this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2024
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[–] ninjabard@lemmy.world 107 points 3 weeks ago (3 children)

I'm going to paraphrase Adam Savage.

I am mediocre at a lot of things. But the way I combine and use those skills are what make my skill set unique and what makes them great.

[–] Bluefruit@lemmy.world 21 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (3 children)

I like that, some YouTube video i came across had the sentiment that it was ok to be a renaissance man, jack of all trades kinda deal. I liked that a lot since i have a few different hobbies and im not particularly great at any of them but im good for the most part.

Made me feel like i didn't have to be perfect and it was cool to just be doing stuff.

[–] ninjabard@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

Same. I have one or two things I'm really good at. And a lot of things I'm pretty ok at. In my field, theatre, being ok in a lot of things means I can fit into almost any space. Don't make me your department head, but I can help pretty much every department except costumes. I used to think not being "master" level at these things made me a waste in space. Took me a while to realize "not as skillful" didn't mean "skill-less." I'd still rather be on stage but, I'm enjoying where I am for now.

[–] Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee 4 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Hobbies are one thing, you don't need to be good at them to enjoy them, but being incredibly good at one specific thing tends to pay far better than mediocre at a lot of things.

[–] Krauerking@lemy.lol 1 points 2 weeks ago

You don't need to be incredibly good at something either.

Often it's just being who they think about when they want something done. Be the person they know they can turn to or the only person that can do it and that's just as useful.

[–] Shard@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

I'm in an engineering field, and I can tell you this absolutely holds true.

I've been very average in my own specialty of electrical engineering, but because I've taken the time to deep dive into mechanical engineering and controls/automation, I've far surpassed my peers career wise.

[–] meep_launcher@lemm.ee 21 points 3 weeks ago

Okay this is actually what makes humans amazing. Btw the malört and Marx is talking now.

I feel like we are sold this idea to be purely a specialist because... It's easy to know that your tool does one thing and one thing well. It really is a mindset that benefits a capitalist that a worker is good for one thing. How many jobs have you been in that you felt never utilized your potential? That you had so many skills that weren't being utilized?

Marx characterized humans as being creative and diverse. We are amazing Swiss army knives, but so often our companies ask us to only be a screwdriver or a bottle opener.

Sadly if you are reading this thinking "I'm only good at one thing" it's not true and it's not your fault. You've been sold an idea that you bought into, and it may have even been beneficial financially. How many people are making $350k to turn a button blue and move it left 3 pixels? Our system rewards people when they are able to be tools for a specific purpose.

Oddly enough Marx predicted that the country most likely to be communist would be the United States. He actually really liked Americans, we were farmers in the morning, artists in the evening, and philosophers at night. We had overthrown the aristocracy, so it just made sense we would be the first to overthrow the Bourgeois class.

Turns out Marx couldn't predict everything :/

[–] Kite@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

I am mediocre at a lot of things. But the way I combine and use those skills are what make my skill set unique and what makes them great.

I love this. It pretty much perfectly describes how I got every job I've ever had as an adult.