I wonder if the idea of a JOAT is still relevant in the modern world. Benjamin Franklin may only by a stretch of imagination be called one. He was a true master of the many things he purveyed. Not so rare, there were many others like him, Leonardo da Vinci for one, who excelled in many things.
Civilization and specialization evolved with the advent of organized agriculture when man found it made sense to give up his hunter-gatherer life and instead stay put in one place. Soon came specialist doctors, specialist armies, specialist lawyers, priests and so on. The benefits of specialization came to stay and we learnt to trade our special skills in the open market. A plumber offered to repair his neighbor’s leaking tap in exchange for a few carrots from his garden, the baker traded his bread for clothes from the tailor and so on… and soon we realized that introducing a common currency could do away with the inconvenient barter system.
All this came about only because we learnt to focus on a few specialties rather than be JOATs. And this has worked pretty well so far. Are JOATs relevant any longer? Is this still a desirable attribute? Can we even imagine now a world consisting only of JOATs and no specialists?
I guess one could still be a JOAT, but only for low-skilled jobs; surely in work needing higher learning and skills one cannot make do with being one. This is why only early school education of children imparts multiple knowledge and skills and they begin to specialize quickly later in life.
While a JOAT is a valuable commodity in the marriage market, I would look askance at any job seeker who came to me claiming he was adept equally in Medicine, Engineering, Law, Accountancy and perhaps Gardening too.
But having said that, in the world of Business and Management, as one keeps ascending the corporate ladder one uses lesser and lesser of one’s special skills and instead slowly transforms himself into a generalist because that’s what the job demanded. And of course, the CEO is the ultimate generalist of them all.
Pras, while you zeroed in to write about ‘Jack of all trades’ male chauvinism seems to have influenced your thought process. That men are superior in terms of ability and intelligence. That only men can be Jacks. You talked about your own skills or the lack of it, your son-in law’s skills as a multi tasker and displayed the picture of a tool like the Swiss army knife a male possession. Did it ever occur to you that epitome of ‘JoAT’ is the woman who you have married (with a little help from me 😊)
The woman is truly a JoAT. A unsung hero. Can you imagine the variey of thing she does so naturally to raise a family, manage budgets, keep the pot boiling and last but not the least keeping her man to herself ! Go man on your knees and make amends for such a serious lapse lest you want to risk missing your next cup of Filter Coffee !
Amazing perspective and a wrap on my knuckles.
I wonder if the idea of a JOAT is still relevant in the modern world. Benjamin Franklin may only by a stretch of imagination be called one. He was a true master of the many things he purveyed. Not so rare, there were many others like him, Leonardo da Vinci for one, who excelled in many things.
Civilization and specialization evolved with the advent of organized agriculture when man found it made sense to give up his hunter-gatherer life and instead stay put in one place. Soon came specialist doctors, specialist armies, specialist lawyers, priests and so on. The benefits of specialization came to stay and we learnt to trade our special skills in the open market. A plumber offered to repair his neighbor’s leaking tap in exchange for a few carrots from his garden, the baker traded his bread for clothes from the tailor and so on… and soon we realized that introducing a common currency could do away with the inconvenient barter system.
All this came about only because we learnt to focus on a few specialties rather than be JOATs. And this has worked pretty well so far. Are JOATs relevant any longer? Is this still a desirable attribute? Can we even imagine now a world consisting only of JOATs and no specialists?
I guess one could still be a JOAT, but only for low-skilled jobs; surely in work needing higher learning and skills one cannot make do with being one. This is why only early school education of children imparts multiple knowledge and skills and they begin to specialize quickly later in life.
While a JOAT is a valuable commodity in the marriage market, I would look askance at any job seeker who came to me claiming he was adept equally in Medicine, Engineering, Law, Accountancy and perhaps Gardening too.
But having said that, in the world of Business and Management, as one keeps ascending the corporate ladder one uses lesser and lesser of one’s special skills and instead slowly transforms himself into a generalist because that’s what the job demanded. And of course, the CEO is the ultimate generalist of them all.
Good piece Pras, enjoyed it.
What an excellent perspective!! It does extend the debate on JoAT. Thank you PAV for taking the trouble to comment so meaningfully.
Brilliant piece Prassana.....showed me the mirror 😅 Time for you to compile these 72 gems into one book to benefit many other smart people.
Thank you Shishir. Much appreciated.
Pras, while you zeroed in to write about ‘Jack of all trades’ male chauvinism seems to have influenced your thought process. That men are superior in terms of ability and intelligence. That only men can be Jacks. You talked about your own skills or the lack of it, your son-in law’s skills as a multi tasker and displayed the picture of a tool like the Swiss army knife a male possession. Did it ever occur to you that epitome of ‘JoAT’ is the woman who you have married (with a little help from me 😊)
The woman is truly a JoAT. A unsung hero. Can you imagine the variey of thing she does so naturally to raise a family, manage budgets, keep the pot boiling and last but not the least keeping her man to herself ! Go man on your knees and make amends for such a serious lapse lest you want to risk missing your next cup of Filter Coffee !