Jack of all trades and master of none

This proverb aptly describes me. A dabbler, dilettante, an amateur, call me whatever you want but the fact of the matter is that so far I had taken pride in being a jack of all fields and had not cared to be a master of any one field.

During my school days, I was clueless and too lost in reverie and silent observation to pursue anything seriously. Only in high school, I started playing Table Tennis and Cricket with excitement and joy. I remember that I had defeated one of the top players in the school which should have ideally motivated me to take the sport seriously. But that didn't happen.

I recollect defeating my senior in college, who was a Gold-medallist in Table Tennis, in a friendly match. And, I was encouraged to play T.T from my college team. And even at that time, I refused saying that I play to amuse myself and my intention is not to compete hence I don't want to delve deep.

I recall having picked up a new hobby of playing Lawn Tennis towards the end of my college. I had no formal training or any background as such. I started playing just by observing the professional players play. And I trusted that my body knows the basic physics of how to play more than I do. So, when someone advised me to take formal coaching after watching me play, I shrugged.

Then I took up reading and writing and I loved it. It gave me some other-worldly joy. I kept at it for some period of time but when I joined Infosys at Mysore Training Campus, the writing stopped and I took up Swimming and Squash. I used to wake up at 5 AM to be able to play and swim before joining my classes at 9 AM. Swimming and Squash lasted for about 6 months as long as I was in Infosys Campus.

Then I resigned from Infosys and came home and decided that I want to start teaching students. I have a knack for understanding their perspective. I know it from my own experience of getting taught at school. During the beginning phase, I was all enthusiastic and excited and enjoying every minute of the process. It was so fun to be around kids, the life force that they bring with them. I continued teaching for about 2 years and then gave up and soon afterwards joined Government Service.

During my stint at MEA in New Delhi, I started playing Lawn Tennis again, but without any coaching. I also enrolled in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) classes; continued for a month and then gave up. Then I signed up for Piano classes (Music is love). My instructor told me that I have learned in one month what most people aren't able to learn in 10 months (no kidding). I was enjoying the classes and it was so great to be finally able to play with both hands. I found it very relaxing and soothing. But sadly, due to some personal issues, I had to give up playing the Piano for a few months. And I never resumed it again.

But the problem is that after taking up anything to study or do, I always meet with this thought-

1. Why delve deep?

2. Why become an expert on this?

3. What will I achieve getting a masters in this?

And so I leave it mid-way. I always wonder how come few people do a PhD. and so much research. It must be intensely rewarding and joyful for them. And now I am in my 30s wondering where would I be had I pursued a single thing for all my life. David Epstein, the renowned author of the book Range, says:

Eventual elites typically devote less time early on to deliberate practice in the activity in which they will eventually become experts. Instead, they undergo what researchers call a “sampling period.” They play a variety of sports, usually in an unstructured or lightly structured environment; they gain a range of physical proficiencies from which they can draw; they learn about their own abilities and proclivities; and only later do they focus on and ramp up technical practice in one area.

This gives me hope. That all the time I spent earlier trying my hands at different things was my "sampling period" and it was worth it. Now, I think I am ready to focus on gaining expertise in one thing while not ignoring my other passions altogether.

I am not sure if it is the case with you, that's why I would love to know what your approach towards your passions is and what do you think of generalizations and specializations?

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