The Innovation Show

The Polymath: Unlocking the Power of Human Versatility with author Waqās Ahmed


Listen Later

Do you feel restricted by your career, by your workplace identity?

Do you feel you are not doing what you would really like to do?

Are you good at many things, but feel you cannot do them for fear of appearing odd or going against the grain?

You may just be a polymath and that is a major gift!

Every human is born with multifarious potential.

Why, then, do parents, schools and employers insist that we restrict our many talents and interests; that we 'specialise' in just one?

We've been sold a myth, that to 'specialise' is the only way to pursue truth, identity, or even a livelihood. Yet specialisation is nothing but an outdated system that fosters ignorance, exploitation and disillusionment and thwarts creativity, opportunity and progress.

Following a series of exchanges with the world's greatest historians, futurists, philosophers and scientists, Waqas Ahmed has weaved together a narrative of history and a vision for the future that seeks to disrupt this prevailing system of unwarranted 'hyper-specialisation.'

In The Polymath, Waqas shows us that there is another way of thinking and being. Through an approach that is both philosophical and practical, he sets out a cognitive journey towards reclaiming your innate polymathic state. Going further, he proposes nothing less than a cultural revolution in our education and professional structures, whereby everyone is encouraged to express themselves in multiple ways and fulfil their many-sided potential. Not only does this enhance individual fulfilment, but in doing so, facilitates a conscious and creative society that is both highly motivated and well equipped to address the complexity of 21st-century challenges

We discuss:

  • What is a Polymath?
  • How did we get to this age of specialisation?
  • Polymaths through time
  • Polymathy as a gift
  • Polymaths in an age of Artificial Intelligence
  • Educational Reform
  • Workplace Reform
  • Social Reform
  • A cognitive Revolution?

More about Waqās here: https://www.the-polymath.com/author/

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

The Innovation ShowBy The Innovation Show

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

50 ratings


More shows like The Innovation Show

View all
HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

HBR IdeaCast

211 Listeners

Coaching for Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

Coaching for Leaders

1,457 Listeners

The Tim Ferriss Show by Tim Ferriss: Bestselling Author, Human Guinea Pig

The Tim Ferriss Show

16,085 Listeners

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch by Harry Stebbings

The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch

509 Listeners

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk by Ryan Hawk

The Learning Leader Show With Ryan Hawk

1,294 Listeners

The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving by FirmsConsulting.com & StrategyTraining.com

The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving

109 Listeners

Cold Call by HBR Presents / Brian Kenny

Cold Call

190 Listeners

Masters of Scale by WaitWhat

Masters of Scale

3,965 Listeners

Creative Confidence Podcast by IDEO U

Creative Confidence Podcast

126 Listeners

Y Combinator Startup Podcast by Y Combinator

Y Combinator Startup Podcast

207 Listeners

Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin by Seth Godin

Akimbo: A Podcast from Seth Godin

1,757 Listeners

Inside the Strategy Room by McKinsey & Company

Inside the Strategy Room

171 Listeners

A Bit of Optimism by Simon Sinek

A Bit of Optimism

2,164 Listeners

HBR On Strategy by Harvard Business Review

HBR On Strategy

77 Listeners

HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

HBR On Leadership

145 Listeners