Impulse: Jack Of all Trades

Impulse: Jack Of all Trades: We are stereotypes in our own fashion. Although we have the freedom to think and choose, we are fed constantly on what to do, how to do a...

Jack Of all Trades

We are stereotypes in our own fashion. Although we have the freedom to think and choose, we are fed constantly on what to do, how to do and when to do, while not necessarily knowing why. The whole concept of mostly being 'The One Thing' is got so deep in our system that every person constantly beats himself to know the One Real purpose in life. But what if there is no One purpose, what if the whole exercise is meaningless, what if we are created to accomplish all we can or that think we can in one life that is given to us.

When we were 8, normally when teacher asked what do you want to be, typically we wanted to be a lot of different things. Then as we grow up many of our dreams or ambitions are killed due to others or due to ones own beliefs and life. Finally we are pushed into being THE ONE THING may because of our education system, family values or the community we are around.

 Recently a discussion regarding careers and Indian Education System Vs the American system sparked a debate at home wherein my cousin believed that our system of education confused our youngsters that even at the age of 23 they were still confused as to what they wanted to be. Although that's true, I don't think it's the case in India alone. It is not even the education system.It is that some of us are multipotentialites (well, even the dictionary rejects the word for now), apparently a problem or in my case that what I considered as a 'curse'. We are good at so many different things that when asked to choose one, we are confused, overwhelmed with the fear of making the wrong choice. 'Jack of all trades' is believed to be a bad thing in many parts of the world. I always encounter this question, why can't you be any one thing! What if I don't want to be one thing. What if I want to learn all that I possibly can? What if I want to contribute a little to the world in the little things I am good at? Why should we stick as engineers or doctors or lawyers or anything all our life? Why can't we be a little of everything? Why is it so wrong?

Nowadays most of youths are confused. There a lot of factors for this confusion. There's globalization it's us against the world, that has opened up possibilities to everyone across the world. It was different during the 20th century, there were obligations and restriction of options. But today we have an ocean of possibilities which also increases the dilemma of choosing The One. There is nothing wrong with the safe route of choosing the one thing and being masters of it. At the same time, not everything is for everyone. We are all different people. So what is wrong being Jack of all trades? We have a very wrong idea about what success is. Today we are being sucked into competition. We live in a illusion of having an open mind.

I have always admired people who have chosen off tracks in their career. The idea is to do what you love. Money will flow. If you want to be more than 'the one thing' , don't kill the urge, work towards, find the connection and at least try to make it work once. Failure is a part of life but not the end of it. Get out and be what you want to be. All it takes is courage. Some of us are better at being Jacks than being poor masters.

“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist