Want to be successful? Be a polymath.

“Jack of all trades, master of none.” You’ve probably heard that quote before, maybe your parents lobbed it at you when you had one hobby too much while studying in secondary school. But not a lot of people know the last part of the quote: “better than a master of one.” Some of the most successful people have hobbies that seem to completely contrast their area of expertise. Tropika Club dives into why becoming a polymath could lead to success.

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No Time to Read? Here’s a Snappy Summary of This Article

• What is a polymath? A polymath is someone who has expertise or knowledge in multiple fields or disciplines, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, or Marie Curie.
• Why be a polymath? Being a polymath can help you develop creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and lifelong learning skills. It can also make you more adaptable, versatile, and resilient in the face of change.
• How to be a polymath? There is no one formula to become a polymath, but some possible steps are: finding your passions and interests, exploring different domains and topics, learning from diverse sources and mentors, connecting the dots and integrating your knowledge, applying your skills to real-world challenges, and sharing your insights and discoveries with others.
• What are some examples of polymaths? Some modern-day polymaths are: Elon Musk, who is an entrepreneur, engineer, inventor, and visionary in fields such as space exploration, electric vehicles, and renewable energy; Oprah Winfrey, who is a media mogul, philanthropist, actress, producer, and author; and Tim Ferriss, who is an author, podcaster, investor, entrepreneur, and self-experimenter in topics such as productivity, lifestyle design, health, and learning.

What is the origin of the word ‘polymath’?

The word ‘polymath’ comes from the Greek word ‘polymathēs’, which means ‘having learned much’. It is composed of the prefix ‘poly-’, meaning ‘much’, and the root ‘manthanein’, meaning ‘to learn’. The term was first used in English in the 1620s by Robert Burton in his book The Anatomy of Melancholy It is synonymous with terms such as ‘polyhistor’, ‘erudition’, ‘philology’, ‘philomathy’, and ‘polyhistory’.

Enter: The Polymath

A polymath possesses knowledge spanning across different subjects. Some of the most important names in our history books have been polymaths: Thomas Edison, Leonardo da Vinci, Aristotle. And modern examples include the brains behind some of the biggest tech companies are polymaths too: Elon Musk, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates. 

Polymaths are often able to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems. In the example of Elon Musk, he combines his understanding of physics, engineering, programming, design, manufacturing, and business to run his ventures that span across vastly different fields. 

Get Ahead of the Curve by Becoming a Polymath 

The modern knowledge economy we have today often requires you to venture out of your box. For example, to be an effective online writer, you have to be an academic researcher, a digital journalist, and an online marketing specialist in one go. Some instances you even have to have an eye for good design too. Gone are the days where skills specialisation is glorified in the workplace. After all, how many of us can be Grammy-award winners or Olympic superstars?

Blaze New Trails 

Today, polymaths are uniquely suited to succeed because they see each field able to provide something valuable. And combining them has the potential for inspiring great ideas.

Just take a look at Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert. He’s not a comedian, or an experienced cartoonist when he first started out. When he first started drawing to Dilbert, he barely even had any experience at the workplace since he’s only in his 20s. But he created one of the most recognizable comic strips in the world by combining his sense of humour, his illustration skills, and his own take on corporate culture.

With fresh skillsets, the number of potential combinations increases exponentially. So by becoming a polymath, you could even be pioneering new fields of study or industries. Some studies even show that global scientific output doubles every 9 years. 

And that’s changing the way we solve problems. Now, tackling obesity isn’t just about extolling the virtues of a good diet and exercise. Instead, we tap on the fields of behavioural psychology, sociology, genetics, exercise physiology, and nutrition to solve obesity.

Future-Proof Your Career 

Podcast producer, SEO specialist, social media manager, app developer, driverless car engineer – all of those careers didn’t even exist 10 years ago. While we can’t predict what the world will need in the next decade, you’ll be able to withstand these changes by being a polymath and constantly increasing the breadth of your knowledge,

How You Can Become a Modern Polymath 

You don’t have to become the next Einstein! You can start by figuring out what inspires your curiosity and figuring a way to bridge the gap between what you know and what you want to know. By drawing on the passion of learning, you can nurture and advance the skills and abilities you want to learn. 

Then, all you have to do is connect the dots, as Steve Jobs once famously pronounced. Take something from one field and apply it in another field. And that’s where innovation usually spring. When you combine different strands of knowledge, you get a clearer vision of the whole, and you can see the hidden connections between all the knowledge and information we consume. 

Most of us have our curiosity blocked by a compartmentalised way of learning in our years in school. But with an inquisitive mind, you can break new grounds in an ever-changing world. 

Conclusion

If you want to be successful in today’s complex and dynamic world, you might want to consider becoming a polymath. A polymath is someone who has knowledge and skills in multiple domains and can combine them to create novel solutions and innovations. Polymaths are not just jack-of-all-trades who know a little bit of everything, but master-of-many who have deep expertise in several fields.

Being a polymath can give you many advantages in your personal and professional life. You can boost your creativity and innovation by connecting ideas from different disciplines and perspectives. Enhance your problem-solving and critical thinking skills by applying diverse methods and frameworks to various challenges. Expand your horizons and opportunities by exploring new domains and topics that interest you. Develop your lifelong learning and curiosity by constantly seeking new knowledge and experiences. Increase your adaptability and resilience by being able to cope with change and uncertainty.

Of course, becoming a polymath is not easy. It requires dedication, passion, curiosity, and hard work. It also requires a balance between breadth and depth, between specialization and generalization, between focus and exploration.

FAQ FOR WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL? BE A POLYMATH.

Q: What is a polymath?

A: A polymath is someone who has knowledge and skills in multiple domains and can combine them to create novel solutions and innovations.

Q: Why should I be a polymath?

A: Being a polymath can help you develop creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and lifelong learning skills. It can also make you more adaptable, versatile, and resilient in the face of change.

Q: How can I be a polymath?

A: There is no one formula or path to become a polymath, but some possible steps are: finding your passions and interests, exploring different domains and topics, learning from diverse sources and mentors, connecting the dots and integrating your knowledge, applying your skills to real-world challenges, and sharing your insights and discoveries with others.

Q: Who are some examples of polymaths? A: Some examples of polymaths are Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, Marie Curie, Elon Musk, Oprah Winfrey, and Tim Ferriss.

Q: Where can I find more resources on how to be a polymath?

A: You can check out our other articles on this topic:

• How to find your passions and interests
• How to explore different domains and topics
• How to connect the dots and integrate your knowledge
• How to apply your skills to real-world challenges
• How to share your insights and discoveries with others

You can also visit our website for more tips and tricks on how to be successful in life.

Q: Where can I find math and science tuition in Singapore?

A: If you are looking for math and science tuition in Singapore, you might want to consider Polymath Learning Centre. They provide premium PSLE math and science tuition at unbeatable value. They use cutting-edge education technology such as Smart™ board, e-learning platforms, and iMacs. They also customise their worksheets according to each student’s ability and provide comprehensive materials such as notes, mind maps, and flash cards. You can visit their website or Facebook page for more information.

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