True Genius Expresses Itself in Multiple Mediums

Pablo Picasso wasn’t just a world-class painter. He was also a master sculptor, a consummate printmaker, a celebrated ceramicist, and an innovative theatre designer. We often think of those with extraordinary talents as having genius. Picasso certainly fit that category and shared something all true geniuses have in common: They can express their unique insights, skills, and talents in multiple mediums. 

The difference between a performer or artist who is highly talented and masterful and one who exhibits true genius comes down to an ability to apply their brilliance to a multitude of problems and challenges. Genius can’t help but express itself in multiple disciplines. That’s how to distinguish genius from high talent. While extraordinary talent is very uncommon, genius is exceedingly rare. 

Not only can famed musician Bob Dylan compose superb music, craft powerfully poetic songs, and play five different instruments, but he also showcases his drawings and paintings in frequent exhibitions all around the world. Dylan expresses his unique genius by applying it in a variety of forms and tools to the delight of his fans. 

The actor Paul Newman not only commanded the stage and movie screen in Oscar-worthy performances, but he was also a masterful film director, a highly competitive racing driver, a successful entrepreneur, and an award-winning chef. Newman was a true genius who was able to apply his unique mindset to a host of performance mediums. 

Those who possess this exceptional intellectual and creative power often change the world through their genius. They not only solve problems, but often prevent them from happening in the first place. In the words of philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer, “Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see.”

The author Walter Isaacson, biographer of many well-known geniuses including Leonardo da Vinci and Benjamin Franklin, agrees that the most common trait shared by these extraordinary individuals is their ability to apply creativity and imaginative thinking to almost any situation. 

In Isaacson’s view, “Smart people are a dime a dozen. What matters is the ability to think differently, to think out of the box.” Expressing your unique genius every day is a lofty goal that just might produce something special. Try your hand at multiple mediums and disciplines. Think distinctly, which is a different way of saying, think like a genius. You never know what might happen.