I'm a Jill of all trades and damn proud of it

I'm a Jill of all trades and damn proud of it(emmanemtin.com)

17 points by enemtin 12 years ago | 8 comments

thaumaturgy 12 years ago |

I self-identify with this too. I am a decent juggler, auto mechanic, wood worker, gardener/landscaper, plumber, hiker, rock climber, group organizer, sysadmin, go player, and a pretty darn good programmer.

I think generalists are the bees of human society; they help to cross-pollinate different fields. Most groups can probably benefit from a generalist or two.

But, there's a danger that people will stop taking your opinions seriously too. What's the old saying about knowing everything about nothing or nothing about everything? Flitting too much from interest to interest leaves you with no real special knowledge of any subject.

enemtin 12 years ago | |

The Jack of all trades aka the 'master of none'. I agree there's room for both types of personas and have yet to experience it as a weakness in my current job, but you never know. I think I know more or less where my specialties lie but yet have to remain focused or else I can easily veer too far off track. I'll remain curious until the day I die.

xfalcox 12 years ago |

Yeah, I'm just like that, and some times I get real scared, that if I need to change my job, it will be too hard. Who needs a guys who does data science, sysadmin, front end, back end, management and planning at the same day?

Once you got some time at work, people value you a lot, I've got more promotions in three years than I was hoping in ten years, but I see the market so different with all those experts.

thenipper 12 years ago |

Ha! This sums me up completely. Well except for the 'jill' part. I've found while its a real pain to get a job, that once you have one people want to hold on to you. Someone that can jump from doing some carpentry, to administering a server, to working a job fair is really handy to have around.

enemtin 12 years ago | |

Love it! It's a pretty good feeling when you stumble upon an employer who sees the value in having such a varied skill-set and gives you the free rein to bounce around.

matryoshka 12 years ago |

That's the way to own it! I identify with this life philosophy and own it without feeling guilty that I haven't mastered one specific domain. I do work on learning more and stay current in my areas of interest.

enemtin 12 years ago | |

Thanks! I don't think there is any shame in it. I always thought I was a bit lost or lacked direction/passion but it kind of clicked that it stems from a innately curious nature of always wanting to learn new things.

NAFV_P 12 years ago |

Polymath