You’ve probably heard the phrase:

“Jack of all trades, master of none.”

Usually said with a shrug. Or a sigh.
Translation: Pick something and stick to it already.

But the story is more interesting than that.

Where the phrase came from

Originally, “jack of all trades” was a compliment.

Jack was the neighbor everyone called.
Roof leaking? Jack.
Gate broken? Jack.
Stovetop acting like it has personal issues? Also Jack.

He showed up with a few tools and a “let’s see what we can do.”
He wasn’t trying to be legendary. He was just trying to be useful.

Then came the Industrial Revolution.

Factories.
Assembly lines.
Job titles that barely fit on business cards.

Specialists ruled the world. Adaptability slid to the back row.
And the phrase tilted from compliment to side-eye.

Much later, someone added the missing line:

“Still better than a master of one.”

And you can almost hear the mic drop… followed by slow clapping.

Q: So which matters more, mastery or building range?
A: Yes.

Mission Impossible
and the everyday generalist

Think Ethan Hunt from Mission Impossible.

He fights. He climbs. He dives.
He negotiates under pressure.
He drives a motorcycle up actual stairs like that’s normal human behavior.

He knows just enough hacking to look confident while someone else actually does the hacking.

He’s not the world’s #1 expert in every category.
He’s competent in many, and smart enough to call a specialist when he needs one.

That’s the key.

A real jack of all trades doesn’t try to replace experts.
They work with experts.
They see how puzzle pieces fit.
They hold the bigger mission, not just the single task in front of them.

They’re the person who says:

• “We need her perspective in this room.”

• “Let’s ask someone who does this every day.”

That’s a skill in itself.

The deeper layer:
this is about more than jobs

Here’s where the phrase gets personal.

Being a “jack of all trades” isn’t only about skills.
It’s also about how you move through the world.

It can look like:

• flexible thinking

• curiosity about cultures beyond your own

• asking questions instead of building a defense

• holding more than one perspective at the same time
  

Why does that matter?

Because most conflict doesn’t come from lack of information.
It comes from rigid seeing.

“This is the only right way.”
“This is the only story that explains this.”
“This is the only kind of success that counts.”

That kind of thinking shrinks the room.
But range opens the room again.

Range sounds like:

“Maybe I don’t know the whole story yet.”
“Maybe their experience teaches something mine can’t.”
“Maybe two different things can be true at once.”

And that is a different kind of mastery.

So what do we actually need?

Here’s where we land.

We need masters of one. Yes.

We are grateful for surgeons, pilots, and electrical engineers. We are all invested in that working well.

And we all need generalists.

The curious tinkerers, the D.I.Y.ers, the passionate hobbiests, and constant learners. These are the people who keep the world moving forward.

So if you feel “late” because you’re still trying things?

You’re not late. You’re building range.

You’re gathering stories, friendships, and skills that will connect in ways you can’t see yet.

Jack would be proud.

THINK ABOUT IT

Prompts for reflection or journaling:

1. When have I hidden or downplayed one of my interests because I thought it didn’t “fit” the version of me people expect?
   

2. If someone followed me around for a week, what patterns of strength would they notice that a résumé would miss?
   

3. Where am I clinging to perfection in one area when a “good enough” version would free me to explore something new?
   

4. Think of one past job, hobby, or season that felt random at the time. How has it actually helped me in ways I didn’t expect?
   

5. If I gave myself permission to be “a mix” instead of “one clear thing,” what small experiment would I try in the next month?
   
   

TALK ABOUT IT

Conversation starters for dinner, a walk, or a group:

1. What is one “random” skill or experience you have that people would never guess, and how has it actually helped you?
   

2. Have you ever been told you were “too scattered” or “doing too much”? How did that land, and were they right or missing something?
   

3. Think of a time you had to figure something out without being the expert. What did that situation teach you about yourself?
   

4. Who is someone you know who holds many roles or talents? What do they add to a room that a single-focus person might not?
   

5. If you could press pause on expectations for a year, what new interest, class, or direction would you want to explore?
   

AFFIRMATION

From us: Your range is a gift. The way you explore, connect, and keep learning adds real value to the world around you.

Repeat with us: I am capable, curious, and growing in many directions. My range enriches my life and the lives of others.