Jack vs. Aang: Master of None or Master of All Elements?
which would you rather be?
Hey there, Bestie!👋
First off, a big thank you for the messages asking why there was no newsletter last week. I've been juggling OTSA, work, and personal life, and it got so hectic that writing felt impossible. But hey, I’m back like I never left!
Speaking of being back, I noticed a lot of you really vibed with the last newsletter on the whole Osimhen saga! Your feedback made my day. And a warm welcome to our 75 new subscribers!🎉 Feel free to catch up on past newsletters. I hope you find this space as fun and insightful as the rest of us do!
Now, let’s dive into today’s topic: Finding Your Flow as a Multipotentialite.
You’ve probably heard the saying, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” It’s often used to caution those of us who love exploring various fields and often times even as an insult. While there's some truth to it, I think it misses a crucial element: MASTERY. Let me explain.
If you’ve ever watched Avatar: The Last Airbender (and if you haven’t, seriously, what are you doing with your life?), you’ll know that Aang didn’t just go around learning firebending one day, waterbending the next, and then throw in some random earthbending on a whim. No, my guy was focused. He mastered airbending first. Then, he moved on to the other elements, one by one, with focus and intention. He didn’t try to master everything at once—he went deep into one element, understood its core, and then used that foundation to learn the next. That’s the difference.
Being a multipotentialite or a generalist is great—it’s the real-world equivalent of being the Avatar, mastering multiple domains. But trying to learn a bit of everything at once, like the Jack of all trades, is where it gets tricky. If you’re spreading yourself too thin, you end up being decent at many things, but not really great at anything. And that’s where the master of none part hits.
The truth is, versatility is a superpower, especially in tech. The industry loves people who can wear different hats. But here’s the catch: you need a strong hat first. Whether that’s coding, data science, design, or whatever tech skill you’re pursuing, build that strong foundation. Be the master of *one* before moving on to the next. Once you’ve got your firebending down, feel free to hop into waterbending.
Mastery of one domain gives you the confidence and skills to pivot, adapt, and learn faster in other areas. It’s about building depth before width. That’s how you go from being a Jack of all trades to becoming the Avatar of your tech journey.
So, how do you find your flow? Here’s how:
Pick a core skill and dive deep. Become the go-to person in that field.
Explore complementary skills once you've mastered your core area.
Don’t rush the process. Mastery takes time, so avoid the urge to learn everything at once.
Allow room for failure and adjustments. Be patient with yourself as you grow.
In tech, versatility is gold, but it’s most valuable when built on a solid foundation. So, be the Avatar, not the Jack.
By the way, OTSA 2.0 registration is officially closed! 🎉 And guess what? This was our biggest one yet—almost 400 people signed up. Huge thanks to everyone who shared and invited others. We’re excited about the magic we’ll create with this cohort!
Catch you next week!
Cheers,
Samuel
QOTD: “Trust the process. Even traffic light go red before green go show”