Jack of All Trades, Master of the Future

I have mixed feelings when I hear 'jack of all trades'. First of all, it isn't the full quote. The full saying is: A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes is better than a master of one. Whilst I think this carries a lot of truth, I also think it's high time for a revamp.

Generalists deserve something succinct. Something accurate. Something that inspires. I've been toying with: master of the future. Why? Because all signs point to it being true.

Here's some thoughts I've been mulling over..

For years, the prevailing wisdom was that to succeed, you needed to specialize in a particular field. But the way we work continues to evolve at breakneck speed, and adaptability has become a highly sought-after trait. When I look around the Generalist World community, I see it time and time again. Reinventions. Pivots. Switching to totally new industries and domains.

Their stories never cease to amaze me. Seriously, our introductions channel is like an archive of pure impressiveness (is that a word? well, you know what I mean..)

And I'm not the only one questioning definition and the language we use to talk about generalists (huge s/out to Erica Warp for his excellent reframe!)

In a world where change is the only constant, generalists thrive. Our ability to embrace uncertainty, adapt to new situations, and learn quickly makes us indispensable. By nature, we're pattern-spotters.

But what makes a generalist a generalist, is knowing how to learn. By connecting the dots between seemingly unrelated fields, we can drive innovation and keep the wheels of progress turning.

We also foster collaboration and communication. We break down silos and bring cross-disciplinary teams together, creating a shared understanding and/or a common language.

Some call it the glue. Some call it the thread that ties everything together. The concept is the same - just like a zip - we merge people, ideas and teams.

And you don't have to look far to find examples of generalists making waves in the tech realm. Take for example:

Caterina Fake: Caterina's an entrepreneur who co-founded Flickr. With a background in art, business, and technology, she's used her diverse skill set to build massively successful companies more than once!Ben Silbermann: Ben, co-founder and CEO of Pinterest, is another generalist who's built some amazing things! With a background in finance and technology, Silbermann didn't have a traditional path into the tech world. It was his versatile skill set and vision that led him to create Pinterest.Julia Hartz: Co-founder and CEO of Eventbrite, Julia started her career in television and film production, before transitioning into the tech sector, bringing her creativity and adaptability along with her. Under her leadership, Eventbrite has grown into a billion-dollar company.

The truth is simple: generalists and specialists both bring unique value. I've said time and time again, the question isn't 'is a generalist or specialist better?'. The much more important question is 'how can generalists and specialists work together in unison?'

I've also been thinking a lot about diversity of thought in teams. And I believe a key driver of success lies in recognizing diverse strengths and assembling diverse, balanced teams that capitalize on the best of both worlds. In a future where adaptability is king, a healthy mix of generalists and specialists will be the winning formula for innovation and growth.

When I think of the future, it could really go in a million different directions. What we need are folks who can absorb rapid change like a sponge, solve problems, and bring people together. It's for these reasons, and so many more, that I see generalists being masters of the future.

I spend most of my working days thinking about, speaking to, supporting, and uplifting my fellow generalists. We've only scratched the surface of reaching the many generalists around the globe who feel undervalued, and like they don't belong.

And if you're a generalist reading this, with lightbulbs going off in your mind, be sure to come and join the archive of impressiveness (😉) by introducing yourself to Generalist World.