From the moment I could grasp the world around me, I knew I didn’t fit into a single box. I wasn’t happy with just playing the piano, wanted to know how music made people feel alive. I couldn’t just design a poster, wanted to understand the psychology of why people stopped to look at it. Over the past decade, I’ve explored music, design, and software development, and in every field, I’ve found the same recurring theme talented people are often seen as outlaws. Why? Because we refuse to play by the rules.
The nature of talent, breaking boundaries
Talent, by its very nature, is disruptive. When someone is deeply talented, they don’t just follow trends, they question them. They challenge the status quo. They create new rules. But stepping outside the lines can make others uncomfortable.
Society is built on structure, and talented individuals often defy that structure. We see possibilities where others see limits. We ask “why not?” when others are content with “why?” And that disruptiveness can be mistaken for rebellion.
In my case, this became clear when I transitioned from one field to another. People would question why I didn’t just “stick to one thing.” They didn’t understand that for me, every field was connected — a song I wrote taught me about storytelling, which influenced the way I approached design, and later, how I built intuitive software.
The price of seeing too much
There’s a unique challenge that comes with having a wide range of experiences: you see things others don’t. When I look at a design, I can spot flaws because I’ve studied art and user psychology. When I hear a pitch, I notice weak points because I’ve worked in marketing.
But here’s the paradox: people don’t always appreciate insight from an “outsider.” I’ve had friends dismiss my critiques, saying, “You’re not a even designer,” or “You’re not a specialist in this.” They didn’t see that my perspective wasn’t meant to undermine their expertise, it was meant to enhance it.
Being multi-talented often feels like walking a tightrope. You have insights that could spark innovation, but offering them can make people defensive. You’re not trying to disrupt for the sake of disruption you just see the world differently.
Curiosity as a superpower
The one constant in my journey has been curiosity. It’s what drove me to learn guitar, to design my first website, to build my first app. It’s what keeps that inner child alive — the one who isn’t afraid to ask questions or try new things.
Curiosity is what makes talented people “outlaws.” We’re not content to follow the map, we want to explore uncharted territory. But the beauty of this outlaw status is that it leads to growth, innovation, and breakthroughs.
Embracing the outlaw within
It took me years to embrace the fact that I’m not meant to stay in one box. I’m a developer who thinks like a designer, a marketer who codes, and an artist who loves logic. Instead of seeing this as a weakness, I see it as my greatest strength.
To anyone who’s felt like an outsider because of their talent or curiosity: you’re not alone. The world may not always understand you, but it needs you. Your ability to see beyond the obvious and connect the dots is what drives progress.
So, lean into your outlaw status. Critique. Question. Create. And above all, stay curious.
