JACK OF MANY TRADES MASTER OF WHAT?

Here is an article that I featured on linked in. I would really appreciate your views on it. Thanks.

Yes, I have heard it said that if Jack has a whole lot to trade in, then, he shall have too many things to grapple with. He will likely not be perfect in any of the things he does because he cannot spend enough time on each one to perfect the skills required for him to be a master. In order words, if he has to grapple with so many things at the same time, how on earth would he be focused to achieve greatness?

I daresay that at times, you find that one who is a master in one trade or area has to accept that he does not know as much in other areas outside his field. For instance, a Professor in Art Education is a Professor only in that field, (unless he chooses to study another area of specialization) thereby, he can claim a mastery of knowledge in his area of specialization which is Art Education. We can say that the Professor is focused, we can also say that he or she is dedicated; these of course, are good qualities to possess. However, what do we do with a 'Lucy of many talents' or a 'Harry of multiple income businesses'? Can we rightly say that they are master of none?

This earnestly brings to my mind the Parable of the Talents,

            15'And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability;'

I have different abilities and likewise you probably do as well. What do we do with all these abilities? We definitely cannot use Jack (who was said to have mastered none of his trades) as our moral justification to ignore our own numerous abilities. It is important to know that life is really about multi-tasking and that is the truth! A baby suckling his mother is feeding but at the same time may be grasping something, his mother's soft skin, her clothing or he may even be playing with his toes. A young child is crying and at the same time tugging at his mother for attention or holding out his arms to be carried.

In life, we are likely to discover that we might be multi-talented and like the Parable of the Talents says, we have abilities in different specifications. Of course, it also makes mention of the individual who had just one talent to master. The point really is not how many talents we have, but what we do with all of it that we have. The more we use the gifts that we have, the better and more impactful they become. Suffice it is to say, that having many skills or talents is not a disadvantage but really an advantage.  

Multitasking! Why on earth, did we have to take all of those courses we took back at school in the same term? Why, oh why? It is because life is about multitasking. We cannot be successful in life if we do not learn the art or I might also say the science of multitasking. This is because there will always only be twenty-four hours in a day to practice our trades. Actually, we are all Jacks running around with our 'trades' and permit me to say talents. It is left to us to gradually and systematically master all that we can in the time that we have!

In Nigeria where I come from, it is becoming glaring that one needs to possess other skills in order to make it relatively well in life. There are numerous graduates roaming the streets jobless and I dare say that a higher institution graduate who applies and adapts his skills creatively to the outside world will not end up hungry and jobless because in reality, Jack may need different trades to support himself in life. When Jack cannot secure employment in spite of his educational qualifications , he can make use of his singing skills to perform at events and get paid for doing so. He can decide to anchor events if he has a great voice and the charisma to hold an audience spell bound! My native tongue has an adage that says that one road only, does not lead to the market. In other words you have to be innovative in your quest to achieve your goals or reach your destination. In this present economy, I make bold to say that Jack needs many 'trades'. He also needs to multitask in order to make his 'trades' successful. Here I am writing, I studied Visual Arts in school for crying out loud (fortunately, I was also exposed to singing, music and theatre arts there). Let's face it, when we begin to tap into our many abilities, it feels wonderful and worthwhile (and I am not saying I am yet a master, but I believe that I am stepping out in the right direction).

Not practicing our 'trade', leads to the depreciation of our skills. It's important to keep doing what we do and seek for ways to get better, otherwise, the law of diminishing returns sets in. The singer finds she begins to tire out after just a bit of singing unlike before, or she cannot pitch as high as she used to. The Parable of the Talents sums it up this way,

                29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will be furnished richly so that he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have will be taken away.

The late Dr. Myles Munroe said that one of the richest places in the world is the grave yard and by now, you might know why. It is because lots of dreams, visions, and potentials lay dead and buried. Some Jacks never invested time and energy in their trades or perhaps they never even started their trades in the first place. Let us wake up people, it is time to discover and use our giftings, talents and abilities so that they can get sharper, bring rewards, enrich lives and fulfill destinies. Let us work them relentlessly!

 *Reference: Matthew 25:14-30