In defense of dabbling

Today’s edition of Wishful Working is a 3 minute read.

I’m a dabbler, and a proud one.

What is dabbling, exactly? Dabbling is taking an intermittent or superficial interest in a subject or activity. 

I would venture to say most creatives are dabblers, especially when it comes to artistic hobbies.

But when it comes to work, dabbling is often frowned upon. 

Instead, we are told to niche down, specialize, and dive deep into one thing to build expertise. This advice has merits, but I still waffle when it comes to the specialist versus (gasp) generalist conversation.

Here’s why I think dabbling is underrated, even in a career context:

Some roles require breadth over depth

For better or for worse, many companies (especially small businesses) want one person to do the job of an entire marketing team.

When I first started out in marketing, my “superficial” experience with a wide range of things — including graphic design, photography, social media, creative writing, video editing, and animation — was an asset. And despite the fear-mongering, I believe skilled generalists will always be in demand.

Dabbling prepares you for self-employment

Starting your own business requires a LOT of scrappiness and DIY skills. Because of my dabbling, I’ve been able to confidently DIY things like branding, copywriting, website design, and social media graphics. 

I fully believe in investing in specialists and outsourcing certain things, but having some DIY skills is also super valuable when you’re an entrepreneur, consultant, or freelancer.

Dabbling opens more avenues for inspiration

When I’m working on a creative project, I look for inspiration outside of the medium I’m working in. Looking at illustrations on Pinterest can inspire ideas for a fiction writing project, for example, or listening to an audiobook can give me an idea for a sewing project.

My friend Alexa has a great post about the power of outside knowledge and how learning about different subjects can enhance your creativity. Historical knowledge, for example, can enrich your understanding of art. Architectural knowledge can help you understand typography.

The potential for creative cross-pollination is endless. (And you should really subscribe to Alexa’s newsletter.)

I’ve often heard the phrase “Jack of all trades, master of none,” and it always makes me roll my eyes. It’s obviously meant to disparage generalists and discourage dabbling. 🙄

Maybe you’ve also heard the longer version of this quote: “A Jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one.” This version insists that single-minded focus and mastery is not necessarily better than broad knowledge and varied experience. I (obviously) agree.

(Fun fact: It’s a common myth that the longer version is the “full” or “original” quote, but there’s actually no evidence of this. We don’t know who penned this longer version — or why, or when. But I do appreciate a bit of justice for generalists. 😎)

See you next week,

Kara

Wishful Working is inspired by my desire to see more people enjoy a life not centered around work. For some, the path to freedom and flexibility is through self-employment, but we also need to challenge cultural norms and champion healthier working conditions and work/life balance for all types of workers.

Who am I? I’m a freelance writer and entrepreneur based in small-town Saskatchewan. I write longform content for B2B clients, and I help founders and independents name their brands and projects at Naming. Connect with me by replying to this email or finding me on LinkedIn or Twitter.