Jack of All Trades

I am proud to have gone to a university that offered “inter-disciplinary studies” that allowed me to study through multiple schools toward one degree.  As I grew older though, being termed a "jack of all trades" by my father has always scared me. 

What he really means, is that I am a "Master of none" or a "generalist" who is merely competent with many skills but is not outstanding in any particular one.  It's like a cat with three legs, or worst of all, one who knows everything but cannot do anything!

My recent Enneagram personality test conformed to the idea that I am a generalist too (I would prefer to term myself as too complex to be categorized, if I have a choice).  I possess so many varying (sometimes contradicting) thoughts and so many unrelated hobbies that I often think something is wrong with me.  

Not until I came across a brilliant quote from http://www.brainquote.com - a quote from Robert A.Heinlein - the American Master of Science fiction.  His quote has absolutely enlightened me...

“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

The thought of doing just one thing for the rest of my life is terrifying.  It is so relieving to know that "Jack of All Trades" can be a strength too and I think I am going to stick to that.