05.11.07
Jack of all trade vs specialization
Here’s something to ponder over the weekend.
As most of you already know, I went through a period of self doubt and questioning while my dancing reached its peak. The dilemna that faced was whether or not to pursue that path with everything I got. I had reached a skill level where to go on means I have to dedicate my whole life and any money I earn into dancing, otherwise there’d be no point to continue. The plane cost of plane tickets to other countries and lessons from world class instructors will cost a fortune.
It is in that situation when I asked myself if specializing in one field is the answer to a great life? The conclusion I reached is a No. Being human means that we are able to process and perform several tasks at the same time. we do that on a daily basis. That is, genetically speaking. When you tunnel and think only about improving one aspect of life, you forget about the other, ignoring the fact that other parts of life will contribute to the improvements as well.
How so? You ask? It’s all in the point of view. When you are focused in overcoming one thing and one thing only, its importance became overblown. Sometimes magnified to be greater than other important part of life. People who are in this situation cannot realize it themselves because they don’t have an outside objective view, or rather, an outside objective view does not exist in the world for them. The possibility is simply not there.
Yes possibility. That’s what it comes down to. When you generalize and know a bit more of the different areas of life, you began to see different possibilities and are better equipped the social skill to mingle and meet the right people, will forever be subject to the whims of “getting discovered” by someone who knows art. But when you have the right social skill to meet the right person and are able to orchestrate an accidental showing of your art while inviting the person to your place, you have a better chance.
“YOU ARE NOT THE CAR YOU DRIVE. YOU ARE NOT THE HOUSE YOU OWN. YOU ARE NOT THE PAINTING YOU PAINTED. YOU ARE NOT YOUR FUCKING BANK ACCOUNT.” You are the decision which made the choice.
From a society point of view, you can see that it is also how human innovate most of the time. A lot of the time, the next piece of gadget is just the same gadget with certain functionality added that somehow improved its usefulness by more than double in a different domain. That’s because the person who thought of adding the function, sees the old gadget and a new way of using it. Is it copying? Yes. Is it innovation? Yes.
Robbeh said,
May 12, 2007 at 7:44 am
Economic: Specialization.
Fulfilling: Diversity.
This is a very good question. See economics dictates that every single country has some sough of comparative advantage (at least in a two sector model) where no matter how effective you, Nation 1, are at producing something, the opportunity cost (that is – the chance to produce something else) is still there. So while you may be effective at producing one thing, you aren’t good at producing something else. Which is where Nation 2 steps in. They have the comparative advantage of producing a good which you, Nation 1, can’t. So to maximize production, we agree on terms to trade, and engage in specialization – resulting in economies of scale and leading to greater production.
Of course, that’s all theory and economics (read: cold capitalist heart, unable to beat and thaw).
Secondly, fulfilling. What do I mean? Well, lets say you’re really good at one thing. For example, you are a mermaid/merman and you’re a fantastic swimmer — what’s that Disney flick again? bah! Anyway, you swim very fast, but you can only achieve that. But because the human heart desires what the human heart cannot obtain (at least – in part), then as a mermaid/man, you’ll want to walk — what’s that duaaaarn Disney flick!?
Anyway, the point is, to fulfill human desires, we need a variety of experiences. Or else there is no point in achieving anything. To be human is to be fundamentally diverse. No two artists paints the same picture no matter how skilled they are. Just the same way that no two runners will run in the same path because the footprints they leave behind will always be different. Yes to be human is to be diverse. Or else we’re just programmed machines.
There have always been people with wonderful talents, and they have exploited that to their great advantage. They have become world renowned for their field of brilliance. But whatever happens, that flame will burn out. Sportsmen will want a break, skilled workers will want a vacation, actresses will want to quit (Keira Knightley!)
I was tempted to compare this to a computer game where everything is much more simplified. That players who specialize their characters often be regarded as powerful, strong, etc – but whether they enjoy mindlessly beating computer bytes for hours and hours is fulfilling. I ’spose for the sake of vainglory it is.
I’ve typed quite enough. Just some theory thoughts.
Jeff said,
May 13, 2007 at 8:27 pm
The only line I don’t agree with is “you are not the painting you painted”.
Whereas all the other points relate to material possessions (money, cars, house), a painting is an expression of yourself. Material possessions are how society defines us — which is to say, superficially — but art is how we define ourselves, deep from inside.
Causalien said,
May 13, 2007 at 11:53 pm
Robbeh: You seem to got the jist of it. I keep on wondering what triggered this sudden outburst of philosophical essay. But you brought up something I didn’t look at before. Specialization can take on another path, that of the efficiency.
Jeff: It’s true from that point of view. I added that in to emphasis that something as unique as a painting is not you either. To bring out the emphasis on the decision to improve and paint. The painting itself is a vehicle for others to see this decision, a representation of your mind at the moment of painting. It served only as a message.
Robbeh said,
May 14, 2007 at 4:10 am
It’s all theory though.
Most of that long post is digression, hehe – and it just occurred to me I’m calling a mermaid/merman human, I suppose they are in part (half fish half man) — but still.. god, I’m going to have to dig that movie up.
Be right back.
AHA! The Little Mermaid (1998) with Ariel!
» Personal Development Blog Carnival - May 20th, 2007 Edition > SelfHelpWisdom.com - A Blog Dedicated to Self Improvement and Personal Growth Topics by Paul Piotrowski said,
May 20, 2007 at 2:39 pm
[...] In his article Jack of all trade vs specialization posted at Ultracrepidate Causalien discusses the issue of being a specialist and in his own words realizes that “It is in that situation when I asked myself if specializing in one field is the answer to a great life? The conclusion I reached is a No.” Considering the fact that I’m a “Jack of All Trades” myself, I like this article. [...]
thesim said,
June 30, 2007 at 2:16 pm
It is possible to be a jack of all trades and specializes in one field as well?
Causalien said,
July 4, 2007 at 7:40 pm
@ thesim: You can do that. Have a bigger focus in one field while keeping tap on the rest. The determining factor here is time. We all have the same amount of time. While you specialize in a skill, another would be improving in building the network of people in that group. You can reach the top by being extremely good, or extremely popular, or even, not reach the top at all. It’s up to you and the first step is in a decision.
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February 13, 2008 at 4:56 pm
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ericei said,
March 1, 2009 at 12:13 am
@Jeff
in you are not the painting yourself maybe he is speaking literally or in another point of view.
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