5 Ways To Focus Your Multi Passionate Mind
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I have many interests. In other words, I can sometimes be a multi passionate mess- constantly trying to turn my hobbies into businesses and then switching focus to something else, rinse and repeat again and again.
Aside from writing, I’ve never found anything that I truly want to do forever, but I’ve found lots of things I like to do sporadically. Recognizing that I’m allowed to have hobbies without needing to make money from them has been a key factor in helping sew my multi passionate oats.
Here are 5 things I do to focus my multi passionate mind:
1- I categorize my passions into short term and long term
I like to do A LOT of things. I love painting, reading, writing, animals, managing social media, making home decor, designing printables, traveling, blogging, cooking, woodworking, being entrepreneurial, planning events, interior design, researching medial things and reading medical stories, palmistry, tarot cards, manifestation, make-up, etc etc etc
At one point or another I’ve tried to turn most of those into a business. I frequently do what I call “brain pours” and I pour everything I’m thinking into notebooks multiple times a day. I keep all of these notebooks to pull inspiration from when needed. I have notebooks FULL of business ideas. I usually just do it to be creative- because planning a business is fun, and it’s fun to dream. I know in reality I can’t actually do most of these.
I’ve planned out ideas for the following businesses over the last couple of years (I give you FULL permission to laugh at some of them):
A toy making business where I would make hand painted wooden toys, games, etc
An Etsy shop for printables, tote bags, mugs etc
A wedding planning business
Owning my own used book store
Social media management
Being a tarot card reader for weddings & events
Owning a local co-working space
A funny greeting card business
A food truck that only sells gourmet rootbeer & cream soda floats.
A wooden sign making business
There came a point when I had to get real with myself, and this point came shortly after closing my Etsy shop. My shop was all over the place, and my products and offerings changed as often as I got bored. I realized I had to start categorizing my hobbies into long term business plans, and short term projects. After MUCH deliberation, I decided to offer social media management and virtual assisting as a service, because I knew it was something I could do long term, and it was something I was already doing for work anyway. It’s been almost a year since I decided to start Delight Elizabeth, and I’m still slowing building it- but the key here is I haven’t gotten bored, and I have long term plans for it. I also still do social media for Weddings Atlantic. I’m learning more and more about it every day, and still loving it.
I’m also currently in the middle of writing a collection of poetry that I plan to query next year. That is something I am passionate about, and again have been working on it for a long time without getting bored.
On the flip side, recently I’ve been hand painting and crafting Halloween decorations just for fun. Someone saw them and said “Wow, you could sell those”. My multi passionate brain immediately began picturing the logo for the business, possible names, my booth at the weekend market, etc. Then, I reeled myself in, and put “Holiday Decor Business” into the “short term project” bucket. I can enjoy doing something, and be good at it, but it doesn’t need to become a business. I’ve learned that when I try to make everything into a business, I’m taking away from the things I really want to do long term.
2- Creative writing
This might just be a writer thing, but I swear it helps, and I recommend trying it. Sometimes I get a bit sad thinking about all of the things I’ll never be. If I’m a writer, I can never be a nurse, or bookshop owner, or Madam Mystic with a crystal ball and tarot cards at weddings.
Since I have SO many ideas and visions of what I’d like to do, I take those imaginings and turn them into creative writing. I write out character ideas for books based on the visions I have for myself. Doing this means I can still create an old brick used bookstore downtown. It would have a big black cat that suns himself in the front window, floor to ceiling bookshelves with ladders, and a green velvet couch that people can sit at reading and drinking their latte’s from the coffee shop next door.
Knowing that I can work my ideas into future stories helps me focus my attention back to my long term work goals.
3- Give yourself time before jumping in
If you have an idea that you’re really passionate about, plan all you want, but give yourself time before taking action. My biggest issue in the past is that I’ll get an idea, have fun planning out every detail, then jump in. With my Etsy shop I think there was maybe 2 days of planning before creating my logo and opening shop.
Now, I take time to REALLY let everything soak in, and make sure it’s something I can put my energy into long term. I recommend waiting at least 3-6 months before announcing a new idea, because that will give you enough time to decide if it’s something you’ll get bored of, or if you’re in it for the long haul. Also, do your research! For example, if you plan on writing an e-book (another endeavor I’ve made plans for and started) make sure you have an audience, that it’s something people will actually want to buy. Make sure you have the skills to promote yourself and your idea, and get all of your ducks in a row before announcing the new project. There’s nothing worse than excitedly announcing something only to realize a month later that you’re bored with it, aren’t prepared to follow through, etc.
I also remind myself of that little pang of shame and embarrassment I feel when jumping into a project feet first, failing, and having to tell everyone I’m closing up shop.
4- Don’t suppress your creativity
Multi passionate minds are creative minds. We don’t tend to be the best at multi tasking (because we want to do ALL the things all the time), so it’s important to let your creativity flow, even while focusing on one idea at a time. I’m focusing all of my attention into writing and social media management, but I still give myself no-pressure creative opportunities on the side. I still create ALL the time. I paint, I do crafts, I write just for fun, I plan to take some leisure courses at the University, I do fun projects for my blog, I put creativity into home decor, etc.
5- Create a long term road map
This goes along with deciding what projects are long term and short term. Write down a list of what you want your life to look like in 5 years. Which one of your projects are going to get you there, and which ones aren’t? You want to focus your energy on the plans that will positively impact your journey and contribute to that best version of yourself you want to be. If I would have done this last year, I never would have tried to start that wooden peg doll business on my Etsy shop, because I would have realized that I personally can’t see myself making peg dolls professionally 5 years from now. I now realize that I can make wooden peg dolls for gifts, or for fun, but they aren’t a long term business option for me.
Bonus Tip
Support other creatives
This is something else I love to do! I once drew up the plans for a soap making business. I researched ingredients, molds, etc. Once I reeled myself in and realized I was never going to actually do that, I decided to find a local soap making business and buy some of their products. Having the product in hand helped me truly appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into it, and allowed me to enjoy the product without actually needing to make it.
I hope these tips help a bit! The creative mind never stops creating, but with focus and determination, we can do amazing things!
D