Jane of All Trades…Master of None!
But Why the F not?
I consider myself an introvert/extrovert, which some people find hard to believe. But from your experience of me on this page, it’s clear—I tell no lies.
My social flow depends on my mood. I choose when to be social (there are many pep talks involved), but once I’m on, I’m on. I’ve always had a natural knack for connecting with people, especially one-on-one (note to self to write an entry on connection soon).
During grad school, I leveraged those moments. Any opportunity, I was connecting with a professor, someone in the industry, etc. Coffee dates were a norm, and networking was a daily action. One of these encounters with an entrepreneur/former professor became unforgettable.
He was a guest lecturer for one of my classes and so impressive that I felt compelled to connect. We met for coffee, and I shared my frustration with the universe and confusion about my purpose. I felt like I was good at many things but couldn’t figure out which thing to really focus on. I was hung up on the idea of a single role defining my life.
He listened, asked a few clarifying questions, and then said, “First, I love your passion for different things. These will serve you in the future. It seems you feel lost because you haven’t focused on one thing. Double down on one thing, and if you don’t like it, you can transition. Work on being a master at something rather than a master of none.”
I felt conflicted with his response. Why couldn’t I master everything at once? He sensed my confusion and advised me to think about it - and think about it I did. As an over-analyzer, I sat with our conversation for weeks.
At that point, I had been in grad school almost a year after transitioning from working in advertising by day and fashion by night. I was moving away from wanting to own my own business in that moment but still loved elements of entrepreneurship, marketing, fashion, writing, events and a lot of things in between.
For many millennials, especially first generation, there is NO BLUEPRINT. I didn’t know how to channel my passions strategically. It felt like I had to choose one path. No one ever told me me:
Career trajectories have ebbs and flows; rarely are they linear
Transferable skills are invaluable if leveraged correctly
Being a multi-hyphenate and multi-passionate individual is a unique strength
It’s okay to try something and move on. Forever does not have to be your story
You’ll hear me mention this a lot, but I am all about signs and timing. After that conversation, clarity came organically. I realized I had a passion for marketing but never actually had a marketing job. Sure I came from the advertising world but it was different. I wanted a true marketing role. I also wanted a break from my fashion freelancing grind (being a writer, contributor, stylist, and wardrobe consultant). I wanted to experience another side.
I went to grad school for an MBA in entrepreneurship and management which came with a fair share of marketing classes. I left grad school with a goal to secure a marketing role in corporate fashion (something I never thought about until I thought about it). It took me 8 long months to land that marketing role for a corporate fashion brand, and I was determined to put my energy there to make it happen. In that entry level role I channeled all of my passions and redefined the position I was hired for. I was able to tap into my creative and innovative side to go beyond what was expected of me.
Reflecting on that conversation with the lecturer, I’ve since realized that being a multi individual is my unique strength, my superpower. You can be a Jane of all trades and master them. It won’t happen all at once, but as you strengthen those skills and integrate them into specific roles or projects, you create a winning formula for success.
Today, I show up as a well-rounded, passionate individual, leveraging my diverse experiences in every role and space. That lecturer’s advice gave me perspective. I’ve let go of the idea of finding my purpose in a single role. Instead, my purpose has revealed itself through my various roles. This understanding grounds me in the impact I want to have in the spaces I occupy and the work I do. Being purpose-driven is the biggest reward, a lesson I’ve cherished throughout these experiences.
In July: Don’t forget to catch me on a panel for The Sisterhood Society for Women of Color presents “Black Girl Joy: Pack Light” event on Saturday July 13th. If you are in the NYC area we would love for you to join us. Check out the details and RSVP Here.
Latest Project: As previously mentioned, in the Non-Corporate world, we’ve launched a new initiative: The Non-Corporate Expert Network.
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