How to become a Jack of all trades and Master of Some | Nicholas Grundy

How to become a Jack of all trades and Master of Some | Nicholas Grundy | TEDxGalway

Рет қаралды 45,831

8 жыл бұрын

When deciding what career path to follow, we all too often choose one single option.
This unfortunately leads many of us to become miserable and disengaged in our jobs.
Nicholas Grundy looks at how we can question the norm, trying anything and everything as Jacks (or Jills) of all trades, and masters of our own lives.
Having started as an Engineer and Army Officer, Nicholas left behind these stable careers to pursue his dream of being a photographer. However, with his new found freedom, he soon realised he had more passions than photography. Since then, he used his military and construction experience to turn various interests into professions as well - videography, German translation,teaching and travel writing - Making him a true jack of all trades and master of some
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

Пікірлер: 97

@juniason3513 3 жыл бұрын

Life is not about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself. Be a multipotentialite, and savor every single thing you're thrilled about. Thanks for the inspiration @NicholasGrundy

@nicholasgrundy 3 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome, all the best, good luck and enjoy!

@maxtsivourakis137 5 жыл бұрын

You really saved my day as I needed someone to share their thinking about my concerns regarding the whole idea of "finding your passion", while being interested in many things. Thank you! A great talk.

@nicholasgrundy 5 жыл бұрын

Many thanks Max!

@moofmoofnguyen1175 4 жыл бұрын

exactly me too, it's always made me frustrated for years :((

@m.7877 4 жыл бұрын

exactly!

@_drewtugume Жыл бұрын

The David in your story reminds me of the David in the Bible . He was a soldier , musician , Poet , Shepherd and King all at once

@AuXXKeyz 4 жыл бұрын

It's good to see like minded people in this comment section, it's really refreshing. Nobody around me understands me & it feels like I'm alone in this thought

@choux8372 5 жыл бұрын

This was so motivating!! My father is a jack of all trades and I've always admired that about him. He always maintains his tools in pristine condition and says, "these tools have fed us many times". Life is always unstable, your home and income is never certain, even if you have a steady job. But you never forget all the skills you learn and there's always a use for them. Right now, I'm lucky enough to have time during the day, so I'm using it to hone my skills in hand sewing and watercolor painting.

@nicholasgrundy 5 жыл бұрын

Many thanks Choux! Yes, it's very important to look after and be grateful for whatever tools you are lucky enough to own, whether it's your actual work tools, a laptop, camera gear, or just your own two hands. And regarding sewing - so few people take the time these days to simply darn socks, replace a button or sew or patch a small tear in a shirt. It's easier to throw away and replace in our throw away society.

@MikeYeah 5 жыл бұрын

Hi, Choux! I'm trying to see other people's perspective in what a "Jack-of-all-trades" is. You say that your father maintained his tools well. To me, it sounds like your father was therefore focused on the "single" trade of maintenance/repairs. What were his other trade focuses that made him a "Jack-of-ALL-trades"?

@MikeYeah 5 жыл бұрын

@@nicholasgrundy Hello, Nicholas! Finding myself coming back after some time and giving your wonderful speech another listen. :) Hope all is well!

@nicholasgrundy 3 жыл бұрын

@@MikeYeah Thanks for re-watching, hope it's still as insightful and inspiring. All is well here thanks. Hope you are well during the current upheaval. Perhaps a good time for new opportunities we never thought of previously?

@frankymagana001 7 жыл бұрын

I've been struggling about procrastinating. I choose one thing and then I think, well.. is this "the one". So i stop and think about what I really want and do the same with the next idea. I end up back to the same place and then I feel like I've wasted so much time. The concept of jack of all trades has always been so true to me, but I always believed that I needed to choose one in order to make money. This video was truly inspiring and I'm excited to see how I end up changing my approach!

@nicholasgrundy 5 жыл бұрын

Glad the video was of assistance. I hope you are doing well Franky!

@shubhamsharma2773 4 жыл бұрын

Same side bro

@shayrai4854 3 жыл бұрын

How did it go since? I struggle so much with it.

@GhostSamaritan 2 жыл бұрын

@@shayrai4854 One thing I've found that works is to have a feedback system. For instance, let's say you start selling a product. The feedback would be how people receive that product. Do they love it? Is it sold out? That's going to signal to you that you're doing something right, and then you just keep going.

@torimorgan1335 2 жыл бұрын

I’m 24 and have had so many different jobs like being a shoeshiner, soldier, Nursing Assistant, Teacher assistant, abstract artist, dancer… ext. The list will probably go on forever until I die lol. It’s an exciting life and I do feel like I’m already retired

@nicholasgrundy 2 жыл бұрын

brilliant, that's great to hear, keep it up!

@atulpj 3 жыл бұрын

This was a very important heart talk. I had been unconsciously following the society. It's only recently that I have started exploring the range of my personality. Its a bit uncertain but its worth all the risk. Thank you

@nicholasgrundy 3 жыл бұрын

good luck!

@tuscansalvage9896 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent talk! Something my wife said to me years ago as I was considering a new endeavor and the social norm game was gnawing at my conscience. "Would of, could of, should of."... She was perhaps being a little sarcastic in her motivational technique, but was simply saying: at the end of your life or as you grow older you never want to hear those words echo in your head. "Would of, could of, should of"... Just do it, before you end up regretting you didn't even try.

@Je.rone_ 2 жыл бұрын

1:38 the “great resignation” isn’t such Mystery after all

@kidusbk3021 7 ай бұрын

Left this as a Reminder for my progress.

@nicholasgrundyphotography Ай бұрын

good luck!

@acd96digital 4 жыл бұрын

Considering Grundy’s happiness and considering how businesses are moving in-house to increase cost communicative efficiency, having experience in different career mediums arguably is of great value. To make this point even further, having one person do a job that previously required two increases the communication required for those two roles massively as it is one brain communicating within itself.

@mjlight 3 жыл бұрын

Love the (SOME) part no one is the same.

@nicholasgrundy 3 жыл бұрын

thanks!

@Maddie-ef9ec 2 жыл бұрын

love this talk. i'm in my first year of highschool but i already feel the burnout and procrastination from me trying to stick to one thing and it just backfiring on me. i think also with college just in a few years it's even heavier as i try to decide what i want to do for college so i can plan the rest of my highschool years around that choice. i think also i have expectations for myself of what i'm gonna do before college. i think this talk definitely made me realize just how much time i have...life is short but i don't have to achieve all my goals within 3 years and my life isnt defined by what interests i have now.

@nicholasgrundy 2 жыл бұрын

good luck!

@mattkaczmarczyk6953 5 жыл бұрын

This deserves way more views

@nicholasgrundy 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Matt!

@ieast007 5 жыл бұрын

I agree 100%. I live in the Bay Area/Silicon Valley and it's very important to have some flexibility in your job options. Being a "Bard" that has multiple skills is very important.

@nicholasgrundyphotography 5 жыл бұрын

Exactly. Although most would believe that it's safer to have a guaranteed income, especially in a place like San Francisco, if you have at least some flexibility you have plenty of options to make ends meet. If you instead have all your eggs in one basket, you can very easily go from 100% to 0% income through a redundancy. However if you have multiple income streams you can just go from 100% to 75% and still survive. And once you've become more established you'll find that with the ups and downs your income in fact sways between 50% of your previous full-time job in the quiet months but reaches 200% in the busier periods.

@lmblmb3762 6 жыл бұрын

I love this tedtalk because I am a Jill of a lot of trades and people do not get it but it all help with the other...I never listened to anyone who disagreed with my vision for my life...

@GCHUSTLEHAWAII 6 жыл бұрын

i know that feeling oh so well. they look at you like your some kind of lunatic

@nicholasgrundy 5 жыл бұрын

Better to be seen as a lunatic than as a sheep I say!

@haileymae42 2 жыл бұрын

love the discussion, it made me think at a different perspective as someone who have lots of interest

@nicholasgrundy 2 жыл бұрын

thanks!

@scousemouse9715 4 жыл бұрын

Managed to get to 14 minutes into video before I started reading the comments and thinking I've got it.

@cuyaCT 5 жыл бұрын

I’m a jack of all trades, master of one; currently a senior in high school. I feel like i’m a strong writer and I want to pursue writing and making films. However, I’ve been told to only do it on the side and do another major I’m ok at (marketing/psychology/communications). Honestly, I’m kinda torn cuz I know I want to use all my efforts into making films, but it probably won’t be able to pay the bills.

@nicholasgrundy 5 жыл бұрын

Hi Cuya CT, there's nothing wrong with having a side job to help pay the bills, and as long as it is part-time you'll have plenty of time to focus on the main goal long enough for it to start generating a decent income. There's definitely multiple ways to go about it though. I have friends who focussed almost solely on the main passion for ten years and then it finally paid off in a big way (actually specifically writing for films and TV), and then there are others who take a more measured approach. The former method probably has a higher risk and a higher reward as well though. Good luck!

@danlightened 4 жыл бұрын

If you do Bachelors of mass media, I think it involves all of these 5 things. You can communicate with viewers by understanding psychology, by writing and filming an ad. Thus, marketing it.

@danielaspurtacz9109 3 жыл бұрын

I have been thinking recently about this. Still 2 years of high school left, then university, but the more I should be focusing on one thing, I find myself not being able to decide. I want to write songs, maybe a book. I want to be a mathematician, maybe a teacher. I want to keep training and compete. I want to sail more than I do now. Recently I started wire wrapping/weaving and found it enjoyable. Somehow at the moment I'm juggling everything, but I wonder, what will I do when the time comes that I have to choose.

@nicholasgrundy 3 жыл бұрын

Don't worry you still have plenty of time, just remember you don't need to get locked into one thing straight away and can keep your studies and vocations diverse for years to come

@martinkeane3628 4 жыл бұрын

Very impressive Nick Great talk , really caught my attention .

@nicholasgrundy 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Martin!

@kallingil9320 4 жыл бұрын

The real saying/Quote is "jack of all trades master of none is better than master of one". Dont know if it makes any diff but thought it was imp.

@nicholasgrundy 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, unfortunately the original saying seems to have been lost in recent times and replaced with the notion of "better to be a master of something than a master of nothing but Jack/Jill of many."

@JoelCMusic Жыл бұрын

Great Talk!

@nicholasgrundy Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@lifewithmusic5003 6 жыл бұрын

Great Talk, thank you

@nicholasgrundy 5 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

@mlestrnger 8 жыл бұрын

Amazing!

@nicholasgrundyphotography 8 жыл бұрын

Thanks!

@angeloz08 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you im lost but you help me to find my path

@nicholasgrundy 2 жыл бұрын

good to hear!

@MikeYeah 5 жыл бұрын

Currently facing the challenge of finding someone to relate to when it comes to my "jack-of-all-trades" position. I'm noticing clear benefits to specializing in a specific trade, such as having specialized equipment and knowledge that you would only otherwise acquire by taking on the trade at a "specialty" level. However, I just can't put my finger on what I would even specialize in quite yet, because, let's face it, I'm a "jack-of-all-trades"! But, here's where things get tricky: I've been scouring the web looking for related information to ease my mind and give me direction and I just can't seem to find the content I need to see. A lot of the content I have come across describes a "jack-of-all-trades", for example, as being a valuable: Affiliate marketer, advertiser, content writer, web designer, etc; but take a look at those individual skills once more... To me, they actually all fall under the same "trade" of "internet services", therefore nullifying the "jack-of-all-trades" label. Calling them a "jack-of-all-trades" is a mislabeling. They're really just a "master" or "really freaking good" at "internet services". Everyone wants to comment that being a "jack-of-all-trades, master of none" shows a lack of direction and commitment, but it seems like they are referring to those who are just "okay" in a few fields which usually turn out to be somewhat related. Now for me, I am what I would consider to be a "TRUE" "jack-of-all-trades"... that is, focusing and having experience, talent, and skills in not just a "single" trade or an umbrella of "related" skills, but instead, focusing and having experience, talent, and skills in MANY trades that are by no means directly or indirectly related to one another; in other words, being "really freaking good" at a whole bunch of things that are completely unrelated. For example, being a good artist, a good handyman/builder/electrician/plumber, a good mechanic, a good financial manager/accountant, a good chef, a good landscaper/gardener, a good caretaker, a good thinker, a good internet services provider, a good photographer/videographer/editor, a good speaker/writer, a good athlete, a good teacher, a good inventor, and a good salesman, all at once, producing high-quality, reliable, intelligent, and experienced results. This shows the true meaning of a "jack-of-all-trades", and I have been trying to find resolve and embrace in knowing that I am one... but sometimes I feel a bit flustered. I think it comes from a lack of being able to relate with someone else who is in my same boat, doing a little bit of everything, while also posing as a competitor to the "masters". Your thoughts?

@nicholasgrundy 5 жыл бұрын

@yebbaproductions I'll get back to you soon

@nicholasgrundyphotography 5 жыл бұрын

Hi @YebbaProductions, finally getting back to you here. I totally know what you mean in the example of someone who may initially appear to be a 'Jack of all Trades,' but in actual fact all of their skills fall under the one, closely related umbrella. It is difficult to bring many, rather opposing skill sets together, but it is possible. Almost everything has some sort of obscure similarity with something seemingly from an entirely different world. Here's a good one for you: I recently learned that botanists are searching the world's biodiversity hot spots, such as the Amazon, in the hope of finding symbiotic plant/plant and plant/animal relationships which can in turn help pharmaceutical companies come up with new cures and treatments, and help urban and infrastructure designers figure out how to better cope with burgeoning urban populations across the globe. So, you can be a botanist-doctor, botanist-pharmacist or botanist-urban-planner and be a true Jack or Jill of all Trades and be onto a real winner there. At the end of the day, just do what makes you happy and what you enjoy doing. Who cares what others say or think. They'll realise that not only can you give the 'master specialists' a run for their money, you'll almost always outperform they by bringing far more to the table. Kill two birds with one stone.

@StephanieTips 4 жыл бұрын

Similar to the concept of "multipotentialite" I've seen in another talk (Emilie Wapnick's) and to what Barbara Sher talks about too

@c.c7606 3 жыл бұрын

If you don’t mind me asking, if you’ve already seen those talks what makes you watch this one?

@StephanieTips 3 жыл бұрын

@@c.c7606 to see if they say anything different, how they differ, what's another person's point of view in the matter

@Minerange 5 жыл бұрын

This is good!

@nicholasgrundy 5 жыл бұрын

Many thanks Dennis!

@shortcut1331 8 жыл бұрын

Nice, thanks for that! :D good presentation! :) I'ma go home and rethink my life...

@cosmosaic8117 2 жыл бұрын

Polymath

@444NRG 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for making me less alone. They say India has a lot of population but masses are always sleeping whatever country you're from.

@nicholasgrundyphotography 3 жыл бұрын

good luck!

@levimcdaniel 8 ай бұрын

i'm a pro wrestler, but I get bored or annoyed whenever I work a regular job, need to just work alone or on the computer

@nicholasgrundy 8 ай бұрын

exactly, everyone needs their space, some of us more so than others, cool that you're a pro wrestler!

@dogbrosinc6912 4 жыл бұрын

I am interested in learning a lots of thing including various engineering field also I think with effort anything is possible

@dogbrosinc6912 4 жыл бұрын

@julio1c1saga is proficiency of math enough I am interested to take math course

@dogbrosinc6912 4 жыл бұрын

@julio1c1saga I have less iq but I can work hard with focus

@dogbrosinc6912 4 жыл бұрын

@julio1c1saga I am just high school teenager 15 years old can I take your math class

@kiyoponnn 3 жыл бұрын

@@dogbrosinc6912 Don't think about limits, just work hard

@dogbrosinc6912 3 жыл бұрын

@@kiyoponnn Yes love you for growth

@healingtouchchhoun5632 5 жыл бұрын

That's clearly explaining me. Unfortunately my greatest challenge is an unsupported wife. Who wants to see a steady (1) income vs multiple undetermined ( unlimited) income. I have to accept that she'll probably never understand.

@venitocrouch00 3 жыл бұрын

I'm a independent comedian and I have to be a jack of all trades and a master of anything

@nicholasgrundy 3 жыл бұрын

Keep it up! The comedy game must be a tough gig, but there's a good saying to do whatever side-jobs and/or day-jobs you need to for as long as it takes the main passion to get going. That's what I did and still do sometimes, and what so many creatives in Los Angeles do too. Ask someone in LA what they do, and their answer should be your answer: "I'm a writer/comedian/actor" even if they are still earning 75% of their income from a different job like a chef/waiter/bus-driver. Work to live, work to support the passion.

@timgroup9390 4 жыл бұрын

How we know we master of some? What is measure of this?

@nicholasgrundy 4 жыл бұрын

It can be very subjective, however many would classify being a master of something as being a 'professional' at it, and one can define being a professional at something if you are able to make an income from it.

@danlightened 4 жыл бұрын

Being a jack in quite a few things, you'll always have your doubts. You'll have to constantly evaluate and re-evaluate your skills. There needs to be a balance between the Dunning-Kruger effect and the impostor syndrome. And as @Nicholas Grundy is himself saying, earning is a good way of reassuring oneself and others.

@nicholasgrundy 4 жыл бұрын

Very good point about the Dunning-Kruger effect vs. imposter syndrome. I remember transitioning from the former to the latter, eventually also transitioning beyond the imposter syndrome.

@nicoles_handle 3 жыл бұрын

i thought this was conan

@unscripted483 3 жыл бұрын

The thought about my future gives me severe anxiety

@rileyterry963 8 жыл бұрын

Them glasses 😂

@nicholasgrundy 5 жыл бұрын

There's more were those came from!

@someperson2500 5 жыл бұрын

Thought at first it was his hair lmao

@AlejandroRuiz-il1kg 8 жыл бұрын

I really want to be a jack of all trades. how can I manage my time to be able to do different things??

@adriantween584 7 жыл бұрын

Nicholas Grundy Photography I feel out of place a lot of the time, and I often find myself in a jack of all trades fearing I am not in my element and have juggling between jobs for income. I have been a musician, teacher and now I am thinking about becoming a biologist, consultant and maybe start a business. It makes frustrated the feeling that I haven't mastered one skill. But moreover is it challenging to do this when in a relationship? Thanks for the talk I will definitely listen to this a few times.

@BrianVelez 6 жыл бұрын

NOOOOO, You have no idea what i would give to be the master of at least two of my several decent/advanced skills. I fall into constant depression cause I am always good enough to get into the major leagues but fall flat once I'm in cause everyone is just at a higher level. Its like always landing 3rd place.

@nicholasgrundy 6 жыл бұрын

Nothing wrong with third place Brian! As long as you are enjoying what you are doing, enjoying life, and making enough money to survive then that's it. You'll improve over time and you're only young still so keep at it!

@nicholasgrundy 6 жыл бұрын

It depends on the relationship. For myself and others who have been very fortunate it is possible to end up with someone who creates a mutually beneficial result - both of you can help become masters of trades which complement each other. You can learn more and more from your partner and improve your skills and theirs.