Sugar Words

Humans love boxes. Our houses are shaped like one. The walls of perspectives confine our minds. Most importantly, our occupation and skills should necessarily fit in a box that can be given a predefined label. We all have grown up listening to the phrase “Jack of all, Master of none.” This phrase was coined in the 14th century, but back then, “Jack of all” was used to praise a person who had acquired skills in different subjects. During the industrialization in the 17th century, the latter part of the phrase was added. Then, the meaning took a somersault and broke its spine. So, now the phrase walks around in our conversations with a crooked emphasis on the remnant “Master of none.”

Every time a child dreams about what he or she will grow up to be, they will list everything that catches their fancy. Be it a doctor, a ballet dancer, a painter, you name it, and they would have lived that life in their dreams. That intuitively makes it clear that we all are not born with the love of boxes genetically ingrained in us. Instead, we grow up to believe that we love boxes, but do we? We dedicate our entire lives to mastering a single thing while we push away every other passion and hobby in the process. In a world where the prediction of when something would become obsolete comes before the take-off, “Jack of all” sounds like the best deal available.

“Jack of all, master of none” was given a negative connotation following the era of industrialization, tacitly stating that repetitive tasks make a person a specialist in it, and that’s the only way to earn big. Fast forward four centuries, and we are still stuck on the same notion. The negative connotation attached to the phrase has no ground on which it stood once. The business world has changed, and so has the attitude of people towards their work and passion. So many people have dabbled in their careers and decently succeeded in most of their endeavors. After all, you cannot have an all-rounder if he/she focuses on only one subject.

Juggling different subjects and hobbies can broaden the experience and horizons of one’s mind. In turn, creating a conducive state of mind for innovation and creativity to foster. Out-of-the-box ideas do not come automatically when the ideal belief is to fit in the box. Moreover, the people who diversify and try out multiple fields have increased life satisfaction as the aspect of monotony is removed to an extent. Thus, having a positive impact on work productivity. 

Exploring multiple disciplines translates into connecting with people having different perspectives, which provides a holistic view of the world.

Additionally, it also makes individuals more empathetic towards others as it affords a sense of the range of human conditions and appreciation of human accomplishments in multiple spheres.

 According to research conducted by the University of Houston, later published in Business Insider claimed, successful entrepreneurs are more generalists than specialists. Dispelling the myth that only specialists have deep pockets. If we take examples of family-owned businesses, one is Reliance which has been unwaveringly diversifying and trying new arenas, making Mr. Mukesh Ambani, the sixth richest in the world. Then there is Dabur which has kept itself confined to limited sectors, and maybe that explains the less popularity of the Burman family. 

The same stands true for individuals. One of the best captains that India had– M. S. Dhoni, who gave the helicopter shot to the world of cricket, is one of the best wicketkeepers and can also swing his hand, giving a tough time to the batsmen. Then there was Rabindranath Tagore, who was a poet, novelist, painter, musician, and playwright; along with winning the Nobel Prize for Literature, he also earned the respect and love of many. From the very beginning, polymaths like Leonardo Da Vinci, Aristotle, Friedrich Hayek, etc. have managed to make a difference in society and leave their mark on the world.

The 2017 World Happiness Index stated that work-life balance is one of the strongest predictors of happiness. Agency Kelly Services surveyed 120,000 respondents globally and found that almost half of the world’s employed population is unhappy or dissatisfied. The primary reason cited was the lack of work-life balance. When career obligations and personal aspirations are not aligned is when the problem of work-life balance steps in. But when the source of income spans different areas, it brings curiosity and enjoyment, and the upshot is balance in life as the two demands collide. Furthermore, not putting all your eggs in one basket makes you the master of maintaining financial stability. Losing one source of income will take away only a single piece of your earnings from you, not the whole cake.

 The proponents of specialization will say that with divided attention, one won’t be able to succeed in any of the fields. Indicating that the “Jack of all” cannot dive into the depths of any subject. Whereas the “Master of one” can swim only in one subject, unlike generalists who have trained themselves for all kinds of water. The person who keeps the courage to try out new things with a given that they might have to suffer failure, straight-up makes him/her more confident. This, in turn, necessitates the person to put in hard work and also find pleasure in the work, which increases productivity and adaptability, reducing the chances of utter failure. Besides, success is subjective. If we are looking at it in terms of money, fame, and happiness, “Jack of all” or the all-rounders seem to be doing much better than “Master of one.”

“Jack of all” as a concept might seem disagreeable to society, but all great ideas were before they became the norm. Children should be encouraged to think about what they want to become, not in terms of binary choices but instead in terms of options divided by slashes. When learning and work become the source of enjoyment, the concept of vacation as an escape vanishes altogether. Thus, making individuals happier in their everyday life.

Being a “Jack of all” not only increases the probability of achieving materialistic pursuits but also makes our society more inclusive. After all, as the full phrase says, “A jack of all is a master of none but often-times better than the master of one.”