Notable Multipotentialed Individuals and Possible Synergies Between Their Fields

This is a companion piece to my previous post Ideas on the Synergy Between Seemingly Unrelated Skills or Hobbies. There are many examples of individuals who excelled in different fields who I felt needed a separate list to highlight. Are there any other people that you can point out in your own life or otherwise?

Preview

1. Leonardo da Vinci

I would be remiss if I didn't start this list off with the quintessential "Renaissance Man." Leonardo da Vinci was a polymath from Italy during the Renaissance who was an accomplished painter, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. I simply couldn't do justice for his contributions to the world in a few sentences or paragraphs.

The qualities that probably led him to pursuing such varied fields was his curiosity in seeking knowledge for its own sake, retaining a childlike sense of wonder throughout his life, being willing to go down rabbit holes, and willingness to quit. Although da Vinci's notorious habit of quitting and procrastinating on projects could be considered a major flaw, he simply moved on to new endeavors that interested him instead of simply being idle.

2. Michael Jordan (And Other Top Athletes)

Michael Jordan was arguably the greatest basketball player to ever be in the NBA, but he is also a prolific business man. Jordan was one of the most marketed athletes of all time, being a spokesman for Nike, Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, Gatorade, McDonald's, Ball Park Franks, Rayovac, Wheaties, Hanes, and MCI. Jordan also owns the Charlotte Hornets basketball team, restaurants, co-owns an automotive group, and is an investor in DraftKings.

I believe that Jordan's high standards, professionalism, dedication, and mental toughness in the basketball court carried over to his business ventures, helping him to become the first billionaire in NBA history.

3. Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was a writer, publisher, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, and political philosopher. There is no doubt that all the skills he acquired in his life helped him in becoming one of America's founding fathers.

Franklin wrote of Thirteen Virtues that possibly helped shape a core of microskills that he carried through the different professions of his life. Anyone who studied Franklin's life knows that he didn't always stick to all of them at all time, but striving towards a high standard certainly helped him.

1. Temperance - Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."
2. Silence - Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."
3. Order - Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution - Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality - Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. Industry - Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity - Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice - Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation - Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness - Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
11. Tranquility - Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity - Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13. Humility - Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

4. Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs was the founder of both Apple and Pixar, two titans that are still going strong over a decade after his passing. Although Steve Jobs is mainly known as a tech guy, he was one of the first people to integrate liberal arts with technology. Jobs was also a master marketer who understood technology enough to sell people what they didn't know they wanted yet.

Jobs's aesthetics which were influenced by his studies in Zen and Buddhism allowed him to help design the aesthetically pleasing Apple products which are still selling well today.