Root down into the core of our humanity

The word prolific traditionally refers to the fruitful and abundant production of many offspring.

This term literally has its roots in the botanical world.

Take growing mint plants. Ask any gardener worth their salt, and they’ll say how mint is a shallow rooted, fast spreading perennial that can quietly take over an entire plot. Often times the mint plant needs to be contained in some sort of pot or physical barrier because its long spear like leaves will spread so freely.

But gardens aren’t the only venue where being prolific is second nature. A completely different arena for defining the term is in professional sports.

Ask any coach worth their salt, and they’ll tell you that a prolific athlete is one who either plays the game frequently, scores a lot of points, excels at multiple sports, or plays multiple categories within a sport. Sounds like the guy you want on your team.

Lewis, once dubbed as the olympian of the century, was track and field’s most prolific athlete. Carl won nine gold medals, set world records in multiple events, and had one of the longest streaks in sports with over sixty wins in the long jump over ten years. He also brought true recognition and attention to the sport of track and field itself.

And so, the what of being prolific has been defined.

The question is why.

How does becoming prolific improve our lives, outside of populating a garden and scoring lots of points?

In my experience, there are several core benefits.

First, being prolific isn’t just about spawning, it’s about stretching. Stepping outside of what’s comfortable, constantly creating something new, living larger than our labels. It’s how we grow and evolve as human beings. If we never make anything, we never find out who are.

Next, being prolific isn’t just about executing, it’s about elevating. Running up the score on our resume doesn’t matter if we aren’t not getting better, smarter, stronger and sharper with every new thing we make. If our work never improves, then we’re just running in place.

Third, being prolific isn’t just about shipping content, it’s about showing commitment. The guts to stay in the game, show up every day and execute no matter what, regardless of the result, creates fulfillment in a way nothing else can. If there is no continuity, there is no contentment.

Fourth, being prolific isn’t just about money, it’s about mandate. Most creators do what they do because they’re ugly when they don’t. It’s central to who they are. It’s their spiritual imperative to make things. If they don’t keep creating, they don’t feel alive.

Lastly, being prolific isn’t about entertainment, it’s about expression. The purpose of art isn’t just to please people, it’s to project ideas and feelings. To share a sense of life and an index of human values. With only occasional pieces of work, we can’t express the whole picture.

As you can see, the word prolific contains far more depth than just planting seeds and scoring points.

To be prolific is to root down into the core of our humanity and make use of everything we are during the short time we’re allotted on this earth.

What’s your motivation for making things?