5 things you didn’t know about goal setting as a multipotentialite

What is a multipotentialite?

If you’re a multipotentialite, you might be familiar with the term. Maybe you’ve even been to our website and read about it there. But for anyone who hasn’t heard of it yet, let’s first define what a multipotentialite is:

A multipotentialite is someone with many interests and creative pursuits. A multipotentialite has no “one true calling” the way specialists do. Because we live in such a specialized world, people assume that having diverse interests means being indecisive or incapable of concentrating on our goals. We know that this just isn’t true! Multipotentialites are perfectly suited to making powerful contributions in any area they choose. Being a multipod is not an obstacle; it is our destiny!

Goal setting for multipotentialites

Before you start a new goal-setting program, you may want to consider the following:

• First and foremost is that if your goals are too vague or unclear, then they cannot be accomplished. Goals must be specific and hence attainable. If your goal is “to lose weight,” then it’s not going to happen. You will not get anything done — and anyone who works with you knows that if you set a goal, you generally accomplish it. It’s better if you make the process of accomplishing the goal an enjoyable one; otherwise, it can be demoralizing when the goal isn’t reached. For example, most sports psychologists use this technique in their coaching methods: They say things like “I want to do my best running today,” and “I know I have run faster than last time on my best day.” This makes individuals feel good about themselves for setting such a high standard for themselves (no matter how far off that standard might be). So when they’re out running today, they feel like they’ve already accomplished their goals as soon as they put those words out into the universe.
• The second thing to remember is that goals should always be measurable; otherwise, there’s no way of knowing whether or not you’ve achieved them.

How to set goals for multipotentialites

Here are three things you should be thinking about when setting goals with your multipotentiality in mind:

• Set one big goal, but don’t forget to set micro goals along the way. Let’s say that you want to learn how to code. You decide that within a year, you will get a job as an entry-level developer. Great! Make this your end goal and then figure out what micro goals will help get you there — maybe learning X amount of languages within six months, or building X projects using those languages.
• Make sure your goals are S.M.A.R.T: Specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound. For example “I want to write a novel” is not specific enough, but “I want to complete my first draft of my novel within the next month” is specific (you’ve decided on a project), measurable (you can work towards completing the first draft), attainable (given enough time and effort), relevant (it fits into your overall life plan) and time-bound (by setting a deadline for yourself).

Finding your mission statement as a multipotentialite

Multipotentialites are people with a variety of different skills and interests, so we’re all base in a lot of things. As it turns out, some of us like to organize our various interests into some kind of mission statement — a single, overarching goal that guides everything else. These mission statements can be short; it doesn’t need to be more than one sentence. Mine is “I want to grow as an artist and achieve my artistic vision.” Pretty simple, right?

The best way I’ve found for me to develop my own mission statement is through brainstorming activities with friends or on my own. The point is not to come up with any final masterpiece or manifesto-worth idea here — we’re just looking for something that sticks, or sparks something in the mind’s eye (like a flame). Here are some questions you can consider as you brainstorm:

• What do you want to accomplish?
• Who would benefit if you accomplished this goal? (Family members, community members)
• How will accomplishing this help others around you?

Get started with goal setting

If you’re a multipotentialite, there’s a good chance that you feel like a jack-of-all-trades. You have strong interests in several topics, which makes it difficult to decide on one and solidify your focus. But the solution is simple: just start with one thing — an important goal.

This might sound like a cliché, but goal setting can be easy if you follow some basic guidelines while putting together your plan. First of all, write down what you want to achieve (as goals) at the end of each month or week. Make sure this is clear and specific, so that you know exactly what kind of progress to make and how close you are to reaching your goal. Second, sit down every day this week and create a plan for achieving that goal before the next day. At first it will probably take only 30 minutes — it might even take less than 20 minutes — but try to approach these sessions as seriously as possible so that they become part of your daily routine over time.

This is the takeaway.

Multipotentialites should be careful not to get too caught up in the specifics of their goals. Setting clear, well-defined goals can help you keep yourself focused and on track as you work toward them, but don’t let a rigid list of steps inhibit your ability to adapt as you progress. At the end of the day, your goals are just stepping stones; they’re there to help guide you on a path that may wind up being different from what you expected.

Above all, remember that we live in an increasingly complex world with many possible paths. You don’t need to choose one destination and walk it for all eternity — you can stop where something else becomes more interesting or important, or revisit parts of a path later on if necessary.