Rebrand yourself as a multipotentialite

I had never heard the term multipotentialite until a week ago. Now I realize that am I one. And you could be, too.

A multipotentialite is someone who has multiple interests or talents and combines them to create (or become) something new and unique.

When I decided to incorporate the pirate side of myself into the designer side of myself (also known as a rebrand) I became something unique in my field. It’s helped me expand as a designer and brand strategist. Including a bit of playfulness (and some bad-assery) in the way I market and employ my talents has boosted my confidence and helped me become a more authentic version of myself.

Part of developing a personal brand is deciding what aspects of yourself you will project to the world. And many people choose to suppress the parts they believe don’t fit their chosen profession. It’s like they’re still living out the question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” And that’s a shame, because it’s those “other parts” that make us interesting.

There’s great potential for developing a unique personal brand when you cross-pollinate your talents and interests: a marketing executive who’s also a chess master, a photographer who incorporates Buddhist mindfulness in her process, a public relations manager who’s also the lead singer in a rock band, a designer pirate. You get the idea.

My oldest son just started college and his three strongest interests are puppetry, videography, and writing poetry. I have no idea what the convergence of those passions will produce but I can’t wait to find out. Maybe he’ll become the world’s first Henson-Scorsese-Angelou.

Now, when I attend a networking event and they hand me one of those stick-on name tags, I simply write my first name and “pirate” underneath. It’s far more interesting for someone to hear about what it’s like to be a pirate than a brand strategist. We might eventually get around to talking about branding but, if not, that’s ok. We’ve had a conversation. We’ve made a connection. And they’ve experienced part of my authentic brand.

If you want to learn more about multipotentialites, check out this TEDx video.
If you want to find out what it’s like to work with a pirate, let’s talk.