now. Thank you so much for sharing!
So true. This piece totally resonated. I'm a generalist through & through. Currently working on my PC. However I'm currently searching for a role to earn some $$ while still chipping away at my PC. Why is it so difficult to get a foot in, for generalists especially? I would've thought that we would be extremely useful & valuable in any organisation! Go figure..
If you haven't already, take a listen to the audio in this post! I talk a bit about this - I don't actually think it's because there aren't opportunities out there for generalists, I think it's because most of us haven't learned how to effectively articulate what we can do and sell.
I tend to wary of new names that come up to define a sample of humanity but in that case, it really hit home.
I do resonate with that feeling of " I should be more specialized" and " but I don't want tooooo".
This willingness to explore different realm and not be defined by just one area but a way of thinking is something I always admire about De Vinci.
It goes further than the career. The work becomes about yourself, not the thing.
I always think about Da Vinci in this context too!
Oh man, this was so refreshing. Thank you for talking about the shame that is felt for not feeling like an expert or specialist. I feel that so deeply and have been wrestling with it for months. Finding your work and Generalist World has helped me work through that shame more than you know🫶🏼
You're definitely not alone, so many of us have felt this way about our broad generalist 'I can do all the things' skillset. I'm so happy it helped 🥹
oh my gosh this is so me. from blogging to youtube, from medicine to marketing, from photography to UX, I wondered what was wrong with me. Thank you for writing this!
You're welcome!
Good God have you landed like an angel in my inbox at the exact right time in my life… This is ME. I thought I was just a weird unicorn but I’m so glad there is support for people like me! I’m so excited to dive into your resources and newsletter!
There are lots of us out here! I think there will be tons of essays in my back catalogue that resonate with you. Happy reading ❤️
"Experimenters, lifelong learners and free spirits at heart who want to carve out something that’s uniquely ours." You got me at thiss!!
When the world said to have that good 9 to 5 job, all I felt was a betrayal of my dreams, and a suffocation, of being caged, of not belonging! Sometimes I wanna be a designer, a writer, a business entrepreneur, a creative director, and today it's me understanding that I can be all of it without sacrificing things! All at my pace, even if it's different! Thanks to this beautiful piece, Anna!!
You're so welcome ❤️
The shame of it is what I am currently trying to overcome. I also resonated hard with how you articulated sitting at the table but feeling out of depth or imposter vibe. This is meeeee..... im on to it enough to be in the meeting but not quite up to speed to feel complete at ease being there.
For me, that confidence grew over time and realising that even though I was a generalist in broad roles, I was able to deliver results and build great relationships across the organisation. And now, working for myself in a portfolio career capacity, I know for CERTAIN that my generalist skillset and broad business mind is a strength. It will come!
The audio extra for this one is absolute gold!
Happy it helped!
“I loved both jobs although I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I felt perpetually out of place.”
This entire paragraph is me every day lol
I used to be right there with you! It wasn't until I started working for myself that I was like....ahh...this is where I belong
I'm curious though - if you're doing similar work as you were in the past, does the imposter syndrome and feelings of not being deep enough go away?? Or are you just setting different expectations?
I don't feel this way any more because I've been working for myself for six years, and I've built a lot of confidence in my approach because I've done some great things! I'm also older and wiser (almost 36 🫣) and feel like a lot of my confidence has come with experience.
That makes sense, though I'm so much older than you and the struggle is still so real, HA!
"Opportunities to add value are everywhere which means opportunities to earn money are too" - love this as I enter my new portfolio career era!
It's very true. Sometimes they take a while to find, but they are there.
This makes so much sense! I've also been a Generalist my entire life, i always feel like I need a balance of creativity, practicality and multiple diverse tasks to challenge me in role. I just thought I like to challenge my brain. Literally had no idea there was a name for this until now. Thank you so much for sharing!
Love it! Check out my back catalogue, there are lots of pieces in there about portfolio careers and designing this way of working 😍
This spoke to me in some BIG ways!
Hope it helped 🫶🏼
“Eyes up. Feelers out. Game on.” Loved this line!!
Hehe thanks 🥰