Why Diversifying Our Pathways Matters: Even in Everyday Life

 

We’ve all heard financial experts talk about the importance of diversifying our investment portfolios. But the truth is, diversification doesn’t stop with money. It’s just as essential in business, creative life, and our everyday routines.

As creators and artisans, many of us lean heavily on one favorite platform to showcase our work. Maybe it’s where we first found success or built a community. But over time, we’ve seen the cracks…platforms shut down, policies change overnight, accounts get banned or restricted without warning. It's unsettling, especially if your creative livelihood is tied to just one place.

That’s why diversifying where and how you market yourself is not just wise, it’s protective. Spread your work across several platforms, yes…but also invest in a home base you own, like a personal website or blog. This is your anchor. Unlike marketplaces that can shift their rules, your home site reflects your values and vision without being marginalized or silenced.

But the importance of diversification doesn’t end with business. It touches every part of our lives.

As the parent of a neurodiverse son and as someone living with chronic illness myself, I’ve learned this firsthand. It’s easy (and sometimes comforting) to stick to routines and familiar paths. But when life forces a detour, when plans change or obstacles appear, it’s how we adapt that defines our strength.

Due to chronic illness, I can no longer walk a block without discomfort. I haven’t yet purchased my electric mobility device, so I knew that walking to see the fireworks in my neighborhood would be too much. The crowds, the distance, my non-electric walker, it just wasn’t going to work.

But I didn’t give up. I found a spot farther away, away from the crowd, and I simply enjoyed the moment. That’s what I mean when I say different strategies to reach a destination are tools we all need in our mindset. Staying stagnant or giving up would’ve meant missing the joy entirely.

 Personal reflection, July 2025

Diversification isn’t failure. It’s not about giving up on the original plan.

It’s about building multiple ways to move forward.

In business, in relationships, in life, it’s a mindset. A strength. A tool.

And yes, an asset.