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jack of all trades, master of none. no thanks, i'll stick to being an expert (and getting paid accordingly) in one field, and adjust when needed. you don't ge

jack of all trades, master of none. no thanks, i'll stick to being an expert (and getting paid accordingly) in one field, and adjust when needed. you don't get brick layers randomly learning carpet fitting and welding "just incase"

atonse 12y ago
Actually, to extend your brick layer analogy, what if that's all you do and we devise drones that can lay bricks really fast? Then what? You're going to have to compete with the other 50,000 unemployed brick layers now looking for welding jobs.
- hueving 12y ago
  Then don't look for a welding job. If you are in the top of the brick-laying field, there will be plenty of consultancy for these new brick-laying machine jobs or with the company that programs the brick-laying strategies. The point is that you spend the time to truly become an expert in an area, most of the skills will be easily transferrable to an orthogonal position. Dabbling in a bunch of crap on the side doesn't really get you anything except for a false sense of confidence that gets blown away when an interviewer asks you any reasonably hard question about it.
- dagw 12y ago
  Someone has to teach the drone developers optimal brick laying techniques so they can program the drones. Every building site will no doubt need a handful of people to oversee the drones and verify their work. Also there will probably be several intricate nuances to complicated brick laying problems that will still require manual intervention. I wouldn't be surprised if at the end of the day a master bricklayer won't be able to use those drones far more efficiently and creatively than even the best drone programmer who has never actually held a trowel.
  - marknow 12y ago
    So, basically, always be looking for emerging opportunities and don't be quick to "throw in the trowel" ;-) Sorry... just couldn't resist!
falcolas 12y ago
The actual phrase is: A jack of all trades Master of none Is still better Than a master of one Worth keeping in mind when looking for a metaphor.
- speeder 12y ago
  I think people ignore the second part, because it is a lie. (see my post here commenting about my situation)
- icebraining 12y ago
  That latter two parts seem to have been added later. The original uses only included the first, and then the second parts. http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/jack-of-all-trades.html http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/jack-of-all-trades.html

atonse 12y ago

Actually, to extend your brick layer analogy, what if that's all you do and we devise drones that can lay bricks really fast? Then what? You're going to have to compete with the other 50,000 unemployed brick layers now looking for welding jobs.

hueving 12y ago
Then don't look for a welding job. If you are in the top of the brick-laying field, there will be plenty of consultancy for these new brick-laying machine jobs or with the company that programs the brick-laying strategies. The point is that you spend the time to truly become an expert in an area, most of the skills will be easily transferrable to an orthogonal position. Dabbling in a bunch of crap on the side doesn't really get you anything except for a false sense of confidence that gets blown away when an interviewer asks you any reasonably hard question about it.
dagw 12y ago
Someone has to teach the drone developers optimal brick laying techniques so they can program the drones. Every building site will no doubt need a handful of people to oversee the drones and verify their work. Also there will probably be several intricate nuances to complicated brick laying problems that will still require manual intervention. I wouldn't be surprised if at the end of the day a master bricklayer won't be able to use those drones far more efficiently and creatively than even the best drone programmer who has never actually held a trowel.
- marknow 12y ago
  So, basically, always be looking for emerging opportunities and don't be quick to "throw in the trowel" ;-) Sorry... just couldn't resist!

falcolas 12y ago

The actual phrase is: A jack of all trades Master of none Is still better Than a master of one Worth keeping in mind when looking for a metaphor.

speeder 12y ago
I think people ignore the second part, because it is a lie. (see my post here commenting about my situation)
icebraining 12y ago
That latter two parts seem to have been added later. The original uses only included the first, and then the second parts. http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/jack-of-all-trades.html http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/jack-of-all-trades.html