The Renaissance Layperson

Doing Everyday Things in a Great Way

Photo by Blaz Erzetic on Unsplash

What is a Renaissance Layperson?

When we hear the phrase “Renaissance Man” or “Renaissance Woman” we think of someone historical who mastered the arts and sciences beyond the current understanding of the time and delivered great works to be admired by generations. These people usually have a wide range of skills and abilities and often play musical instruments, speak multiple languages, and have other talents that are generally useful in society.

In much the same way, the Renaissance Layperson is a master of general concepts and common sense, with a wide variety of “good enough” skills that may often surpass even the skill of some professionals who perform these tasks as part of their daily jobs. This person may have excelled in one or more fields with or without formal education, while learning abstract concepts which are dutifully carried from one task / job / career to the next.

Many of us know someone like this. It’s that person who can fix anything and always seems to know what’s going on and what to do next. Something wrong with your car? Computer not working right? Need something built? The Renaissance Layperson has many callings in life and has you covered.

A Well-Rounded Individual

Not everyone needs to advance the field of science by 100 years to make a difference in the world. Society benefits greatly from well-rounded people with useful life skills who can improve the conditions of their environment and pass on their knowledge to others.

While specialization is no doubt extremely useful and generally required to advance society forward (there must be X people producing some item before Y people can purchase it, for example), there are times when having advanced basic skills can be extremely helpful (for example, if a pro is not available, or if building that gazebo yourself is all you can afford right now).

Challenging times (such as economic recessions) effectively turn large percentages of the population into entrepreneurs, whether they like it or not.

This is when having everyday skills can be, quite literally, a lifesaver. It can mean the difference between preparing the right meals under budget to stay healthy and strong, or becoming weak and falling ill. It can mean the difference between having the skills and budget to repair your house, or putting it off forever until it’s no longer affordable and your house value goes down as it falls apart. Almost any regular day-to-day problem in life can be solved with an open mind and high degree of practical common sense.

An Open-Minded Worldview

The common driving factor behind every well-rounded intelligent person I’ve met is that they possess an open mind and are eager to learn (and practice what they have learned). These are often the first people willing to volunteer to help when something comes up, and will usually do so out of the goodness of their hearts without a second thought or expectation of anything in return.

This is where a “what’s in it for me” mindset doesn’t apply. The moment of opportunity can be lost forever if time is wasted on thinking like that instead of acting on what’s right. Truly well-rounded people don’t gain skill or experience by sitting around and pondering what’s in it for them. They often take action immediately, even if the only reward is having one more friend or ally. It stands to reason that someone who spends a fair amount of time lending their skills to help others is bound to make plenty of friends.

Advanced Common Sense

The Renaissance Layperson possesses a level of common sense that is well above average and often provides solutions to problems well beyond their actual level of study or expertise. This is effectively just plain common sense derived from elementary education and/or life experience, and then scaled to a high degree. People of this nature may have qualities about them such as:

• Understanding how to think, how to trace any circumstance from cause to effect, and how to form conclusions based on prior observations
• Recognizing the importance of confidence, and why encouraging others is a sign of strength while putting others down is a sign of weakness
• Maintaining good health and fitness, encouraging others to do the same
• Typically clean, organized, well-groomed, focused, and productive
• Generally positive and solution-seeking instead of problem-seeking

These are not specific skills or fields of study but habits and states of mind, which have been used by successful entrepreneurs for decades to achieve their goals and change the world around them (their own life circumstances and those of the people they effect through life and work). Anyone of any age can begin to cultivate these mindsets to become more well-rounded and capable.

Practical Skills

When we think of practical skills, we often think of them in the moment they are needed most, such as when the car breaks down or something breaks around the house. These are just two examples of course, and one doesn’t have to go far to see a few of the infinite possibilities available to repair or upgrade something. Learning and practicing everyday skills can prove extremely useful when something needs to be done. These are a few practical life skills that, when combined, can enable one to do great things:

• Strong high-school level math (basic algebra, geometry, and trig)
• Mechanical aptitude, spatial reasoning and deduction
• Well-read in at least one language, strong writing ability
• Basic construction, fabrication, crafting, and DIY skills
• Cooking skills, proper handling and preparation of food
• Electricity and electronics (basic concepts, Ohm’s law, schematics)
• Computer basics (hardware / software / simple maintenance)
• Troubleshooting and repair of everyday things (appliances, cars)
• Business fundamentals (accounting, supply and demand)

In the modern world, these skills may be combined in combinations limited only by the imagination, and opportunity is everywhere as things are always going to break, people will always need to eat, and new ideas and concepts will always need to be invented to satisfy some need that people didn’t even know they had before. This can mean anything from fixing your neighbor’s garage door opener to designing and producing a better one out of your own garage and building a global brand from it.

Conclusion

If there’s one thing we could all benefit from, it’s more open-minded people doing what they can to improve themselves, their environments, and the lives of others. For the Renaissance Layperson, the sky’s the limit, as the world is always changing and everyday things will always need to be done.