Why Some of us Don't Have One True Calling | Emilie Wapnick | TEDxBend

Have too many passions to settle on just one? Perfect. Your unique mix of interests may turn out to be your very own super power.

Author, entrepreneur and artist, Wapnick was blessed with so many interests that she was unable to pick just one. She studied music, visual arts, film production and law, and graduated from the Law Faculty at McGill University. After years of feeling anxious about her zigzagging career path and hyphenated credentials, she finally decided to embrace her plural nature and start a movement for others who lean toward being “multipotentialites.” Since launching her website, Puttylike, in 2010, Wapnick has inspired thousands of multipotentialites to stop trying to fit themselves into boxes, and embrace their plurality. She has been featured in Lifehacker, The Financial Times, and The Huffington Post. Currently, she is working on her forthcoming book, “Multipotentialite.”

[alexandral]

And here I was, spending 27 years thinking there must be something wrong with me and panicking about how my life is going to turn out since I can't find "that one thing" that will fulfill my life.

[MakerMark]

As I read the comments here I find great relief in the knowledge that I am not alone, that I am not defective or broken or a multifailureite, that my numerous interests are a gift and not a curse.

[Buhle]

This is such an important talk to me because I've been lazy with my various interests, not developing them fully, because I feel as though they aren't 'useful'. I'm a real jack of all trades and master of none. Now I'm gonna go hard at all my various interests, and develop them to their fullest potential, regardless of whether or not I can see a use for them in the future.

[junbugg]

It's unbelievable that after 12 mins, I'm closer to knowing myself than I was in the 19 years leading up to it. I find myself so stressed and freaked out because, on the one hand, I have all these interests and all these things that I can't help but to want more of. On the other hand, I'm constantly being pressured into picking one thing to do and being told not to deviate from the beaten path. My feet weren't made for smooth paths. They were made for knocking stuff over and making lots of different paths. Thank you Emilie

[JobsStillPoorUSA]

Yes! I am a multipotentialite! I'm in tears because everything and nothing interested me and like she said... I would get bored. Thanks so much Emile, for allowing me to believe in me.

[victorpadilla]

I think I've just found my tribe.

[deerohe]

Hooray! I'll be 80 next year and have finally found out what to call myself besides a 'failed, broke genius'. Many times I've wished I were dumber and could only do one good skilled thing, and be financially successful as a one track mind person as I see so many people rise up in the ranks while I got fired every time. So I just can't work for any company - figured that out. Too late anyway, I should be retired they say. Nope, I'm just getting starting, thanks to you! Sigh. My interests have been so many, many, many, many, and always have been told that I'm talented, can do anything I could set my mind to... but durnit.. never could set my mind on any one particular thing! So I found this site looking for some way to totally combine some of my greatest interests of painting, writing, blogging, acupuncture, oriental medicine, earning money, fitness, yoga, tai chi, meditation, anti-aging, beauty, health, end-times, earthquakes, earth changes, philosophy, Marian apparitions, conspiracy theories, chemtrails, and many,  too many, more. So... THANK YOU, Emilie! I'll get cracking on working up a pro-con comparison scale chart and maybe a flow chart too. Yay!

[MrZerkler]

So in my life I've been a lit major, communications student, theatre actor, makeup artist, weapons wrangler for films, massage therapist, indie film maker, lymphedema therapist, teacher, and instructional designer, project coordinator, educator, hobbiest photographer and digital media remixer, roller derby player.... Now i do instructional design as my day job, but makeup, film production, media design and sound rremixing/ playing music have served me well here. I have been told on my occasions why can't i just pick one thing.... and when i tell people everything I've done they look at me like I'm crazy.... and I always thought that maybe i was- a little ADD with a dash of hyperactivity.... but no. I'm a multipotentialite and I have THE coolest super powers ever! Thank you so much!

[klmta]

Ever have one of those moments your casually surfing Facebook and run across a video that totally sums up everything about you? Absolutely a mind blowing inside to the inner workings of me and I'm sure many many others. I watch ted talks religiously and I've never felt compelled to comment on any of them until now. Thank you Emilie. Great Video.

[GeoAl]

One of the best talks for me personally. I'm so glad I was curious enough to click on this one. It all makes so much more sense. I'm totally in the same boat!

[zealouszoya]

To everyone who tells me "You are so confused and out of focus!!!", this video explains all the frustration I have to undergo to choose between things. I SEE NO DIFFERENCE!! I am interested in so many things. Given the right resources and time I want to pursue everything!!!

[NatNatTally]

I totally feel like she was inside of my head. She described my whole life to my thoughts, patterns and anxiety about being all over the place. I have never been able to pinpoint what I wanted to do with my life because I'm generally interested in so much. I always chalked it up to having ADD. I've struggled my whole life with this question.

[valquiriaelissa]

This video makes me want to cry! I feel that someone understands me! I'm no longer alone! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 🙏

[AussieHolly]

WOW! I'm a multipotentialite - and I LOVE it!! I've never know what I wanted to be and never pigeonhole my kids. I have been a teacher, trainer, florist, geologiest, PA, web-geek, scholar, astronomer, tarot reader, crystal therapist, cross stitch designer and many many more. 1 and a half years is my limit for most things but I now value my ability to do so many things - couldn't have said it better myself...

[wildinfernoninety]

I have had a hiring manager read my resume and say "well you didn't stick with one particular skillset all your career". Many times you'll face the Imposter Syndrome, so brace yourself for a lot of backlash when you choose this path. But in the end, it will all be worth it.

[authenticteecee]

I absolutely adore this video and I watch it a lot, reminds me that it's ok.

[karenjiaxi]

This video is everything to me and brings tears to my eyes. All the pain I've gone through because I felt like there was something wrong with me in not having a "thing, " and disappointing my parents when I changed my mind over and over. So many of my friends have gone into fields that they've planned for since high school: dentistry, medicine, law, insurance, etc. And I've switched majors and fields more times than is deemed socially acceptable. As a result, people are always surprised about my wide and varied knowledge base, but as impressive as it is at a party to be a jack-of-all-trades, it's not as respected in the real world to have tried five different things in five years than it is to have stuck with one thing for five years.

[melissaruisznazario]

I struggled so much with picking a major in high school and even in college--it kept me up at night, trying to figure out my "one true calling" because I was good at lots of things. I SO wish I knew about this concept back then, but I'm so very happy to have learned of it recently, and to (finally) replace that negative story I had been (unconsciously) telling myself, that I can't commit, that I quit when it gets hard/boring. Thank you for sharing this message with the world--it really needs it!

[Obtaineudaimonia]

Always enjoyable to find a TED talk you can personally relate to

[Mrsa]

I haven't cried during a Ted talk like that before. Thank you Emilie, my life has come alive because I found your website