How to Get Better at Almost Everything
In the last six months I’ve started a new business, a new book, and an album with my band. I got my blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do, and learned to draw. We also had another baby. I’ve been burning the candle at both ends, and loving every other minute of it.
My new book is about generalism, or how to be better at almost everything. My argument is you’ll have more fun in life, and an easier time getting ahead, if you focus on breadth, rather than depth, of skill. Great at many things, in other words, even if you’re not the best at any one.
This means you should acquire a series of many skills, not just one, and combine them to form a competitive advantage and creative spirit. Some skills you learn to advance your business or career–fitness, writing, marketing, networking, etc. Others you learn for shits and gigs. For me, that’d be music, martial arts, drawing, and so on. Though you’ll often be surprised how skills you didn’t think would advance your career, can come back around in more ways than one.
But as for writing a book about being great at many things, here is my rule: I have to live that existence while writing the book. This project couldn’t be an act of specialization, because specialization, at least to my eye, is the enemy.
Here’s why.
Humans are the most adaptable creatures on earth. Our brains have allowed us to become competent at just about anything. And while we may not be AS GOOD as earth’s many specialists–as strong as the gorilla, as speedy as the ostrich–we don’t need to be. We’re at the top of the food chain because we’re generalists, not specialists.
So I simply make the same argument within humanity. Too many people are specializating and becoming pigeonholed because of it. Their perspective is limited, their experience narrow. And they wonder why they can’t get ahead.
The solution:
Step 1) Start with what you love and become great at it.
Step 2) Layer other skills on top to increase your competitiveness.
Step 3) Create, create, create.
And here’s what I’ve learned, or been reminded of, so far in how to get all that done.
How to Be Better at Almost Everything
#1) Trust the Process and also HAVE a Process
I define a master as someone who has owned a process and can therefore produce results on a consistent and regular basis. In this regard I have gained mastery over almost every above. It means I have a process for building businesses and writing books and songs. I know what I’m doing, because I’ve been there. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy for me. The most I can say is I have a process and when committed to the process, results become predictable and repeatable.
A process is essential for any creative process. You need a process for acquiring skill, and you need a process for combining skill and applying skill.
I know if I follow the process for building a business, it will eventually become profitable. I know if I follow the process for writing a book, it will eventually be written. Same for writing or mastering a song.
But there are no shortcuts. There is only process, and so you must learn to trust the process, and keep it organic.
So if you don’t have a process, get a process. That’s step one–it has to be.
So get a coach. Hire a mentor. Do whatever you need to find your process.
#2) Track the Process
When I first started working out I wrote down every workout, and every meal. (I still do.) I tracked my progress from week to week on lifts and muscle and body fat.
When I said a process should be organic I meant it must be willing to evolve. And you can’t evolve something unless you’ve been monitoring it. Tracking the process is part of the process.
As for my business, if you’re diligent, I’m sure you can find posts from years ago documenting my many failures and few successes. I remember writing a post when I was in college to celebrate the month I finally made more than a $1000 online. I am still tracking this process today.
You track the process to inspire yourself and look for ways to grow. And this is what gives you the clarity and confidence to move in new directions when you need. I also track the process to offer inspiration–not only myself, but everyone. I don’t want you to only see the finished product. I want you to see the mess along the way. I want you to see where I come from, and how my process evolved, and how I evolved with it.
For writing and music, the same thing. You’ll find on my Supmuhhumbruh soundcloud account that I’m releasing songs as they’re being written, not just when they’re fully developed. These are hardly perfect, of course. But I enjoy the imperfections, and I want you to see the mess that everyone goes through in the creative process. I want you to see (or, in this case, hear) my Shitty First drafts.
I would happily share my Shitty First Drafts of my book as well, but that might be giving a little too much away. But be assured, I am tracking that process, as well.
#3) A Little Something Everyday
The specialist is someone who spends so many hours on one thing. The generalist is someone who spends one hour on so many things.
When you’re working on many projects, and developing yourself in different ways, you need to stick to the adage of Dan John, “Little and often over the long haul.”
In my book, I say you can get up to 80% good at something with just 1 – 2 hours of practice a day. If you want to be 100% good at something (read: best in the world), I think you’re fighting a war you cannot win. There are hardly enough hours in the day to become the best in the world. Plus, genetics, and all that. Specialization is a snare you should do everything to avoid.
Truth is, 80% good at something is actually great at something. Figure most people are only 5% good at things. 5% good at writing, 5% good at sales, 5% good at taking selfies. 80% is high. Really, you don’t even need to go to 80%. You might only need to go to 20%, so long as you have other skills you can stack on top. (See point #5.)
4) Repetition and Resistance
If you want to get good at something you have to practice that something. There is where Repetition and Resistance comes into effect.
Repetition is the frequency at which you do something. Resistance is the intensity at which you do it. Keep your frequency high. But vary the Resistance. Some days make your practice sessions hard, and other days easy.
5) Learn to Stack Your Skills
Imagine being 60% good at fitness, and 20% good at writing and 20% good at marketing. Because with that “skill stack” you’ll have an easier time getting ahead than someone who is 90% good at fitness (whatever that means) but 0 – 5% good at everything else. Because there will always be somebody who is 91% good at fitness, and then what does that leave you?
Such is the problem with trying to be the best in world. Even if you get there, chances are someone will steal the throne within the next sixty seconds. (Perhaps a Game of Thrones reference would be appropriate? Only I don’t watch Game of Thrones.)
So the whole point of my book is you shouldn’t compete on being “better” or “best”. You should compete on being unique and having skills the specialist overlooks..
6) Learn to Manage Compromise – Another Dan John-ism
You can’t be the best at everything. You can’t even be the best at one thing, statistically speaking. But you can be great at one thing, and good or at least fairly competent and just about everything else. And that’s all you need to find the winning formula in life.
But also know this. I don’t watch Game of Thrones not because I don’t like Game of Thrones. I don’t watch Game of Thrones because I’m starting a new business, writing a new book, recording a new album, etc. All projects come with trade-off. You can’t have your cake and eat it, too.
So if you want to become a generalist, you have to understand that to become good at something is a matter of compromise. You have to become clear not only on what you’re willing to give, but also on what you’re willing to give up, in order to get there. And the more skills you seek to obtain, and the more creative or entrepreneurial activities you plan to undertake, the more comprises you’re going to have to manage along the way.
Expectations are a part of the process. You need to have them set from the start. All success requires diligence and commitment and pain. And all that stuff, honestly, guys, it sucks. It’s no wonder most would rather binge watch Netflix than commit to a process.
But then I think about how I would feel if I went the other way around, and abandoned everything I’ve begun, and how despicable and disgraceful I would feel. I imagine the futility of specialization, or worse–the snare of sitting on the couch, and slowly deteriorating.
I think about what Marcus Aurelius said, about how you could “leave life right now” and boy does that scare me. Because he’s right. Any of us, at any time, could leave life right now. So every day I just do what I can. I put on my little cap of Stoicism, and commit to the process.
Strong ON!
– Pat
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PS – Do me a favor. Comment below and tell me what you’re working on. In fact, tell me what has you ON FIRE right now.
I want to hear what you’re passionate about. I also have some stuff to giveaway – 15 minute phone calls, Very Good Protein, etc.
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PPS – If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy being a subscriber to my email list. Also, if you enjoyed this post, your shares would be deeply appreciated.
Pat, just wanna say your blog and emails have helped me so much this past year. I wait every morning for your email to come because I know it’s going to either make me laugh or amp me up. Been working on getting my personal trainer business off the ground here in WI and am determined to make this happen. Your podcast has been tremendous in helping me as well. Please keep doing what you’re doing!
Dude, thank you so much. Got another great biz interview going live today with Yuri Elkaim. I bet it’ll be right up your alley. The cool thing about Yuri is he’s a NYT bestseller, but so much of his marketing comes from really grassroots efforts of personal connection. I learned a lot from this one.
If may add
marinate the sweet spot.. this allows you to work at the edge of your ability where you are focused but resistance is just right your micro errors are not costly.
sandwich your “main” skill between other skills.. this allows you to foolproof the skill under a tolerable level of stress
Mark – I like this concept. Mind giving an example?
My pleasure…
What I did for my kb military presses..
Worked on making my 4-5 reps easier to bump my 7rm up
Doing my presses in the middle of a complex (usually second or third movement where you are mildly fatigued but still have enough to maintain integrity of form)
Mark, won yourself a call. Drop me an email and let’s set up a time to chat.
At first, I considered the “Expert Generalist” to be more of a personality type. Like, some people are more programmed for that, while others are more programmed for specialization. I’m coming around, though. On further consideration, I’ve determined that many people choose to pursue 80%-expert status in one area in which they naturally excel and then barely pursue any level of competence outside of that. OR, they choose a hobby as another area in which to pursue 80%-expert status. So, there’s a whole conglomerate of people who are good-ish at creating marketing materials and good-ish playing Rainbow Six Siege. Not exactly a killer combo for usefulness. (Unless pieced together in a way that suddenly becomes groundbreaking!) Anyway, #5 really resonates. The other skills should be useful and complementary for whatever purpose one has envisioned. The more unique, the better. The uniqueness of the skill set provides the competitive edge rather than the specialist status.
All of this to say… Excellent post, Pat! I’ll be thinking about this one well into [at least the immediate] future.
Well, you see me every night, prepping activities and lessons for the older kids. Super passionate lately about setting up our homeschool. Takes my creativity, organizational skills, and planning and channels it into a skill that spans science and math and art and writing. So fun!
Also, can you become even more of a generalist in terms of household chores? You don’t have to be perfect at them but I have a few ideas for you 😛
Har-de-har-har. You are just SO funny. ; )
Now this is funny…:)
Very interesting! All my life the concept of specialization has been preached as gospel as a way to success. It’s amazing more people don’t see the benefit to learning and becoming good at multiple skills. More people should learn about this concept.
YES! This is exactly what I have been doing. And my online stuff is about to launch – FINALLY!
Nate – been keeping an eye on your stuff. You’ve been kicking it into high gear lately. Lots of great content, and been enjoy the emails.
AWESOME! I’m putting the final touches on my 7-Day program and my follow-up 28-day program. Getting Leadpages this week so I can advertise!!
Rock and roll!
Due to life changes over the past few years, my fitness business has been evolving, actually dissolving would be more accurate, into something completely different than I had originally planned. My goal for this year is to figure out exactly what direction I want to take my business, or if I should give it up and focus on the other 13 or 20 things I enjoy doing, and the things I have to do. I enjoy all of your blog posts and emails, and they inspire me to try new things and to get better at the things I’m doing now. Thanks for all you do!!
Julie,
I can relate to everything you just said. When you figure it out, will you let me know? 😉
Pat, I always enjoy your emails! My goal is to earn my RKC next month. Coincidentally, Dan John will be running the weekend…
I think you may be doing the same cert as Alyssa, Wayne. Colorado?
That’d be fun, Wayne!
This resonates with me be cause I KNOW I need more generalist skills/passions. Ideas recently asked what my hobbies were….i was like, ummm, I work? I workout? I hang out with my dog and cook some awesome food? But I didn’t have what I would call a genuine unique interest/hobby that I pursue. It really opened my eyes to how boring and blah I have become. For me it’s baby steps….i want to find a volunteering opportunity with animals first and see where that leads me. 🙂
Love this, Kristina. Good luck with the volunteer work! Let us know what you fall in love with next!
Dude I love the article. I am working on my career as a personal trainer. Taking my love/skill of fitness and adding more
John – wishing you tremendous success in this. Reach out sometime, and let’s chat.
Hi Pat. Great post! Thank you for sharing. I appreciate your awesome insights. Currently, I’m focusing on three things: volleyball, my copywriting skills, and my fitness. This summer volleyball has had it’s ups and downs, but I’m learning so much about myself as a player and as a doubles partner. Enjoying the journey and the growth. In regards to copywriting, I recently joined a mastermind and am connecting with other awesome copywriters and fitness pros. Loving it! In regards to tracking fitness, do you use anything to help you track your progress? I’d love to find something where I can enter my weekly measurements, etc. to help track my progress.
I began my fitness journey 16 months ago as I was approaching a milestone birthday. I’m a nurse, so I realize how obesity and inactivity effects ones health. I’ve never been successful at weight loss since having my kids 20 years ago. Well I wanted a lifestyle change this time. Happy to report , I’m 78 lbs lighter and work out 6 times a week. I can never go back to how things used to be. I learn a lot from listening to people like you and Dr Spencer.
I want to continue to learn and improve my workouts and grow in my knowledge of nutrition. Great article Pat!
Love hearing your journey, Jaynee! Keep on keepin’ on, and I hope you check in here every once in a while to let us know how you’re doing 🙂
Hi
That was helpful because for long time I thought because I’m expert generalist I’m wasting my time and have to be very good in one thing but with age and motherhood come wizdam I fill it’s OK to do meny thing and not to be so good in everything just to injoy, my new interest is kettlebel and want to be good in working out with them, and thank you for your email and videos they are very helpful
The number one thing I want to get done this year is to get 100 lbs off. I am at 50 lbs so far and like you said it is a skill to do this and it does not come naturally. I have to remind myself each day to work at it and that it takes focus. Unfortunately it takes a lot of focus and sometimes life steals my attention.
One thing I can relate to is being a generalist. I work in IT and I am a generalist. I know a little about most of the systems out there. And that has made me pretty successful in the IT world as I can locate the specialists and at least be able to explain what we need done.
I do have more skills I want to learn. Playing the guitar is one of them. Learning to weld is another. Using this methodology will help with that.
I had a talk with one of my editors about talent vs skill. I told him I thought talent was a propensity, and skill something you earn. I am not a particularly talented person. I come from a genetic background with a lot of unhealthy predispositions–obesity being one of them. No natural musical talent. No born ability of any kind. But just because you aren’t talented, doesn’t mean you can’t develop the skills you need. You just have to work a little bit harder.
Cool goal, Mark!
As for the IT generalist–I can appreciate that being a very marketable skillset. Knowing when and how to locate specialists is a specific skill in itself, and a very important one!
Dude I’ve always thought this and think it’s the best perspective on living an awesome life. I’m above and below
Average in many areas and like being a chameleon of diversity.
Right now I’m exploring the steel mace and reading a lot on quantum physics. I was always scared of physics due to my difficult understanding mathematics. I realized I made up that difficult in my own mind and the more I let go of constructs the more I understand or simply don’t care about other things.
As you stated about the process – it’s everything. The process of meta- learning can be applied to everything and I am very excited for your new book of awesome things.
You’re amazing.
Also – you’re one of them lucky winners. So let’s set up a time to chat. Drop me an email : )
Jeeeeaaaalous.
I’m working on competing for a figure competition. It’s an extra- challenging thing for me because I used to weigh over 300lbs. So obviously working in getting shredded ??, but also working on the mental switch of being super fit and the surprising amount of pressure that comes with that. I am so lit with enthusiasm for this whole process, the challenge gives me an natural high it’s awesome. Figuring it out to balance this lifestyle while working a full time, shift work job with two kids is crazy, but worth it! I think you know my nutrition coach Jeff Snow?
Nice article. I’m a gym owner, work in PT, marketing, physio therapy and know without being a good generalist and having the ability to build my business I wouldn’t be where I am today.
What i’m working on right now is gymnastic strength training and expanding my business. I’m trying to achieve the one arm chin up, iron cross, straddle planche and a decent handstand. I am under no illusion some of these goals will take months or years, but the times going to pass anyway right.
Iron cross is specialist territory, and you have your expectations set exactly right. But I think a decent handstand is something any generalist with an interest should pursue. Wishing you progress is all your pursuits, Ollie.
I’ve been working on my snatch test in prep for the RKC in November. I don’t know if I’d say I’m on fire about it because it’s horrible. There is that old saying, “if you don’t like doing it than you probably need it.” I think i heard that on Star Trek.
All joking aside I love the work you do and thanks for continuing to inspire!
I think there’s a measure of truth to that. I’m also a fan of the snatch test. If nothing else, getting those 100 reps done shows you care about something.
Working on a strong finish to my summer series and getting new registrations for my fall series! Also getting together a ton of film and images for marketing and social media materials so I can have a little video on my website and a vast library of images and videos to use. Thanks for all the content! I dig it!
Thank you for the article. ..I hope you can eventually watch game of thrones 🙂
I hear it all the time how much I’m missing out. I’ll catch up someday.
I love Trust the Process. Learn from it, watch its patterns, co-participate in it.
I bought a small piece of art for my God daughter, she leaves for college Thursday it says “Trust the Process”, I’m writing in her card to have an pro-active one.
Always a pleasure to read your Truth.
: )
Hi Pat.
Congratulations on being the first millennial I think is truly awesome. Loved that post as it got me thinking. I’m a 42 year old trainer that does ok. Ive follewed your stuff for several years and love it. When I can I take your free
Offers, when I can’t I use an unmarked prepaid debt card so my wife doesn’t know I’ve purchased a 20 day extreme parking lot challenge or something similar. 1 question and I know you’ll have fun with….. it’s not even a question, it’s an expansion on what you’ve said. Bruce Lee said “heeeee yaaa, fear not the man who’s practiced 10000 kicks but the man who’s practiced 1 kick 10000x. I guess question is. When do you know when you’ve got to 10000 or to that 80%? I’m sorry, I’m a little drunk, never mind.
Hey AC,
I think a decent metric to use is practice time. To say you’re 80% good at something is fairly in the abstract. But I also feel it’s safe to say you can get to that point for about any skill with 1 – 2 hours of practice a day. When you specialize, however, and push to be 90 – 100% good at something, this is where practice time must surge dramatically and also where trade-offs and diminishing returns become much more apparent and severe.
Your E-Mails/Videos are always a joy to read. I can’t believe I get good ideas from a young whippersnapper!!! Currently I am doing something that most say I am too old for: Becoming a Police Officer. I retired from the USAF 24 years ago and I decided is time to do something worthwhile. Passed the Physical fitness part easily and was shocked at the number of kids (23-30) that couldn’t do pushups, situps or run. Currently I have put aside my KB’s and have been learning BB stuff: DL, Front squat, OH press as well as keeping up with pushups (40-50), situps (35-45) and pullups (13 max), but I worry about endurance and stamina. I haven’t been able to run in weeks due to a pulled muscle in my calf and not sure how to rest it and still keep endurance and stamina for running. Oh well, Enjoy you info any way I can get it.
Love today’s post, Pat! I’m right in the damn middle of committing to a process. I was laid off from my IT job this summer, and instead of freaking out and immediately finding yet another uninspiring job, I spent the summer having an awesome time and figuring out what I actually WANT to do next. After much soul-searching and some work with a life coach, I registered for a nutrition therapy practitioner program – I start in a few weeks. And lest anyone think I’m “so lucky to be able to do that” – please note that I am a divorced single mom, with no safety net… Just a shit ton of courage and a passion to help make the world a better place. We make our own luck. 🙂 And I’m super happy for folks like you out there – proving to me that it CAN be done! Thank you!
~ Tanya
Tanya, what an awesome story. Also, congrats, because you just won some protein. Drop me an email with instructions on where to send it : )
What an inspiring post! I can’t believe how motivated and accomplished you are, this has made me think I’ve what I’m fired up about and want to see completed in my life. What I’m passionate about and would love to know more about would be writing a children’s book. I’m going to follow your steps and learn more about the process and hone in on my skills because I can also learn more about drawing so I can be the illustrator too. Thanks for the motivation.
I love that you point out about doing something you love and getting good at it. I have been struggling myself. I want to be able to paint/draw and while I do have some skills, it isn’t as good as many other artists out there. This post has inspired me to really focus on it and find my own style instead of recreating what has already been done. Thanks! I am going to read some other posts. This was fantastic!
I spent a long time trying to get good at things that would bring me money and even when I did get good at them, I was just miserable. I find it hard to believe people can do this every day of their life and be happy… And often times it makes you more aware of really why so many people just aren’t happy these days. I am going to focus more on what I love.
I am working on leaving my mind at the door. I tend to over analyze everything- especially weightlifting. What has me on fire is working on form without freezing up from anxiety.
Congrats on the new baby!
I completely agree about being a generalist, rather than a specialist – and you actually make me feel a little better about my CV, as my CV definitely highlights my “generalist nature.” The only thing I would add to the list is, be persistent. I’m definitely not the best at, well really anything, but I’ve also been told I can’t do things, which I’ve since done. Most of the time it’s because I’ve been persistent.
Also – Game of Throne! Omg such a trade off – not sure I can go that far lol.
Insightful piece.. I couldn’t stop reading. I’ve great passion for writing and that has been my major focus. I work hard to improve my skills and I believe I can always improve. I hope to be a top screenwriter someday.
Thanks for the words of encouragement. It really keeps me going.
Hey Pat,
I truly enjoy the easy-to-read and simple vocabulary in your emails, since English is my 3rd language.
This article in particular is one of the better ones I read about advice on life in general. Of course all of it doesn’t apply to me (as with everyone). I am a medical student, in 1 year (hopefully) I will become a medical doctor, and guess what – becoming a good doctor requires both! A wide range of medical knowledge and specialization in your “favourite” area. Also some skills outside med school as well – especially social skills on which I’m still on the “weak” side (being an introvert y’know).
I hope you continue to write such articles in the future, looking forward to them!
Well, I started to become a generalist before a couple of years: in sports (mixing with things from Ido Portal, YOU, some German YouTubers, kettle bell, BWE’s, handstand, gymnastic rings and starting escrima next month, …), in physical therapy (different directions: sports (Kettlebell education), manual therapy, neurologic stuff and now in my 45ers doing PT independent from a boss next month (thank you universe for this huge possibility)), and in my private life (being a daddy of two wonderful healthy children, divorcing from my wife next year for more harmony in our family(I know it sounds sick).
Strong on pal
Best regards from Germany
Yours Tibor
Escrima! That looks awesome.
Ooops, and my#1 aim for this year is starting to be smoke free
Pat,
Thank you so much for all the great content. I wait to open your emails until I have 15 mins free because I know I’ll read the whole thing and the articles linked within. Your content is an integral part of my creative process. Caffeine on an empty stomach helps too.
I’m fired up on writing. I have a website that focuses on fitness for law enforcement. Life (a baby and new house) has gotten in the way and I haven’t written an article in a while. I have a few article ideas outlined for this month based off of your (and Dan John’s) principles that I can’t wait to tackle.
Thank you for everything.
The question…what has you fired up right now…that’s deep. I’m not sure I’m fired up about anything right now. Just started a new career path, it’s fine. Will pay the bills, provide stability after divorce. But does it have me fired up? Not yet. There is potential though.
I’m interested in health and nutrition in my off work time. Balancing kid schedules, sick parents and 12 hour shifts is challenging but I realize not insurmountable. The email about motivation really stuck with me. We have to do it even when we don’t feel the desire to follow through.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Peace out
I enjoyed this post for many reasons. Two years ago I had the idea to start a podcast in my niche (Applied Behavior Analysis), and launched it in February of 2016. It turned out to be very successful, with 325K downloads over 32 episodes. I did this while running my existing consultation practice, along with being a husband and parent of 3 kids. I mention this not to brag, but to note that I am not an expert in most of these areas.
Right now I’m fired up about expanding the continuing education products I currently sell online. Also, I’ve recently partnered with two colleagues to develop an online course to train ABA therapists (folks who often work directly teaching children with Autism).
Health wise, I’m fired up about figuring out how to drop 20 lbs. I’ve been working out with KB’s over the summer and am now starting to use heavier ones (from my perspective) almost exclusively.
With regard to the course, I think it’s an example of not needing to be an expert in area X, Y, or Z, but to partner with folks who are more knowledgable than you in these areas to achieve a common goal.
Thanks again for the post Pat!
All my life I have felt I was left out of the “gifting pool” because I didn’t specialize in any one thing, but over the years have been successful and good at many things. Yet….in the back of my mind I have been waiting for the “big gift” to be revealed. Maybe this was the gift…the gift of I am enough!! Keep doing what I am doing and challenging myself! Thank you!
And you are exactly the kind of person I am writing this book for : )
I loved you statement about all good things in life require a tradeoff That’s what your program is all about. I’m choosing to trade off the sugary, high carb foods I love for a healthier and better looking body. The best part is the tradeoff hasn’t been difficult yet. I’m very focused on this goal.
You’ve got it ; )
Thanks for that article – I’m enjoying filling my day with a range of hobbies and looking forward to returning to exercise. I’m really enjoying the challenge of learning guitar ATM. Thanks ?
Fundamentally, I think that’s the main reason somebody should want to become a generalist. Life is simply more fun when you can do things.
Interesting thoughts – especially to us ADD folks…
So a couple of questions:
How do you structure this in a tactical way to make progress in multiple areas without having the wheels fly off in all directions? I mean… how do you prioritize and make progress without falling into ineffective multi-tasking or decision-lock?
One of the things I am working on is saying “NO” to more things so that I can say hell ya! to a few things. (still have to finish several projects I shouldn’t have said yes too..
Thomas,
It’s a great question and something I explore in my book. The short answer is a generalist is essentially a short term specialist. You don’t get good at many things by trying to do them all at once. So you learn to surge in just one or two directions at a time, while maintaining everything else as best you can. The good news is most skills are far easier to maintain than they are to develop. So you spend time going hard into any area you want to get better at (how much time, exactly, depends on what you can give) while keeping some base level of practice going with everything else.
For everything I’m interested in or good at, I practice them all to some degree every day, but weigh priority more on some than others, depending on what my goals are at the time. Some months, I may spend a few hours a day playing the guitar. Others, I may spend only 10 – 15 minutes, because I’m learning something else, and that’s taking up more of my time. In my experience, I’ve found I can only really push to develop 2 (maybe 3) skills at a time. Any more than that and my efforts become diluted and ineffective. Better to surge and maintain, then switch, rather than attempt to do everything at once.
Hi Pat,
My name is Tom Coffey.
I saw you present in NYC, in July, at the RFS mastermind. You fired me up big time with your presentation. It was awesome. Thank you for that.
Currently, I’m finishing up a second round of edits to an ebook I’m writing, titled, “So, You Want To Be A Ranger?”
Writing it was easy. Working with an editor is tough, haha.
From a learning standpoint, the process has been enlightening. I really dig your approach to keeping a process organic and evolving. That makes a lot more sense to me now, vs two months ago.
Anyway, I love your blog, and look forward to reading your emails each day.
Thank you for being awesome, Pat.
Tom,
Was a delight meeting you at Roman’s event. Drop me an email. Would love to catch up and hear about everything you’ve been working on since.
Strong ON!
– Pat
I might be a little late at replying, but this was an excellent post. I am a PE teacher in Montgomery County, MD and teach in a suburb outside of DC. This post about being a generalist is exactly what I do and try to emphasize to my students. Except for Kindergartners, because they are cats and need to be corralled in the right direction. I have been looking to rework my lessons and focus more on Fitness and health instead of just skills,to further emphasize the point of not being an expert, but just picking up something you like and using that to help lead a healthy life. As a father of a 8 month old and 4 year old, restarting GRAD school, I have not had the time to get back to jujitsu. I downloaded your “blue prints,” and they really helped my get ready for a tournament that I did last fall. So I guess what I need to work on is getting fired up to get back to the gym and training for the next tournament. I enjoy your posts and email. Keep up the good work.
So glad there are PE teachers like you, who are true health & fitness enthusiasts! Wishing you a wonderful new school year, Joe!
working on
physically: one arm, one leg push up
mentally: saying no to things that bleed my time away from what I have decided to get 80% good at.
Business: making my next 2-3 hires
compromises under management:
physically: have had to put KB pressing on the back burner
mentally: saying NO to the opportunity to be a part of a really cool startup
Business: spending less time with my previous 3 hires (HAVE and WORK the system in place!)
when I read that, I realize that I have to go back to step one.
I need to USE the systems, not keep working on them.
thank you for this.
keep up the good work
Thank you for this article Pat.
Simply great stuff.
I´m really starting to appreciate this “Master of None” -approach to life, as I’ve always been interested in many topics and skills, without capabilites/interests/time to reach the pinnacle in anything.
At some point this seemded like a bad approach, but I’m starting to understand that the opposite might be true.
Now, I consider myself as a decent writer, fairly good public speaker, a good HR mind and still developing, with some skills in influencing others in a positive way – besides this I’m “fairly” educated in matters concerning nutrition, weight (fat) loss, lifting, healthy habits and such. Plus I’m stronger and physically more capable than “most”. Not an athlete by any means, but probably better than the average Joe.
And these are not all the skills by any means. But the point remains – I’m not GREAT or in the 1% best in any of these. Not by a long shot.
But 80 % ? Maybe all of the mentioned skills or at least some. Or getting there.
Do I have a good combination? I don’t know – for what purpose? I don’t think this question even matters.
Either way this particular combination of moderately developed skills is _me_.
So, this is what I’m working on right now.
– Even easier strength (Dan John & Pavel) seems to work (27/40 sessions in), at the very least mentally. Lifting is fun, technique has become “easy”. Mobility improving. So, a good thing.
– Daily Dose Deadlift plan (Pavel, StrongFirst) built in the previous programming, just replacing the deads with 1-5x1x75%. Seems to be a good idea, will know later, 17/45 sessions in.
– VERY relaxed version of Tim Ferriss Slow Carb diet. Woudn’t call it a diet though, for me it’s a rhythm. A mental shift if anything. And I probably won’t stop doing it. Seems to work, tracking fat%/kgs every day and analyzing averages. Losing fat and gaining muscle. SLOWLY, but based on somewhat reliable (or at least standardized) data. 80+ days of data. 91 kg -> 86 kgs in 80 days, and definitely not getting weaker/less muscular.
I’ll continue doing this for a few months.. or more. Don’t know yet.
Seems to be fun, educating and useful. Plus; “easy”.
Next up? Well, I just got a FMS done and I have a LOT of thing to work on and be mindful of.
So, mobility issues “next”. I’m hoping that this work will have a carryover to “stuff” in the long run.
Thanks again,
-Kalle
(Finland)
Thanks for sharing, Kalle! I really enjoyed your update. I keep almost starting Easy Strength and then not having the discipline to keep all the other fun stuff out of my programming.
I also appreciate that you aren’t even concerned with whether or not your “stack of skills,” so to speak, is useful. If the combination of your skills is purely for the purpose of self-satisfaction and fulfillment, I think that’s pretty perfect.
To mobility!
–Aly
Hey Kalle,
The Daily Dose of deadlifs plan is from Derek Miller…
A great way to sneak in your mobility and correctives is between those singles!
Enjoy.
Mark
Hi Kalle,
The heartening news is you don’t have to give up being a master of something to be great at something else. You only have to give up being best in the world. Once you remove the stereotype, I don’t think being a Jack of All Trades leads to absolution dilution of skill. To me a master is simply someone who has owned a process to the point of being able to produce consistent results. I think you can achieve mastery over just about anything practicing for 1 – 2 hours a day. Though I admit this varies slightly from skill to skill.
Great comment, and thanks for chiming in.
Thank you Pat.
That _is_ heartening.
After all, why would one skill inherently dilute another? That’s crazy if you think about it. This isn’t the case most of the time (besides some physical capabilities I suppose).
Thanks to Aly and Mark for the comments as well.
Those made me better too.
Best,
Kalle