How to Be Promiscuous with Your Interests
A Conversation with Jason Ooi
What’s on brand for me this week?
Starting three new creative ideas, finishing none of them, and somehow convincing myself this is part of the process.
Growth. Again.
This week on GRAFIK CONTENT, I sat down with illustrator and all-around creative Jason Ooi, also known as McSpiky — and we got into something that feels very relevant for… pretty much everyone.
The idea that you don’t have to be just one thing.
The Case for Not Picking a Lane
Somewhere along the way, a lot of us were taught that success looks like specialization.
Pick a skill.
Get good at it.
Build your identity around it.
Repeat forever.
Simple. Clean. Very marketable.
Also… kind of limiting.
Jason’s perspective flips that a bit.
Instead of narrowing down, he leans into curiosity — exploring different creative outlets, learning new skills, and allowing his interests to evolve over time.
Which is where the idea of being “promiscuous” with your interests comes in.
Yes, we laughed about it.
But also… it makes sense.
Curiosity as a Creative Driver
One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is how important curiosity is in the creative process.
Not everything needs to be strategic.
Not everything needs to lead somewhere.
Sometimes you try something just because it interests you.
And sometimes that thing leads to something bigger.
And sometimes it doesn’t.
Both are valid.
Because the point isn’t always the outcome — it’s the exploration.
Learning as an Adult (A Humbling Experience)
We also talked about what it’s like to learn new things as an adult.
Which, if you’ve ever tried to pick up a new skill past the age of 25, you know comes with a very specific kind of ego check.
You’re not immediately good at it.
You don’t have the same confidence.
You feel… slightly uncomfortable.
Which is exactly why most people stop.
But Jason leans into that discomfort.
Because being a beginner again forces you to stay open, to stay curious, and to not get too attached to being “the expert.”
And honestly?
That’s where a lot of growth happens.
You Are Not Just One Thing
Another thread that came up throughout the episode is identity.
When you tie yourself too tightly to one skill or one version of yourself, it becomes harder to evolve.
Because then trying something new feels like… abandoning who you are.
But what if who you are is actually allowed to expand?
What if your identity isn’t fixed?
What if it’s layered, evolving, and a little bit all over the place?
That’s where this idea really lands.
Being “promiscuous” with your interests isn’t about being scattered.
It’s about being open.
Not Everything Has to Be Monetized
We also touched on something that feels very real in the creative world right now:
The pressure to turn everything into something.
A side hustle.
A business.
A brand.
And while there’s nothing wrong with that…
Not everything you enjoy needs to be productive.
Some things can just exist because you like them.
Wild concept, I know.
The Balance Between Focus and Exploration
To be clear — this isn’t about doing everything all at once and burning yourself out.
There’s still value in focus.
In discipline.
In following through.
But there’s also value in allowing yourself space to explore without pressure.
And figuring out what that balance looks like for you.
Because it’s going to be different for everyone.
Final Thoughts
At its core, this episode is about permission.
Permission to try new things.
Permission to not be perfect.
Permission to not have it all figured out.
Permission to evolve.
And maybe most importantly:
Permission to not limit yourself to one version of who you are.
Because the reality is…
You’re probably more than one thing.
Key Takeaways
• You don’t have to limit yourself to one skill or identity
• Curiosity is a powerful driver of creativity
• Learning new things as an adult is uncomfortable — and valuable
• Not everything you enjoy needs to be monetized
• Growth often comes from exploring, not just focusing
You can listen to this episode of GRAFIK CONTENT featuring Jason “McSpiky” Ooi on:
👉 YouTube
👉 Spotify
👉 Apple Pods
👉 All Links
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