After my semester in Shanghai, I’ve been hesitating between two identities I aspire to:
The startup founder vs The Polymath.
I consume content about them differently: one on X, the other on Instagram.
This choice will certainly have a lot of impact about my 20s and beyond.
Here’s how I’ve been thinking about it.
My definitions:
The Startup Founder
Solves a big problem through technology (software or hardware).
Wants to build the future only he can see.
Works 80+ hours/week, often in hubs like San Francisco or Shenzhen.
Examples: Sam Altman, Brian Chesky.
The Polymath
Is an expert in at least 3 distinct areas.
Is an anomaly: the nerd who lifts, the founder who dances rock, the coder who paints.
His unique lens makes him see things others miss.
Examples: Elon Musk, Leonardo da Vinci, Iron Man, Batman.
Why you can’t pursue them together (for me, right now)
Startups demand everything. Competing against the smartest people in the world means going all-in. Anything less and you are already behind.
Polymath work divides attention. A coding project on the side ≠ a true startup. A startup is like a baby: it won’t survive without near-total focus.
Few exceptions exist. Yes, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg manage to combine multiple domains. But they’re the “exceptions among exceptions.”
Why I lean toward polymath (for now)
For personal choices, this might be my last or penultimate semester on campus at UTT (weirdly, in year 3, not 5). So I want to enjoy it to the fullest: spend time on student clubs, hanging out with my friends I haven’t seen for 6 months (was in Shanghai), improving my health, and seeing my family.
Thanks to my exchange semester in China, I’m allocating more time on learning Chinese and working on my social skills. Things I may not have time to focus on later.
I don’t want to be a “founder” just for the status. That feels like chasing being the “cool kid in high school.”
So for now, that’s a win for the Polymath. I may change my mind later.
Question of the week
Have you ever hesitated between two identities?
And what made you choose one (or both)?
Until next week,
Rémy
