Jack of all trades
Have you ever been called a “Jack of all trades,” or know someone who has? It may be that Uncle who can “fix anything,” or that athlete like Michael Jordan, who can excel at more than one sport (Basketball/Baseball). I’ve often been called a “Jack of all trades” because I write songs, scripts, poetry, lyrics, and dabble in bass guitar. I am also a visual artist. TPP team members Greg and Tony are multi-instrument musicians, composers, vocalists, arrangers, songwriters, producers, and engineers..
"Jack of all trades” is a figure of speech used in reference to a person who has dabbled in many skillsets. They don’t just focus on one thing. That within itself can be looked upon as a compliment or an advantage. They are seen as valuable, multi-talented, multi-skilled, and have a lot to offer.
The entire phrase “A Jack of all trades and a master of none” is not so complimentary. “Master of none” implies the person can do multiple things, but is not good at any one thing. It’s intimated they spread themselves too thin, are not focused, or are just “all over the place.” It is often thought they start things but never finish them.
Well, I guess someone has to tell Stevie Wonder he has to stop playing drums. They should have told Prince he had to put down that bass and not play basketball, Michael Jackson he had to stop dancing and drawing, or H.E.R. she can’t play that guitar, bass AND piano. Can you imagine someone saying to Jay Z, “Come on Jay, are you a rapper or a billionaire business man, make up your mind man!”
Get my point? If God blessed you with more than one gift and talent or you have multiple interests, then go for it, do you! Sometimes only one of those things will move to the forefront and you become an expert at that one thing. Sometimes, it takes multiple things to accomplish what you need to accomplish. For example, I write my own songs for my plays and movie scripts, what’s wrong with that? Never be afraid to take risks and try new things. Never be afraid to fail, that just tells you that you either have to work harder or you’ve just discovered it’s not for you. Never give up on your dream, sometimes folks closest to you don’t get it, that’s because it’s not for them to get….after all, God gave it to you right?. It’s your dream.
Interesting fact:
Leonard Nimoy, better known as Dr. Spock of Star Trek fame was a serious photographer. He studied art at UCLA in the 1970s and later became an “artist in residence” in Rome. He has published photography books and his work shows in many venues like The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston and the LA County Museum of Art. He’s a Jack!
Embrace your multicentricity…We have!
