Some recognize this musical icon as Bey, some by Beyonce, but how about Queen Beekeeper? Did you know that Beyonce is an avid beekeeper and cares for several hives at home?
How about Mookie Lebettski? All-star baseball player Mookie Betts just so happens to be a professional-caliber bowler.
OR my personal favorite, DJ D-Sol (also known as David Solomon, CEO of Goldman Sachs) who, in addition to his impressive day job, has over 280,000 monthly Spotify listeners.
It may come as a surprise that these three wildly successful individuals, and many others like them passionately pursue other hobbies. But, research is clear: cultivating diverse interests — and therefore multiple identities — enhances performance and supports career longevity. Hobbies also tend to reduce burnout, improve creativity, and aid recovery.
Far too often, the identity of high performers is unidimensional. They become defined by their main pursuit. “I am an athlete.” “I am a musician artist.” “I am an executive.” When individuals recognize their many interests, core values, and personality traits, it can relieves some of the unnecessary pressure of living up to one’s singular view of themselves.
It appears that we're at our best when we’re more than just one thing. A fuller sense of self doesn’t dilute your performance—it enhances and sustains it.