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A Jack of All Trades

Posted On May 25, 2011


A Great Idea …

“Not being everything is smart; not working on everything but rather emphasizing selected strengths is the route to excellence. For many people, this understanding requires a redirection of the doing all and being all to being more by focusing on less and doing a lot of what you do well.” (Donald Clifton and Paula Nelson, experts in finding and developing personal strengths, in their book, Soar With Your Strengths. p. 41)

In Other Words …

Often each of us tries to be a “Jack of all trades,” while forgetting the other half of the phrase: “Master of none.” When we try to be good at everything, we usually end up being excellent at nothing. When we focus on just a few things that align with our natural strengths, we are likely to be both happier and more successful.

How this Applies to You …

What are your greatest strengths? If you’re not sure, go to www.authentichappiness.org and take the VIA Survey of Character Strengths. Once you know your strengths, you can redesign your life to spend less time and energy on tasks outside your strengths and more time on tasks that use your strengths.

To Find Out More …

For excellent (and free!) programs on improving your personal well being, check out The Personal Journey and Managing Stress at www.arfamilies.org.

For more information on improving your strengths, we recommend Soar with Your Strengths by Donald O. Clifton and Paula Nelson, or Authentic Happiness by Martin Seligman.
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Author

H. Wallace Goddard

Wally Goddard is a retired professor of Family Life having served in Arkansas and Alabama. He developed programs on personal well-being, marriage, and parenting. He is well known for his many creative family programs, including The Marriage Garden, The Parenting Journey, and Blueprint for Happiness. Wally has authored or co-authored several books including Between Parent and Child, The Soft-Spoken Parent, and Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage. He has been recognized by his colleagues with several awards including the Outstanding Family Life Educator Award. Wally and his wife, Nancy, have three adult children, fourteen grandchildren, and have cared for many foster children over the years. Wally describes Nancy as the finest human being he has ever known.

5 Comments


rebecca
May 25, 2011 at 9:22 pm
Reply

I have tried to unsubscribe four times. Why won’t your emails to me stop? Please, stop!


    admin
    May 28, 2011 at 5:02 pm
    Reply

    You have been removed from our list. Blessings to you!

Deborah Avila
May 25, 2011 at 9:51 pm
Reply

wonderful ! THANK you as always Dr.! Deborah Avila


FLowe
May 25, 2011 at 11:42 pm
Reply

I love this! It is so true. Thanks for the reminder.


Myke Weber
May 26, 2011 at 5:34 am
Reply

Well well, my number one strength is:
“Curiosity and interest in the world
You are curious about everything. You are always asking questions, and you find all subjects and topics fascinating. You like exploration and discovery.”

So I take that to mean that I am meant to be a Jack-of-all-Trades. Those strengths that follow seem to confirm that I have no great need to focus any further than I have. I appears that my broad interests and activities are right up the alley of an unfocused person of broad interests.

I can’t imagine life any other way!


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