Richard Branson

During his childhood, Richard grew up in a family with a strong academic atmosphere. His father was a history professor, and his mother was a literature professor; the study at home was larger than the living room. From a young age, he was expected to excel in every aspect—achieving grade eight in piano, winning awards in math competitions, and not falling behind in sports. This environment fostered his thirst for knowledge while also planting the seed of the obsession with "having to understand everything." In university, he chose to major in psychology, hoping to understand the mysteries of human behavior. However, as he delved deeper into his studies, he discovered that he preferred a broad range of interests rather than in-depth research. He began participating in various clubs—hiking club, debate society, drama club, investment club. His classmates regarded him as a "jack of all trades," but he knew he was only an amateur in each field. In the early stages of his career, he joined a consulting firm. He found his broad knowledge to be useful in the consulting field—he could understand the talent demands of different industries and connect with clients from various backgrounds. But as his career progressed, he began to feel anxious: in any specialized field, there were people far more expert than he was. The midlife crisis erupted at 45. That year, one of his clients—a professional data scientist—easily pointed out his superficiality in data analysis during a conversation. That evening, he wrote in his journal: "What am I, after all? Someone who knows a little about everything but masters nothing?" From that point on, he began to learn new skills frantically, as if to prove his worth. In the past decade, his list of hobbies has grown longer, ranging from traditional tennis and golf to the mysterious art of rune carving and medieval mysticism, and even trendy K-POP dance. Each time he mastered the basics of a new skill, he would feel a brief sense of satisfaction, but soon that feeling would fade, driving him to seek the next learning goal. Now at 55, he appears to be a successful career consultant with enviable broad knowledge and rich experiences. But deep down, he is still searching for that professional field that will truly satisfy him and feel meaningful. What he does not realize is that perhaps his true talent lies in his ability to connect different fields rather than in deep specialization in any single area.