for the multitalented

Dear You,

I recently spoke to someone who felt she needed to silence parts of herself to find a niche because she was multitalented. Apparently, someone told her she could only be seen as an expert if she chose to be good at one thing. While I know that person had good intentions, this advice doesn't ring true for everyone. I think it is possible to be good at more than one thing. It is our dynamism that makes us unique as humans. You do not have to silence your voice. You just have to find a way to blend it in a way that doesn't sound like noise but as a melody.

Most times, when people speak to multitalented people about niching, they often quote this incomplete saying - "Jack of all trades, master of none". The complete expression is:

A jack of all trades is a master of none but oftentimes better than a master of one.

I bet you never knew that that was the complete quote. Probably because people have victimized multitalented people into believing that something is wrong with them for having multiple potentials or insinuating that they lack focus, I can relate, and I come bearing good news too. 

As a multitalented creator, I can understand and relate when people who possess diverse talents get confused about how to niche down, so I created this article to help you.

First, recognize that you are special. There is nothing wrong with you. The world is full of noise, so unique voices stand out. They cut through the noise. You are one of the few people who have the capacity to do diverse things, but you need to be able to invest in developing yourself to ensure you are at least good at those things and consistently work towards becoming better at them. Just another reminder, you are unique. Own it.

You can use one of these five strategies when you feel stuck or if niching down bothers you. I'll use the names of famous people who are multitalented to drive home the point:

1. The Rihanna Strategy: Rihanna built herself as a music thought leader and got us to trust her as a musician. Then she acted, and we transferred that trust to her movies. Then, she shared Fenty with us, and we transferred that trust to Fenty. Occasionally she drops her music, and recently at the Super Bowl, she used her performance as a musician to promote her business. Pick one as a foundation and get us to trust you at that one, then expand. Grow from there.

2. The Chris Brown Strategy: Chris Brown can draw, dance, act, sing, gosh... the man can do many things but guess what? He is an entertainer. They are all connected. You can find a thread that connects most of the dots. Introspect and you'll notice that one thing may connect most of the things you do. For example, a client of mine has a tea house, an events company, a gifts company, and an event management system... how do these connect? She loves to create memorable experiences. Find the connection, and link it all together with a defining word, sentence, cause, solution, style, etc.

3. The Kanye Strategy: Kanye is a fantastic creator [when you focus on his art, not the drama]. Who knew he had the ability to be a fashion creator? Well, guess what he did? He created a separate brand and called it Yeezy. Yeezy can exist independently of Kanye, just like "Sunday Service". You can create a whole new company for the others and pick one to focus on as a personal brand but stay involved.

4. The Dancing Doctor Strategy: I know two dancing doctors - Dr Tony Adkins and Dr Jason Campbell. They are both doctors who leverage their dance skills as a supporting skill to advance their main skill/goal. They both spread joy to their patients. Of course, people walk in and say, "I want the dancing doctor", while some may say, "A doctor who is dancing may not be a serious doctor". But guess what? These doctors are super loved by their patients, and some people come to the hospital precisely because of them. You can combine your skills and leverage some as supporting skills for your primary skills/goals/purpose. A lady once asked me, Blessing, I love graphic design but am an accountant. I don't know what to choose. And I told her - You don't have to choose one. You could be an accountant for designers or a designer for accountants because you understand both worlds well. You could be an accountant who visually presents numbers in a way that is visually appealing to everyday people. It doesn't have to be one or the other. It could be both. You can merge your skills.

5. The Ikigai Strategy: This is a Japanese concept which means reason for being. You can use the ikigai formula to niche down by finding the middle point where these factors meet: your skills, knowledge, passion, needs of your target audience, and their willingness to pay. Remember that you don't need to monetize all your skills and passions.

Key things to note:

• Not all talents need to be monetised: Some passions and skills exist to support your main goals, skills, or purpose. Not everything has to take the lead. I am an excellent networker, but I won't present myself as a "sales manager". Instead, I use my networking skills for the growth of my business. Don't monetize everything.

• Your process can be your niche/USP: Your unique selling point doesn't have to be your offering or your primary skill. It could be your process, and it could be a human skill you have. Maybe people love how you tell stories or communicate, keep to time, check on them, or the fact that you dance whenever they see you, or how you make them feel. Identify what makes your audience gravitate towards you.

• Focus on your people: Be okay with the fact that not everyone would like you as you are. Some people might reject you because you are too different from them. Some may say you are too much for them. But that thing that makes them leave could be the same thing that makes others choose you. Don't shrink yourself. Find a good balance and serve your own people. Know your audience and serve them to the best of your ability. If you are trying to figure out your audience, this workbook will definitely help you.

You are your niche. No one can do it the way you do it. The combination of your process, your approach, your thinking, your experiences, your knowledge, your story, are all unique to you. So embrace your uniqueness, define it, and share it with the world. Here's a value discovery workbook I have created to help you articulate the value you have to offer. Also, here's a free self-discovery workbook to help you communicate who you are with all the confidence in the world!

If you have more tips on how you have managed to be a multitalented person, please share. Also, if you are multitalented, share your talents in the comment section. Let's meet each other.

With Love,

Blessing Abeng.

This article is an updated version of an article I wrote in 2020 Multitalented? Here's How to Find your Niche