Comments on: The Top 5 Reasons to Be a Jack of All Trades http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/14/the-top-5-reasons-to-be-a-jack-of-all-trades/ Tim Ferriss's 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design Blog Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:39:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: sebastien http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/14/the-top-5-reasons-to-be-a-jack-of-all-trades/comment-page-1/#comment-120073 sebastien Sun, 22 Jan 2012 03:35:52 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/14/the-top-5-reasons-to-be-a-jack-of-all-trades/#comment-120073 it's also called digestion in another area.. it’s also called digestion in another area..

]]> By: James http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/14/the-top-5-reasons-to-be-a-jack-of-all-trades/comment-page-1/#comment-119847 James Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:52:27 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/14/the-top-5-reasons-to-be-a-jack-of-all-trades/#comment-119847 I've thought a lot about this subject because is has some definite practical applications about the way to live your life and I think you make some strong arguments. I do think, however, that there is a lot to be gained from pursuing 'mastery' with at least one skill over years and years. Not perhaps, it terms of improvement in that skill, but the philosophical lessons that walking that 'path of mastery' for so long teaches. An example, when you stick with something that long, you eventually plateau in your improvement. You've done the 20% that's really effective and now your ROI for your time is a a lot lower. You CAN move on to the next thing, but there's something to be gained from continuing to practice your craft goallessly, not seeking improvement per se, but practicing for the enjoyment of practicing. If you jump around all the time, you never get that. So a happy medium, for me at least, has been to find one or two things I really enjoy and want to practice 'all my life' (e.g. cooking) and continue to hop around pick up other skills in a more 'jack of all trades' way. Another lesson though was that you can also pursue mastery with the sort of 'meta-skill' of learning new skills. If you consciously practice the...practice...of learning new skills all your life you get the benefits of mastery there and all the benefits of being a jack of all trades that you mentioned above. I’ve thought a lot about this subject because is has some definite practical applications about the way to live your life and I think you make some strong arguments.

I do think, however, that there is a lot to be gained from pursuing ‘mastery’ with at least one skill over years and years. Not perhaps, it terms of improvement in that skill, but the philosophical lessons that walking that ‘path of mastery’ for so long teaches.

An example, when you stick with something that long, you eventually plateau in your improvement. You’ve done the 20% that’s really effective and now your ROI for your time is a a lot lower. You CAN move on to the next thing, but there’s something to be gained from continuing to practice your craft goallessly, not seeking improvement per se, but practicing for the enjoyment of practicing.

If you jump around all the time, you never get that.

So a happy medium, for me at least, has been to find one or two things I really enjoy and want to practice ‘all my life’ (e.g. cooking) and continue to hop around pick up other skills in a more ‘jack of all trades’ way.

Another lesson though was that you can also pursue mastery with the sort of ‘meta-skill’ of learning new skills. If you consciously practice the…practice…of learning new skills all your life you get the benefits of mastery there and all the benefits of being a jack of all trades that you mentioned above.

]]> By: Gita Street http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/14/the-top-5-reasons-to-be-a-jack-of-all-trades/comment-page-1/#comment-119464 Gita Street Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:15:21 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/14/the-top-5-reasons-to-be-a-jack-of-all-trades/#comment-119464 I appreciate positive thoughts on being a Jack of All Trades. Steve Jobs did innovation and leadership. Innovation is often putting together existing technologies in a new way. I do not see this kind of innovation done by a devout specialist. Specialist are highly needed as well. I have met a lot of people who thrive at this and never seem to get bored with this. Steve Jobs would need those people to carry out his ideas. It's about finding ones strenghts and weaknesses and getting the most of it. I appreciate positive thoughts on being a Jack of All Trades.

Steve Jobs did innovation and leadership. Innovation is often putting together existing technologies in a new way. I do not see this kind of innovation done by a devout specialist.

Specialist are highly needed as well. I have met a lot of people who thrive at this and never seem to get bored with this. Steve Jobs would need those people to carry out his ideas. It’s about finding ones strenghts and weaknesses and getting the most of it.

]]> By: Landon http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/14/the-top-5-reasons-to-be-a-jack-of-all-trades/comment-page-1/#comment-119281 Landon Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:26:30 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/14/the-top-5-reasons-to-be-a-jack-of-all-trades/#comment-119281 I'm 18 and I'm not in college like my family and friends tell me I should be. Taking a year off I've discovered many more interests and capacities than I thought I possessed. I've always had the hunch that the "jack of all trades, master of none" mentality wasn't quite true, so I'm very grateful for this article, for the identification of the reasons I was looking for. I only stand to learn how to orchestrate my band of interests: music, acting, writing, and business. What would you say is the best way to learn this, Tim? I’m 18 and I’m not in college like my family and friends tell me I should be. Taking a year off I’ve discovered many more interests and capacities than I thought I possessed. I’ve always had the hunch that the “jack of all trades, master of none” mentality wasn’t quite true, so I’m very grateful for this article, for the identification of the reasons I was looking for.
I only stand to learn how to orchestrate my band of interests: music, acting, writing, and business.

What would you say is the best way to learn this, Tim?

]]> By: Joshua http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/14/the-top-5-reasons-to-be-a-jack-of-all-trades/comment-page-1/#comment-114691 Joshua Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:33:51 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/14/the-top-5-reasons-to-be-a-jack-of-all-trades/#comment-114691 Great article. I don't agree with the point about boredom. You missed out the reality of meditation and service. Boredom is usually a emotion lurking around self service/self centredness/selfishness. Many tasks which may seem boring (like washing other people's dishes), are actually very good for us, because it humbles us and puts us in a frame of mind of serving others. It quietens the crazy mind, and brings the mind under control, so that it may be used as a tool for doing good things, rather than being the master of a person. (chaos, unhappiness and destruction) The mind can be your best friend, or your worst enemy. I agree with all your other points completely. Amazing article! Peace and thank you for sharing this knowledge! Follow your bliss, serve god and do good things! Great article. I don’t agree with the point about boredom.
You missed out the reality of meditation and service.
Boredom is usually a emotion lurking around self service/self
centredness/selfishness.
Many tasks which may seem boring (like washing other people’s dishes),
are actually very good for us, because it humbles us and puts us in a
frame of mind of serving others. It quietens the crazy mind, and brings the
mind under control, so that it may be used as a tool for doing good
things, rather than being the master of a person. (chaos, unhappiness
and destruction)
The mind can be your best friend, or your worst enemy.

I agree with all your other points completely. Amazing article!
Peace and thank you for sharing this knowledge!
Follow your bliss, serve god and do good things!

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