Multipotentiality

Français

One day, during the summer of 2021, I found myself sitting in a hostel in San Pancho, Nayarit, on the Pacific coast of Mexico. Across from me sat Stefanie, a traveler from Germany. She was a sports coach but also a curious person. That day, I was going to learn something new and important about… myself!

The encounter began when Stefanie overheard me speaking nearly flawless Spanish. Intrigued, she inquired further and discovered that I could also converse in German. It was at this point that I suggested she assess my proficiency in German. I admitted that while I could hold conversations in German, my vocabulary and grammar were not as strong as in some of my other languages. Stefanie then inquired about the number of languages I could speak. I informed her that, apart from my mother tongue (Tunisian dialect), I was fluent in five other languages, ranked in order of proficiency: French, English, Arabic, Spanish, and German (I didn’t speak Portuguese yet back then).

After discussing various topics, our life experiences, and interests, Stefanie looked at me and uttered, “You have a scanner personality!”

I was taken aback, “A ‘scanner personality’? I have no idea what that means!”

She was incredulous, “What? You don’t know what a scanner personality is? But you’re undoubtedly one. Go ahead, do some research on Google, and you’ll see.”

Stefanie then asked if she could pose more questions, to which I agreed. As she delved deeper, she discovered my wide-ranging interests and passions across multiple domains: mathematics, physics, biology, general science, technology, business, economics, psychology, philosophy, religions, cultures, history, geography, politics, and more. She also learned about my academic pursuits, which included studies in administration, philosophy, Buddhism, as well as topics like conceptual modeling, macroeconomics, psychiatry, and social psychology. Furthermore, she became aware of my involvement in various projects.

“You most definitely have a scanner personality,” Stefanie declared. “You should look into it.”

And with that, our conversation concluded, leading me to embark on research into “scanners.” I found myself continually engrossed in the subject, as it opened up an entirely new world for me.

I soon learned that a “scanner personality” is more commonly referred to as a “multipotentialite.” Extensive literature, particularly in English, was available on the topic. Wikipedia describes “Multipotentiality” as follows:

Multipotentiality is an educational and psychological term referring to the ability and preference of a person, particularly one of strong intellectual or artistic curiosity, to excel in two or more different fields.

It can also refer to an individual whose interests span multiple fields or areas, rather than being strong in just one. Such traits are called multipotentialities, while “multipotentialites” has been suggested as a name for those with this trait.

By contrast, those whose interests lie mostly within a single field are called “specialists.”

As I delved deeper into the subject in the following months, I found that my own situation was remarkably well-described. The advantages and disadvantages of multipotentiality, as outlined in the same Wikipedia article, resonated with my experiences:

I identified with nearly all these traits, except for experiencing burnout haha (at least not yet). I had long been aware of my giftedness, which had both its advantages and socio-economic challenges. My ability to fit into a traditional career or societal mold had always been a struggle.

The more I read about multipotentiality, the more I recognized the depth of my own situation. As I write this at the age of 43, I have never pursued a traditional job or established a career. Instead, I have spent the last two decades of my life learning about a myriad of subjects, traveling, and engaging in various activities. Yet, a recurring question haunts me: “What am I going to do with my life?”

A few weeks later, I reached out to Stefanie to express my gratitude. It became clear that I had only one path ahead of me: to fully embrace my multipotentiality, openly discuss it, and forge my own means of making a living while contributing to others. “The Joker’s Club” is the most recent project I’ve initiated with the aim of “working” and receiving compensation for what I offer.

I am filled with curiosity and excitement about the journey ahead. If you’d like to support me on this unique path, please visit “The Joker’s Club” page and consider becoming a member to access specific services, or support the ones I already provide for free.

Thank you!

October 2023.