LevelUP
Super Moderator ✅
Posts: 4,007
Threads: 346
Likes Received: 2,234 in 1,467 posts
Likes Given: 1,275
Joined: Jun 2018
#1
09-26-2021, 11:15 AM
"A Jack of All Trades Is a Master of None" is generally used as an insult.
The phrase was originally used to describe a playwright who was always hanging around the theatres. He would help with the stage, the set and the costumes. He would remember lines and try directing. This so-called jack of all trades was in fact William Shakespeare.
The full phrase is “a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” It was a compliment.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jodiecook/2...1af5b11c45
I'm of a manager/entrepreneurial mindset so I tend to favor learning complementary skills. A couple of examples might be if you were going to be a teacher, learning psychology would be helpful. Learning to code, full-stack development is good to know.
So my question to you is that do you believe it's better to focus on learning a narrow set of skills or a broad set of skills? Are there advantages and drawbacks?
Degrees:BA Computer Science,BSBusinessAdministration with a concentration inCIS,AS Natural Science & Math, TESU. 4.0 GPA 2022.
Course Experience:CLEP, Instantcert, Sophia.org, Study.com, Straighterline.com, Onlinedegree.org, Saylor.org,Csmlearn.com,and TELLearning.
Certifications:W3Schools PHP,Google IT Support, Google Digital Marketing, GoogleProject Management
Find
Reply
ROYISAGIRL
Posting Freak
Posts: 763
Threads: 30
Likes Received: 305 in 212 posts
Likes Given: 318
Joined: Aug 2018
#2
09-26-2021, 11:19 AM
I think skills that compliment each other. I highly agree if a person wanted to be a teacher, social worker, victims advocate etc., that learning psychology would be a great compliment to that.
But I'm also the type that likes to learn a lil bit about everything and focus later or the little bits I liked more.
In Progress: CSU MS Occupational Safety| TESU BALS HR& Computer Science| TESU AAS Admin Studies
Universidad Isabel I: ENEB MBA, HRM
Completed: TESU AAS Environmental, Safety & Tech,BA in Environmental Studies/ Natural Science and Mathematics
Find
Reply
Alpha
Posting Freak
Posts: 1,340
Threads: 388
Likes Received: 494 in 343 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Jan 2021
#3
09-26-2021, 07:20 PM
I have a strong preference for learning abroad set of skills. If you begin with this mindset, by the time you reach your prime earning years you will be able to specialize in something that you really like and are good at. Also, if you ever decide to change career paths, you will have a more diverse background to draw upon.
The following 1 user Likes Alpha's post:
• FastTrackDegree
Find
Reply
eriehiker
Posting Freak
Posts: 1,232
Threads: 278
Likes Received: 965 in 509 posts
Likes Given: 298
Joined: Mar 2017
#4
09-26-2021, 08:15 PM
When I was a kid, one of my favorite baseball players was Tom Brookens. He was normally a third basem*n for the Detroit Tigers, but also played SS, 2nd base and - memorably - catcher when all three actual catchers on the team were pinch hit in a 15 inning game. The Tigers ended up winning that game after five innings with Brookens as catcher.
I have prided myself on being a utility infielder as a teacher. I have taught and created curriculum for 50+ different classes at my small rural district. I have also run the school radio station, written almost $150K in grants, called play by play on the radio for school sports events, chased a loose llama down the street, broadcast a Covid/parking lot graduation, caught a kid who had a seizure in the doorway and on and on.
During most of that time, we were a base-funded district in Michigan and I provided value because I could do lots and lots of things. One time I even kind of sort of conducted the band during a football game when the actual director couldn't make it.
Find
Reply
sanantone
Posting Freak
Posts: 10,865
Threads: 647
Likes Received: 1,804 in 1,113 posts
Likes Given: 420
Joined: Apr 2011
#5
09-26-2021, 08:25 PM
Also called polymath, Renaissance man/woman, or expert generalist.
Graduate of Not VUL or ENEB
MS, MSS and Graduate Cert
AAS, AS, BA, and BS
CLEP
Intro Psych 70, US His I 64, Intro Soc 63, Intro Edu Psych 70, A&I Lit 64, Bio 68, Prin Man 69, Prin Mar 68
DSST
Life Dev Psych 62, Fund Coun 68, Intro Comp 469, Intro Astr 56, Env & Hum 70, HTYH 456, MIS 451, Prin Sup 453, HRM 62, Bus Eth 458
ALEKS
Int Alg, CollAlg
TEEX
4 credits
TECEP
FedInc Tax, Sci of Nutr, Micro, Strat Man, Med Term, Pub Relations
CSU
Sys Analysis &Design, Programming, Cyber
SL
Intro to Comm, Microbio, Acc I
Uexcel
A&P
Davar
Macro, Intro to Fin, ManAcc
Find
Reply
Alpha
Posting Freak
Posts: 1,340
Threads: 388
Likes Received: 494 in 343 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Jan 2021
#6
09-27-2021, 11:22 AM
(09-26-2021, 08:15 PM)eriehiker Wrote: When I was a kid, one of my favorite baseball players was Tom Brookens. He was normally a third basem*n for the Detroit Tigers, but also played SS, 2nd base and - memorably - catcher when all three actual catchers on the team were pinch hit in a 15 inning game. The Tigers ended up winning that game after five innings with Brookens as catcher.I have prided myself on being a utility infielder as a teacher. I have taught and created curriculum for 50+ different classes at my small rural district. I have also run the school radio station, written almost $150K in grants, called play by play on the radio for school sports events, chased a loose llama down the street, broadcast a Covid/parking lot graduation, caught a kid who had a seizure in the doorway and on and on.
During most of that time, we were a base-funded district in Michigan and I provided value because I could do lots and lots of things. One time I even kind of sort of conducted the band during a football game when the actual director couldn't make it.
One of my heroes was a guy named Karl Jaspers. He was sometimes called "The last man who knew everything."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Jaspers
The following 1 user Likes Alpha's post:
• vintage_jacket
Find
Reply
ReyMysterioso
Oldhead
Posts: 515
Threads: 22
Likes Received: 531 in 237 posts
Likes Given: 33
Joined: Apr 2018
#7
09-27-2021, 04:25 PM
Broad set of knowledge for sure. I have gotten myself (and sometimes my team) out of countless jams by being a generalist. Contrasted with teammates with much more focused skills who had trouble thinking outside of the box when the situation called for it.
Find
Reply
vintage_jacket
Member
Posts: 79
Threads: 7
Likes Received: 13 in 12 posts
Likes Given: 64
Joined: Aug 2022
#8
09-03-2022, 11:50 AM
(09-27-2021, 04:25 PM)raycathode Wrote: Broad set of knowledge for sure. I have gotten myself (and sometimes my team) out of countless jams by being a generalist. Contrasted with teammates with much more focused skills who had trouble thinking outside of the box when the situation called for it.
I concur. Having a broad range of skills has helped me not only problem solve but also to communicate well with others at various departments. It really helps when someone for X department knows you speak their lingo, or at least understand the basics.It's like knowing a second language; the doors to a new world opens.
In Progress RA Deg./Cert.: AAS Business withMarketing concentration, and Certificate, 2024
In Progress Cert.:Google PM andIT Support| CAPM
Completed: Certificate and ALS- Community College (RA), 2022, 2023
CLEP:5courses|Sophia.org:1 course|and many non-credits...
The following 1 user Likes vintage_jacket's post:
• FastTrackDegree
Find
Reply
Pats20
Posting Freak
Posts: 1,084
Threads: 41
Likes Received: 344 in 229 posts
Likes Given: 0
Joined: Jun 2020
#9
09-03-2022, 12:29 PM
How bout a jack of all trades and a master of one. Goldilocks says “this one is just right “.
The following 3 users Like Pats20's post:
• Johann, Pikachu, vintage_jacket
Find
Reply
vetvso
Senior Member
Posts: 642
Threads: 81
Likes Received: 121 in 89 posts
Likes Given: 6
Joined: Oct 2010
#10
09-05-2022, 05:25 AM (This post was last modified: 09-05-2022, 05:27 AM by vetvso.)
I have always been a generalist and have a broad range of information. My skills and abilities might be considered liberal arts-based at times. However if one were to look deep enough they would find my focus to be international at heart—business, history, political science, sociology, psychology, anthropology, and various technology. My employer HR may prefer someone with a masters in a specific field but they always come to me when it doesn't work out.
So a broad set of skills has always been my focus. The downside to this for me; is I can be easily distracted for months and even years. But being an expert generalist is how I make my money, and fixproblems. Troubleshooting situations and people is more complex than technology. So having this broad base of information helps me make decisions.
ENEB MBA - Project Management and International Trade
ENEBPost Graduate Program in Project Management
TESUBALS Social Sciences 2019
UAF & TaiwanForeignLanguages German &MandarinPrograms
City of Ur -2019Capstone is here.
Full-time ex-pats, our blog is here.ExploreTraveler.comAlso, our Travel Vlog is hereExploreTraveler Vlog.
The following 1 user Likes vetvso's post:
• Ideas
WebsiteFind
Reply