Jack of All Trades

Most of us have heard the expression, “jack of all trades but master at none”. My father use to use that term when he was trying to get me to focus on one thing and perfect it. I am a person that will try my hand at many things. I will Google or YouTube anything to learn how to build or fix it. So, in my head, I am a mechanic, professional cake baker, painter, hairstylist, and the list go on. I have acquired some skills in these different areas, but I haven’t mastered any of them. I am good or okay at these things but not great. It’s okay to be good but we were created to be great.

The reason I’m only “good” at these things is that none of them are a passion of mine. For various reasons I researched how to do these things, so I’ve acquired some experience which gives me some skill and ability. I have tried some things and was successful but there is no desire to actually grow those skills. I am confident that I will be successful at whatever I set my mind to if I can save money or time, but these things don’t represent who I am. Who I am may come out when painting, baking a cake, or styling hair because I’m creative and being creative is who I am. There’s a difference between my creativity and claiming to be a hairstylist. Did my creativity shine through, yes, but I don’t want to be a hairstylist even though I am okay in the skill, it’s not a passion I wish to nurture.

Many of us get caught up in what we can be good at because we have the ability to adapt. You may be on a job that you’re not passionate about but because you’re smart it allows you to understand and grow in that job. You have adapted and are okay with working this job, but it doesn’t ignite the fire within because it doesn’t draw from your passion. I by no means, am telling anyone to quit their jobs today to pursue their passion because I understand that would not be appropriate for all of us. For most, transitioning would come with wisdom and proper planning.

Understand that your passions are who you are. When you foster your passions you will see that you do it freely. It doesn’t feel like work because it is naturally who you are. Your passion will drive you past being a “jack of all trades” and within your passion lies your mastery. TD Jakes stated in one of his services, “Your passions aren’t just about what you like but what you don’t like.” That thing that you don’t like may very well be the thing you are meant to change or problem you are meant to solve.

Identify who you are. Your destiny, design, and purpose lies within the mastery of your passion.