There are a few projects I could pursue right now – freelance writing, literary memoir, Me and My Scamp, eBay mogul (six sales and I’m fantasizing an empire) – and I’m thinking about the difference between pursuing multiple projects at once, versus focusing on one and becoming an expert in that.
Multiple projects have the advantage of lowering the risk. “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is a cliché for a reason. If one or two go nowhere, you’ve still got the others. But it’s tough to keep all the balls in the air (Cliché’s R Us!), and do each as well as you’d like.
Becoming an expert is appealing because you can dig deep, immerse yourself in one thing and feel the satisfaction of stretching yourself and your knowledge. But the risk is if it fails, you’re sunk.
What do you think? I’ll talk more about this on Monday, but in your life, which is it? And how is that working for you? Do you need to make a change?
P.S. Here’s one more video in the vein of Sad Things That Make Me Laugh. Enjoy the weekend.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
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4 comments:
Be an expert!
As a professional Jane of All Trades/Mistress(?) of None, I can attest to the fact that having multiple projects will leave you far less satisfied in the long run. That said, it's always good to have a backup plan, but you're talented and can go places if you stick with one thing. I'm not sayin' what's good for the goose is good for the gander, or that you should count your chickens before they hatch, but it's more worthwhile to be an expert.
ayana,
adding more cliche to this post is well, exemplory!! I'm still holding off with a comment, as I am trying to channel my ,,, well I'm just not commenting yet...
Monica and Ayana - Thanks for weighing in. I think you're right about the expert = satisfaction idea, and will probably talk more about it on the blog today.
I'm with Tusk - kudos to Ayana for the excellent use of cliche!
(Tusk - would love to hear your thoughts.)
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