About Scanners and Divers

"Scanners love to read and write, to fix and invent things, to design projects and businesses, to cook and sing, and to create the perfect dinner party." This is how author Barbara Sher describes people who get passionate about anything and everything. People, who want to do a million things at the same time and can't decide on just one career or passion to occupy them for the rest of their lives.

Scanners often perceive specialization as limiting, or even boring. They explore many different ideas and learn new things constantly. Once they feel satisfied with their skill level, which can be quite advanced, they have no trouble abandoning their achievements. The world is too big, life is too short and they're on their way to the next exciting idea.

Divers, in contrast, do the opposite according to Ms Sher. They become completely absorbed in a field of their choosing and are often found in professions that require highly specialized skills, such as scientists, musicians, dentists(!) and athletes amongst others. While scanners explore the world broadly, divers explore in depth.

Barbara Sher has written many books, one with the entertaining title: I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was......and that's how I always felt: a generalist. But doesn't "scanner" sound so much better?

Unfortunately, in today's society, scanners do not enjoy the same status and respect as divers. 
However, in a time of recession with jobs being scarce, isn't it an advantage to have more than one skill set? To be "well rounded" and flexible enough to do many different things? (Besides driving a cab or babysitting.)

I'll be stitching some more fall purses and scanning the horizon for exciting new ideas. Because they do come when my hands are occupied. When trying to reach new ideas directly, they usually become scarce and hide...

Really curious to hear your thoughts. Are you a diver or scanner? And what about your family and friends?

Read the article by Barbara Sher.