“Jack of all trades, master of none” they said. But what if being a jack was never the problem? What if being curious about many things was your strength all along?
You’ve probably heard it before: “Just pick one thing.”
Whether it came from your parents, your career counsellor, or your 20-something best friend who suddenly has a 5-year plan and matching stationery, the message was clear:
Stay in one lane. Commit. Choose. Stick to it.
But what if you can’t? Or rather, what if that’s not how you’re wired?
If you’ve ever wondered why you’re excited about digital marketing one minute, deep-diving into interior design the next, building a cybersecurity project and then low-key obsessed with opening a tea shop after watching a documentary, you’re not alone. I’m Nafisa, and I’ve been there. Actually, I still live there.
- The Noise Around Niches
- Multipassionate vs Multipotentialite, What’s the Difference?
- Let’s break it down
- My Story: From Tech to Shops (and Everything In Between)
- The Lie of “Pick One Passion”
- So, What Should You Do With All These Interests?
- A Word for the First Daughters
- How I Now Navigate My Many Passions
- Final Thoughts from Nafisa
And today, we’re going to explore something that most advice columns won’t touch deeply: whether you’re multipassionate, a multipotentialite, or simply confused and why it matters.
The Noise Around Niches
When I started building Novellisteer, I struggled with the pressure to niche down. Everyone in the content space was talking about it like gospel. “Find your ONE thing,” they said. “Your brand must stand for a SINGLE focus.”
But in my heart, I knew I was more than one thing. I didn’t just want to write or blog; I wanted to create something meaningful. I loved podcasts. I loved tech. I loved community building. I loved cybersecurity. At the same time, I was also obsessed with stationery, book collection, storytelling, and African textiles.
If I had forced myself to pick just one, Novellisteer wouldn’t exist. It was created from my refusal to shrink myself.
Multipassionate vs Multipotentialite, What’s the Difference?
Let’s break it down:
A Multipassionate Person
A multipassionate person has a genuine interest in multiple unrelated things. You’re not chasing trends; your interests feel real, rich, and fulfilling. You might find yourself learning a new language today and diving into baking tomorrow. You don’t do this for applause; it feeds your soul.
A Multipotentialite
A multipotentialite, a term popularised by Emilie Wapnick, refers to someone who has the potential to excel in more than one field. You might not just enjoy various things, you’re good at them. And more importantly, you can bring unique combinations of your skills to new spaces.
Confused
Confusion, on the other hand, looks and feels different. It’s less about the excitement of many ideas and more about fear, self-doubt, or not knowing where to start. It’s when you’re not moving because you don’t trust your compass.
Let’s break it down
- A multipassionate person is someone who has multiple passions they want to pursue, often at the same time.
- A multipotentialite person is someone who can excel in multiple areas and finds fulfilment in learning, connecting ideas, and exploring across domains.
Sometimes the terms are used interchangeably, but they both describe people who thrive on variety, curiosity, and growth through learning.
This isn’t the same as being indecisive or flaky. Multipotentialites are wired differently. Their minds are like rich gardens where different seeds are planted and bloom in season.
And yes, you can be all three at different seasons in your life.
Signs You Might Be a Multipotentialite or Multipassionate
Let’s run a quick vibe check:
- You get bored once you’ve mastered something.
- You always have a new idea brewing.
- Your resume looks like a buffet: a bit of tech, a splash of writing, some nonprofit work, and maybe even baking.
- People often say, “You do so many things!” or “Wow, how do you manage all this?”
- You feel boxed in by titles like “just a marketer” or “just a writer.”
Sound familiar? Yeah, we see you.
But Wait, Am I Confused?
It’s a valid question. The truth is: passion without direction can feel like confusion.
If you’re constantly jumping from one thing to another without clarity, you may feel like you’re spinning your wheels. Confusion comes in when you feel lost in your potential, when the possibilities are so many, you don’t know where to begin.
Here’s how to tell the difference
| Feeling Confused | Being Multipassionate |
|---|---|
| Feels scattered, stuck | Feels stretched, but excited |
| Doesn’t know what they want | Wants many things deeply |
| Feels energised by exploration | Experiments, even if unsure |
| Feels guilty about exploring | Feels energized by exploration |
So maybe you’re not confused. You’re just not permitting yourself to be what you are, curious and capable of many things.
My Story: From Tech to Shops (and Everything In Between)
I started my career in tech, studied computer science, and then cybersecurity. But while I loved it, I also loved writing, listening, marketing, and creating systems. I began working as a marketing and communication manager by day and running Novellisteer at weekends.
There were months I questioned myself: “Am I wasting my degree?” “Should I just stay in tech?”
But then, something shifted.
I stopped seeing my path as broken and started seeing it as layered.
Each part of my life wasn’t random; they were all tools in my toolkit.
Cybersecurity taught me discipline. Marketing taught me communication. Storytelling taught me empathy. Business taught me culture and community.
Once I stopped forcing myself into one box, the magic started happening. I launched Novellisteer for women like me, multipotentialites navigating noisy expectations.
The Lie of “Pick One Passion”
Let me tell you something bold: Picking one passion is great for some people, but not for all.
I know now that my resistance to niching down wasn’t confusion. It was clarity. It just didn’t fit the mainstream model.
Many of us were told that not having one obsession made us scattered. But what if you’re not scattered, just spacious?
What if you’re not meant to build a ladder, but a garden?
On The Blog: What Is Lifestyle? A Guide to Understanding, Defining, and Choosing the Right Lifestyle for You
So, What Should You Do With All These Interests?
Let’s get practical.
1. Choose a Project, Not a Purpose
Instead of forcing yourself to pick one life purpose, pick a project. Projects have a start and an endpoint. They let you explore one part of yourself, then move on when it’s time.
Right now, Novellisteer is my project. But it holds space for many parts of me.
2. Build a Portfolio Life
Think of your life like a portfolio. Some people have one job. Others have a mosaic of skills, gigs, and passions that make up their world.
You don’t have to monetise everything, but you can build a life that honours all of you.
3. Stop Apologising for Changing
I used to feel guilty for rebranding, restarting, or changing my mind. Not anymore.
Growth isn’t chaotic. It’s natural, and every season brings new awareness. And every version of you has value.
A Word for the First Daughters
If you’re a first daughter like me, you’ve probably felt the pressure to be the blueprint, to always have the answers, to carry your family’s hope. But here’s what I’m learning:
You don’t owe anyone a clear-cut, linear path.
You owe yourself a life that feels like home.
You are allowed to explore. You are allowed to try, pause, return, or never look back. Multipotentiality is not rebellion, it’s a rhythm. And you’re allowed to dance to it.
How I Now Navigate My Many Passions
I ask myself three questions:
- Does it energise me or just entertain me?
- Can I commit to it for 30 days?
- Does it align with the version of me I’m becoming?
If it checks two out of three, I lean in.
And I use the tools we created at Novellisteer, like the 30-Day Growth Guide, to turn curiosity into progress.
Final Thoughts from Nafisa
You’re not too much. You’re not broken. You’re not scattered. You’re not late. You are layered. You are whole. You are expansive. You are novel.
This is what we celebrate at Novellisteer, the art of being many things without apology.
So, are you multipassionate, a multipotentialite, or just confused? Maybe you’re a bit of all three. And maybe, just maybe, that’s exactly what makes you magic.
Let Us Talk
- Have you ever felt ashamed for having too many interests?
- What’s one project you could commit to for 30 days?
- What would your life look like if you stopped trying to be “just one thing”?