i'm definitely a jack of all trades but as i get older, i really just wanna become a master of something. the hard part is choosing.

Definitely a jack of all trades master of none. I had to do a bit of everything, and be at least competent at a bit of everything running a small biz for 15 years.

I still think there is a place for jack of all trades as a contractor or self employed person but if you are an employee you should be a master at your craft.

Needs to be both. When I was young I directed intense focus on a new thing as soon as I got bored, but went deep into it and sometimes beyond (i.e. tetris long past the point I was learning anything). As older, I get faster at getting to 80% of it in 20% of the time and only stick around to get more information if it is directly related to a goal or of particular interest. I like that in a new fresh field there is so much to gain in so little time, and am not much into repetitive or tedious motions. That said, getting all the way to mastery in a few holistic areas is invaluable, as the hard to reach lessons are often widely applicable.

The Jack of all trades is the master of none, But, the Jack of one trade is the connector of none.

Great quote by Eric W. I prefer diving into many things and finding interesting connections between them. Like @UCantDoThatDotNet said, it's about getting that 80-20 thing going which, realistically, will be different for everyone.

"Specialization is for insects" -Heinlein

I find myself torn between two contrasting impulses: the desire for breadth and variety, and the admiration for depth and expertise. While I naturally gravitate towards exploring diverse perspectives and subjects, I also deeply respect those who dedicate themselves to mastering a single craft.

On one hand, I enjoy the richness of delving into various domains (currently giving some time to economics), each offering its own insights. On the other hand, there's a longing to dive deep into one field, to unravel its complexities with dedicated focus.

I'm at odds with my nature, constantly balancing between the allure of variety and the pull of specialization. Mostly the former wins out.

If I were to give advice to myself 20 years ago, I'd say to start wide but choose a deep path, then zoom out again. I spent decades staying wide and rarely going deep, which is fun but randomizing and less productive. In the few places where I've really gone deep, it's been amazing, but finding the discipline to not get distracted by the wide array of other options is always a challenge.

It's important to diversify however not too much. It's all about finding balance. strengthening what you're good at and working with others on the things that you're not.

Jack of most trades, master of some.

In the art territory, I think we should all be jacks of all trades. Going deep is too cerebral. Unless we live in a box with just one thing in it, we're going to explore a lot and create as we stumble.

I'm closer to a Jack, but I try to make my competence more of a cone than an omnidirectional thing.