Have you ever heard the term "Multi-Passionate Creative"? I first encountered it during a course on Surface Pattern Design and it struck a chord. It perfectly described me—someone with diverse interests and talents, often struggling to focus on just one. If you've ever found yourself sketching while watching a gardening video, all while brainstorming your next big idea, you might be one too!
My Journey
Creativity was a big part of my life growing up. My family was very creative and as a result I dabbled in crafts, photography, woodworking, gardening, and more. Later, I channeled that creativity into a career in technology, eventually landing in IT Security, where I thrived on solving complex problems.
But the stress of keeping up with the fast-paced world of cybersecurity took its toll, and I longed for a change. I wanted a career where I could be my own boss, set my own hours, and most importantly, unleash my creativity.
So, I began exploring my creative side. For two years, I tried everything under the sun to figure out what I enjoyed and what I might turn into a business. I made everything from lamps to paper bouquets—my house became a gallery of my creative experiments!
Discovering Surface Pattern Design
During this exploration, I discovered Surface Pattern Design and knew I had found what I was looking for! This craft combined some of my favorite things: doodling, technology, and nature photography. I dove in, took all the courses, and was ready to turn my passion into a business.
But as a Multi-Passionate Creative, I quickly became overwhelmed. I wanted to try everything! One day I was learning Illustrator, the next I was starting a new project or signing up for yet another course. I created a website, designed a ton of patterns, dabbled in Print on Demand (POD), created products such as greeting cards and notebooks, opened an Etsy store, experimented with various apps, and managed all the business tasks —all at once. Then, I'd learn about something new, and would veer onto a new track to explore it! Yep, it was crazy!
The Turning Point
After two years of spinning my wheels, I acknowledged that my business wasn't going anywhere, I was spreading myself too thin, and it was time for a reset. I needed a plan that balanced my creative desires with a focused strategy, and I decided to start over from scratch. CreekStreet Studio was born, and my creative passions are now mostly under control. I talk more about this reset in two of my blog posts, CreekSteet Studio is Live! and From BriteSpotz to CreekStreet: A Rebranding Story.
What I’ve Learned
Here are some tips I've come up with for managing the challenges of being a Multi-Passionate Creative. Let me know if they resonate with you.
Establish Routines: This is something I struggle with. I wake up thinking, "What do I want to do today?" and inevitably lean toward the more fun or interesting. However, I've discovered that routines are very important for me, and I suspect, for all Multi-Passionate Creatives. You may have to practice this skill for a while before it comes naturally. My routine (still a work in progress) is to start each day with a quiet time of Bible reading, reflection and prayer. Next, I try to stick to a routine of breakfast and getting myself ready for the public even if I'm not going to be in public. Then I sit down, review my priorities for the day, and begin to work on them. I still have a ways to go but am getting better at it. Unfortunately, today is an example of a partial failure. I did everything except finish the "getting ready for the public" part. I mostly got ready but I'm still in my jammies and it's 3PM! Can you believe it?! That does not align with the way I want to start my day!
Prioritize with Purpose: Focus on tasks and projects that align with your bigger goals. Remember the "Big Rocks First" story told by Stephen Covey in his book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People". If you take care of the most important things first, you will have time for everything else you need to do each day. My goal is to manage multiple priorities effectively starting with the most important and not try to do them all at once. Multi-tasking is not our friend!
Embrace Imperfection: Accept that not every project needs to be perfect—or even finished! If you stray toward the shiny new thing now and then, that's OK! Just make sure not to make it a habit!
Set Boundaries: Limit how many projects you take on at once, and make sure you’re also setting time aside for self-care. You may also need to set a time limit for working on specific projects, so you don't find yourself neglecting other important things such as bedtime!
Don't Box Yourself In: Make sure your routine, priorities and boundaries allow space for experimentation and exploration. Embrace your diverse skills and interests—they're your superpower, giving you the space to generate ideas and solutions that are uniquely yours!
Celebrate Small Wins: Whether it’s launching your first Instagram post or getting to bed at a decent hour, celebrate the small victories.
Conclusion
Being a Multi-Passionate Creative is incredibly rewarding, but it requires balance. Embrace your passions but learn to manage them to avoid burnout. Share your experiences in the comments—I’d love to hear how you manage your multi-passionate life!
Happy Creating!
Susan
"Not all who wander are lost." — J.R.R. Tolkien
Oh no!! Someone just rang my doorbell and I'm still in my jammies! (for real LOL)
What a great post! I relate to everything! Your tips are spot on and the very things I am also (imperfectly) implementing to work toward my dreams and goals. Thank you for sharing! :)
~Patty
By the way, I created the images for this blog post in Adobe Firefly AI using a text prompt describing the type of image I was looking for. It was pretty fun! You can use it for free if you want to check it out (firefly.adobe.com). 🙂