The misquote of “Master of none”
“Jack of all trades, master of none”
A quote that has been around for ages used to describe someone who touches on many different skills but never truly masters one.
This quote was very apparent whilst I was starting my entrepreneurial journey. After seeing it multiple times I originally thought the quote was encouraging. To me it meant someone who was tackling all different fields, being diverse and innovative, and being good at a lot of things in order to expand a portfolio.
But now I have new feelings regarding this quote. At the turn of 2023 I decided it was time to read the Bible. Not just read the verse of the day and be done - but actually get into the word. So since Jan 1, 2023 I have read 5 pages a day in order to finish it cover to cover by the end of the year.
If I can sidebar for a moment - It is not easy to devote even 20 minutes to reading the word and taking notes. Theoretically this should be a simple task but there has already been two days where I just wanted to blow it off, watch Netflix, and think about it tomorrow. So far I have stayed the course and it has been beneficial - not only in getting closer to God, but also in building discipline and remaining steadfast in something I committed to.
Okay back to the quote - you are probably wondering where I am going with this. In my devotional and time reading the word it became quite clear that this quote should not be a way of life or a part of an entrepreneurs journey. I believe each and every one of us was given a gift - for some it is communication and for others it is expressing themselves through art or music. Whatever your gift is and regardless if you believe the way I do - God giving us this gift in order to glorify his kingdom - you have this talent and it should be your one thing instead of adding it to your repertoire of your next thing.
Don’t let the quote fool you. Being a jack of all trades but the master of none really isn’t pushing you further or adding to your impact or legacy of your time here. Time is precious and it is fleeting. To neglect your gift in order to accomplish as much as possible truly just spreads things too thin. Think of it this way - if a MD decided that the schooling was too time consuming and wanted to diversify by cutting med school in half and focusing on obtaining a real estate license and learn how to screen print - you may not be as confident in them as your primary physician. The reason is because they took their gift and decided not to master it, but instead become a jack of all trades.
My point to expounding on this quote is to express to whoever reads this and to myself that getting really good at one thing. Your gift. This is the clearest path to glorifying God in your work and the clearest path to leaving behind a legacy after we are all gone. I get life looks different for everyone and a lot of times the shoe doesn’t fit everyone. But I do know that each person sucking air on the earth has a gift and I am confident in saying that it would be criminal not to master it.
Be great peeps - this week I am challenging myself to use my gift to bring someone else up - I challenge you too.