The Hybrid Layer: The Day My Caretaker and Rebel Started Fighting for the Same Thing

When Multiple Growth Points Finally Make Sense

You know those weird onions at the grocery store that look like they have multiple heads? Like someone accidentally fused two onions together? Yeah, those are hybrid onions—multiple growth points that create these complex, twisted layers.

I used to think those were the damaged ones. Turns out, they're just more interesting.

When Your Voices Finally Sync Up

So here I am, juggling our tech company's AI pivot, my design clients, a toddler who thinks 6 am is party time, and my brain starts doing that thing again. You know the thing—where part of you is being the responsible adult everyone depends on, and another part is whispering, "Dude, when is something going to give?"

But recently, something shifted. My rebel voice stopped asking me to run away to a cabin in the mountains (though honestly, it's still tempting). Instead, it started asking different questions: "When are you going to get paid what you're actually worth? When are you going to stop being the early adopter who watches everyone else get rich?"

And then it hit me—my caretaker voice was asking the exact same thing.

The "I've Been Here Before" Exhaustion

Look, I've been doing this dance for over a decade. Got introduced to blockchain in 2015 when people thought I was talking about building blocks. Had to learn terms like "cryptographic hash" and "immutable ledger" just to make pitch decks that wouldn't make VCs' eyes glaze over. We raised millions. I watched the whole thing go through its many cycles. Now it's AI everything, and guess what? I'm here again—translating, adapting, building bridges between creative work and tech that most people are just starting to understand.

My rebel used to whisper about escape. Now it's shouting about timing: "We've been building the infrastructure while everyone else was folding. When do we get our breakthrough?"

And you know what's wild? My responsible, family-providing, pay-the-bills voice is saying the exact same thing.

The Integration Moment

Instead of fighting these voices, I tried something different. Next time your rebel gets loud, ask what it's actually advocating for. Mine wasn't asking me to abandon my family or burn down my responsibilities. It was demanding that I finally charge what I'm worth.

The Caretaker asks: What am I responsible for?
The Rebel asks: What am I capable of?

When I really looked at those questions, they overlapped in this crazy way. Taking care of my family AND demanding proper compensation for a decade of being early to many major tech trend? Those aren't opposing forces. That's the same damn goal.

The Real Rebellion

Here's what nobody tells you about integration: Sometimes the most rebellious thing you can do is finally price your expertise properly while taking impeccable care of the people you love.

I spent years thinking I had to choose between being the reliable guy and being the guy who demands his worth. Turns out, those hybrid onions with multiple growth centers? They're not confused. They're just growing in more than one direction at once.

And when all those growth points sync up and start moving toward the same breakthrough? That's when things get interesting.

This Week's Peel

Your inner voices might not be fighting each other. They might be fighting for the same thing, and you just haven't noticed yet.

Those whispers about "when is something going to give?"—maybe they're not about giving up. Maybe they're about finally taking what you've earned.

This week, notice: When was the last time your responsible side and your rebellious side wanted the same thing? That's your integration moment waiting to happen.

Being Coached Layers: The Courage to Be Seen

This week, Dr. Goodman says, "How long have I been asking you to put down the price points of your offer?" He reminds you that to move forward, you must assign this task the priority it deserves and get it done.

The scariest place to be is the same place as last year—you've got to grow. You already know what the next right thing is, and that is to silence your inner critic. When the critic starts to whisper, tell it to shut the bleep up or simply say, "Thanks for sharing," and keep moving. You are exactly where you are supposed to be, doing exactly what you are supposed to be doing.

Bookshelf Peeled: The Science of Inner Voices

The breakthrough this week—the realization that my Caretaker and Rebel were fighting for the same thing—reminded me of Multiplicity by Rita Carter. The book argues that our "self" is not a single entity, but a collection of sub-personalities that are activated by different environments.

This synchronizes perfectly with our Hybrid Layer theme. What we often perceive as inner conflict is actually a negotiation between these multiple growth points. Carter’s work taught me that our inner voices aren't a flaw; they are a hybrid strength waiting to be aligned. When our "selves" stop fighting and start negotiating toward the same goal—like demanding your worth while caring for your family—that's when all your multiple growth points finally sync up to drive true progress.

Note: This post contains an affiliate link

Multiplicity:
The New Science of Personality, Identity, and the Self
by Rita Carter

Buy book here

Design Rebel: The Wise Hybrid

I liked the style of the onion; a little older character than I planned, but I went for it. Images and videos were created using Leonardo.ai, while the voices were brought to life by ElevenLabs.io. The script was a collaborative effort between me and Gemini, with the final editing and production completed in Wondershare Filmora.

Weekly Inspired Insights I liked or found useful this week:

I really enjoy this guy's lectures; they're relevant to this week's topic. He goes overly religious, but he's so good.

P.S. If this resonates with you, share it with someone. I'm dedicated to helping fellow explorers—or anyone who found this page—uncover their authentic self with humor and insight. We're all in this together, finding the courage to truly live from our core essence (or as close as we can get!).