I’m going to paraphrase Adam Savage.
I am mediocre at a lot of things. But the way I combine and use those skills are what make my skill set unique and what makes them great.
I like that, some YouTube video i came across had the sentiment that it was ok to be a renaissance man, jack of all trades kinda deal. I liked that a lot since i have a few different hobbies and im not particularly great at any of them but im good for the most part.
Made me feel like i didn’t have to be perfect and it was cool to just be doing stuff.
Same. I have one or two things I’m really good at. And a lot of things I’m pretty ok at. In my field, theatre, being ok in a lot of things means I can fit into almost any space. Don’t make me your department head, but I can help pretty much every department except costumes. I used to think not being “master” level at these things made me a waste in space. Took me a while to realize “not as skillful” didn’t mean “skill-less.” I’d still rather be on stage but, I’m enjoying where I am for now.
I’m in an engineering field, and I can tell you this absolutely holds true.
I’ve been very average in my own specialty of electrical engineering, but because I’ve taken the time to deep dive into mechanical engineering and controls/automation, I’ve far surpassed my peers career wise.
I am mediocre at a lot of things. But the way I combine and use those skills are what make my skill set unique and what makes them great.
I love this. It pretty much perfectly describes how I got every job I’ve ever had as an adult.
Have hobbies. Seriously. Stink at playing guitar or learning a foreign language like I do, but do it anyway.
If I had all those skills, I would also try to climb up and look at butt mountain.
What is this, the Vitruvian Spider-Man?
Jack off all trades and master a nun, yet better than masterbering just one
pretty sure that’s how it goes
No you jack off!
Jack of all trades, master of none, yet better than the master of one
I’m in this picture and I’m loving it
Me, too.
However I am finding it hard to get a job. I got laid off in September. Employers want a square peg for a square hole. “Cisco engineer”, for example. I know enough to get around Cisco, Fortigate and a few others. And project management. And servers. And a dozen other technologies. With 20+ years experience. But I don’t find anyone paying enough for someone with a diverse skill set.
I do this too often lol, but I’m going to leave Range by David Epstein here as a decent read on the subject.
He partly frames it as a direct criticism of Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, but Gladwell goes pretty overboard on what the research says. (For the actual science, Peak is your alternative. K Anders Ericsson was involved with the actual research and doesn’t take liberties and wildly over-generalize what it says.)
Anyways, the highly specialized and the broad knowledge base viewpoints aren’t incompatible. Both have value.
Yes, it’s important to skill stack in order to remain competi… Hey where are you going! No you’re not allow up there to live your own life and develop as you please! Get back down here to compete against others just like you!
…and whatever you do, don’t form collective sympathies for each other, against your economic “betters”.
For that would risk a general strike.
Just be
I want to do a lot of things, and I don’t care if I am bad at them.
Wait?! Do I have to choae between crochet, 3d printing, painting, woodworking and baking/cooking?!! But I love doing all this stuff! What am I going to do with the thousands of dolars in tools, Yarn, filament, Resin and paints?!!!
