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Adam, you are a gift to so many of us. I thoroughly enjoyed watching you and Jamie during the Mythbuster years. I enjoy your TH-cam posts. I am a generalist, like you (although not nearly as skilled). Thank you for your influence and for the thoughtful and well articulated response to this question. I believe it will resonate with a lot more people than you think.
Muy buena respuesta. Me encantan tus videos, te sigo desde el 1er programa de Cazadores de Mitos. Saludos desde Buenos Aires, Argentina. No hablo ni escribo ingles, como podrás notar, pero lo entiendo lo suficiente. Gracias por acercarnos a la ciencia practica y todas esas construcciones que haces. PD: tu cueva es increible!!!
Odd as it may seem, this video brought me to tears. Adam, I know you may never read this, but I want sincerely to thank you. Lamenting my "jack of all trades" nature is something I have often struggled with. At times it is to be celebrated, but at others I fear that I am not living up to my fullest potential. Adam, you have reinforced in me that being a jack of all trades is a skill in and of itself. Thank you for showing me the error of my ways. Making things has always been my passion, though I am a civil engineer by day (not my passion, but it funds my passions). I am also a magician, musician, gamer, and have many other hobbies and skills that I have collected. Thank you for helping me remember that I am not wasting my time here on this beautiful planet.
I can't believe it has taken me this long to find the ending to that saying! Thank you Adam! "Jack of all trades, master of none, though often better than a master of one"
Ikr. The way its usually said implies the opposite meaning. That its negative to be jack of all trades, but the end implies its better...even when comparing just one skill. All skills can help eachother and cross pollinate, or give contexts to a single skill.
It's not actually the ending - the phrase has been around for centuries, with that extension only tacked on in recent years (by triggered generalists I assume)
The original phrase from back in pre-industrial times where "Jack of all trades, Master of one" indicated you could do all the work but specialized in one area. - The saying changed during the industrial revolution as suddenly you would have people doing loads of different things but never mastering the craft like the old timers used to
"I can go on for hours on this subject..." Please do? If there's ever been a more perfect mentor/person I aspire to be like, it's you. I'm 30 and have always recognized my generalist nature. I got a long road ahead of me to getting my life on track, but I know I have so much to look forward to in making and in learning new things/skills.
Completely agree, this video is complete gold. 30 as well and this has given me so much mental peace. I admire Adam so much and to hear this words from him was amazing.
He is really, really well spoken. Another skill you've mastered Adam! Storytelling! Would you ever do an audiobook? (If you havent already :O update: yes he has, ofcourse)
One of the benefits of generalising in many skills seems to be learning how to discuss many things in many different ways. Everyone has different approaches for different skills. If you know a lot of skills, you'll eventually pick up a lot of different mind sets.
I find that language expands with every skill you learn. It's easy to talk about what you're passionate about because you have the language and words to describe it. Now think of the sort of vocab a generalist has!
As others said, he had done "Every tool is a hammer". But I agree 100% with you that Adam is GREAT at storytelling. I think even doing a book where he gathers all the questions from these lockdown ask Adam videos (and maybe additional FAQs and his own or friends/family members questions) would be an abdolute gem of a book! Maybe we all should e-mail the Tested team just to get the idea out there. I really think it could make a fantastic (audio)book.
in my early 20's, and hearing "You have more time than you think", kind of helped me put into perspective some things for me, I definetly struggle mentally with current times and the idea of life goals, but this is definetly something I didn't think I'd need to hear, but am glad I did. Thank you, Adam.
I’m 31, the quote about time is great. I was obsessed with being successful in my 20s and meeting certain goals by 30, and I eventually broke under failing to meet my own expectations. I had to feel that break to understand, emotionally, exactly why I was motivated by the wrong things and had an immature understanding of success. The biggest takeaway is don’t be impatient with yourself and your life. The change and transformation we seek for ourselves requires constant tending, and continuing to apply ourselves even in times of self-doubt and existential crises. It’s truly never too late to learn or acquire a new skill and it’s delightfully shocking how much we can improve our skills over time, even when you’re feeling mediocre in the process. We also make too much of age as a number when we’re young. It seems like certain ages are meant for certain benchmarks, but now in my 30s, I can say age and time have more indefinite qualities and meaning. All that to say, when I hit 40, I’ll be content knowing I simply gave myself a chance by not giving up on myself too soon-because even 40 still has a lot of life ahead!
I came to the comments to recommend this too. I've been a generalist my whole life and often find myself almost apologetic for it since it make for a strange career arc. "Range: Why Generalist Triumph in a Specialized World" -David Epstein gave me insight that it's actually not a bad thing. It's a real good read.
One of my favorite things about being a librarian is that every time I answer a question for someone I learn a little something new, often about a subject I didn't know about before. Reference librarianship is the bastion of the educated generalist.
My father once told me the difference between a Generalist and a Specialist- A Specialist learns more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing, while a Generalist learns less and less about more and more until they nothing about everything! Great video Adam! Love the workshop!
This is amazing Adam. The last few years i've struggled with acknowledging the value of me being someone who almost always had a solution in mind when dealing with a complex design question. My worry has always been that i knew i probably didnt have the best solution, which made me doubt my professional skills. This video really made me realize my strengths as a generalist. Thank you so much.
Best is an ephemeral target, too many variations. When I ran an engineering group in the late ‘80s, I had to parse my generalist skills to get the appropriate answer.
Thanks Adam. I think you answered that question perfectly. I find professionals can get really high and mighty about being a professional right up until they need to get something practical done and then they’re calling for a generalist. Have a good one.
It goes both ways. As a home builder I see specialist talk to a generalist about solving a cross trade problem. Sometimes you can see that there is an issue and an architect or concrete specialist is the person who can most simply identify the best solution. I have been blessed with a lot of knowledge from paying attention to what specialists do, but there are definitely times where my expertise falls short of getting me a solution in which I am confident and I dial up a guru. On the flip side I get calls from people on my guru list because their knowledge bandwidth is too narrow for their question and I may be able to see how one solution may solve a particular issue, but cause a few more for other people. In some aspect(s) most of us are probably someone else first call because they see us as an expert, or very strong, in some discipline.
@Freeman Brokenshire To those people I’d say know your limitations. I myself don’t like to play with wiring a house beyond changing a plug or a switch. I wouldn’t say I’m a jack of all trades just someone who is familiar with a lot of different Techniques for problem-solving. Which I have found personally helps me come to a solution that would not typically be within the realm of that particular craft or practice. And just to clarify I don’t think professionals are all like that I should’ve been a little clearer. Thanks for keeping me in check.
“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.” ― Robert A. Heinlein
I love that quote, how have I never heard it before? I consider myself a collector of skills, because I usually stop learning at the point where the grind is too hard. But understanding the basic concepts and getting introductions into new skills feels great.
@@DavePatrick001 I don't know about that. Most of the items on the list are simple enough. In fact, from my interest in Heinlein's stories and the life that informed them I'm uncertain if he could butcher a hog or program a computer, but everything else fell comfortably within his skill-set.
Laughing simultaneously with the Patron Saint made my Night! The underlying appearance of self depreciation that must be visible to the people that interact with us Generalists seems to be central to their willingness to accept our ideas regardless of their belief that we are an “Expert” in a discipline. However, For me these moments are not really self deprecating, but a representation of our subconsciously fiddling around in the quiver to find the right arrow. I can not imagine not being able to test new ideas to sharpen my skills. Your comments help me understand why I sometimes feel guilt for not being “All Knowing” in certain scuttles I find myself in. Invariably I typically reach the finish line with an acceptable result, so why feel guilty! Just dive in & see what happens! I still have 99% of all my fingers & only small amounts of foreign material lodged into my body! What an enlightening & enjoyable video!
This talk about skills becoming elevated to the next level got me thinking about riding a motorcycle. At a certain point you aren't thinking about the clutch and shifting and rolling on and off the throttle and leaning with the bike, it just becomes almost automatic: I think of what I want the bike to do, and it does it, but I'm not really thinking of the dozen individual things that I'm doing to achieve that goal.
I feel the same way when I'm in the zone riding a motorcycle. But it's something that I will never master, even going slowly trying to ride perfectly is a never ending pursuit. Also it's a perishable skill that requires upkeep and practice.
@@han5vk The majority of the world are wasting their time then. Manual transmission offers more cons than pros, and the pros are incredibly narrow, and the cons are incredibly dangerous.
I drive an automatic, with the option of manual select. When I'm going up a steep grade on a track, I'm not limited by the gear I started in at the bottom of the obstacle. With an auto, I can change on the fly if something unanticipated happens and not lose momentum. Losing momentum up a tough track can be a death sentence when you end up rolling down the damn hill. As for driving around town though, I leave it in auto. Doesn't matter how much time I spend behind the wheel, I will never be able to match the smooth transition of gears that a modern automatic has. So much less wear and tear on a vehicle that gets the guts flogged out of it on a pretty regular basis, I try and be kind to her when I can 😋
Oh man, you nearly brought me to tears with this one. I am a 45 yr. old 3d modeller who got into the gig only a few years ago. I'm nearly twice the age of many of my colleagues so there are days when it can feel like I wasted decades of my life screwing around with other things. Thanks for the encouraging words. The best is yet to come.
Adam is a master entertainer and storyteller. He's a master TV show host as well. Appearing so warm and natural and transmit so much trough a camera and a screen is probably the hardest skill he knows, and he's one of the very best IMO.
"You have more time than you think." *Thank you* for telling me that. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I had no idea how much I needed to hear that. Much less that there was anyone who could make me believe it just by saying it. But you did it. I was stressing out so much over being in my late twenties and seeing windows of opportunity to learn close. Being told by a master generalist, with enough years on me to know from experience, that those windows will stay open for a lot longer yet... thank you. I needed that. Now I can get back to learning new skills for the joy of learning, rather than learning as a panicked attempt to grasp a last chance to. And joy is a much better motivator than pressure.
What I like about being specialized in wood is that when I see something done in another medium I think about about how to translate that into wood. There are things that you just can't do with wood so it often leads to interesting places. In that transformation that thing that was somebody else's becomes mine. My specialization is a limitation that leads to creativity. I think if I were more generalized, things that inspire me would only lead me to figuring out how to copy what someone else did rather than go to new places.
I wouldn’t say I specialise in wood, but I wood (haha) say that it is where I have the most experience/comfort. However, like you, I think I translate a lot of my current projects (welding/fabricating/jewellery) to wood. I think about what I would do in a wood project, if it can be transcribed to the new medium or if any familiar skills can be translated. I think woodwork is the greatest skill to start with, it is cheap and accessible. And many skills you learn with woodworking translate to dozens of other skills in the workshop too!
@@tomdom_0143 This is a good point. If you can make a box you can make virtually anything, and if you can make a box out of wood then you can make a box out of steel, aluminum, plastic, or even glass. (That is, provided you're comfortable using the tools specific to that material.) With the proper skills learned, you just need to learn the limitations of other materials.
"Jack of all trades, master of none" my Grandmother called me that when I was younger. now at 67 I know how right she was, and like you I own that label, it has served me well over the years.
My exact thought when he asked that question was “you’re basically a master at what you do at this point” which is crafting amazing creations without any instructions, you just figure it out along the way!
Adam I love where this went..... I truly believe that one of the best things to come out of this crazy year has been you in your makers cave doing what you love..... Thanks so much for sharing your time with me...
Adam, when I ran into you in the airport back in February, meeting you in person was important to me. This video highlights why: I’ve always been the “jack of all trades, master of none.” It has also taken me a long time to reject the negative connotation to this saying and embrace my multiple skills, but it certainly makes a resumé hard to write (but job interviews more fun). Thank you for your candor and wisdom.
On the plus side, (for me, at least) having a wide skill-set has made it so I rarely have to worry about being fired from a job, and made it easier to get a job when I needed one.
Adam, thank you for another delightful description of the power of being a generalist. I'm at a point in my current vocation, where the business is growing to the point that specialization is starting to be effective and required. I'm confronted by the challenge of being the ultimate problem solver/firefighter in our crew, and also a leader. Your thinking on the topic makes me much more comfortable with how I transform myself to keep working with a group I love, as we all grow up.
The journey is what it you make it. Nothing better than showing someone a way to help them out of a dilemma with your years of knowledge. It's a real warm moment that adds to your life.
I needed to hear “you have more time than you think.” Such great advice hidden in all of your videos. Little nuggets of wisdom is what keeps me glued to your channel.,
I really resonate with this. I’m a multidisciplinary artist, musician, writer, and community organizer and I’m really passionate about all of it. I want to take my skills and try to do good by my own moral compass but I’m learning to be content in my generalism 😌
I have struggled myself with this exact question, and the more I reflect, the more I see the depth, richness and beauty of my life that simply would not have been possible had I specialized in one or two areas. It is precisely my ravenous appetite to learn and explore new ways of solving problems that has given me the opportunity to experience places and things that most of my friends and loved ones can only dream about. It has given me a penchant for thinking outside the box while trying to solve the problem that is in front of me. This broader perspective of what is possible has also propelled me to higher degrees of expectation for myself, almost to. the fault of perfectionism, but even this I am np longer ashamed of. Oh, and did I mention that I have a moderate case of cerebral palsy? That never held me back! Thank you, Adam, for affirming this in me!
Learning is part of the fun. It’s also an amazing way to honor the memories of my best friend. She absorbed creativity in so many ways-song, calligraphy, painting, knitting, scrapbook, herbalist, writing, blacksmithing... She died too damn early. She wasn’t done yet. Neither are we, Mr. Savage. Neither are we. 😎
“My skill is that I am a generalist”-this resonates so profoundly with me. I’ve been warned all my life of the “dangers” of being a generalist... and yet I’ve followed my heart to form a successful career based on continuous learning, holistic/multifaceted thinking, and diverse skill gathering. So encouraging to hear this from someone as respected and acclaimed as Adam.
I get bored too easily to focus on one discipline. If I had to choose one thing to become an expert in, at the cost of forgoing others, I'd eventually lose interest. I'd much rather be pretty good at dozens of things than a master at one.
@@citrusblast4372 There are metaskills, eg where to find info, tools, materials, etc. you need., how to absorb the knowledge and physical skills, how to motivate yourself.
This video has been a life-changing moment for me. I've been unemployed for many months, and trying to come up with a potential new career path (while dealing with "how to feed the kids"). I have jumped from project to project, hobby to hobby, and told constantly by loved ones that my greatest "skill" is learning new skills. I've never heard it discussed as a type of person, and despite being a huge fan of yours for a couple decades, I never put together that you have a similar proclivity. "Generalist" is a new term for me. I'm not sure how to monetize this or do anything with it right now, but at least I know a great example of success with this "burden" that I can look towards for inspiration (and already was drawn towards anyway). Adam, thank you so much for continuing to put out raw, honest content.
Your generalized makers skills are what make you, you. And because of that Tested never gets dull. I watch Tested a lot and sometimes try the projects. Even my wife and kids enjoy watching tested with me. I thoroughly enjoy having many creative avenues to venture down. You're kinda my hero dude!! Keep up the fantastic work!!
Wow, its literally asking "Does it suck being so good at so many things, but not an expert at anything?" When you stop learning, you stop......You simply stop...stopping sucks
Though, even someone who delves deep into one sole craft will often find there is no end beyond what one seeks. I feel like, and I say this as a generalist myself, that most generalists begin as people who try learning one thing and learn that every practice eventually becomes wanting to learn how other tasks help your initial one. As Adam said, all his generalist skills are aimed towards the things he wants to make. Such is the case of many generalists, they fall so deeply in love with the making of a thing they must learn how to be better endlessly in pursuit of that love.
One of the things I enjoy most about these is that Adam never takes any question lightly, but takes the time to give a well considered, full, articulate answer. Thank you for that.
I've been binging these videos for a while now. Had to stop and comment on this one. I've been struggling a lot lately with "career". Refining what it means to "be me". I'm a master of none for sure and that's always weighing on my mind. Making me feel like an imposter of all. I know it's just something to overcome. This video really hit and switched my thinking. I even kinda came up with some more manageable ideas for future projects rather than overwhelming myself with grand plans. I really appreciate these times you have taken to just talk to people. Means a lot! And even a little really goes a long way. Thanks!
THIS right here is why this channel is important to me. A much better vocalization of whats in my head than my mouth has the ability to achieve. For my part, I found knowing how to effectively approach a problem (and with what tools) was more important than knowing how to solve it. You can spend your whole life perfecting the art of tying the one perfect knot, but the person who thought to bring a pair of scissors knows how to untie not just your knot, but ALL of them. To me, that was when the world became the piano instead of a collection of 88 keys.
Thank you so much. I needed to hear someone explain to me my life experience. I've lived so many lives and enjoyed them all. At 62 I've found joy learning so many things and the privilege of meeting so many people. Had I focus on one thing I would have not had the joy of learning anew.
Speaking from experience generalist do really well working for themselves or in management, the latter usually requires you to be a specialist first for the experience in what you are managing.
This video really touched me. As someone past 35 and who has so many varied interests this video gave me the courage to say, “you know what kid, you’re doing just fine.” Like millions of others I’ve followed you and the crew for you years and all of you have given me so much 🧡
Does one ever really become a “master” of something? That means there would be no room for growth or the learning of new things. Kinda of makes a generalist, a good thing in my mind anyway.
This is something I've struggled with for a long time, I'm 36, and boy am I glad you answered this question. So much makes sense now and I can do so many things. I used to think negatively, "oh I'm a master of none" but I'm a great Generalist. I can do so many things. I think my daughter will end up being proud of her daddy and there is so much I can teach her! This has been an eye opener.
Adam is as "generalist" as Leonardo Da Vinci, and he is (almost) master in many things... Being master in just one thing is really mediocre, an average human master a skill in 10 years, that gives 6 or 7 skills per human to master before passing. Pretty sure Adam is right there in 10 to 20 skills.
@@crazywilly85 that's a thing that is spread around as a "known fact", but I don't think it holds much truth to it. Sure, you can say that a person who studies a thing/subject 10 times or more time than another, will generally be much more knowledgeable, or a "master" at it, but I don't think you can accurately quantify that skill based only on time alone. It all depends on the person and the subject at hand. In fact, I think I've read an article or seen a video about it, busting that myth.
@@Alfonso162008 Oh, ok. Good to know. That`s why I said I`m not sure if it was true or not. I may have thought of gaming when that popped in to my head. I have litle over 3000 hours in a game, I`m not even close to pro players in it, but but way over the average player. Probably that`s why I thought it could have some truth to it.
Please, continue on with the “could go on” - as a fellow “generalist” approaching 40 that hasn’t found “it” quite yet, the last 30 sec of this gave me renewed hope. You’ve been a savior of respite in these trying times. Thank you @adamsavage
This is SO exemplary of why I love tested and listening to Adam. He can be so eloquent, and so thoughtful on these topics and it is obvious that, as he draws his thoughts together, that he has thought these things through over many years. It's wonderful insight from a smart fellow with a great ability to convey a lovely story.
No, it's not. It would be, if he had said, "I'm a generalist, i have mastered x amount of skills." What he actually said is that he mastered the trade of being a generalist. That's a small but impactful difference.
thank you sir, this helped a lot. i've struggled with this for so long, both dwelling on my limitations and reveling in my breadth. you've given me more clarity to how my own mind works in 10 minutes than many hours spent with my therapist. i am more grateful than i can convey.
I love that you help people understand that generalization IS a skill. The ability to fill in the gaps. The glue to hold the crew together. Thank you sir!!!
This really helped me, because I let myself be frustrated that there are few things that I am "specialized" at - but I do give my heart and soul into every task that I do, and so I feel that's worth its weight in gold.
O.M.G. That was THE most .....incredible......inspiring.........heart-felt.....illuminating..........video I have seen..........EVER!!! I have been soul-searching recently, trying to "map out" the rest of my existence, here on Earth, and I began to think that my time was over, that I started too late to achieve my dream of becoming a successful woodworker. I'm 64, have spent the last 3 years on disability with bad hips. I have since had both of my hips replaced, and wondered what the rest of my life will hold . And after I watched this video, I finally realized, and became inspired, that I've only just begun, that I can do what I want with my life. Thank you, you've always be an idol and inspiration for me. I am envious of your life/career, and will use it to further my endeavors.
I love how much thought he put into his answers. He really does put lots of energy into ensuring that his responses are both truthful and comprehensive. He could just be like “no, not really. I’m glad I am the way I am” or “for sure. It’d be better if I did this thing…” but he honestly contemplates and articulates the answer with all the information one would need to understand the reasoning behind his statement.
"My skill is that I am a generalist". Couldn't agree more, being a generalist is a useful and rare skill. It took me a very long time to learn that about myself: learning and gathering new skills IS my skill, and everything I learn allows me to make better use of my other skills. Big thumbs up.
You inspire me so much Adam. I am a generalist too, and I always saw people who were REALLY good at drawing or REALLY good at CGI or REALLY good at photography... and here I am... My mind has been split up between all of those and many more hobbies. I thought I was just wasting my talents when I all of a sudden move on to the next hobby instead of trying to specialize in one... I often thought about dropping all hobbies but one. But you've just changed that. Thank you. You are an amazing human being.
Just stumbled across this. Funny how this is EXTREMELY relevant to me in my late 20’s and everything going on in my life. Grew up watching you on Mythbusters and discovered this channel a few weeks ago. Love it!
As someone who runs a business and has to do a lot of general work in order to keep things going smooth, I get it. Sometimes I think about this too, but I believe that all of the different skills I have learned really help me grow as a person, find common ground with more people, and I often feel more fulfilled as a person when I learn new things! Not to say that mastering something is bad, everyone is different! Find yourself, and follow that path.
As someone listening while building ikea furniture after a number of events that have made me feel like I've gone well past my peak by 29, thank you for taking the time to give such a thorough answer to that excellent question. It was a lot that I think I needed to hear at the moment.
I have always truly respected people with the ability to choose a path in life and specialize. I am not one of those people. Adam, your words hit me very close to home today.
i think this is you playing the piano without needing to think about keys. You are brilliant at telling others how things are done and showing us what moves you. It is entertaining endearing and wonderfully done.
You are the physical form of my dreams gathered as a person. I WANT to be a generalist. I LOVE gathering skills and I'm actually doing it. Guitar, creation, knitting, woodworking. Everything. And as you said, every skill is a tool for my creation dream.
Wearing many hats myself... So true to broaden your knowledge and cross train skills... So much comes together with a vast knowledge!!! Thank you Adam!
Thank you so much for this, it really helps me see myself in a better light. I think there's an interesting aspect hidden in the question. As a culture, at least here in the USA, we don't really have systems set up for generalists. Education tries to funnel people into specializations and turns murky for a generalist. Employers seek specific skills and expertise, so that a generalist doesn't meet the technical requirements. Everything revolves around labels of your topics of study and careers, degrees and previous jobs in a field. We need generalists, but we seem to be content to let them find their own way. This can be difficult for some of us, and it can easily drive a question regarding whether one should "lament" not specializing. It's all too easy to be adrift.
Adam, you are a role model to me in so many ways, as a maker first. But these ramblings on your past and philosophy help me with perspective so much. Thank you!
Thank you adam, i have followed your progress for years and playing the home game as often as can. i often or seems that way sometimes, reflect on how much simpler my life would have been if i had chosen one path. I was reflecting on this one holiday with my father, a man who spent 35 years making glass. I do not mean in an artful way but a window maker. He told me "yes you could have taken the easy road to security but you would not have done some of the beautiful wonderful things you have and i envy some of those experiences and freedom you pursued because you saw no other way forward than to do it your way." I had always been artsy but i was at a vaudville show in an upscale dive bar and saw friends that i had made years before in a coffee shop performing the strangest acts, i then helped them build it bigger and keep it running for a decade in the wings, building crafting whatever they needed sometimes that very night. You cant buy that kind of experience and i think that is a bit what he meant
Thank you Adam. I love being a generalist because I love "knowing a lot of things about a lot of things" and that helps me find a good solution that I need to "specialize" in. So I consider myself "a Jack of of all trades and a Master in the things I need to know about".
Thank you, Adam. I have been working in the IT industry for almost 30 years. many times I have had cause to look at my work and wonder why I have never become a master of any one thing. Each time I realize that it is because I have instead learned about all these things and that enables me to look at problems from a higher altitude and see how all the parts work together. This then allows me to also think of how we can solve a problem or need instead of putting a bandage on the issue and needing to address it at a later time. It has also allowed me to interface with the masters of the various areas, in language they understand, and begin a conversation that leads to a solution. If I were a master of a single area of IT I would always see my one area as the THE way to solve whatever issue, or believe that my area couldn't possibly the cause of the issue. I have come to believe that being the "Generalist" in area, like IT or being a maker, is truly a greater Master of the area, and in some ways harder work, than someone who did specialize in one thing.
This is wildly inspiring as a young person who often wishes they were better at a lot of things but the way I see it is that this way there is always more to learn and you can keep improving your skill-set endlessly
Nice to hear you talk about arrows in quivers. My mom always use to say you can add an arrow to someone else's quiver by being good at what they teach. And you can add an arrow to your own quiver to being good at something you teach yourself. There's no downside. The more arrows you add to quivers the better, whether your own quiver or someone else's.
Hey Adam, I don't typically comment on things but this was a particularly moving answer for me... I'm a senior painting student in Philly right now, and I find myself at the juncture between specialization and generalization. I've greatly enjoyed studying painting and I want to continue to develop my skill, but I've had to leave behind playing guitar, drumming, swimming, woodworking, writing, not to mention academics in large part. As I graduate, I'm watching this channel and others thinking about my own life path and hoping to have as vibrant and interdisciplinary career as I can, and this answer was very inspiring to me, so thank you.
Adam, if I may say, you seem like you would be a delightful teacher. I'm 27 and struggle with neurological issues that are incredibly difficult to live with due to many aspects of my life, but your words, just now, give me hope that, even though my 20s are almost gone and I have nothing to show for them, maybe I can still make something great during my life. Maybe. You've given me some hope to cling to.
Thank you for that very thoughtful view. I remember going around endlessly with high school guidance counselors insisting that specialization was the only way to be successful. It just was not for me. And I look back at various people that I went to school with who have struggled when their chosen careers have taken a downturn, where over the years I have been blessed to be able to move across various jobs and industries with relative ease having accumulated a more "generalized" skill set. Regrets? If you dig deep enough, anyone can find something that they would have done differently. But I honestly can not think of any significant things that I would change looking back. You have made me feel just a little better about myself and my choices over the years. Thank you!
This... jeez, I needed this. I'm not a maker, but I am an artist. And a musician. And a voice actor. And a writer... and I have always had so much trouble with all of the "Ands" because there seems to be this pervading attitude of, "you have to pick *one* and only one. Maybe two if you're lucky." Describing them not as career paths but as skills, as arrows in a quiver, just blew my mind. Because I'm AT that point, where all of those things - art, music, writing, voice - have lost a lot of the technical if-then aspects and are now solutions. They're ways of solving a problem, and in my case the problem is usually, "how can I best tell this story?" I'm not a master at any of those things but I'm good enough to solve problems, express emotion, and paint (hopefully) compelling stories with them. Adam Savage, you've just single-handedly convinced me that knowing how to do a lot of things is okay.
I love that. Adam shows so much vulnerability when it comes to making mistakes and on the same page shows so much confidence AND humility. This is why I watch.
Thank you for your support and your question, Jason CzDo! Join this channel to support Tested and get access to perks, like asking Adam a question: th-cam.com/channels/iDJtJKMICpb9B1qf7qjEOA.htmljoin
You still look the exact same, it's amazing and awesome.
Adam, you are a gift to so many of us. I thoroughly enjoyed watching you and Jamie during the Mythbuster years. I enjoy your TH-cam posts. I am a generalist, like you (although not nearly as skilled). Thank you for your influence and for the thoughtful and well articulated response to this question. I believe it will resonate with a lot more people than you think.
Muy buena respuesta.
Me encantan tus videos, te sigo desde el 1er programa de Cazadores de Mitos.
Saludos desde Buenos Aires, Argentina.
No hablo ni escribo ingles, como podrás notar, pero lo entiendo lo suficiente.
Gracias por acercarnos a la ciencia practica y todas esas construcciones que haces.
PD: tu cueva es increible!!!
Thank you so much for answering my question with such a genuine and in depth answer. Im glad it was as thought provoking to you as it was to me!
This comic has stuck with me ever since it was published, it woke me up to my own possibilities.
www.smbc-comics.com/comic/2012-09-02
Odd as it may seem, this video brought me to tears. Adam, I know you may never read this, but I want sincerely to thank you. Lamenting my "jack of all trades" nature is something I have often struggled with. At times it is to be celebrated, but at others I fear that I am not living up to my fullest potential. Adam, you have reinforced in me that being a jack of all trades is a skill in and of itself. Thank you for showing me the error of my ways. Making things has always been my passion, though I am a civil engineer by day (not my passion, but it funds my passions). I am also a magician, musician, gamer, and have many other hobbies and skills that I have collected. Thank you for helping me remember that I am not wasting my time here on this beautiful planet.
He's a generalist and he's okay.
He builds all night and he learns all day.
This doesn't end with wearing women's clothes, does it? ;)
@@RobertTempleton64 good question has Adam ever or would he ever cosplay as a female character?
@@Techy2493 i feel like the beard would ruin the cosplay, and shaving it would ruin his face.
I don’t see an issue with him covering it with makeup if needed
@@dannyallyn223 don't think you can just cover a beard with makeup...
I can't believe it has taken me this long to find the ending to that saying! Thank you Adam!
"Jack of all trades, master of none, though often better than a master of one"
Ikr. The way its usually said implies the opposite meaning. That its negative to be jack of all trades, but the end implies its better...even when comparing just one skill. All skills can help eachother and cross pollinate, or give contexts to a single skill.
It's not actually the ending - the phrase has been around for centuries, with that extension only tacked on in recent years (by triggered generalists I assume)
www.reddit.com/r/tumblr/comments/7eguxq/more_from_the_category_sayings_that_have_been/
The original phrase from back in pre-industrial times where "Jack of all trades, Master of one" indicated you could do all the work but specialized in one area. - The saying changed during the industrial revolution as suddenly you would have people doing loads of different things but never mastering the craft like the old timers used to
There are a few versions of that saying and it changes on who all u ask
"I can go on for hours on this subject..." Please do? If there's ever been a more perfect mentor/person I aspire to be like, it's you. I'm 30 and have always recognized my generalist nature. I got a long road ahead of me to getting my life on track, but I know I have so much to look forward to in making and in learning new things/skills.
When it comes to people talking and speaking with meaning. Adam and Mike Rowe consistently rank very highly for me.
30 also. Adam hits home every time.
Completely agree, this video is complete gold. 30 as well and this has given me so much mental peace. I admire Adam so much and to hear this words from him was amazing.
Hard same
Same thought! I love listening to what he says
"That's a really interesting question." *proceeds to contemplate the existance of the universe*
Typical Adam lol
If it doesn't lead there, is it *really* that interesting of a question? 🤔
*existence
That's what everything boils down to at some point.
@@jakobvanklinken eXistenZ
He is really, really well spoken. Another skill you've mastered Adam! Storytelling! Would you ever do an audiobook? (If you havent already :O update: yes he has, ofcourse)
Well he did the audiobook for his own book "Every Tool's a Hammer"
One of the benefits of generalising in many skills seems to be learning how to discuss many things in many different ways.
Everyone has different approaches for different skills. If you know a lot of skills, you'll eventually pick up a lot of different mind sets.
I find that language expands with every skill you learn. It's easy to talk about what you're passionate about because you have the language and words to describe it. Now think of the sort of vocab a generalist has!
As others said, he had done "Every tool is a hammer". But I agree 100% with you that Adam is GREAT at storytelling. I think even doing a book where he gathers all the questions from these lockdown ask Adam videos (and maybe additional FAQs and his own or friends/family members questions) would be an abdolute gem of a book! Maybe we all should e-mail the Tested team just to get the idea out there. I really think it could make a fantastic (audio)book.
in my early 20's, and hearing "You have more time than you think", kind of helped me put into perspective some things for me, I definetly struggle mentally with current times and the idea of life goals, but this is definetly something I didn't think I'd need to hear, but am glad I did.
Thank you, Adam.
I’m 31, the quote about time is great.
I was obsessed with being successful in my 20s and meeting certain goals by 30, and I eventually broke under failing to meet my own expectations. I had to feel that break to understand, emotionally, exactly why I was motivated by the wrong things and had an immature understanding of success.
The biggest takeaway is don’t be impatient with yourself and your life. The change and transformation we seek for ourselves requires constant tending, and continuing to apply ourselves even in times of self-doubt and existential crises. It’s truly never too late to learn or acquire a new skill and it’s delightfully shocking how much we can improve our skills over time, even when you’re feeling mediocre in the process.
We also make too much of age as a number when we’re young. It seems like certain ages are meant for certain benchmarks, but now in my 30s, I can say age and time have more indefinite qualities and meaning.
All that to say, when I hit 40, I’ll be content knowing I simply gave myself a chance by not giving up on myself too soon-because even 40 still has a lot of life ahead!
There is a great book about this: Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World
I came to the comments to recommend this too. I've been a generalist my whole life and often find myself almost apologetic for it since it make for a strange career arc. "Range: Why Generalist Triumph in a Specialized World" -David Epstein gave me insight that it's actually not a bad thing. It's a real good read.
One of my favorite things about being a librarian is that every time I answer a question for someone I learn a little something new, often about a subject I didn't know about before. Reference librarianship is the bastion of the educated generalist.
OMG, yes. I volunteer at a library and there's nothing I love more than reference questions.
"I love gathering skills". What a great quote and what a great time we live in where it is easier than ever before to learn and experiment broadly!
I've been asked similar things and my response is always the same. To quote Robert Heinlein "Specialization is for insects"
I like your videos, but I don't know if I like that quote. I don't know the context, but it doesn't sound good outside of it.
So I should get into entomology...interesting
Everybody can be an specialist given enough time, but being a high level generalist requires a different kind of gray matter
Love that quote!
I was going to say the same thing.
I love that he’s discussing his generalist skills while his hands are dirty from work. What a champ 🏆
My father once told me the difference between a Generalist and a Specialist- A Specialist learns more and more about less and less until they know everything about nothing, while a Generalist learns less and less about more and more until they nothing about everything! Great video Adam! Love the workshop!
This is amazing Adam. The last few years i've struggled with acknowledging the value of me being someone who almost always had a solution in mind when dealing with a complex design question. My worry has always been that i knew i probably didnt have the best solution, which made me doubt my professional skills. This video really made me realize my strengths as a generalist. Thank you so much.
Best is an ephemeral target, too many variations. When I ran an engineering group in the late ‘80s, I had to parse my generalist skills to get the appropriate answer.
Thanks Adam. I think you answered that question perfectly. I find professionals can get really high and mighty about being a professional right up until they need to get something practical done and then they’re calling for a generalist. Have a good one.
It goes both ways. As a home builder I see specialist talk to a generalist about solving a cross trade problem. Sometimes you can see that there is an issue and an architect or concrete specialist is the person who can most simply identify the best solution. I have been blessed with a lot of knowledge from paying attention to what specialists do, but there are definitely times where my expertise falls short of getting me a solution in which I am confident and I dial up a guru. On the flip side I get calls from people on my guru list because their knowledge bandwidth is too narrow for their question and I may be able to see how one solution may solve a particular issue, but cause a few more for other people. In some aspect(s) most of us are probably someone else first call because they see us as an expert, or very strong, in some discipline.
@Freeman Brokenshire To those people I’d say know your limitations. I myself don’t like to play with wiring a house beyond changing a plug or a switch. I wouldn’t say I’m a jack of all trades just someone who is familiar with a lot of different Techniques for problem-solving. Which I have found personally helps me come to a solution that would not typically be within the realm of that particular craft or practice. And just to clarify I don’t think professionals are all like that I should’ve been a little clearer. Thanks for keeping me in check.
“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”
― Robert A. Heinlein
I love that quote, how have I never heard it before? I consider myself a collector of skills, because I usually stop learning at the point where the grind is too hard. But understanding the basic concepts and getting introductions into new skills feels great.
@@ianitor1530 it's a quote by one of the characters in his books. If you're not a scifi fan, you may not have come across it
@@tomparker5993 Heinlein was a great writer, and probably couldn't do most of those things but wished that he could.
@@ianitor1530 The specific book this quote came from is Time Enough For Love, and was "spoken" by the character Lazarus Long.
@@DavePatrick001 I don't know about that. Most of the items on the list are simple enough. In fact, from my interest in Heinlein's stories and the life that informed them I'm uncertain if he could butcher a hog or program a computer, but everything else fell comfortably within his skill-set.
Laughing simultaneously with the Patron Saint made my Night! The underlying appearance of self depreciation that must be visible to the people that interact with us Generalists seems to be central to their willingness to accept our ideas regardless of their belief that we are an “Expert” in a discipline. However, For me these moments are not really self deprecating, but a representation of our subconsciously fiddling around in the quiver to find the right arrow. I can not imagine not being able to test new ideas to sharpen my skills. Your comments help me understand why I sometimes feel guilt for not being “All Knowing” in certain scuttles I find myself in. Invariably I typically reach the finish line with an acceptable result, so why feel guilty! Just dive in & see what happens! I still have 99% of all my fingers & only small amounts of foreign material lodged into my body! What an enlightening & enjoyable video!
This talk about skills becoming elevated to the next level got me thinking about riding a motorcycle. At a certain point you aren't thinking about the clutch and shifting and rolling on and off the throttle and leaning with the bike, it just becomes almost automatic: I think of what I want the bike to do, and it does it, but I'm not really thinking of the dozen individual things that I'm doing to achieve that goal.
I feel the same way when I'm in the zone riding a motorcycle. But it's something that I will never master, even going slowly trying to ride perfectly is a never ending pursuit.
Also it's a perishable skill that requires upkeep and practice.
@@han5vk The majority of the world are wasting their time then. Manual transmission offers more cons than pros, and the pros are incredibly narrow, and the cons are incredibly dangerous.
I drive an automatic, with the option of manual select. When I'm going up a steep grade on a track, I'm not limited by the gear I started in at the bottom of the obstacle. With an auto, I can change on the fly if something unanticipated happens and not lose momentum. Losing momentum up a tough track can be a death sentence when you end up rolling down the damn hill.
As for driving around town though, I leave it in auto. Doesn't matter how much time I spend behind the wheel, I will never be able to match the smooth transition of gears that a modern automatic has. So much less wear and tear on a vehicle that gets the guts flogged out of it on a pretty regular basis, I try and be kind to her when I can 😋
Always a pleasure to hear Adam enthuse.
Pretty sure we need a “Master Generalist” t-shirt.
I would love this
I was thinking I'd love a "patron saint of mediocrity" t-shirt
That would be the only piece of merch I'd buy
Both pieces of merch I would love to own
I need that shirt!
Oh man, you nearly brought me to tears with this one. I am a 45 yr. old 3d modeller who got into the gig only a few years ago. I'm nearly twice the age of many of my colleagues so there are days when it can feel like I wasted decades of my life screwing around with other things. Thanks for the encouraging words. The best is yet to come.
Adam is a master entertainer and storyteller. He's a master TV show host as well. Appearing so warm and natural and transmit so much trough a camera and a screen is probably the hardest skill he knows, and he's one of the very best IMO.
I’d like to see an “Adam Savage: Patron Saint of Mediocrity” t-shirt with a stained-glass looking image of the man himself made available.
I'd say to just make it and find a way to send a photo of that shirt to him... I'm sure Adam would very much appreciate it.
@@nosbig98 If I thought my artistic skills would do sufficient justice to his beneficent visage, I’d give it a shot.
@@mechaform Do it anyways. The hardest part of any project is simply starting it.
"You have more time than you think." *Thank you* for telling me that. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I had no idea how much I needed to hear that. Much less that there was anyone who could make me believe it just by saying it. But you did it.
I was stressing out so much over being in my late twenties and seeing windows of opportunity to learn close. Being told by a master generalist, with enough years on me to know from experience, that those windows will stay open for a lot longer yet... thank you. I needed that. Now I can get back to learning new skills for the joy of learning, rather than learning as a panicked attempt to grasp a last chance to. And joy is a much better motivator than pressure.
What I like about being specialized in wood is that when I see something done in another medium I think about about how to translate that into wood. There are things that you just can't do with wood so it often leads to interesting places. In that transformation that thing that was somebody else's becomes mine. My specialization is a limitation that leads to creativity. I think if I were more generalized, things that inspire me would only lead me to figuring out how to copy what someone else did rather than go to new places.
If I were to specialize in wood, I'll only be making wooden things.
I wouldn’t say I specialise in wood, but I wood (haha) say that it is where I have the most experience/comfort. However, like you, I think I translate a lot of my current projects (welding/fabricating/jewellery) to wood. I think about what I would do in a wood project, if it can be transcribed to the new medium or if any familiar skills can be translated. I think woodwork is the greatest skill to start with, it is cheap and accessible. And many skills you learn with woodworking translate to dozens of other skills in the workshop too!
@@tomdom_0143 This is a good point. If you can make a box you can make virtually anything, and if you can make a box out of wood then you can make a box out of steel, aluminum, plastic, or even glass. (That is, provided you're comfortable using the tools specific to that material.) With the proper skills learned, you just need to learn the limitations of other materials.
"Jack of all trades, master of none" my Grandmother called me that when I was younger. now at 67 I know how right she was, and like you I own that label, it has served me well over the years.
when all you have is an arrow, every problem looks like a Frenchman.
My exact thought when he asked that question was “you’re basically a master at what you do at this point” which is crafting amazing creations without any instructions, you just figure it out along the way!
Adam I love where this went..... I truly believe that one of the best things to come out of this crazy year has been you in your makers cave doing what you love..... Thanks so much for sharing your time with me...
Adam, when I ran into you in the airport back in February, meeting you in person was important to me. This video highlights why: I’ve always been the “jack of all trades, master of none.” It has also taken me a long time to reject the negative connotation to this saying and embrace my multiple skills, but it certainly makes a resumé hard to write (but job interviews more fun). Thank you for your candor and wisdom.
On the plus side, (for me, at least) having a wide skill-set has made it so I rarely have to worry about being fired from a job, and made it easier to get a job when I needed one.
This is what I have struggled with my whole life, and I've finally come to terms with my aspiration of being a generalist
Adam, this is an amazing answer that helps me understand myself a little bit better. Thank you!
Came here for an answer to a simple question, left bawling my eyes out on the beauty that is Mr. Savage.
I could listen to Adam talk for HOURS and never tire of it. Truly fascinated by his thoughts, words and skills.
Adam, thank you for another delightful description of the power of being a generalist. I'm at a point in my current vocation, where the business is growing to the point that specialization is starting to be effective and required. I'm confronted by the challenge of being the ultimate problem solver/firefighter in our crew, and also a leader. Your thinking on the topic makes me much more comfortable with how I transform myself to keep working with a group I love, as we all grow up.
The journey is what it you make it.
Nothing better than showing someone a way to help them out of a dilemma with your years of knowledge. It's a real warm moment that adds to your life.
I needed to hear “you have more time than you think.” Such great advice hidden in all of your videos. Little nuggets of wisdom is what keeps me glued to your channel.,
I really resonate with this. I’m a multidisciplinary artist, musician, writer, and community organizer and I’m really passionate about all of it. I want to take my skills and try to do good by my own moral compass but I’m learning to be content in my generalism 😌
I have struggled myself with this exact question, and the more I reflect, the more I see the depth, richness and beauty of my life that simply would not have been possible had I specialized in one or two areas. It is precisely my ravenous appetite to learn and explore new ways of solving problems that has given me the opportunity to experience places and things that most of my friends and loved ones can only dream about. It has given me a penchant for thinking outside the box while trying to solve the problem that is in front of me. This broader perspective of what is possible has also propelled me to higher degrees of expectation for myself, almost to. the fault of perfectionism, but even this I am np longer ashamed of.
Oh, and did I mention that I have a moderate case of cerebral palsy? That never held me back!
Thank you, Adam, for affirming this in me!
Learning is part of the fun. It’s also an amazing way to honor the memories of my best friend. She absorbed creativity in so many ways-song, calligraphy, painting, knitting, scrapbook, herbalist, writing, blacksmithing...
She died too damn early. She wasn’t done yet. Neither are we, Mr. Savage. Neither are we. 😎
“My skill is that I am a generalist”-this resonates so profoundly with me. I’ve been warned all my life of the “dangers” of being a generalist... and yet I’ve followed my heart to form a successful career based on continuous learning, holistic/multifaceted thinking, and diverse skill gathering. So encouraging to hear this from someone as respected and acclaimed as Adam.
I get bored too easily to focus on one discipline. If I had to choose one thing to become an expert in, at the cost of forgoing others, I'd eventually lose interest. I'd much rather be pretty good at dozens of things than a master at one.
EXACTLY!
Same here. Do it until you are a decent amateur, get bored and find some other interesting thing. Repeat.
What kind of skill is so deep that its not boring? How general can a skill be?
@@citrusblast4372 There are metaskills, eg where to find info, tools, materials, etc. you need., how to absorb the knowledge and physical skills, how to motivate yourself.
This video has been a life-changing moment for me. I've been unemployed for many months, and trying to come up with a potential new career path (while dealing with "how to feed the kids"). I have jumped from project to project, hobby to hobby, and told constantly by loved ones that my greatest "skill" is learning new skills. I've never heard it discussed as a type of person, and despite being a huge fan of yours for a couple decades, I never put together that you have a similar proclivity. "Generalist" is a new term for me. I'm not sure how to monetize this or do anything with it right now, but at least I know a great example of success with this "burden" that I can look towards for inspiration (and already was drawn towards anyway). Adam, thank you so much for continuing to put out raw, honest content.
heck ya man! it takes a lot of skill to be able to keep learning new skills. patience too of course
I know in my career, grabbing any skills that came my way has only helped me.
Your generalized makers skills are what make you, you. And because of that Tested never gets dull. I watch Tested a lot and sometimes try the projects. Even my wife and kids enjoy watching tested with me. I thoroughly enjoy having many creative avenues to venture down. You're kinda my hero dude!! Keep up the fantastic work!!
Wow, its literally asking "Does it suck being so good at so many things, but not an expert at anything?" When you stop learning, you stop......You simply stop...stopping sucks
Though, even someone who delves deep into one sole craft will often find there is no end beyond what one seeks. I feel like, and I say this as a generalist myself, that most generalists begin as people who try learning one thing and learn that every practice eventually becomes wanting to learn how other tasks help your initial one.
As Adam said, all his generalist skills are aimed towards the things he wants to make.
Such is the case of many generalists, they fall so deeply in love with the making of a thing they must learn how to be better endlessly in pursuit of that love.
@@happyarewewhosmile You said what I wanted to say, but with more thought to context, See me, Sensei
Always seeking more skills, that's our goal.
You never stop even if you focus on one skill so your comment doesnt make sense
This is true however you can specialize in something and continue learning. You don't have to be a generalist to continue learning.
One of the things I enjoy most about these is that Adam never takes any question lightly, but takes the time to give a well considered, full, articulate answer. Thank you for that.
"Jack of all trades yet Master of none" has always been my Philosophy .
"Like I'm going to stop at Jack of all trades, I'll master them too!"
Ok
“Hear, hear!”
I had not heard the second phrase to that old saying before...interesting.
Savage Philosophy. It has a nice ring to it.
I've been binging these videos for a while now. Had to stop and comment on this one. I've been struggling a lot lately with "career". Refining what it means to "be me". I'm a master of none for sure and that's always weighing on my mind. Making me feel like an imposter of all. I know it's just something to overcome. This video really hit and switched my thinking. I even kinda came up with some more manageable ideas for future projects rather than overwhelming myself with grand plans. I really appreciate these times you have taken to just talk to people. Means a lot! And even a little really goes a long way. Thanks!
Love it. I am a generalist myself.
THIS right here is why this channel is important to me. A much better vocalization of whats in my head than my mouth has the ability to achieve. For my part, I found knowing how to effectively approach a problem (and with what tools) was more important than knowing how to solve it. You can spend your whole life perfecting the art of tying the one perfect knot, but the person who thought to bring a pair of scissors knows how to untie not just your knot, but ALL of them. To me, that was when the world became the piano instead of a collection of 88 keys.
"Do you lament it"
Me: no of course not
Adam: 9 minute video about life
Thank you so much. I needed to hear someone explain to me my life experience. I've lived so many lives and enjoyed them all. At 62 I've found joy learning so many things and the privilege of meeting so many people. Had I focus on one thing I would have not had the joy of learning anew.
The issue of being a generalist is looking for work when everyone is looking for specialists. :(
Speaking from experience generalist do really well working for themselves or in management, the latter usually requires you to be a specialist first for the experience in what you are managing.
@@stich1960 Agreed.
This video really touched me. As someone past 35 and who has so many varied interests this video gave me the courage to say, “you know what kid, you’re doing just fine.” Like millions of others I’ve followed you and the crew for you years and all of you have given me so much 🧡
Does one ever really become a “master” of something? That means there would be no room for growth or the learning of new things. Kinda of makes a generalist, a good thing in my mind anyway.
This is something I've struggled with for a long time, I'm 36, and boy am I glad you answered this question. So much makes sense now and I can do so many things. I used to think negatively, "oh I'm a master of none" but I'm a great Generalist. I can do so many things. I think my daughter will end up being proud of her daddy and there is so much I can teach her! This has been an eye opener.
Adam is as "generalist" as Leonardo Da Vinci, and he is (almost) master in many things...
Being master in just one thing is really mediocre, an average human master a skill in 10 years, that gives 6 or 7 skills per human to master before passing.
Pretty sure Adam is right there in 10 to 20 skills.
I`ve heard once someone said 10.000 hours, don`t know if it`s true though.
@@crazywilly85 that's a thing that is spread around as a "known fact", but I don't think it holds much truth to it. Sure, you can say that a person who studies a thing/subject 10 times or more time than another, will generally be much more knowledgeable, or a "master" at it, but I don't think you can accurately quantify that skill based only on time alone. It all depends on the person and the subject at hand. In fact, I think I've read an article or seen a video about it, busting that myth.
@@Alfonso162008 Oh, ok. Good to know. That`s why I said I`m not sure if it was true or not. I may have thought of gaming when that popped in to my head. I have litle over 3000 hours in a game, I`m not even close to pro players in it, but but way over the average player. Probably that`s why I thought it could have some truth to it.
Please, continue on with the “could go on” - as a fellow “generalist” approaching 40 that hasn’t found “it” quite yet, the last 30 sec of this gave me renewed hope. You’ve been a savior of respite in these trying times. Thank you @adamsavage
"Adam Savage, Patron Saint of Mediocrity" would be an awesome T-Shirt.
This is SO exemplary of why I love tested and listening to Adam. He can be so eloquent, and so thoughtful on these topics and it is obvious that, as he draws his thoughts together, that he has thought these things through over many years. It's wonderful insight from a smart fellow with a great ability to convey a lovely story.
Yes
Never been so early
Same!
Right? I love the sporadic yet consistent uploads.
I never watched a video of Adam, while taking a dump. Now I did and I liked it. I might do this again.
His honest introspection and frank intellectual approach to questions is really quite humbling. Well said master of those who are jacks of all trades.
"I am a master Generalist" now there's an oxymoron for you! ;)
No, it's not.
It would be, if he had said, "I'm a generalist, i have mastered x amount of skills."
What he actually said is that he mastered the trade of being a generalist. That's a small but impactful difference.
@@nealsterling8151 you fucking pedantic ass, I was just making a joke. Just relax and learn to recognize HUMOR!
You have surpassed what someone should consider as being a Master Craftsman. You are The Craftsman and that is the top of the line Mr. Savage.
thank you sir, this helped a lot. i've struggled with this for so long, both dwelling on my limitations and reveling in my breadth. you've given me more clarity to how my own mind works in 10 minutes than many hours spent with my therapist. i am more grateful than i can convey.
I love that you help people understand that generalization IS a skill. The ability to fill in the gaps. The glue to hold the crew together. Thank you sir!!!
As my grandfather always said "know something about everything, and everything about something" and I try and live by that every day
This really helped me, because I let myself be frustrated that there are few things that I am "specialized" at - but I do give my heart and soul into every task that I do, and so I feel that's worth its weight in gold.
O.M.G. That was THE most .....incredible......inspiring.........heart-felt.....illuminating..........video I have seen..........EVER!!!
I have been soul-searching recently, trying to "map out" the rest of my existence, here on Earth, and I began to think that my time was over, that I started too late to achieve my dream of becoming a successful woodworker. I'm 64, have spent the last 3 years on disability with bad hips. I have since had both of my hips replaced, and wondered what the rest of my life will hold . And after I watched this video, I finally realized, and became inspired, that I've only just begun, that I can do what I want with my life. Thank you, you've always be an idol and inspiration for me. I am envious of your life/career, and will use it to further my endeavors.
I love how much thought he put into his answers. He really does put lots of energy into ensuring that his responses are both truthful and comprehensive. He could just be like “no, not really. I’m glad I am the way I am” or “for sure. It’d be better if I did this thing…” but he honestly contemplates and articulates the answer with all the information one would need to understand the reasoning behind his statement.
"My skill is that I am a generalist". Couldn't agree more, being a generalist is a useful and rare skill. It took me a very long time to learn that about myself: learning and gathering new skills IS my skill, and everything I learn allows me to make better use of my other skills. Big thumbs up.
You inspire me so much Adam. I am a generalist too, and I always saw people who were REALLY good at drawing or REALLY good at CGI or REALLY good at photography... and here I am... My mind has been split up between all of those and many more hobbies. I thought I was just wasting my talents when I all of a sudden move on to the next hobby instead of trying to specialize in one... I often thought about dropping all hobbies but one. But you've just changed that. Thank you. You are an amazing human being.
I found this to be profoundly moving. Thank you Adam! Great video to start my day! Off to work on some arrows for my quiver!
Chaining ideas together and putting them into practice is what Adam is a specialist in
Just stumbled across this. Funny how this is EXTREMELY relevant to me in my late 20’s and everything going on in my life. Grew up watching you on Mythbusters and discovered this channel a few weeks ago. Love it!
As someone who runs a business and has to do a lot of general work in order to keep things going smooth, I get it. Sometimes I think about this too, but I believe that all of the different skills I have learned really help me grow as a person, find common ground with more people, and I often feel more fulfilled as a person when I learn new things!
Not to say that mastering something is bad, everyone is different! Find yourself, and follow that path.
As someone listening while building ikea furniture after a number of events that have made me feel like I've gone well past my peak by 29, thank you for taking the time to give such a thorough answer to that excellent question. It was a lot that I think I needed to hear at the moment.
I have always truly respected people with the ability to choose a path in life and specialize. I am not one of those people. Adam, your words hit me very close to home today.
I really, really appreciate the earnest, thoughtful answer. The answer that leads to more questions, wide ranging topics, is so satisfying. THANKS!
i think this is you playing the piano without needing to think about keys. You are brilliant at telling others how things are done and showing us what moves you. It is entertaining endearing and wonderfully done.
You are the physical form of my dreams gathered as a person. I WANT to be a generalist. I LOVE gathering skills and I'm actually doing it. Guitar, creation, knitting, woodworking. Everything. And as you said, every skill is a tool for my creation dream.
Wearing many hats myself... So true to broaden your knowledge and cross train skills... So much comes together with a vast knowledge!!! Thank you Adam!
Thank you so much for this, it really helps me see myself in a better light.
I think there's an interesting aspect hidden in the question. As a culture, at least here in the USA, we don't really have systems set up for generalists. Education tries to funnel people into specializations and turns murky for a generalist. Employers seek specific skills and expertise, so that a generalist doesn't meet the technical requirements. Everything revolves around labels of your topics of study and careers, degrees and previous jobs in a field. We need generalists, but we seem to be content to let them find their own way. This can be difficult for some of us, and it can easily drive a question regarding whether one should "lament" not specializing. It's all too easy to be adrift.
Adam, you are a role model to me in so many ways, as a maker first. But these ramblings on your past and philosophy help me with perspective so much. Thank you!
Thank you, I needed to hear this in this way. I appreciate your perspective. And... To have a word for what I think I am helps. Thanks again Adam.
Thank you adam, i have followed your progress for years and playing the home game as often as can. i often or seems that way sometimes, reflect on how much simpler my life would have been if i had chosen one path. I was reflecting on this one holiday with my father, a man who spent 35 years making glass. I do not mean in an artful way but a window maker. He told me "yes you could have taken the easy road to security but you would not have done some of the beautiful wonderful things you have and i envy some of those experiences and freedom you pursued because you saw no other way forward than to do it your way." I had always been artsy but i was at a vaudville show in an upscale dive bar and saw friends that i had made years before in a coffee shop performing the strangest acts, i then helped them build it bigger and keep it running for a decade in the wings, building crafting whatever they needed sometimes that very night. You cant buy that kind of experience and i think that is a bit what he meant
Thank you Adam. I love being a generalist because I love "knowing a lot of things about a lot of things" and that helps me find a good solution that I need to "specialize" in. So I consider myself "a Jack of of all trades and a Master in the things I need to know about".
Thank you, Adam. I have been working in the IT industry for almost 30 years. many times I have had cause to look at my work and wonder why I have never become a master of any one thing. Each time I realize that it is because I have instead learned about all these things and that enables me to look at problems from a higher altitude and see how all the parts work together. This then allows me to also think of how we can solve a problem or need instead of putting a bandage on the issue and needing to address it at a later time. It has also allowed me to interface with the masters of the various areas, in language they understand, and begin a conversation that leads to a solution. If I were a master of a single area of IT I would always see my one area as the THE way to solve whatever issue, or believe that my area couldn't possibly the cause of the issue.
I have come to believe that being the "Generalist" in area, like IT or being a maker, is truly a greater Master of the area, and in some ways harder work, than someone who did specialize in one thing.
This is wildly inspiring as a young person who often wishes they were better at a lot of things but the way I see it is that this way there is always more to learn and you can keep improving your skill-set endlessly
I LOVE the way Adam gives amazing, thought out answers and allows himself to digress. LOVE IT!
Deeply appreciate your thoughtful answer, Adam. Your honesty and wisdom will provide a guiding light for many, including myself.
Nice to hear you talk about arrows in quivers. My mom always use to say you can add an arrow to someone else's quiver by being good at what they teach. And you can add an arrow to your own quiver to being good at something you teach yourself. There's no downside. The more arrows you add to quivers the better, whether your own quiver or someone else's.
Hey Adam, I don't typically comment on things but this was a particularly moving answer for me... I'm a senior painting student in Philly right now, and I find myself at the juncture between specialization and generalization. I've greatly enjoyed studying painting and I want to continue to develop my skill, but I've had to leave behind playing guitar, drumming, swimming, woodworking, writing, not to mention academics in large part. As I graduate, I'm watching this channel and others thinking about my own life path and hoping to have as vibrant and interdisciplinary career as I can, and this answer was very inspiring to me, so thank you.
Adam, if I may say, you seem like you would be a delightful teacher. I'm 27 and struggle with neurological issues that are incredibly difficult to live with due to many aspects of my life, but your words, just now, give me hope that, even though my 20s are almost gone and I have nothing to show for them, maybe I can still make something great during my life. Maybe. You've given me some hope to cling to.
Thank you for that very thoughtful view. I remember going around endlessly with high school guidance counselors insisting that specialization was the only way to be successful. It just was not for me. And I look back at various people that I went to school with who have struggled when their chosen careers have taken a downturn, where over the years I have been blessed to be able to move across various jobs and industries with relative ease having accumulated a more "generalized" skill set. Regrets? If you dig deep enough, anyone can find something that they would have done differently. But I honestly can not think of any significant things that I would change looking back. You have made me feel just a little better about myself and my choices over the years. Thank you!
This... jeez, I needed this. I'm not a maker, but I am an artist. And a musician. And a voice actor. And a writer... and I have always had so much trouble with all of the "Ands" because there seems to be this pervading attitude of, "you have to pick *one* and only one. Maybe two if you're lucky." Describing them not as career paths but as skills, as arrows in a quiver, just blew my mind. Because I'm AT that point, where all of those things - art, music, writing, voice - have lost a lot of the technical if-then aspects and are now solutions. They're ways of solving a problem, and in my case the problem is usually, "how can I best tell this story?" I'm not a master at any of those things but I'm good enough to solve problems, express emotion, and paint (hopefully) compelling stories with them.
Adam Savage, you've just single-handedly convinced me that knowing how to do a lot of things is okay.
@adam savage - You literally, just perfectly, vocalised how I have felt about myself since I was a teen. Thank you so very much!
I love that. Adam shows so much vulnerability when it comes to making mistakes and on the same page shows so much confidence AND humility. This is why I watch.