By Ikpotokin S.O (2017)

The term “Jack of all Trades” was famously used by Robert Greene in his 1592 booklet Greene’s Groats-Worth of Wit. Most of us book lovers would know him, both old and young. This was more of a flattering complement at that time. It was pleasant to hear or even being called a jack of all trades. Many languages had their own translations from “Handy John” to “Do it all”, only few that were actually reformed had contrary translations or added meanings.

However, the “master of none” element appeared to have been added later by some persons who would I say became victims of their own statements. You aren’t the master of this statement after all. Today, the phrase used in its entirety generally describes a person who has a wide knowledge, covering a lot of areas of life, professions, but he/she really hasn’t quite acquired mastery of them, in other words, he/she is superficial in all of them. In North America, the phrase has been in use since 1721.

Come on since how long now? Between then and now, has the world changed/evolved? Do you remember stories and tales of this 17th century and before then, when the cuter and pretty girls fell in love with the boys who could write good poems, but now all a boy needs is the bling(s) and the cash, his lyrics do not even matter? Do you see any evolution here? Yeah! How about the days when we all had rights and access to government in a pretty democratic way, but now protocols must be adhered to, letters processed for half the government’s tenure, and no resolution? How about when we had less access to personal/private transportation means, compared to this century where everybody now has a private means of transportation, even our unborn children? Wow! We’ve come a long way. Seriously! I must commend our evolutionary efforts.

Ages ago, this poorly constructed clause or phrase more or less, could be valid, used by haters and jesters but now, it is not, and should not be valid.

Let’s be critical about this pricking issue now. How many professors in any field of discipline can fully say he’s a master of his profession and assume to have “all” the knowledge obtainable in that field? None! Even when they claim they know it all, a young lad makes a fool of them with a simple question or two. How many veteran hair stylists could say to the world “I know how to make every hair style “? None! How many veteran teachers especially in English language can boldly say “Ask me any question in English language, I’ll give you the perfect answer”? None! So who are you kidding when you say “don’t mind him, he’s a jack of all trades and master of none”? No one knows everything about anything in the first place, so you are definitely wrong for saying or thinking such. We only know the much we want to or need to know about anything. Like husbands knowing the much they need to know about their wives and not everything, not even the things their friends had known even before they ever knew each other.

It is true you can never know everything, and it is also valid that no one knows everything, and no one will ever know everything except a god, but we can know the much we need to know about anything. Call me a mediocre, a novice for knowing other trades or bits of them, but I call you an illiterate, a professional novice, you are the worst mediocre for not realizing you too are a jack of some other trades.

Join me please:

My knowledge and crave for mastery of English language should not cloud my senses when I’m at the flea market and the sales representative tries to pull a fast one on me, giving me some improper mathematics and producing and exorbitant bill. Tell me, shouldn’t I do some bits of addition and subtraction? Where in English language do we find that, please indulge me? Even you would add whatever figures you could find on any bill to be sure its correct. Yeah! That makes you a mathematician, doesn’t it?! 😏 You gat skills somewhere else. You’re good in maths even when you studied English. Congratulations.

I’m a veteran tailor, at least I think I am. I have spent almost 40 years in the profession, so yes I can brag a while. Do I need to know that an acid could hurt me? Or do I even need to know that when I’m sick I should do this and that, see a doctor, get better?

Alright, some of you would probably say, “that’s common sense”! Where does common sense come from? Instincts or what have been learnt and stored in the brain? “Common sense is not common” people of the Nigerian entity would say, and it is true.  That’s why I value these words “you are what you think, say and do”.  I would draw a suitable picture that “You are what you learn, memorise and practice”. It’s simple. It’s just life’s principles. You can’t thwart it. None of us can.

It is however important that you are a “mediocre” in many relevant trades, because no one can learn every trade. You don’t need to be masters in them. At least you are not a fool either.

Jack of all TradeImage credit at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/jack-all-trades-master-one-robert-shimonski

Take a look at the world today, the same people who use this old clause, engage the youths of today in entrepreneurial activities, acquire more skills, to what end? They are practically begging the youths to become jacks of every possible trades they can lay their minds on. They also encourage the teachings of other subjects in the primary and secondary schools. Yeah! Why not begin studying medicine and surgery from Basic one till the grave comes calling? Or maybe start handling cases in court as at 5 years or maybe 6 years old? Wow! Greetings and many salutations to those who successfully wasted their time ruining a good catch phrase, Greene had in mind.

 

A Jack of all Trades and master of none is better than a Jack who struggles endlessly to be a master of any. Breaking news…You can never master any!

“I’m a jack of all trade. If you insist on adding the pirated and bitter side, well, have fun. It doesn’t change anything. Be positive.” ___ Ikpotokin