I’ve recently become aware of the fact that I’ve let “things” go. Now, really I think I could say that truthfully about a lot of areas of my life. Sure, I’ve not been the best at helping my wife out with the dishes, doing laundry, or sorting through junk mail. Some might say that I’ve even “let myself go” a bit lately (that’s another post for another time.) But I think that the reality of my situation is that even professionally, it’s been a while since I’ve really taken inventory, got rid of some junk, and really focused on what it is that I want to be “when I grow up.”

It hit me the other day, when I was updating my LinkedIn profile after a recent job change, that I couldn’t decide what to put for profile headline, and don’t get me started on my bio. I’ve always prided myself on being good or at least proficient at many different and often unrelated things, but as I’m learning it’s pretty exhausting. To be frank, I think my days as a “Professional Interactive Designer and Amateur, musicologist, illustrator, sound engineer, camera operator, video editor, director, baseball historian, and all-around know-it-all” are likely numbered.

Too many extracurricular activities, Max. Not enough studying.

Sometimes I feel like Dr. Guggenheim would have those words for me as he did for young Max Fischer. I suppose the good thing in all of this is that I’ve decided what I’m going to do, at least until it’s made obvious that I suck at it or it’s no longer fulfilling, which ever comes first. But I’m no quitter, so I feel pretty good about my path down the UX road. And I’m alright becoming merely an enthusiast in my other interests, an avid enthusiast. I don’t do anything half-way.