Embracing the Hybrid Path: Reflections on Creativity, Career, and Resilience
In my recent talk at the MIT Media Lab with Professor Hiroshi Ishii, I shared reflections on what it means to pursue a hybrid career — one that weaves across technology, design, business, and more.
Building A Hybrid Career Across Tech, Business, And Design. Or, “How I Learned to Speak Human After Leaving MIT :-)”
Hybridity isn’t simply about having varied skills; it’s a way of thinking and navigating the world, particularly in a rapidly shifting digital landscape. It means occupying both bread and multiple-depths of being. The path can be quite daunting, but it’s filled with possibility if you choose to live it.
1. Curiosity as a Compass
Being a hybrid is about exploring. It’s less about being an expert in any one area and more about staying curious across fields. A hybrid career invites us to break out of silos and think widely. In today’s world, the intersections are where exciting things happen — creativity grows in these spaces where we can see one field through the lens of another. But that scope requires a kind of energy and resilience that isn’t always easy to sustain. This path isn’t about comfort; it’s about finding new possibilities beyond what we know.
2. The Beauty of Not Belonging to Just One Tribe
Many hybrids I meet express the same sentiment: they don’t quite fit into a single “tribe.” There’s real strength in not belonging to just one group. And I find that hybrids are natural bridge-builders, seeing connections others may not. But sometimes, this flexibility can feel lonely, especially as we grow older. The benefit, though, is a career that feels unique and adaptable. The downside is that you never get to belong. And it’s why there’s always the temptation to give up and get absorbed into one of the disciplines to be comfortable again. Resist? Perhaps. But it’s okay to take little breaks once in a while ;-).
3. Creativity Means Having the Time to Think
Creativity isn’t just about making something new; it’s about having time to explore the “what-ifs” without constraint. A great question during the Q&A session touched on AI and whether it threatens or empowers our creative time. My answer? AI can help us reclaim that space to think if we use it wisely. By automating repetitive tasks, AI allows us to focus on our unique, irreplaceable skills — our ability to question, to imagine, to reflect. The best ideas don’t come under pressure; they emerge when we allow time for reflection. With time, good ideas can emerge. So use AI to bank time for what’s important to your creative spirit.
4. Funding Passion: Finding Financial Stability as a Hybrid
One of the hardest lessons for hybrids is recognizing that money doesn’t always follow our passions. There’s often a gap between what we love doing and what sustains us financially. I tell a story about how when I met Paul Rand in 1995 and he set me on a path to be more realistic about money, and taught me how to develop a sustainable path as a creative. Stability isn’t about compromising dreams; it’s about creating a foundation that allows us to keep exploring. Having that balance empowers us to dive deeper without feeling constrained by financial stress.
5. Giving Ideas Away to Make Room for New Ones
One idea that resonated with attendees was something I learned from Marvin Minsky— that the purpose of having an idea is to give it away. Many of us hold onto ideas tightly, but there’s freedom in sharing and knowing that, as hybrids, we can always find another spark. Each idea we put out there has the potential to evolve in someone else’s hands, to become something greater. And in doing so, we make space for our next insight. We’re also betting that we’re good enough to find the next idea, and the next, and so forth. So it’s about betting on yourself.
In Closing
Being a hybrid is not always a straight path, but it’s one filled with intersections and opportunities to see the world from multiple vantage points. It’s a journey of curiosity, creativity, and resilience, fueled by the understanding that we’re never done learning, growing, or giving.
As I reflect on the springs remaining in my own life, I’m reminded of the fleeting nature of time and the importance of how we spend it. A hybrid path is not about rushing to achieve a single outcome but about embracing a lifetime of exploration and transformation. Each spring we’re given is a chance to grow anew, to contribute something meaningful, and to see the world through fresh eyes — no matter how many springs lie ahead.
Good luck to you in the season that you have left! —JM
