The Jack of All Trades—and Master of None
I discovered the hard way why you should focus your efforts and not spread yourself, even if you know how to do a lot of things.
Now I’m not saying I can do anything, but thanks to my course in college, I learned how to use programs like Photoshop, Flash, and Maya. After graduation I also rediscovered my passion for writing. So initially I was involved in writing, graphic design, and computer modeling.
Then, about two months later, I realized maintaining such a diverse skill set was limiting my improvement. We all know that practice makes perfect, and by doing three different things, I simply wasn’t giving the time nor focus each skill needed to grow. To use an example, 12 hours devoted to one proficiency becomes 4 hours for three. The job still gets done, but the lack of general focus hampers the learning process.
So as a freelancer, I decided to stop making computer models. It wasn’t a hard choice. Creating 3D representations of complex objects can be time-consuming, and I honestly found it frustrating, spending the whole day just to see if my idea would work. And even though I spent four years learning it, I was actually least passionate about computer animation.
Remaining a writer and graphic designer came naturally. These two skills are actually complimentary. I’m sometimes asked to write the copy for advertisements, aside from designing them. And since I write daily for three blogs, I’m sure that my writing “muscle” gets exercised. Even if I still have to divide my time between two skills, I’m in a situation where both of them enjoy the time and focus vital for improvement.
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POSTED IN: Great Advice, Living as a Freelancer
7 opinions for The Jack of All Trades—and Master of None
Contract Worker - Keeping Track of Your Many Projects
Dec 6, 2006 at 10:52 am
[…] Now before you accuse me of contradicting myself, allow some clarification. Even if you concentrate on one or few disciplines, that doesn’t mean you’ll be dealing with one project at a time. Many undertakings don’t take one sitting to finish, especially if you have to wait for more input or resources from a client. Naturally, you’d move on to another project, coming back later when you can. […]
Contract Worker - What Contract Worker Considers “Freelancing”
Jan 29, 2007 at 4:43 am
[…] This blog is about freelancing. We already know where the word came from, but there are differing opinions of what it means. Strictly speaking, a freelancer’s involvement with a company is only for one specific job. Neither full- nor part-time. But, for the purposes of this blog, even part-time commitments fall under the scope of freelancing. In fact, I’ve decided to consider freelancing in its most general sense. Which is basically not being tied down to a single job. In fact, many of the most lucrative freelancing oppurtunities don’t end on the “first date.” That doesn’t necessarily mean spreading yourself too thin (the jack of all trades is the master of none). It’s still possible to work for different clients/employers, but practice only one craft. In fact, if done properly, constantly practicing a skills means you’re concentrating on it. Practice always makes perfect, and within the limits of human stamina and physical possibility, working too much was never bad. That is the beauty of Contract Work: not limiting yourself to a single obligation comes with lots of advantages. Like building a network of contacts, since you get to interact with different kinds of people. Or Enjoying more oppurtunities to hone your abilities. And, of course, the chance to earn more money within the same amount of time. There is of course the danger of not giving each project the attention it deserves, but a person who has mastered the fine art of time management will have no problem. […]
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Feb 22, 2007 at 5:48 pm
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Jun 6, 2007 at 8:01 am
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[…] wrote it two years ago, and I think it’s still true: you can’t be the master of everything. Still, if you find yourself struggling to find a balance between writing, design, photography, […]
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