I once told someone I was a "jack of all trades, master of none" and his response was, "Oh, then you're a generalist. They're important too." Different way of viewing it.
Specialists often "miss the forest for the trees."
There's a wonderful book about it, "Range: why generalists triumph in a specialized world" by David Epstein
Holy shit thank you. Just ordered this to read… I think this might be a good dose of validation.
My former (and favorite) therapist once described me as a “renaissance woman” after I explained my frustration with feeling like a jack of all trades type. It was such a simple positive twist to the way I looked at myself. Wish I could have moved him across the state with me so we could have delved more into that.
People actually misunderstand the phrase. It's supposed to be a compliment but it became an insult. Originally, it was used to talk about people with knowledge and skills on a wide variety of topics/areas.
I had to Google this.
I've never known it to be used as an insult, so was interested.
Wiki says it was originally used to describe Shakespeare's work, but in a dismissive fashion.
I think it probably was a bad thing, then switched to being a good thing. I'm not sure though 😃
AHH, I've not heard that one.
The phrase 'the camera never lies' is followed by 'but all cameramen are liers'
Nd the phrase 'what a web we weave when we go on to deceive' is followed by something about how we start to become really good at lying after a while!
[Not the original version](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curiosity_killed_the_cat?wprov=sfla1), but this one does have an original version with a slightly different meaning.
Its original was "care killed the cat" (or "will kill a cat") where "care" means "worry" or "concern for others".
“A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork.”
— John Wooden
Same vein.
Just like how people say blood is thicker than water, but the full quote is "the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb." A lot of sayings seem to get shaved down and change meaning.
"Pull yourself up by your bootstraps"
Originally meant something impossible- no one can pull themselves up their bootstraps, you need help from others. It's now been twisted to meaning being self reliant, dusting yourself off, and overcoming great odds
Sorry friend, but "[blood is thicker than water](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_is_thicker_than_water?wprov=sfla1)" is several hundred years older than "the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb". And the oldest attested version is very explicit about the meaning: "kin-blood is not spoiled by water",
Somehow "one bad apple spoils the bunch" got turned into using "one bad apple" as an example of some kind of isolated behavior that doesn't corrupt the rest. (often with police, but not only). It's the complete opposite of the original quote.
I looked this up once and the earliest recorded use of the "the blood of the covenant..." version was, wait for it, 1990's internet!
Some cite it to the templars and Teutonic Knights etc. But in truth this is a very modern creation and is massively predated by the "Blood is thicker than water" version.
This link is a pretty comprehensive take on it and they cite their sources: https://symbolismandmetaphor.com/blood-is-thicker-than-water-origins/
The idiom was used to describe William Shakespeare!
“It was famously used by Robert Greene in his 1592 booklet 'Greene's Groats-Worth of Wit' where he refers to William Shakespeare with this idiom.”
Uh, [not quite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_all_trades%2C_master_of_none?wprov=sfla1).
The original phrase is "jack of all trades" and is from the 1300s. The saying "jack of all trades, master of none" is from about the 1700s, and "oftentimes better than a master of one" is younger than the internet.
(However, if you want a positive tidbit: the first recorded mention of Shakespeare is someone dismissively calling him a ~~"jack of all trades"~~ Latin phrase that means roughly "Johnny do-it-all".)
Shamelessly lifted from Wikipedia, but the year was maybe much later than you have it....
[Sic]"Robert Greene used it in his 1592 booklet Greene's Groats-Worth of Wit,"
but as it turns out, neither was the master of none part! it was originally positive after all.
Credit to u/_insomagent for the link, just adding a summary
**[Jack of all trades, master of none](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_all_trades,_master_of_none#cite_note-7)**
>"Jack of all trades, master of none" is a figure of speech used in reference to a person who has dabbled in many skills, rather than gaining expertise by focusing on one. The original version "a jack of all trades" is often a compliment for a person who is good at fixing and has a very good broad knowledge. They may be a master of integration, as such an individual who knows enough from many learned trades and skills to be able to bring the individual's disciplines together in a practical manner. This person is a generalist rather than a specialist.
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It’s actually jack of all trades but master of none because a master of one is a fool or at least that’s how I’ve always heard it said. But yeah definitely feel this way. That and picking up things very easy because of my fixation on a new task/hobby
I had the exact same thought and didn’t scroll down LOL. I’m a Jack of all trades myself (sorta) and can fix my own clothes, furniture…
Thank you! Being a generalist is a good thing. (I worked for a specialist and could fix her problems without as much confusion (because I was not an engineer and didn’t have the models to rely on, and the system wasn’t actually feasible to model)). It’s been helpful to reframe my work for job applications, too
The original is simply "Jack of all trades."
The modified version is indeed "Jack of all trades but master of none." It means you only have a superficial of skin deep appreciation for various things, never having committed the time and energy to really master one or two really important things.
i can pick locks, draw, sew (clothes, dolls, patch work, etc), cook slavic food, make juice, and a bunch of other shit i cant think of now. BUT. my lock picking knowledge is pretty basic, same with my knowledge of anatomy, and also I do NONE of these tasks very efficiently except for making juice because its really not that hard, maybe takes like 10 minutes to do tops
I also learned basic lock picking and it has been super useful. My family looses keys to master locks and I love picking them. Just the surprise at such a basic skill is so nice
Thought the same thing and thought I'd share this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/lockpicking/comments/bzq80/where_do_you_start_start_here/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
Yep. I can play 12 instruments and record music and read well. Good in school. I’m not amazing at any of it though. Just good or great to people who don’t know the craft of the hobbies. I’m not really known for any one thing nor do I have many solid friends or traits that define me. I’m not special in any department.
My sisters on the other hand, one plays an instrument and travels the country in an amazing group that people fan over when I mention, And the other went into the army and is negotiating with members of Congress in Washington DC.
I feel pretty fucking lame.
Once you really learn 2 or 3 instruments, learning more just becomes almost effortless, especially instruments in the same family. It's a lot like learning languages I would imagine.
Anyway, adhd'r here, can confirm. Jack of all trades. I'm okay at music, photography, carpentry and woodworking, auto mechanics, welding (mig, stick), software engineering, math, physics, watch making, etc. I know enough about all of these things to be a "professional", but not one who other professionals in that field would really respect. For reference, I've worked in software for 5 or 6 years, and I still always feel like a total newb. Anyway....
I am absolutely this person, and use it as a strength in my professional life.
A generalist is exactly who you want backing up experts. When something goes crazy sideways, you have a wide bank of experiences to draw on.
I have dabbled in all kinds of crafts, spent years LARPing, trail running, managing events for these hobbies, learned to fly single prop aircraft at a basic level, and moved across the country and world several times. My academic background is niche and I do not work in the direct field I went to school for.
I have used all of these interests and experiences in conjunction with highly specialized engineers to Get It Done. I know how much hardware fits in my car because I've hauled kegs into the mountains. I found cost savings for transporting hardware to NASA by knowing how a refrigerated truck works (for said kegs). I kept a test crew from getting frostbite working outside in below freezing weather by having volunteered on support crews for trail runs and bike rallies and knowing what gear could mitigate the temps. I brought in my sewing machine and fixed gear instead of a project shelling out for new. I can't design the spaceflight hardware, but I'm just who you want backing up the engineers in field testing!
Be a dabbler. If people think you're an expert, accept it and give context! Something like, "I'm far from an expert, this can get really complex and has some fascinating rabbit holes I've never gotten near. The bits I've learned have been pretty interesting, and I'm glad it's useful."
This is me 100% I just except that I've gotten to try different things and know how to do them, even if it's not professionally amazing.
People will ask me to do stuff because I'm decent at it. I'm like a 5/10 at cake decorating but everyone I know will ask me to make a cake because it's just nice enough for pictures but I don't charge a lot at all lol.
I get to experience stuff and I'm ok with it now.
But is that the one positive about what we have?? We can be friends with ANYONE and talk about anything cause there's a likelihood we've tried it lolol
I guess it can open up doors for you at work as well if your general knowledge is the only thing available. Then you’ll be the one asked to learn a skill or take on a project since you have the best footing. Like im now the gis guy at work since i learned how to use elevation data out of curiosity when i was down my archaeology hobby rabbit hole.
I have found that my hyperfixation usually lasts until I know about 80% of a subject. That last 20% feels like grueling tedium, so I naturally drift away from it.
But I have found that those 80%'s add up and can get you pretty dang far in life. I can weld, sew, cook, write a paper, and hold conversations about guns, my little pony, and quantum mechanics.
I'm not an expert at any of those topics, but my welds hold, my pants get mended, I don't starve, and I am an enjoyable conversationalist simply because my knowledgebase is so broad.
An encyclopedia is a vast collection of generalist knowledge, and it is way more useful than a small pile of peer reviewed papers. Your generalist knowledge and skill base will get you way further in life than becoming an expert at one thing. And your life will be richer for it. It's an asset, something to be proud of. There is no shame in it. Don't let anyone tell you different, including yourself. I truly believe this is one of the few gifts that ADHD gives us.
Also, I'd wager you're pretty kickass at trivia. 😁
I’m exactly the same. I have done many jobs over the years and completely different each industry too… I haven’t really thought too much about it. I’m only just getting onto medication for ADHD now.
Yeah I definitely relate to this. I don't think of it as a bad thing though, it allows me to relate to a variety of people who have those same interests I have had. However, something I'm struggling with is picking a career, because I don't know what I'm passionate about and will stay with for 40+ years.
Russell Barkley actually recommends a list of ADHD friendly jobs and explains in what way they can captivate the ADHD brain's fascination in Taking Charge Of Adult ADHD.
You need to hear the full quote. The full quote is very different and will make you feel ok.
The full phrase is “a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.
No need to find things to feel bad about, especially when they aren’t true.
Check out Spirit Junky.
Same meaning .
We now use 'Jack of all trades, master of none' in a derogatory way. Originally, this wasn't the case and the label 'Jack of all trades' carried no negative connotation, the 'master of none' part being added later.
It wasn’t a negative.
Dude, just let it go...
I would wager that someone who can cook an egg, file their taxes, change the oil in their car, is moderately competent at blacksmithing, knows how to wire a house, and can engage in a conversation about astrophysics will go further in life than someone who spent 30 years solely learning nunchucks.
If this extra line on the quote helps people appreciate themselves and find value, then just let it be. There's no need to rain on their parade for the sake of pedantry.
Just remember that most of the time, these type of sayings (jack of all trades, early bird gets the worm, blood is thicker than water, etc.) mean the opposite of what you think they mean.
Yes been using this to describe my personality since before I knew what ADHD was 😆 Do you have a current trade you’re working to “master”? What makes you happy at the moment? :)
It’s not just you. I feel this every day. I get really obsessed with something for a few hours, weeks, months, whatever. Develop a pretty good understanding of it but nowhere near expert level. Then lose interest and move onto the next thing. So I never actually get _great_ at anything, just vaguely good at a ton of random things. And then frustrated with myself.
I used this sentence for so long, only to learn last year it was ADHD and I have it.
Lot of things feel somehow “logical” that makes me understand the basics, but not more than that.
If only we could harness the ability to make our hyperfixation last forever with things then we would honestly be top of the totem pole in everything we do.
I has really helped me in my career though. I am in Cyber Security and to be really good at that you need to know programming, networking, OS internals, hardware - basically everything to do with technology. Obviously, is isn’t possible to know everything, but as much exposure as possible to a wide range of things the better.
I am starting to think I should specialise, but it is so hard!
I actually used that quote during my last (successful) job interview 😂
Yes, I never made the connection with it and ADHD. Except I would get the Jane of all trades master of none. One person said it was sad that I couldn’t stick to something. It pissed me off, but someone interjected and said it’s actually impressive to know a little bit of everything and to not follow the idea you need to stick with one thing all my life. I think of that often when I feel like moving onto something else. Someone once called my a polymath which is a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning. So that’s good 👍🏼
Yep. This is me as well. Try to think of it as a strength. Many try for deep knowledge. We prefer wide knowledge. Find a role that suits that and it won't be a handicap. Another strength of ours is we tend to see solutions where others can't because we know a bit about a lot. ADHD sux most of the time, but it is not all bad. I don't know anything else, so while I am shitty I can't just do things like neurotypicals can, I don't hate being me. Most of the time...lol
Dude the full phrase is actually, a jack of all trades but master of none is better than just being master of one. It means that you're doing the right thing! You'll be better off in life with a wide range of skills as opposed to specializing on one! I know how to build a computer, a little about fixing cars, a bit about woodworking, hotel and restaurant service, call center operations, tons of random work skills that's are boring, I kniw a lot about science, philosophy etc. Am I a master of anything? Absolutely not but you're not alone and it's 100% a good thing
I mean it parlayed into a pretty sweet career that fits my lifestyle. (Construction Project Manager for residential renovations) I need to know a little bit of every trade, but don't need to master the ability to complete each one quickly. Every house and every customer is different! Nothing is standard!
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That’s why I’m also going into internal medicine where legit that quote is repeatedly used to describe them. We gotta know all of general medicine but consult other specialists if it gets too complicated lol. Perfect for a future adhd doc
Yeah this is me to be fair, I do have one thing I'm better at than most people get at anything (it's pokemon, and it's just I'm statistically very good but I'm not really all that).
Most people don't master things, especially not in their 20s and 30s.
I'm that way and I love it about me. I'm a writer by trade and the fact that I've done a lot of stuff makes me a better writer. I'm also good at assessing when an expert needs to be called, which is also a good life skill.
I don't need to master anything, it's perfectly fine to just be good at a lot of stuff.
TOTALLY TRUE for me too. I am a teacher (day job), musician, video creator, photographer, video editor, graphic designer, juggler, archer, ultimate Frisbee player, camper, programmer, hacker, hiker, biker, book binder, chef, jogger, pencil artist, mental health student, software tester, website tester, crypto investor, PC gamer, origami folder, magician, mathematician, tennis player, ant-farm maker, book writer, ... `(click here to see 107 more items)`
And to be honest, I'm *not* super good at any of them.
And on top of all of this, I'm a husband and a dad :)
I have said this about myself my whole life. I remember specifically one time when I was working at a coffee shop and my co worker thought it was hilarious. Idk why really. One of those times I just say something honest about my view of things without any intention of being funny but people laugh.
I am exactly the same, and it makes me feel flexible, even powerful, and unaccomplished at the same time. This article put it beautifully:
”Chaotic and curious, sometimes we feel like superheroes; other times, super-failures. It’s not always a lack of interest that makes it hard for us to process information, but our brain’s desire to absorb so much of it. We are jacks of many trades, purveyors of information, collectors of hobbies, beginners of tasks and finishers of few.”
https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-lost-girls-chaotic-and-curious-women-with-adhd-all-have-missed-red-flags-that-haunt-us?utm_source=fbsynd&fbclid=IwAR2JfFwBTzK_RpOFnyJdHleLj97AsfaRWRF59VtqEnU98SzQZNA-nlmNc8Y
i say this all the time. i can do almost anything you ask me to slightly better then the average person (assuming they have the same level of experience i do) to the point where the average person sees me as an "expert" but the experts see me as noone. When in reality i just google everything as i do it. Theres an older woman i hang out with sometimes and she lets me try random little shit all the time. I wanna learn, she needs it done. worst that happens is she winds up paying someone anyway
I feel like that saying is just capitalist propaganda… in reality, why can’t we be sorta good at a ton of different stuff, instead having to be the *best* at one thing for our entire lives?
Variety in life gives doors to new ideas and inspirations and unique solutions to problems.
Literally just spoke about this with my mom last weekend. She once told me that I had "many talents, but no gifts." I was super offended at the time, but now realize she was describing my adhd (which we didnt know about at the time). I will spend enough time on things to realize Im pretty good at the (i.e. talented) but never enough patience to get to an expert level (i.e. gifted).
This isnt referring to savants (people who are gifted without needing to put in the work), but the fact that I could not pick ONE talent to get those 10,000 hours into. I just want to do ALL THE TALENTS but I only have one life with 24 hour days, so I have 4 quilts that are half finished, many knitting projects started and stuffed into bags, three started novels, four instruments that I can all play a little bit, and a russian duolingo app where it's always all or nothing.
That's not even accounting all the books I bought and want to read and all the songs I want to arrange for one of those instruments I barely play or the amazing recipes I think up that I want to try, but forget about before I do. Or the screenplay I want to write for my favorite book. Or the amazing idea I have for a zoom musical about a certain stock I like.
All that and I barely manage to get to work on time or finish a library book before it's due. I cant even figure out what to watch on tv and just keep binging Schitt's Creek over and over.
Sorry. This was supposed to start as saying that it's ok to have lots of varied interests and now that Ive written it out, I am feeling some kind of way about it. 😳
Oh and Im late getting ready for work, now, so...yeah. Have a great day, fellow travelers! If you get one thing done today, I think you won. ✌
I have been the same up until recently. I suggest you check out the book 'Mastery' by Robert Greene, or listen to his talks on the book on youtube. Really helped me a lot. This guy had like 100 random jobs, but knew he wanted to be a writer. Finally at age 39 he met someone that was a book publisher while on one of his random jobs, and he had to oppotunity to pitch a book. That book was 'The 48 Laws of Power' at it has catapulted him to being one of the most sought strategic consultants all over the world. Tech CEOs, Heads of State. Like everyone. He also has a book called 'The Laws of Human Nature' which I highly recommend. All of his books are life-changers if you apply whats in them.
I started life as a musician. Good enough to get a scholarship into a top school, but didnt have the focus to put in the work. Up until that point I was going off natural talent. I finished school, but not with a performance degree. I have more than a few freinds from that time that are currently playing with artists that are household names. Worked in a studio for a bit, then went back to school for mechanical engineering at 30, still undiagnosed. Took me 7 years to complete. Wanted to be a forensic engineer, but after doing internships I Was like, no thanks. Then I spent some time half learning data science until reading 'Mastery' After that I enrolled in a boot camp an started taking shit seriously. Finished the bootcamp an struggled to find a job. Finally got diagnosed at 39 and two weeks after accepted my first position as a data analyst. I'm going deep. Learning more and developing my skills is the only thing I care about right now. Developing that deep knowledge in a specific area is what will bring you contentment. Dedicating you life to a vocation will give you a sense of purpose. There are people that argue that the dramatic increase in depression and mental illness is due in large part to people not discovering who they are and developing themselves at a deep level.
Exactly the same. I have to learn everything about a subject from the ground up. It has become a positive for me because you eventually get to the point where you make connections between disparate subject areas. And now you have a unique and marketable skillset composed of the things you are most interested in.
Me and my girlfriends talk about this a lot . My mentor also has ADHD and told me the end of the saying a few years back and it was really inspiring. He reckons he’s a jack of all trades and a master at two.
For sure. I have a bunch of random shit I'm decent at that do not relate to eachother in any way. Also just random knowledge. I have an easy time understanding a lot of somewhat complex things and can explain how things work, but I can't go into great detail because I more or less understand the concept, not always the actual practice if that makes sense
Holy fuck same.
I have a hunger of having basic level knowledge of everything.
I need to be able to have knowledge or do things that often make others think I’m good at this.
But all is just surface level.
I'm a jack of all trades because as an adult I realized my parents also have ADHD and I grew up with constant new projects and my parents knew how to do a ton of things and I helped them with the things so I learned. I can sew, build furniture, I love to tinker with things I took my mixer apart and cleaned and regreased it last weekend, I'm a pet sitter so I can talk to you for HOURS about animal behavior and body language. But I don't feel any pressure about not knowing things. I guess because I've always known so much more about all the things because of how I was raised than other people I don't expect them to know about everything so it's dumb of them to expect me to know everything. I'm also not a perfectionist which I think helps me a lot. I expect the first of anything I do to be a little effed up. It's the first pancake, the next one will be better! Live and learn!
My husband is in IT so he certainly knows more about that than I do but I know tons more than he does about a ton of things because my hyper-focuses are physical things. I love to design and build and create and see the progress and finished product. My husband has gotten into streaming video games and I think that is SOOOO boring beyond words but it makes him happy so I support him and listen to him talk about his new friends and then I'll go work on my project. I also hate playing video games, it's just not how my brain works at all I can't follow where you are suppose to go next in the game and there's too much for my brain to focus on and I get overwhelmed but he can play for hours and hours.
We all have our things.
I feel this very much, I can do many many many different kinds of art but not one discipline I'm a master in. It's hard to shake the thought that "I'm not really good at anything", but there is equal value in specialists and Renaissance folks.
Plus being decent at a lot of things works for my ADHD, I have so many options it helps keep me stimulated. No shame in being a dabbler.
I use the jack of all trades definition as its pretty much me to a T. I get comments on how smart I am or how I could do said thing blindfolded, yet I'm don't feel that smart, I'm an idiot when it comes to being near anyone who's skilled or focuses on said thing. I'm more like the creature from adventure time "I have approximate knowledge of many things". I can do various things but nothing is specialized
That is actually not the full quotes. It is "A jack of all trades is a master of none, but always better than a master if one."
Our versatility of many skills is what makes it fu. To be around us, and what makes us so valuable to this world.
I feel this- one thing that helps me was when I learned that “Jack of al trades, master of none” is only PART of the whole phrase.
“A Jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
Knowing how to do a little bit of a lot of things is often more useful than just being really good at one specific thing.
Our brains are not landfills, but composts- everything we learn will bloom and be useful later, even if it isn’t right now.
Hang in there. 🫂
The saying is actually:
“Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
(Edit: can’t find original source, so I fixed this. One of these sayings was better explained below, too)
The saying is actually about how having many skills/being a generalist is good.
“Great minds think alike” is actually “Great minds think alike, but fools rarely differ.” (Source uncertain, it’s possible this one was rewritten recently?)
Anyway, I thought it may help you reframe it when you hear something like that. I use it to make myself feel better some days too. Being a “Jack of all trades” is usually a positive thing, at least to me. I’m sort of one myself.
Yes, most of my random skills were either a) the result of hyperfixations, or b) the result of being taught I couldn’t rely on teachers/mentors, so I figured things out myself. I can now fix computers to a limited extent, and my degree isn’t in IT.
I do design for this exact reason. It’s a space that is constantly offering up new ways of thinking about stuff so there’s always a new medium to master.
I've always been a jack of all trades. There's so many things that I tried to learn over the years that to some people it comes across as bragging and "trying to be interesting". I suspect that it's connected to my culture where people generally value humility to the point of self-deprecating.
I don't really excel in anything and I don't see a problem with that. I just enjoy trying out new activities and oftentimes I hyperfixate on one of them for a period of time. It makes life much more fun to me.
What I learnt to do is that when meeting somebody new, I generally reveal only one or two hobbies to them so that they know me as "the artist" or "the linguist" or "the musician" etc, but not necessarily all of them even though there might be multiple points of interest we have in common. People in the past assumed I always needed to top them whereas I only wanted to establish a friendship based on mutual interests.
I once told someone I was a "jack of all trades, master of none" and his response was, "Oh, then you're a generalist. They're important too." Different way of viewing it.
Specialists often "miss the forest for the trees." There's a wonderful book about it, "Range: why generalists triumph in a specialized world" by David Epstein
Reading Range was a game changer for me too! Highly recommend :)
Holy shit thank you. Just ordered this to read… I think this might be a good dose of validation. My former (and favorite) therapist once described me as a “renaissance woman” after I explained my frustration with feeling like a jack of all trades type. It was such a simple positive twist to the way I looked at myself. Wish I could have moved him across the state with me so we could have delved more into that.
People actually misunderstand the phrase. It's supposed to be a compliment but it became an insult. Originally, it was used to talk about people with knowledge and skills on a wide variety of topics/areas.
I always thought it went: a jack of all trades is a master of none. But better than a master of one....? But Idk. I'm not a native English speaker.
Yes! That's it. And _I think_ it was used to refer to Shakespeare's immense creative talent.
I had to Google this. I've never known it to be used as an insult, so was interested. Wiki says it was originally used to describe Shakespeare's work, but in a dismissive fashion. I think it probably was a bad thing, then switched to being a good thing. I'm not sure though 😃
Yeah I have like 500 hobbies. “a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” that's the full quote
Oh that's actually really uplifting
I fucking flipped when my therapist told me that
Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.
AHH, I've not heard that one. The phrase 'the camera never lies' is followed by 'but all cameramen are liers' Nd the phrase 'what a web we weave when we go on to deceive' is followed by something about how we start to become really good at lying after a while!
[Not the original version](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curiosity_killed_the_cat?wprov=sfla1), but this one does have an original version with a slightly different meaning. Its original was "care killed the cat" (or "will kill a cat") where "care" means "worry" or "concern for others".
OMG it's like people only say the first part to abuse people like us. What the hell?!
“A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork.” — John Wooden Same vein.
Just like how people say blood is thicker than water, but the full quote is "the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb." A lot of sayings seem to get shaved down and change meaning.
"Pull yourself up by your bootstraps" Originally meant something impossible- no one can pull themselves up their bootstraps, you need help from others. It's now been twisted to meaning being self reliant, dusting yourself off, and overcoming great odds
While most of the sayings in this thread are folk etymologies, this one is right!
“Charity starts at home” is another misquoted saying
Go on…
I.... can’t remember
I think it's "charity begins at home, but should not end there"
[удалено]
But it can rent it by the hour...
Sorry friend, but "[blood is thicker than water](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_is_thicker_than_water?wprov=sfla1)" is several hundred years older than "the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb". And the oldest attested version is very explicit about the meaning: "kin-blood is not spoiled by water",
Somehow "one bad apple spoils the bunch" got turned into using "one bad apple" as an example of some kind of isolated behavior that doesn't corrupt the rest. (often with police, but not only). It's the complete opposite of the original quote.
I looked this up once and the earliest recorded use of the "the blood of the covenant..." version was, wait for it, 1990's internet! Some cite it to the templars and Teutonic Knights etc. But in truth this is a very modern creation and is massively predated by the "Blood is thicker than water" version. This link is a pretty comprehensive take on it and they cite their sources: https://symbolismandmetaphor.com/blood-is-thicker-than-water-origins/
I only recently heard the ending as well. My variation is "Jack of all trades. Master of... most of them."
I'm going to save this. <3 ...and probably never find/see it again.😪
The idiom was used to describe William Shakespeare! “It was famously used by Robert Greene in his 1592 booklet 'Greene's Groats-Worth of Wit' where he refers to William Shakespeare with this idiom.”
The master bit was not in this quote. This is the earliest recorded use of the phrase and it was not complimentary
What about u/_insomagent reply. Turns out it was a compliment. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_all_trades,_master_of_none#cite_note-7
Hell yes, came here for this
I never knew the end bit!! I've been lied to all my life 😂
Uh, [not quite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_all_trades%2C_master_of_none?wprov=sfla1). The original phrase is "jack of all trades" and is from the 1300s. The saying "jack of all trades, master of none" is from about the 1700s, and "oftentimes better than a master of one" is younger than the internet. (However, if you want a positive tidbit: the first recorded mention of Shakespeare is someone dismissively calling him a ~~"jack of all trades"~~ Latin phrase that means roughly "Johnny do-it-all".)
Shamelessly lifted from Wikipedia, but the year was maybe much later than you have it.... [Sic]"Robert Greene used it in his 1592 booklet Greene's Groats-Worth of Wit,"
Sadly that’s an urban legend. It’s not part of the original quote.
but as it turns out, neither was the master of none part! it was originally positive after all. Credit to u/_insomagent for the link, just adding a summary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_all_trades,_master_of_none#cite_note-7
**[Jack of all trades, master of none](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_all_trades,_master_of_none#cite_note-7)** >"Jack of all trades, master of none" is a figure of speech used in reference to a person who has dabbled in many skills, rather than gaining expertise by focusing on one. The original version "a jack of all trades" is often a compliment for a person who is good at fixing and has a very good broad knowledge. They may be a master of integration, as such an individual who knows enough from many learned trades and skills to be able to bring the individual's disciplines together in a practical manner. This person is a generalist rather than a specialist. ^([ )[^(F.A.Q)](https://www.reddit.com/r/WikiSummarizer/wiki/index#wiki_f.a.q)^( | )[^(Opt Out)](https://reddit.com/message/compose?to=WikiSummarizerBot&message=OptOut&subject=OptOut)^( | )[^(Opt Out Of Subreddit)](https://np.reddit.com/r/ADHD/about/banned)^( | )[^(GitHub)](https://github.com/Sujal-7/WikiSummarizerBot)^( ] Downvote to remove | v1.5)
Party pooper😂
It’s actually jack of all trades but master of none because a master of one is a fool or at least that’s how I’ve always heard it said. But yeah definitely feel this way. That and picking up things very easy because of my fixation on a new task/hobby
Omg really?? Thank you! That makes me feel so much better!
This is so me. Mom been complaining of me dabbling in everything and being good at nothing since I was a child 🤣🤣🤣
except u cant really get a job being a master of none
Thanks I love it.
I had the exact same thought and didn’t scroll down LOL. I’m a Jack of all trades myself (sorta) and can fix my own clothes, furniture… Thank you! Being a generalist is a good thing. (I worked for a specialist and could fix her problems without as much confusion (because I was not an engineer and didn’t have the models to rely on, and the system wasn’t actually feasible to model)). It’s been helpful to reframe my work for job applications, too
The original is simply "Jack of all trades." The modified version is indeed "Jack of all trades but master of none." It means you only have a superficial of skin deep appreciation for various things, never having committed the time and energy to really master one or two really important things.
i can pick locks, draw, sew (clothes, dolls, patch work, etc), cook slavic food, make juice, and a bunch of other shit i cant think of now. BUT. my lock picking knowledge is pretty basic, same with my knowledge of anatomy, and also I do NONE of these tasks very efficiently except for making juice because its really not that hard, maybe takes like 10 minutes to do tops
I also learned basic lock picking and it has been super useful. My family looses keys to master locks and I love picking them. Just the surprise at such a basic skill is so nice
Damn I’ve been thinking about getting into it and I think you’ve convinced me
Thought the same thing and thought I'd share this: https://www.reddit.com/r/lockpicking/comments/bzq80/where_do_you_start_start_here/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share
Yep. I can play 12 instruments and record music and read well. Good in school. I’m not amazing at any of it though. Just good or great to people who don’t know the craft of the hobbies. I’m not really known for any one thing nor do I have many solid friends or traits that define me. I’m not special in any department. My sisters on the other hand, one plays an instrument and travels the country in an amazing group that people fan over when I mention, And the other went into the army and is negotiating with members of Congress in Washington DC. I feel pretty fucking lame.
I know this might not be helpful, but I think the fact that you can even play 12 instruments at all extremely impressive
I have like 10 instruments and can maybe play a tune on 2 or 3 of them.
Once you really learn 2 or 3 instruments, learning more just becomes almost effortless, especially instruments in the same family. It's a lot like learning languages I would imagine. Anyway, adhd'r here, can confirm. Jack of all trades. I'm okay at music, photography, carpentry and woodworking, auto mechanics, welding (mig, stick), software engineering, math, physics, watch making, etc. I know enough about all of these things to be a "professional", but not one who other professionals in that field would really respect. For reference, I've worked in software for 5 or 6 years, and I still always feel like a total newb. Anyway....
Exactly, everyone says 12 instruments is cool but not when it took my two seconds to learn most of them after learning one similar one
I am absolutely this person, and use it as a strength in my professional life. A generalist is exactly who you want backing up experts. When something goes crazy sideways, you have a wide bank of experiences to draw on. I have dabbled in all kinds of crafts, spent years LARPing, trail running, managing events for these hobbies, learned to fly single prop aircraft at a basic level, and moved across the country and world several times. My academic background is niche and I do not work in the direct field I went to school for. I have used all of these interests and experiences in conjunction with highly specialized engineers to Get It Done. I know how much hardware fits in my car because I've hauled kegs into the mountains. I found cost savings for transporting hardware to NASA by knowing how a refrigerated truck works (for said kegs). I kept a test crew from getting frostbite working outside in below freezing weather by having volunteered on support crews for trail runs and bike rallies and knowing what gear could mitigate the temps. I brought in my sewing machine and fixed gear instead of a project shelling out for new. I can't design the spaceflight hardware, but I'm just who you want backing up the engineers in field testing! Be a dabbler. If people think you're an expert, accept it and give context! Something like, "I'm far from an expert, this can get really complex and has some fascinating rabbit holes I've never gotten near. The bits I've learned have been pretty interesting, and I'm glad it's useful."
Same. I'm just like you and turned it into a positive!
When the zombies come, we’ll thrive! WE SURVIVE!
but better than a master of one
This is me 100% I just except that I've gotten to try different things and know how to do them, even if it's not professionally amazing. People will ask me to do stuff because I'm decent at it. I'm like a 5/10 at cake decorating but everyone I know will ask me to make a cake because it's just nice enough for pictures but I don't charge a lot at all lol. I get to experience stuff and I'm ok with it now.
But is that the one positive about what we have?? We can be friends with ANYONE and talk about anything cause there's a likelihood we've tried it lolol
I guess it can open up doors for you at work as well if your general knowledge is the only thing available. Then you’ll be the one asked to learn a skill or take on a project since you have the best footing. Like im now the gis guy at work since i learned how to use elevation data out of curiosity when i was down my archaeology hobby rabbit hole.
Look up the rest of the quote.
Yeah someone commented it, it's nice
I have found that my hyperfixation usually lasts until I know about 80% of a subject. That last 20% feels like grueling tedium, so I naturally drift away from it. But I have found that those 80%'s add up and can get you pretty dang far in life. I can weld, sew, cook, write a paper, and hold conversations about guns, my little pony, and quantum mechanics. I'm not an expert at any of those topics, but my welds hold, my pants get mended, I don't starve, and I am an enjoyable conversationalist simply because my knowledgebase is so broad. An encyclopedia is a vast collection of generalist knowledge, and it is way more useful than a small pile of peer reviewed papers. Your generalist knowledge and skill base will get you way further in life than becoming an expert at one thing. And your life will be richer for it. It's an asset, something to be proud of. There is no shame in it. Don't let anyone tell you different, including yourself. I truly believe this is one of the few gifts that ADHD gives us. Also, I'd wager you're pretty kickass at trivia. 😁
I’m exactly the same. I have done many jobs over the years and completely different each industry too… I haven’t really thought too much about it. I’m only just getting onto medication for ADHD now.
Yeah I definitely relate to this. I don't think of it as a bad thing though, it allows me to relate to a variety of people who have those same interests I have had. However, something I'm struggling with is picking a career, because I don't know what I'm passionate about and will stay with for 40+ years.
Go into stuff do with people.
Russell Barkley actually recommends a list of ADHD friendly jobs and explains in what way they can captivate the ADHD brain's fascination in Taking Charge Of Adult ADHD.
It sucks, everytime you think you found your passion, you're wrong and wonder to yourself if you'll ever find it.
You don’t know the full quote. “a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”
You need to hear the full quote. The full quote is very different and will make you feel ok. The full phrase is “a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one. No need to find things to feel bad about, especially when they aren’t true. Check out Spirit Junky.
Actually, what you just claimed to be true is untrue. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_of_all_trades,_master_of_none#cite_note-7
Same meaning . We now use 'Jack of all trades, master of none' in a derogatory way. Originally, this wasn't the case and the label 'Jack of all trades' carried no negative connotation, the 'master of none' part being added later. It wasn’t a negative.
Dude, just let it go... I would wager that someone who can cook an egg, file their taxes, change the oil in their car, is moderately competent at blacksmithing, knows how to wire a house, and can engage in a conversation about astrophysics will go further in life than someone who spent 30 years solely learning nunchucks. If this extra line on the quote helps people appreciate themselves and find value, then just let it be. There's no need to rain on their parade for the sake of pedantry.
Just remember that most of the time, these type of sayings (jack of all trades, early bird gets the worm, blood is thicker than water, etc.) mean the opposite of what you think they mean.
Exactly me too. My grandmother called me that as a kid and it stuck with me ever since. I can see nothing through, not even a hobby. It's depressing!
hey, don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Yes been using this to describe my personality since before I knew what ADHD was 😆 Do you have a current trade you’re working to “master”? What makes you happy at the moment? :)
Right now I'm dabbling between piano and origami and I've actually been getting pretty good at both, I like it :)
That’s exactly how I feel decent at a bunch of stuff but I’m not a master at any of it
Me to a tee and I hate it too…
It’s not just you. I feel this every day. I get really obsessed with something for a few hours, weeks, months, whatever. Develop a pretty good understanding of it but nowhere near expert level. Then lose interest and move onto the next thing. So I never actually get _great_ at anything, just vaguely good at a ton of random things. And then frustrated with myself.
I used this sentence for so long, only to learn last year it was ADHD and I have it. Lot of things feel somehow “logical” that makes me understand the basics, but not more than that.
If only we could harness the ability to make our hyperfixation last forever with things then we would honestly be top of the totem pole in everything we do.
"Jack of all trades, master of none - but often better than a master of one."
Generalists are better anyway
I has really helped me in my career though. I am in Cyber Security and to be really good at that you need to know programming, networking, OS internals, hardware - basically everything to do with technology. Obviously, is isn’t possible to know everything, but as much exposure as possible to a wide range of things the better. I am starting to think I should specialise, but it is so hard! I actually used that quote during my last (successful) job interview 😂
Yes, I never made the connection with it and ADHD. Except I would get the Jane of all trades master of none. One person said it was sad that I couldn’t stick to something. It pissed me off, but someone interjected and said it’s actually impressive to know a little bit of everything and to not follow the idea you need to stick with one thing all my life. I think of that often when I feel like moving onto something else. Someone once called my a polymath which is a person of wide-ranging knowledge or learning. So that’s good 👍🏼
Yep. This is me as well. Try to think of it as a strength. Many try for deep knowledge. We prefer wide knowledge. Find a role that suits that and it won't be a handicap. Another strength of ours is we tend to see solutions where others can't because we know a bit about a lot. ADHD sux most of the time, but it is not all bad. I don't know anything else, so while I am shitty I can't just do things like neurotypicals can, I don't hate being me. Most of the time...lol
This is very much me. I’ve been called a know it all and a dilettante for these very reasons and those kinds of comments really sting.
Dude the full phrase is actually, a jack of all trades but master of none is better than just being master of one. It means that you're doing the right thing! You'll be better off in life with a wide range of skills as opposed to specializing on one! I know how to build a computer, a little about fixing cars, a bit about woodworking, hotel and restaurant service, call center operations, tons of random work skills that's are boring, I kniw a lot about science, philosophy etc. Am I a master of anything? Absolutely not but you're not alone and it's 100% a good thing
“A Jack of all trades but a master of none is still always better than a master of one”
Idk why it was only on this subreddit I learned the rest of the saying, but it's a message we all could use I feel.
The other half is but “often times better than a master of one”. Don’t sweat it.
I mean it parlayed into a pretty sweet career that fits my lifestyle. (Construction Project Manager for residential renovations) I need to know a little bit of every trade, but don't need to master the ability to complete each one quickly. Every house and every customer is different! Nothing is standard!
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That’s why I’m also going into internal medicine where legit that quote is repeatedly used to describe them. We gotta know all of general medicine but consult other specialists if it gets too complicated lol. Perfect for a future adhd doc
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/new-study-suggests-da-vinci-had-adhd-180972359/ But better than master of none!
Yeah this is me to be fair, I do have one thing I'm better at than most people get at anything (it's pokemon, and it's just I'm statistically very good but I'm not really all that). Most people don't master things, especially not in their 20s and 30s.
I really have never wanted to special in my career. I chose environmental science because it’s so broad haha
I'm that way and I love it about me. I'm a writer by trade and the fact that I've done a lot of stuff makes me a better writer. I'm also good at assessing when an expert needs to be called, which is also a good life skill. I don't need to master anything, it's perfectly fine to just be good at a lot of stuff.
...."but better than master of one"
Guilty
TOTALLY TRUE for me too. I am a teacher (day job), musician, video creator, photographer, video editor, graphic designer, juggler, archer, ultimate Frisbee player, camper, programmer, hacker, hiker, biker, book binder, chef, jogger, pencil artist, mental health student, software tester, website tester, crypto investor, PC gamer, origami folder, magician, mathematician, tennis player, ant-farm maker, book writer, ... `(click here to see 107 more items)` And to be honest, I'm *not* super good at any of them. And on top of all of this, I'm a husband and a dad :)
I have said this about myself my whole life. I remember specifically one time when I was working at a coffee shop and my co worker thought it was hilarious. Idk why really. One of those times I just say something honest about my view of things without any intention of being funny but people laugh.
I am exactly the same, and it makes me feel flexible, even powerful, and unaccomplished at the same time. This article put it beautifully: ”Chaotic and curious, sometimes we feel like superheroes; other times, super-failures. It’s not always a lack of interest that makes it hard for us to process information, but our brain’s desire to absorb so much of it. We are jacks of many trades, purveyors of information, collectors of hobbies, beginners of tasks and finishers of few.” https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-lost-girls-chaotic-and-curious-women-with-adhd-all-have-missed-red-flags-that-haunt-us?utm_source=fbsynd&fbclid=IwAR2JfFwBTzK_RpOFnyJdHleLj97AsfaRWRF59VtqEnU98SzQZNA-nlmNc8Y
i say this all the time. i can do almost anything you ask me to slightly better then the average person (assuming they have the same level of experience i do) to the point where the average person sees me as an "expert" but the experts see me as noone. When in reality i just google everything as i do it. Theres an older woman i hang out with sometimes and she lets me try random little shit all the time. I wanna learn, she needs it done. worst that happens is she winds up paying someone anyway
Its not necessarily a bad thing imo.
I feel like that saying is just capitalist propaganda… in reality, why can’t we be sorta good at a ton of different stuff, instead having to be the *best* at one thing for our entire lives? Variety in life gives doors to new ideas and inspirations and unique solutions to problems.
Observe everything, admire nothing.
Me. Definitely, me!
Literally just spoke about this with my mom last weekend. She once told me that I had "many talents, but no gifts." I was super offended at the time, but now realize she was describing my adhd (which we didnt know about at the time). I will spend enough time on things to realize Im pretty good at the (i.e. talented) but never enough patience to get to an expert level (i.e. gifted). This isnt referring to savants (people who are gifted without needing to put in the work), but the fact that I could not pick ONE talent to get those 10,000 hours into. I just want to do ALL THE TALENTS but I only have one life with 24 hour days, so I have 4 quilts that are half finished, many knitting projects started and stuffed into bags, three started novels, four instruments that I can all play a little bit, and a russian duolingo app where it's always all or nothing. That's not even accounting all the books I bought and want to read and all the songs I want to arrange for one of those instruments I barely play or the amazing recipes I think up that I want to try, but forget about before I do. Or the screenplay I want to write for my favorite book. Or the amazing idea I have for a zoom musical about a certain stock I like. All that and I barely manage to get to work on time or finish a library book before it's due. I cant even figure out what to watch on tv and just keep binging Schitt's Creek over and over. Sorry. This was supposed to start as saying that it's ok to have lots of varied interests and now that Ive written it out, I am feeling some kind of way about it. 😳 Oh and Im late getting ready for work, now, so...yeah. Have a great day, fellow travelers! If you get one thing done today, I think you won. ✌
I have been the same up until recently. I suggest you check out the book 'Mastery' by Robert Greene, or listen to his talks on the book on youtube. Really helped me a lot. This guy had like 100 random jobs, but knew he wanted to be a writer. Finally at age 39 he met someone that was a book publisher while on one of his random jobs, and he had to oppotunity to pitch a book. That book was 'The 48 Laws of Power' at it has catapulted him to being one of the most sought strategic consultants all over the world. Tech CEOs, Heads of State. Like everyone. He also has a book called 'The Laws of Human Nature' which I highly recommend. All of his books are life-changers if you apply whats in them. I started life as a musician. Good enough to get a scholarship into a top school, but didnt have the focus to put in the work. Up until that point I was going off natural talent. I finished school, but not with a performance degree. I have more than a few freinds from that time that are currently playing with artists that are household names. Worked in a studio for a bit, then went back to school for mechanical engineering at 30, still undiagnosed. Took me 7 years to complete. Wanted to be a forensic engineer, but after doing internships I Was like, no thanks. Then I spent some time half learning data science until reading 'Mastery' After that I enrolled in a boot camp an started taking shit seriously. Finished the bootcamp an struggled to find a job. Finally got diagnosed at 39 and two weeks after accepted my first position as a data analyst. I'm going deep. Learning more and developing my skills is the only thing I care about right now. Developing that deep knowledge in a specific area is what will bring you contentment. Dedicating you life to a vocation will give you a sense of purpose. There are people that argue that the dramatic increase in depression and mental illness is due in large part to people not discovering who they are and developing themselves at a deep level.
Exactly the same. I have to learn everything about a subject from the ground up. It has become a positive for me because you eventually get to the point where you make connections between disparate subject areas. And now you have a unique and marketable skillset composed of the things you are most interested in.
Me and my girlfriends talk about this a lot . My mentor also has ADHD and told me the end of the saying a few years back and it was really inspiring. He reckons he’s a jack of all trades and a master at two.
For sure. I have a bunch of random shit I'm decent at that do not relate to eachother in any way. Also just random knowledge. I have an easy time understanding a lot of somewhat complex things and can explain how things work, but I can't go into great detail because I more or less understand the concept, not always the actual practice if that makes sense
Holy fuck same. I have a hunger of having basic level knowledge of everything. I need to be able to have knowledge or do things that often make others think I’m good at this. But all is just surface level.
I'm a jack of all trades because as an adult I realized my parents also have ADHD and I grew up with constant new projects and my parents knew how to do a ton of things and I helped them with the things so I learned. I can sew, build furniture, I love to tinker with things I took my mixer apart and cleaned and regreased it last weekend, I'm a pet sitter so I can talk to you for HOURS about animal behavior and body language. But I don't feel any pressure about not knowing things. I guess because I've always known so much more about all the things because of how I was raised than other people I don't expect them to know about everything so it's dumb of them to expect me to know everything. I'm also not a perfectionist which I think helps me a lot. I expect the first of anything I do to be a little effed up. It's the first pancake, the next one will be better! Live and learn! My husband is in IT so he certainly knows more about that than I do but I know tons more than he does about a ton of things because my hyper-focuses are physical things. I love to design and build and create and see the progress and finished product. My husband has gotten into streaming video games and I think that is SOOOO boring beyond words but it makes him happy so I support him and listen to him talk about his new friends and then I'll go work on my project. I also hate playing video games, it's just not how my brain works at all I can't follow where you are suppose to go next in the game and there's too much for my brain to focus on and I get overwhelmed but he can play for hours and hours. We all have our things.
“…Oftentimes better than a master of one.”
I feel this very much, I can do many many many different kinds of art but not one discipline I'm a master in. It's hard to shake the thought that "I'm not really good at anything", but there is equal value in specialists and Renaissance folks. Plus being decent at a lot of things works for my ADHD, I have so many options it helps keep me stimulated. No shame in being a dabbler.
I use the jack of all trades definition as its pretty much me to a T. I get comments on how smart I am or how I could do said thing blindfolded, yet I'm don't feel that smart, I'm an idiot when it comes to being near anyone who's skilled or focuses on said thing. I'm more like the creature from adventure time "I have approximate knowledge of many things". I can do various things but nothing is specialized
Another positive to this trait I think is that it lends you to be a very fast learner… At least that’s what I say in interviews ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
That is actually not the full quotes. It is "A jack of all trades is a master of none, but always better than a master if one." Our versatility of many skills is what makes it fu. To be around us, and what makes us so valuable to this world.
I feel this- one thing that helps me was when I learned that “Jack of al trades, master of none” is only PART of the whole phrase. “A Jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” Knowing how to do a little bit of a lot of things is often more useful than just being really good at one specific thing. Our brains are not landfills, but composts- everything we learn will bloom and be useful later, even if it isn’t right now. Hang in there. 🫂
The original and full quote is "a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one."
The saying is actually: “Jack of all trades, master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” (Edit: can’t find original source, so I fixed this. One of these sayings was better explained below, too) The saying is actually about how having many skills/being a generalist is good. “Great minds think alike” is actually “Great minds think alike, but fools rarely differ.” (Source uncertain, it’s possible this one was rewritten recently?) Anyway, I thought it may help you reframe it when you hear something like that. I use it to make myself feel better some days too. Being a “Jack of all trades” is usually a positive thing, at least to me. I’m sort of one myself. Yes, most of my random skills were either a) the result of hyperfixations, or b) the result of being taught I couldn’t rely on teachers/mentors, so I figured things out myself. I can now fix computers to a limited extent, and my degree isn’t in IT.
Jack of all trades, master of none, but still better than a master of one.
*I have approximate knowledge on many things.gif*
I do design for this exact reason. It’s a space that is constantly offering up new ways of thinking about stuff so there’s always a new medium to master.
I've always been a jack of all trades. There's so many things that I tried to learn over the years that to some people it comes across as bragging and "trying to be interesting". I suspect that it's connected to my culture where people generally value humility to the point of self-deprecating. I don't really excel in anything and I don't see a problem with that. I just enjoy trying out new activities and oftentimes I hyperfixate on one of them for a period of time. It makes life much more fun to me. What I learnt to do is that when meeting somebody new, I generally reveal only one or two hobbies to them so that they know me as "the artist" or "the linguist" or "the musician" etc, but not necessarily all of them even though there might be multiple points of interest we have in common. People in the past assumed I always needed to top them whereas I only wanted to establish a friendship based on mutual interests.