“Specialization is for insects: A human being should be able to change a diaper….butcher a hog…balance accounts…set a bone…comfort the dying…take orders/give orders…cooperate/act alone…analyze a new problem…pitch manure…cook a tasty meal…fight efficiently…die gallantly.” – Robert A. Heinlein [NB: This is an abridged version. See complete/verbatim quote at the end of this piece.]
I coined the phrase “Jack of Many Trades” for use in a 10 page report I wrote on this subject back in March 2003.
It was titled “How to be a Jack Of Many Trades AND Why It Can Make You Succeed More Often!”.
Since then, I have written several other articles in which I shared various income generating successes I’ve recorded, as an entrepreneur, which would never have happened if I had not always functioned as a Multipreneur.
But long before I became a multipreneur in business, I had succeeded as a multipreneur in paid employment, and before then, as a multipreneur as an undergraduate in the university.
Being A “Jack Of Many Trades” In Paid Employment – My Story
I recall vividly that as an ex-Graduate Management Trainee Green-horned Brewer in Guinness Nigeria (in 1995/96), my keen interest in computers initially attracted criticism from some of my peers and senior colleagues in Benin brewery.
One particular individual often readily seized the opportunity of any shortcoming I displayed in doing my job as a Shift Brewer, to insinuate that the time I spent working on the computer (something not at that time in widespread use) prevented me from mastering the essential practical requirements to successfully function as a brewer.
As time went on, I was of course able to demonstrate beyond any shred of a doubt that such assumptions were wrong. Not only did I mature into a competent brewer/shift manager (who got repeated secondments to several other departments to fill sudden vacancies), but I also went on to use my computer (specifically spreadsheet automation) skills to develop over five customized applications.
All were formally adopted in place of the manual reporting systems being used at that time in the various departments I worked.
My abilities got me noticed early by senior management, so that within 2 years of joining the company, I was already actively involved in, and even responsible for collation/preparation of brewery-level reports. These were activities which required an understanding of key manufacturing performance parameters, as well as sound knowledge of various calculation for estimating monetary gains/losses in brewing, for decision making. In the process, I got to know/work closely with senior managers in my function, well ahead of my peers.
Yet, I did all this while still doing my regular job as a brewer.
I was so proficient in doing it all that I felt no strain combining it with my normal job. Looking back, and even considering the sources from which criticism for my multidisciplinary approach came, I have come to the conclusion that many times, people assess the “workability” or “viability” of what another person is trying to achieve from THEIR own mind frame.
If they think it will be difficult for them to do, then they will believe it would be so for the other person. What they forget is that we are not all alike. In fact, there are certain people who cannot stay doing just one single thing for long. They would be bored to death (I happen to be ONE such person!). As one self-confessed multipreneur – Gary Havener – put it, “I guess I just have a short attention span”.
Two Real Life Examples In Pictures
Photo 1: The senior manager presenting me a certificate of Beer Tasting Training completion, was the brewery head, when that photo was taken in 1997 (I was 27). Two years before that, when I’d arrived that brewery, he’d assigned me to work directly with him in his office for 2 weeks.
During that time I prepared all sorts of spreadsheet tables and charts for planning manning and production of brewery packaging operations.
Photo 2 (L to R = Commercial Services Manager, Engineering Services Manager, then ME): The 2 managers next to me were departmental heads, in 1998 when that photo was taken. In contrast, my title was “Shift Brewer” – 2 steps below their on the management hierarchy. Yet, I got nominated to attend the best practice conference with them.
In addition to that, I was BY FAR the youngest by age and years in service amongst ALL the attendees.
In fact, virtually all the others were substantive heads of department, and had spent close to 10 years in the company, while I was less than 4 years old in the company!
As you can imagine, therefore, without my demonstrated skill in use of spreadsheets, which I’d employed to develop solutions that decision makers took note of, I could not have earned such high level access to top decision makers.
In reality, minus that skill, I was just like my peers – a green horned young brewer yet to prove himself. And that would not have earned me any special attention!
See how being multi skilled can open unexpected doors of opportunity for YOU?
Indeed, I have ALWAYS been driven to do more than one thing at a time.
Today, despite countless setbacks since I first become self-employed, I succeed in business as a multipreneur doing just that. Again, several past articles provide examples.
The above make it obvious that I really do EXCEL when I operate in that mode!
Simply put, being a Jack Of Many Trades enables me make the MOST of my God-given abilities, to the benefit of myself and all those I come into contact with.
Incidentally, there are MANY multipreneurs, well known for what they do in the world…!
Richard Branson is an example of a multipreneur who has been at it for ages.
And look how he’s doing for himself!
Imagine if he’d stuck to just ONE thing i.e. chosen to specialize? He would NOT be where he is today. And WE would not have been this blessed by many of the brands he’s nurtured and supported to success.
In other words, by following his true passions as a multipreneur, thereby making the most of himself , he’s simultaneously making the world a better place!
Consider Google, Microsoft and other successful organizations and individuals – even entertainers: many are multipreneurs!
If they are not starting new ventures from scratch, they are acquiring controlling shares/interest in other businesses or concerns, with a view to increasing their influence and market share.
It only makes common sense to do this, if one is to achieve long term success and relevance!
And that’s why I believe any person(s) who have multipreneurial tendencies should NEVER be subjected to negative criticism or discouraged.
Instead, they should be helped to develop that unique ability, because if they achieve mastery at it (like I have), their ability to deliver superlative performances, will make them a useful ASSET virtually anywhere they go!
The above is why I’m putting together a collection of real life case studies from my time in paid employment, as well as in business, towards publishing a revised and expanded version of the earlier mentioned report that I wrote a decade ago (see cover below).
Persons who wonder how I did it while in paid employment, OR how I DO it now that I’m self-employed, will (through that new book) have the step-by-step guidelines I’ve conceived based on my experiences, and achievements.
But that’s not all.
Readers of my book will also get to read a wide ranging compilation of real life narratives I’ve penned, which illustrate the multidimensional benefits to be had from being a true multipreneur.
And they will also learn how to prepare their kids to make the most of their multipreneurial abilities as early as possible in life.
But all who consider this route must understand that it’s not one that leads to overnight success…
Too many people today do not easily accept that getting what they want may not happen quickly or easily. That mental attitude can present a challenge for anyone who wants to succeed via multipreneuring.
It would be naive for anyone to expect that as soon as s/he commences learning or doing something, success will follow. If the world worked that way, EVERYONE of us would become a millionaire overnight.
So, let’s be honest here, it won’t be easy. Some people find it hard to do just ONE thing they do well. Talk less of you wanting to do several different things well at the same time!
But you have an advantage in the sense that you KNOW it can be done. What you need to understand is that you will need to apply focus, discipline, determination and persistence, to achieve your goal.
EXAMPLE: I spent MANY night shifts as a brewer combining supervision of the brewing plant operations with improving my typing speed using a Typing Tutor, and also working on different spreadsheet solutions on the brewers’ office computer.
One afternoon, the Brewery Manager’s secretary saw me typing and exclaimed:
“Solagbade, you type so fast! What is your speed?”
Since I’d never bothered to check what the typing tutor recorded for me, I could not answer her question readily. But I knew I was much faster than I used to be before I began using the tutor. And that was enough for me. That day I realized my ability in that area could also earn me added recognition – and respect!
Neither the secretary, nor a senior manager who had a habit of calling me “TK Computer” really knew how many hours of hard work I had expended, in my personal free time, to become that good at those things they acknowledged me for.
And if you recall, from my story, I made many blunders at work initially, that caused others to criticize me for lacking mastery of my primary job, because (in their opinion) I spent too much time on the computer. What they did not know was that even after they had gone home, I would often stay back in the brewery to learn directly from the process operators on duty, the rudiments of successfully managing the shop floor process operations.
Many times I would leave the brewery for my house as late as 1.00a.m, even though I had actually worked on morning shift, and close at 2.00p.m the previous day!
Now, may not have to do what I did. But you will have to pay YOUR dues. If you do, you will get to a level of mastery that will make others marvel!
Final Words:
I once watched an edition of Oprah Winfrey’s show in which Venus Williams was interviewed along with her sister, Serena. Both ladies were questioned about criticisms levelled against them by other Tennis stars for engaging in other vocations while still active in top-flight tennis. Venus owned her own fashion design company, and actually designed her own clothes. Serena had been appearing in some new films/movies playing leading roles.
According to Oprah, Martina Navratilova had stated that the sisters were being arrogant by doing that, since it was “expected” that they, as professional tennis players, would concentrate on playing tennis – like all others. In response, Venus said (quite sensibly), that they believed it would be unwise to assume they would continue to do well in tennis indefinitely, and following their parents’ advice, decided to explore other vocations early on.
So long as you are not getting inefficient from doing multiple tasks or acquiring multiple competencies, don’t let people tell you you’re a Jack-of-all-trades.
I once read an article on career development, which advised people in paid employment to “Know A Little About Everything”, if they wish to get ahead on their jobs. In fact, most start-up entrepreneurs HAVE TO be that way for a major part of their start-up life, because they cannot afford(due to limited capital) to do otherwise! Companies – and even individuals – will in the future be looking for a one-stop solution to their needs, and will tend to settle for entrepreneurs(or employees) with proven multiple competencies.
You can be a successful Jack Of Many Trades™, so long as you avoid crossing the not-so-thin line that leads to becoming a “Jack of all trades”. All you need do is intelligently decide on relevant competencies that will help you attain your personal/career advancement goals. Then acquire and put them to use in ways that benefit you, people around you, or the client/organisation you work for. The results you get will excite you perpetually!
PS: Here’s the complete version of the quote I began this article with…
“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.” -Robert A. Heinlein