Creativity And The Jack Of All Trades

You may be familiar with the saying, "Jack of all trades and master of none."

Well, I say, "Hooey." That's right. In fact, let me say it again. "Hooey."

It is perfectly possible to be a multipassionate person and do several things well. Many, even. I'm a writer, a mother, a photographer, a friend, an entrepreneur. Sometimes not all at the same time, but I do them all, and do them all well.

But I think one reason many people can't do many things well, or think other people can't, is a lack of creativity.

It takes a lot of gumption to juggle two small kids, a deadline on an article, a pan of spaghetti, and a friend who wants to talk about a problem at work.

It takes even more gumption, and creativity, to juggle five projects, and those same two kids and that same friend.

Sometimes the creativity is required to figure out how you can manage one thing later. "Jack, I know you want to show your new game to me right now, but actually, I've been asleep for about an hour. Could we do it in the morning?"

Sometimes the creativity is figuring out how to handle two projects at once. "Hmmm. If I write an article on creativity AND writing, I could use it in my writing ezine AND my creativity ezine.

Sometimes the creativity is in finding a sensitive way to say, "I can't right now." "Samantha, I know you want to play badminton. I have an abscessed tooth and can't move my head. How about Old Maid on the bed instead?"

And sometimes the creativity is just in remembering that these are people, things and situations you love and want to enjoy, and then going and enjoying them.