I was introduced to the concept of “scanners” recently through triiibes. Barbara Sher is the lifestyle coach, speaker,and author who coined the phrase. “Scanners” are people with a wide variety of interests…who find it hard to specialize. Here’s a good description from getmotivation.com :
Intense curiosity about numerous unrelated subjects is one of the most basic characteristics of a Scanner. Scanners are endlessly inquisitive. In fact, Scanners often describe themselves as being hopelessly interested in everything (although, as you’ll find out, this isn’t so). A Scanner doesn’t want to specialize in any of the things she loves, because that means giving up all the rest. Some even think that being an expert would be limiting and boring.
It might be why I find so many things interesting. I’m always afraid that I might be missing out on something else to do. I know when discussing specializing and focusing, I always tend to think that the person who does so misses out on a whole lot of other life events.
Apparently there is a fair bit of detail and strategies for scanners in her book “I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What It Was”. Sounds like one I need to read next as I’d like to figure out how it plays against being in the flow state (Can scanners still reach flow?)…
