Kyle Hagge on Mastering the Generalist Advantage: Traits, Fit & Personal Monopoly

Join hosts Milly and Lindsey on this episode of "Generally Curious" as they sit down with Kyle Hagge, an innovator and community strategist from Morning Brew. Kyle shares his journey of embracing a generalist mindset, exploring the value of unique personal traits in career development. He delves into the idea of 'spiky traits' - those distinctive qualities that set you apart - and how they can become your superpowers in the right environment. Kyle also introduces the concept of a personal monopoly, explaining how combining diverse skills can establish an unrivaled position in your field. His experiences across various industries, including political campaigns, civic tech, and digital media, provide a rich backdrop to this conversation about carving out your unique niche in the professional world. This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone looking to harness their generalist nature to achieve career success and personal fulfillment. Tune in to discover how to identify your unique traits and leverage them to create your own path in the ever-evolving landscape of work. The significance of spiky traits (00:02:33) Identifying and leveraging unique traits, understanding short-term vs. long-term thinking in career planning. The art of storytelling for generalists (00:06:25) Challenges and strategies for effective storytelling as a generalist in the workforce. Articulating career story and experiences (00:11:30) Mapping diverse experiences to relevant stories, reflecting on motivators, and practicing storytelling for career articulation. Embracing being a beginner (00:17:46) The importance of embracing being a beginner and not pretending otherwise in career transitions. Leaning into Naivete (00:18:08) Encouraging beginners to embrace their naivete and approach problems with fresh perspectives. Innovation and Analogies (00:20:31) The importance of applying analogies across domains for innovation and learning strategies for skill development. Personal Monopoly (00:25:19) Creating a personal monopoly by combining unique skills or traits to be the only one with that combination. Predictions for Work Evolution (00:27:31) Anticipated changes in career paths, the rise of solopreneurs, and the importance of fit in the workplace. Spiky Traits (00:33:49) Discussion of personal spiky traits, including excitability, sensitivity, and curiosity. Identifying Traits (00:35:44) Kyle discusses the importance of going beyond skills to identify underlying traits and seeking external feedback. Defining Generalist (00:37:56) Kyle defines a generalist as someone with diverse experiences across domains leading to innovative results. Impactful Tool: Podcast Mic (00:38:17) Kyle shares how starting a podcast, "Bridge the City," with a friend and using a podcast microphone made a significant impact on his career. Generalists' Value (00:40:37) Kyle emphasizes that more people are generalists than they realize and highlights the adaptability and dynamic role expansion of generalists in a company.