One thing that people have often used to hit me over the head is the quote, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” I have trouble focusing on any one field of study because everything is so damned interesting. I have never been really good, as in expert, at anything. I do, however, have a knack for seeing how things fit together. The point is, I often feel inadequate for never mastering a particular field of study before moving to a new one.
I was just reading Tim Ferriss’s blog in which he gives reasons why being a jack of all trades is a good thing. I can follow his reasoning and tend to agree, but I can’t just take his word for it. I then read the 2nd comment on his post, which has:
Allegedly the Jack of all trades saying is always taken out of context. The full saying is apparently:
Jack of all trades, master of none, though oft times better than master of one!
I looked it up for confirmation. Indeed, that is the full quote. What is more, people who are jacks of all trades are called polymaths, or Renaissance Men.
Now I feel dumb for listening to everybody who quickly spits out the incomplete jack of all trades quote. Now I know better and can finish the quote. I also won’t feel bad for having such wide-ranging interests.
Jerks.
One Comment
I feel the same way a lot of times. There are a lot of things I’m interested in and love doing, from graphic design, web design, podcasting, writing etc… but I consider myself an expert in none of them. I do feel though, that because of this I have more to offer a prospective podcasting client than someone that was just ann expert in webdesign. I might not be an expert, but I have the knowledge and experience to help someone with all aspects of starting a new podcast from the production, to the website to designing the identity. So in that case, I’d rather be a jack of all trades.
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