multitudist
/ˈmʌl.tɪ.tjuː.dɪst/ · noun
A person who leads with all of their multitudes: doing many things at once, by choice.
A word invented by Claudia Miclaus
"Every title is true. None of them tells the whole story."
In conversation with Claudia Miclaus
Why did you need a new word?
Because "what do you do?" was the hardest question in any room. Founder, advisor, singer, DJ, writer. Every title is true. None of them tells the whole story. For years the advice was to pick one and hide the rest. I tried. It cost me more than it gave me.
Why not multi-hyphenate, or generalist?
A generalist knows a little about many things. A multitudist is doing all of them. A multi-hyphenate is a list of titles joined together. I wanted one word you can say at dinner, the way you'd say artist or journalist.
Where did it come from?
From my book, MULTITUDES, and from my own life. An ADHD diagnosis helped me understand the restless mind I had spent years apologising for. I stopped treating my curiosity as a flaw and started following it. On 19 July 2026, while writing, I realised the people I was describing had no name. So I made one.
Who is a multitudist?
The founder whose side project matters as much as the company. The banker who DJs. The doctor who paints. Anyone doing many things at once, by choice. "By choice" is the important part: many people hold several jobs because they have to. A multitudist chooses every one of theirs.
Why does it matter now?
AI is the best specialist in history. It works for anyone, costs almost nothing and never sleeps. You cannot out-specialize it. What it cannot do is connect a boardroom, a studio and a dance floor. That is what multitudists do.
"You cannot out-specialize AI."
What's next for the word?
It appears in print in Chapter Five of the book. Later, a publication about multitudist leaders. And one day, I believe, serious companies will have a Multitudist in Residence, the way they once had an artist in residence.
So, what do you do?
I'm a multitudist.
MULTITUDIST /ˈmʌl.tɪ.tjuː.dɪst/ noun
Read: I Follow My Excitement
A person who leads with all of their multitudes: doing many things at once, by choice.
The one-word answer to "what do you do?"
(in work) A person hired for all of who they are.
Used to:
finally introduce yourself in one word
refuse to shrink into one title, one box, or one niche
find your tribe among others like you
Often found among:
manifesting generators
ADHD minds
scanners, multipotentialites, and slashies
founders with side projects and artists with day jobs
Ex:
"So what do you do?"
"I'm a multitudist."
"Oh, tell me more about that."
Warning: May cause 70,000 open projects, puzzled recruiters, and the end of the one-line bio.
Also known to cause: strangers saying "me too," longer conversations, and the quiet relief of not choosing.
How it differs from existing words
Generalist: knows a little about many things. A multitudist is doing all of them.
Multipotentialite (Emilie Wapnick, TED, 2015): someone with many interests and potential. A multitudist is already acting on them.
Scanner (Barbara Sher, Refuse to Choose!, 2006): a type of mind.
Slash career (Marci Alboher, One Person/Multiple Careers): the shape of a career.
None of these works as an answer at dinner. Multitudist fits the same slot as artist, scientist or journalist: it is a word you can say when someone asks what you do.
How it differs from existing words
Generalist: knows a little about many things. A multitudist is doing all of them.
Multipotentialite (Emilie Wapnick, TED, 2015): someone with many interests and potential. A multitudist is already acting on them.
Scanner (Barbara Sher, Refuse to Choose!, 2006): a type of mind.
Slash career (Marci Alboher, One Person/Multiple Careers): the shape of a career.
None of these works as an answer at dinner. Multitudist fits the same slot as artist, scientist or journalist: it is a word you can say when someone asks what you do.
Why "by choice"
Many people hold several jobs out of financial necessity. A multitudist chooses every one of their many things.
The word so far
19 July 2026
The word is invented while writing MULTITUDES.
23 October 2026
The definition is locked.
In print
Chapter Five of MULTITUDES, "The Multitudist."
