Really enjoyed this Black on the Air podcast with Larry Wilmore speaking to David Epstein, a sports journalist, about his new book Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. In studying “the world’s most successful athletes, artists, musicians, inventors, forecasters, and scientists”, he believes that these people “succeed not despite the fact but because they find their way to that particular field after pursuing other endeavors first.” https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2019/05/david-epstein-range/590704/
Basically, he debunks Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hours’ and single-focus rule for success/mastery.
How I heard about this book was through my son in a marketing session. I spoke about a long-held belief that I was a jack of all trades and master of none and expounded on judgement of and frustration with myself in thinking this was not good, something was wrong with me and that I would not attain fulfillment and success. I mentioned my negative views completely changed 7 years ago after receiving a note from a successful businessman who attended a party in my home thanking me and citing the wonderful creative balls that I juggle. As the party was super, for starters, he referenced my interior design, plethora of art, and piano improvisation. I forever bless him for letting me know he was inspired and for being so aesthetically attuned.
My son smiled and responded, asking me if I was aware that the “jack of all trades” quote that is promoted is incomplete, and that there is a final sentence which corroborates what Epstein writes in his book. All these years I had no idea! Here it is: “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.”