Jack of all trades is perfectly fine.

In the past week... at least 3 parents have complained to me during workshops and consultations  - about their children who don't 'perform'

It has ranged from the mother of a preschooler complaining that she doesn't show what she has learnt. 

To the father of a middle schooler saying that their son keeps hopping from one musical instrument to the other without excelling in any one. 

To the parents of a teenager saying that he refuses to play competitive sports even though he is excellent at many games. 

So is it valuable to know something well - if you don't show the world how good you are at it and win applause and awards? 

I think it is. 

There are some things you do because you want to challenge yourself. 

Once you have mastered that sport / instrument - you want a new challenge. 

You look at a new sport / instrument. 

You do this to build your self esteem and feel good

You may not want to perform or compete in this space and lose out on the joy of being good - by discovering that you are not the best. 

Being a generalist is good. 

Jack of all trades is perfectly fine. 

I don't think we should worry so much about children when they do such things. 

Our worry is likely to shake the self esteem they are struggling so hard to build.

Photo by Siniz Kim on Unsplash


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