An Interview with Dr. Angela Cotellessa, Polymath Evangelist

[TRANSCRIPT]:

Paul: Hi, this is Paul Strobl — thanks so much for watching my channel. Today we have Dr. Angela Cotellessa who is the author of “In Pursuit of Polymaths: Understanding Renaissance Persons of the 21st Century.”

And as you probably know by watching my channel. work with a lot of polymaths, renaissance people multipotentialites, scanners–there’s a lot of names for us. Nobody can decide which one, but polymath is the official word, and so now today we have an expert who has a PhD in Polymathy. Please welcome Dr. Angela Cotellessa.

Angela:  Oh thank you Paul!

Paul:  Welcome Angela! -Yeah no, worries; my pleasure. So if you could just start out–just give me a brief introduction to who you are as a polymath and as a coach.

Understanding Polymathy

Angela:  Yes. Well, as a polymathic person, um let’s see… when I was about 18, I figured out I want to have a rich, deep broad life. I don’t want to live life kind of caged or in a box. So for the past–god I’ll say it–I’m 39, so for over 20 years I’ve really just been trying to live life to the fullest.

So how that has turned out for me professionally is that I’ve had a non-profit career, I’ve have a government career. Currently, I have a for-profit career in a family real estate business. I am part of a non-profit board for a local singing group which I also perform in. I have been a scholar obviously–I got my doctorate from George Washington University in 2018, and wrote my dissertation about polymathic people.

And I do identify that way myself, so that’s a little bit about me as a polymath.

I also work as a coach, too I should mention.

Paul: Tell me about your coaching coach to coach.

Coaching for Polymaths

Angela:  I probably don’t have as much coaching experience as you do, Paul. In January of 2020, I got certified through the Academy of Creative Coaching. I have been sort of — it’s not a full-time thing for me, but I certainly would love to do more and more coaching.

I really enjoy working with polymathic people in particular given the kind of understanding and appreciation I have for that group. So if you’re watching this and you’re looking for a coach, you’ve got Paul, you’ve got me, so there’s some good options here.

Paul: Yes, and somebody with deeper expertise into really understanding polymaths– you won’t find anybody more qualified than Angela.

Angela: Oh, that’s pretty sweet. Thank you.

The Coaching-Polymath Link

Paul: Do you see any unique link between polymaths and coaching?

Angela: Polymaths are lifelong self-directed learners. If there was one crux of what a polymathic person is, they’re learners.

In fact, that’s what the word means is “many learnings.” I know that for so many of them. Part of the drive underlying their desire to learn and grow and experience is just this drive to be their best selves.

Polymaths are striving towards self-actualization. And I definitely see a parallel with coaching because a lot of coaching clients are trying to improve who they are. They’re trying to reach their goals; they’re trying to live their best life. I definitely see a link between polymathic people and people who who seek out coaching. It just sort of goes hand in hand.

The Uniqueness of Polymaths

Paul: So, is there anything unique about coaching polymaths?

Angela: It’s not necessarily easy being a polymath in a world that tells us that everybody should be a narrow specialist. Polymaths don’t want to be a super-specialist, so understanding that, it’s not all fun and games you know?  Even though a polymath is accomplished and capable and intelligent, they also have burdens and challenges.

So working with a coach who really gets the kind of unique challenges that polymaths face is a huge benefit. This includes just being misunderstood, and people not necessarily appreciating  polymathic people– especially in some organizations.

So getting that it’s difficult, and that a career can be difficult. You know, in switching careers, polymaths may do that and there’s challenges and they may need support throughout that process. Even social considerations like explaining one’s polymathy to other people–it can be seen as boasting or something people can be threatened by it. As a result, a lot of polymaths sort of censor themselves and let out little bits of who they are in doses.

Social Challenges of Polymathy

But there definitely are social challenges with being a polymathic person in our current society.  Similarly, relationships like romantic relationships and dating and even being in a long-term relationship or marriage as a polymath shifts and changes and morphs into new and better versions of themselves.

Those can be difficult roads to to go down, but still worthy of exploration, for sure. But working with a coach who sort of gets the unique challenges of being a polymathic person is important.

And those are just a few a few examples of the kinds of challenges polymaths would need to be understood about.

Modern Society’s Flawed Message of Specialization

Paul: Yeah. I find for sure that in our society parents typically want their kids to do the same thing and so that means specialization and something that’s in demand, right?

So that’s the first struggle is usually with the parents. What they’re supposed to do. There aren’t many parents that are just super open to that and the other thing is there’s cultural differences right? I think in north America and in most of western Europe, there’s this negative connotation with doing lots of different things since the industrial revolution. But before that, it was different.

You know, when I was in Argentina there’s there’s a word called buscavidas. If you’re a buscavidas, you’re a “life-searcher.” You’re searching through different lives, or potential paths, and it’s considered something very positive. Somebody that does a lot of different things–it’s a positive connotation. Whereas I think in the U.S. it’s not. You’re a jack of all trades master of none, and and it doesn’t have to be that way

Jack of All Trades, Master of None

Angela: You’re distracted or flighty or uncommitted and yeah there’s a lot of uh storytelling in north American culture about picking a discipline–picking a profession and sticking with it, and when we listen to it, we hit ourselves over the head with it sometimes, so yeah, exactly. We embrace it, but we should question it. Is it true? Is it true is that there’s really only one way that we can live and be fulfilled?

I think it’s not true. I think a lot of people really want to live life in multifaceted multi-dimensional ways that shift over time um and back to you made a comment about parents wanting their kids to sort of specialize and be safe.

I’ve definitely heard that from some of the people I interviewed as part of my research. I remember a few years ago — I’m a mother, I have a four-year-old daughter, and I remember having this realization that I want one of my guiding principles as I parent my daughter to be helping her be her real self; loving her unconditionally enough to let her be the author of her story, rather than me try to write it, you know what I mean?

Parents’ Good Intentions

Paul: Absolutely yeah I really know what you mean –yes. Well I think there’s two parts: one is that you want your kid to do the same thing and that they have a good life, but I think the other part of it is shame. But the parent’s shame. What kind of parent am I if people ask what my kid’s up to and they’re doing all of these different things and they’re not working for a big company that everybody knows, moving up the corporate ladder, you know? I look like a bad father if my kid is doing that.

Angela:  There’s lots of parts to it, but yeah we won’t unpack it this time — yeah I feel like we could have a whole conversation just about that issue alone.

Paul:  What do you love most about working with polymathic people?

What Angela Loves about Working with Polymaths

Angela:  Well, I’m obviously very biased. It’s a wonderful way of living to live life in a polymathic way, and being able to help people appreciate that instead of kind of judging themselves negatively, or having shame around it. I love seeing the shift when people get it; that this is a thing, and they’re not alone, and this is a wonderful way of being, and actually quite a respectable way of being, if you ask me. Because it does require some critical thinking and some bravery and some capability and some intelligence, you know? So I love seeing people who get it.

And by the way, obviously I speak about this topic quite frequently and so frequently people will say “Finally! I have a word for this! Thank you!” I mean I’ve even had someone tell me that I saved her life by giving her this sort of understanding of herself. So that’s one thing I love. It’s just people sort of having a label for it; a word. Even though polymaths tend to shy away from labels and boxes. Having the polymath label seems to be quite helpful for them so I love seeing them get comfortable with that identity, and then the power that can come from really owning it, and stepping into it.

Acceptance and Self-Awareness

And what that makes possible, obviously, as a coach working with people gaining self-awareness and accomplishing their goals and and gaining confidence in themselves–that’s a wonderful thing. I’m sure you you can understand that–just seeing people reach their potential; stepping into their potential, rather than living out of fear.

One of the things I observed is that we’re each born to our parents like there’s a certain kind of genetic inheritance we get that we don’t get any say over. For example, I didn’t get to pick that I would be born female and Caucasian in the United States–that all just sort of happened and was done to me, but I love this idea of giving birth to myself. I know that sounds ridiculous–it’s a bad visual *laughs*. Just like the bird that sort of uncages itself or the hand that writes its own story…I just love the idea of helping people break out of a box; break out of society’s expectations, and really own their life!

Working with Polymaths

What could be more important than really being authentic and making the most out of your human experience? Living your best life–I just don’t know what could be more important than that.  That’s why I love working with polymaths. I’m a big fan of polymaths.

Paul:  I totally get that – and neither of us are biased at all, right?  So why should people work with you as a coach

Angela:  Obviously have a preference for working with polymathic people. I have a passion for that group. I can work with non-polymaths, too, but I think you know I’ve got a lot of experiences; a lot of different tools in my toolkit. That positions me well as a coach to ask really thoughtful strategic questions to help people find their own answers, their own solutions, their own epiphanies.

I think I’m a good listener; I’m fairly good at creating an environment that feels safe psychologically. I’m good at helping people get energized to make a plan and follow through and have some accountability. For people who who are looking for understanding who are looking for support, who are looking for strategic coaching to help them reach their goals, let me know–I’d love to work with you.

What Should Other Coaches Know About Working with Polymaths?

Paul: What do you what do you wish other coaches knew who might be working with polymathic people?

Angela: So, for other coaches out there–there’s a lot of coaches, obviously. You’re a coach, I’m a coach. there’s lots of coaches in the world, and it is important to find someone that you feel like you jive with. you know you’ve got a good connection with um so should you work with another coach and should you be a polymath I would recommend looking for someone who who has experience working with other polymath people as their clients.

Polymaths are brave, they’re rebellious’ they’re authentic they’re curious lifelong self-directed learners who break out of the box so they’re not kind of the standard uh average person in society that’s following the prescription to be a specialist, so working with a coach who can understand their unique challenges obviously is something you would want to look for in a coach.

Another thing is that some polymaths do survive in organizations–they may even work as a narrow specialist in an organization and then have other things that they pursue outside of work to explore their their polymathy. So it can be challenging, though, to be a polymathic person working as a specialist in an organization that maybe doesn’t even really understand or appreciate that, or leverage that.

How Polymaths Limit Themselves

It can be very frustrating to be a highly talented, highly intelligent, highly capable person that’s not really able to bring your full self to your main job. And so working with a coach who can help you in a professional setting to navigate those waters or come up with coping mechanisms so you can get by and feel fulfilled beyond your 40-hour week; if that’s what you’re doing and to find other ways to to find fulfillment and happiness.

The other practical thing is just polymaths frequently are juggling a lot like not all polymaths do multiple things at once but that’s certainly a very common pattern of how it shows up for people. So working with a coach who can help you identify priorities who can help you sort of focus and reach goals, get some traction and accomplish things you want to get done.

This would be really important too, so bottom line is if you’re a polymath and you’re looking for a coach, find a coach who gets that audience; who really understands it, and obviously if you work with coach who’s polymathic him or herself, that might be a good start.

Paul: Yeah, I find that even though I don’t target polymaths specifically, I definitely work with a disproportionate amount of multipods. Coaching kind of works like that. Like attracts like, and your coaching practice starts looking like you.

Being Intentional with Your Niche

Angela: Yeah, and you don’t have a lot of control over that. It happens that way, so it’s nice to be intentional about it; of saying “okay, I want to work with Polymaths.” Well this is a group of people that, we’re going to be seeing more and more people who are identifying as polymaths, and talking about it is really getting a lot more traction–especially in the past year or two. I think it’s more relevant than ever.

I think we’re going to see a lot more people, and I’ve seen it on my end just working with individuals, that it’s becoming more acceptable to be a polymath, and they’re kind of coming out of the closet, so to speak. It’s almost like it used to be this shameful thing to completely change their career, or to do something else–that they’d be worried about being judged by doing these different things. And I’m seeing more people a little more emboldened to kind of stretch out and actually exercise their curiosity more, where in the past, they they probably would have held back.

Mid-Life Influence to Embrace a New Path

Maybe it’s because I’m connecting with people that are mid-40s like me, but I don’t know — there seems to be a lot more of it. I definitely see a trend at the individual level for people kind of questioning that standard prescription and saying “Aha! I think I want to do my own thing, and follow my own path a little bit more.” Plus at the larger macro levels of society, our world is so complex, we need people who can see big picture solutions and connect the dots and synthesize.

If all we have are people with kind of specialist blinders on – the world needs specialists of course — but we also need people who can who can see the bigger picture. 2020 is a great example of a really wild crazy complex time, and so I think as our world keeps getting more and more complex, we really need people who can sort of see the bigger picture and innovate at the intersection of disciplines.

So both at the individual and group level, I think we’re we’re seeing a shift towards an appreciation for polymaths more and more.

We Need Each Other

Paul: Side note– we absolutely need specialists yeah just as much as we need polymaths — it’s not like one is better than the other. I am so grateful that planes do not fall out of the sky very often, because there are specialists who make sure that they stay up there.

Angela:  Yes, you know there’s a lot that goes on in the world that is dependent upon specialists being specialists–absolutely, we need specialists. But the narrative we’ve been under has said everybody should be–that we only need specialists, and that’s problematic.

Paul: Yeah, I whole-heartedly agree.  Well, thank you so much for coming on my channel Angela, and answering some questions about polymaths-I should add the world expert on polymathy!

Angela:  Sounds good. Thanks for having me, Paul.

Paul:  Thank you so much for watching. If you like this video, please give me a subscribe, or you can drop some comments down below.

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