Too many creative people think they don’t need to specialize, that they can have lots of ideas on lots of different subjects all of which are going to be great. Wonderful as that would be, it’s likely to result in disappointment. Yes, I know Leonardo da Vinci did it all – a great artist and a pioneering inventor whose inquiring mind stretched far and wide.
If you think you’re the next Leonardo, fine. But I seriously doubt you are. It’s been five hundred years since he dazzled the world with his genius and I can assure you I’m not holding my breath that you’re next.
Having the courage and determination to focus on one given subject or area of expertise gives you the solid foundation that is absolutely necessary if you’re to come up with a truly great idea, one that will be key to your future success.
Once you’ve mastered one art form by all means have a go at another. Experimenting and playing at other means of expression can be very therapeutic. It can energize your creative thinking and there’s nothing wrong with that.
But constantly chopping and changing your specialty will hinder your success.
Keep your focus!
Throughout my career I’ve worked with some wonderfully creative people but the most interesting conversations I’ve ever had are always with specialists – filmmakers, illustrators, designers, whatever. These are people who have specialized and stayed focused day in, day out. They have committed themselves fully to their chosen art form and that makes their work so much more special.
If you want to produce special work,
it’s worth collaborating with special people.