I bet you’ve heard the saying “Jack of all trades, master of none.”
Usually in a derogatory tone, right?
I used to believe this statement was a FACT.
This was held up as the ideal wasn’t it? Being a Master of something was “right” and “true” and “good” and it’s what we’re supposed to aim for, ever since we’re asked at 5 years old “what do you want to be when you grow up?”
We’re all supposed to find our “thing.” The one thing we’re put on earth to do, and to bless the world with our talents.
I struggled with this.
I love the idea of it, but I’ve spent the better part of 3 decades struggling to find my “passion”. My one thing that I love above all else and will commit my life to becoming a master at.
Every time I found something I was passionate about, I threw myself into it, and after a short time (years, months or even hours sometimes) when I inevitably tired of it, I thought there was something wrong with me.
I beat myself up for not sticking with it… again.
Because here I was, back at the beginning, after wasting precious valuable time instead of building up my 10,000 hours to gain the coveted “expert status.”
I even toyed with the idea of just picking something even if I didn’t love it, just so I could start getting serious about my career path.
In the end I really couldn’t do that to myself. It didn’t feel right to commit to something I didn’t fully love, so I kept searching for the NEXT thing that might be the ONE thing, but that didn’t feel right either…
Surely there was another way to be successful at life?
And then slowly, over time, I was exposed to other ideas…
I read in a Malcolm Gladwell book about the search for the ultimate Pepsi flavour, and how the scientist had a flash of insight “what if there’s not ONE best flavour?”
I cried with relief during Emilie Wapnick’s moving Ted Talk about being a “Multi-Potential-ite.”
I listened as Marie Forleo described herself as a “Multi passionate entrepreneur.”
And I was fascinated by the scientific evidence presented in David Epstein’s amazing book “Range” which basically debunks the infamous 10,000-hour rule, and proposes that people with “range” are actually more successful over longer time.
I now realise there are two strengths in this world. Two types of successful people.
I realised that all my time hadn’t been wasted. I was learning skills and building my range.
Being a Jack (or Jill) of All Trades has many skills and advantages that people with one passion (these so-called 10,000-hour experts) aren’t very good at..
Such as…
- Having the confidence to be a beginner
- Having a thick skin because we’re so used to being a beginner
- Picking up new skills quickly
- Being creative and coming up with ideas
- Breaking the rules
- Being spontaneous
- Letting go and changing direction
- Moving to a new country/city/suburb
- Dealing with any kind of change
- Holding your own in conversation at dinner parties with all sorts of people
- Striking up conversation with strangers
- Taking time off
People with range are also generally speed readers, flit between circles of friends, and ask a lot of questions. We have so much on the go at one time, and there’s never a dull moment.
And what about the downsides?
We tend to get bored easily.
But… is that really a downside?
Haven’t we just tuned in to what makes us happy and what is fun, and we’re quicker to let go of the boring stuff?
You see, lately, I’m also being exposed to more beliefs around how life is supposed to be effortless and fun. (I’m studying A Course in Miracles, meditating along with Gabby Bernstein, and listening to Lynn Grabhorn’s “Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting”).
So apparently life is SUPPOSED to be joyful, yay!
That’s not to say it’s all cocktails on the beach and no responsibility.
Instead, I believe that what we’re doing every day must light us up from the inside. It’s ok to be working hard, but are we working hard for something we love and care about?
Someone with range, a multi-potential-ite, a J of all Ts, is more comfortable to make the switch. We’re tuned in to what we feel. We’re ok to start again, try something new, be a beginner.
So I don’t know about you, but I’m going to keep following my ever-changing passions, chasing down joy, and aiming to live a fulfilled life.
I might never become the master in any one of my trades – but being a master is the conditioned desire of someone (and a society) that expects us all to have only one thing we’re destined for.
Maybe for those of us who prefer RANGE, the pinnacle, the crowning achievement, the thing to strive for, is having the MOST skills, being able to converse with the biggest VARIETY of people, and being revered for our DIVERSE experiences and wide-ranging thinking that crosses multiple industries.
- Throughout my life I’ve served in hospitality, corporate finance, started a “promo girl” business, been a life and business coach, a PA in the government, and worked on a mine site.
- I’ve lived in Perth, London and Queensland.
- I played netball as a kid, taught dance during high school, learnt how to spin fire in my 20s, and now I balance the heaving lifting of crossfit with the stretchy zen of yoga.
- I want to write a book and speak on stage and learn how to do aerial acrobatics.
I’ve changed my career and my mind and my life direction so many times that I can’t count.
This time though…
This time seemed harder because I’ve now made my career public, and I realise I was still aiming for the societal expectation of becoming a master. I realise I had a limiting belief saying that I can’t change my career again just because I’d stamped my brand on the internet
But if master is NOT what I’m aiming for, and if in fact RANGE is the goal, then change is GOOD.
So I’m embracing my J of all T-ness, declaring myself a Master of Fun, and watch this space because I have no idea what’s coming next!
Love,
Cat xx
PS. I know I promised fortnightly blogs, but I’m doing this crazy new thing of taking my own advice and letting go of things I *should* be doing. My new promise is that whenever I write to you, I’ll be sharing from the heart (and I’ll try to keep it semi-regular, too!)
PPS. If there’s a topic you love and want to hear more about my experiences with… let me know! My blogs are often inspired by conversations or questions in my daily life.
