Blogger’s note: Before I prepped to speak with Perry Knoppert, I had to read up on him and later I was able to verify that all the comments others made were true (“you have to speak with him,” “he’s so amazing,” “so visionary,” etc.). We had a “Vulcan mind meld” and it was enlightening. We conversed on his podcast past the allotted time. Not an interview, but a fireside chat. I got him, he got me. Now you can too. I am so glad to share him with you here.
It’s so interesting how a word can enter your life and change it completely. People can inspire us and even feel like medicine when we need a cure for something. I take a painkiller for a headache; a zoom call when I feel tired–it works so much better and longer than a cup of coffee.
The only thing is, you need to meet the right kind of people. And how do you know you will meet the right ones? It’s all in the words we are using, the same with clothing. You can spot a like-minded person at a great distance if you both are wearing the same ‘uniform,’ a style of clothing that reflects your way of thinking.
I have this amazing book about people and the way they dress. “Hommes du XXIe Siècle” from Hans Eijkelboom. Every page has an overview of like-minded people, wearing the same kind of t-shirt, with the same kind of hair, same kind of pants, it’s wonderful to see this.
It works the same way in how we choose our words. Today it’s all about “non-linear thinking” for me and it has been an interesting road traveling to the word “non-linear thinking.” It started with the word “multipotentialite;” it was fascinating to find out about this positive word that I always thought was a negative trait from my personality. But like people, the right words can uplift your spirit. Who doesn’t like to read different quotes that inspire us? And what are they? Just letters, ink on paper, and yet it can bring so much emotional value to it.
After finding out I am a “multipotentialite” I started to interview other multipotentialites all over the world. Just because I am curious: what are they wearing? What are they thinking? How do they manage their lives? What do we have in common?
LinkedIn was a great help for me, I could do a search on people who are using the word “multipotentiate” in their profile. And more and more people are starting to be proud of it, they are popping up everywhere. Connections are being made on a single word. The selection was done by my gut feeling. A combination of profile picture, experience, and LinkedIn profile. Was I looking for something in particular? No, I just wanted to travel the world from behind my laptop. Nice and safe.
Today after interviewing almost 100 multipotentialites, I created a new phrase that reflects in a better way how I see these people and their potential. “Non-linear thinking.” Just a couple of words, but they have so much meaning. And all the non-linear people will know exactly what I mean. I will adjust my LinkedIn profile and add the word “non-linear” to it.
Just because I want to connect to the amazing people out there. Non-linear is my uniform of language and hopefully, we will find each other.
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Perry Knoppert, is the founder of a global neurodiversity movement called The Octopus Movement. A non-linear thinker, he created a manifesto to bring all these non-linear thinkers together united by a desire to create positive change in the world. A single father of 3 kids, he traveled the world, lived in China and now is back in Europe. He is ready to publish his next projects: Project398, and his documentary film about non-linear people.