You choose and why?

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30th April 2008, 03:59pm
#1
by LEE2000
Deep Run, NC United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 100

A "Jack-of-all-Trades" or a "Master of One", which is best?

help note: Jack-of-all-trades defined as, 1. better than average at most everything that one does. 2. a natural.  (but not good enough to earn a living at it)

help note: Master of One defined as, 1. the best at what one does but very poor at most every other thing they try. 2. able to earn a nice or better living at this one skill or talent.

just curious, thanks for your feedback.

lee 


30th April 2008, 06:58pm
#2
by mercytononeZ
New Orleans,LA United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 1946
i would choose master of one but im just a kid so what do i know
30th April 2008, 07:18pm
#3
by LEE2000
Deep Run, NC United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 100
mercytononeZ wrote: i would choose master of one but im just a kid so what do i know

 you know more than you think you do Zach.  you know enough to beat me at chess, now tell us what it is about being great at one thing that you like better than being just good at a lot of things.

 


1st May 2008, 03:37pm
#4
by mercytononeZ
New Orleans,LA United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 1946

you can make a living off of being great at one thing

 but you cant make a living off of being average at a lot of things


3rd May 2008, 03:53pm
#5
by cakeyes
MA United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 1825
What a topic!!  I guess being jack of all trades would be good for every day living but a master would be excellent for your job, no matter what it is you do. 
3rd May 2008, 04:04pm
#6
by kohai
chess.com International
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 3984
I always thought the saying was "jack of all trades, master of none"
7th May 2008, 04:29am
#7
by LEE2000
Deep Run, NC United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 100
NOTHING!!   IF (big if) you can do it.  i know of no one.  do you?
7th May 2008, 04:46am
#8
by LEE2000
Deep Run, NC United States
Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 100
C'mon, don't be so vague.  Could they beat me at tennis or basketball or texas holdem (poker) or could they fly-fish or switch out a transmission on their car or replace the brake pads?  Could they repair a busted pipe under the house and sing a song in front of 500 people?  Are they really masters of all (many) things?   :-)
21st August 2008, 09:43am
#9
by Anda
Roslyn, PA United States
Member Since: Aug 2007
Member Points: 895

Certainly the "jack of all trades" makes for an interesting party companion, whereas the "master of one" (yes, the saying is "master of none", but for argument's sake, let's give him credit for one) might be a dull person except for the one thing he/she knows well. He/she knows more and more about less and less.

21st August 2008, 01:10pm
#10
by rich
My Home United Kingdom
Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 23150

Jack of all trades, like me I'm a good javelin thrower a good high jumper and a good sprinter. But not as good as some people who do just one.

 

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