A jack of all trades is a master of none….

I have always been a jack of many trades and I have heard people around me say that a jack of all trades is a master of none.

For the longest time, I was so hard on myself to specialise and focus on just one skill, one job, one specific degree, one clear career path.

During school days, there would be a student who participates in every extra curricular event and still manage to do well in studies. I used to be one of these students. I could study, participate in debates, dance, sing, and genuinely enjoy all of it. I always loved being involved in multiple things.

But as I stepped into adulthood, this pressure to sustain one profession or specialise in one role in life slowly started building up (like be only a mom, or focus only on career, or pick one passion and stick to it forever).

Somewhere in between all this pressure, I started taking impulsive decisions, trying different jobs, switching career interests constantly, and feeling guilty for not being able to “stick” to one thing for years. I moved from wanting to be a singer, to a writer, to HR, to baking, to starting a food business… and honestly, the list goes on. 😅

Turns out, focusing on just one thing and specialising in it is not really my thing. I am and have always been a multi-skilled person.

Very recently did I find out that a jack of all trades is a master of none, though oftentimes better than a master of one. The awareness of getting to know the full proverb finally after all these years ( I know, how dumb of me to not know the full proverb), was tranformational.

This gave me such a perspective shift and opened up my thinking in so many ways. I started to ask myself why do I have to have just one line of career? Why can’t I do multiple things and decide what fits me in different phases of life?

There are so many people including some of the most successful ones who don’t do just one thing. They manage multiple roles, multiple interests, and multiple careers. What truly matters is that they genuinely enjoy what they do.

So here I am trying to figure out life with a toddler and find my career options ( yes, I am still not sure 😛). Here I am managing different roles in life- a mom, a wife, and most importantly, a woman with aspirations and dreams of her own.

If you ask me if I have found my answers from this perspective shift, not at all. I am still figuring out a lot of things. ( including what to cook for lunch and dinner 😑)

But what I am learning is this:

Keep yourself open. Listen to your heart.

Many times, we try to follow paths that worked for other people because we admire their success. But sometimes, we only like the outcome of their journey and not the actual path, process, or choice itself. And when you choose a path only because the outcome looks attractive, it becomes difficult to truly enjoy what you do.

If you really want to build a life you love, ask yourself what you truly want. Deep down, your heart usually knows the answer. It may take time to hear it clearly. It may take time to trust it. But once you do, there will be very little doubt left.

Always follow your heart 💌.