Comments on: The Meaning of "Well-Rounded" in Corporate http://blog.monicaobrien.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/ Small Biz. Big Buzz. by Monica O'Brien Thu, 09 Sep 2010 02:41:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Shane Mac http://blog.monicaobrien.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/comment-page-1/#comment-2250 Shane Mac Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:37:37 +0000 http://twentyset.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/#comment-2250 Glenn,<br><br>I love that article by Tim Ferris and whether or not anyone agrees with him and his philosophies on life, that guy makes valid points and usually backs them with data. (I am a numbers nerd as well.) <br><br>If heard Monica say you were off to college soon. If so, where, when, what are you studying, etc... Would love to hear your story.<br><br>Have a good one,<br>Shane Mac<br>@shanemacsays<br><a href="http://www.thesquab.com" rel="nofollow">http://www.thesquab.com</a> Glenn,

I love that article by Tim Ferris and whether or not anyone agrees with him and his philosophies on life, that guy makes valid points and usually backs them with data. (I am a numbers nerd as well.)

If heard Monica say you were off to college soon. If so, where, when, what are you studying, etc… Would love to hear your story.

Have a good one,
Shane Mac
@shanemacsays
http://www.thesquab.com

]]> By: Shane Mac http://blog.monicaobrien.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/comment-page-1/#comment-2249 Shane Mac Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:35:07 +0000 http://twentyset.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/#comment-2249 Nice work. Being a guy who is all over the map and tries to kick ass in all that I set out to do, I am unsure of my thoughts on this. I hear ya when you say, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” I get that. I am definitely not a jack of all trades but I feel I have figured out a few. Master? Not really.<br><br>I try to learn as much as I can about all that I do and then realize that I don't know it all and will continue to learn forever. Sometimes though you figure out how the game works and are content with that.<br><br>Take my music for example. I play a show where I was sponsored by Miller Lite and played shows all over the midwest. Am I great at guitar? No. Best Singer? Not at all. I use a damn computer to be my band for gosh sakes. I have a guitar with 6 strings that make noise and could care less that I don't have the best fender guitar. (Everyone always tries to knock me for having a knock off guitar and I just smile. I save $1000 and the six strings still make noise...)<br><br>Do you feel like it is more about how you perceive 'master?' Could master mean your ability to dive into something and just start doing rather than always thinking about it? I see that a lot and love the Thomas Edison quote that "Genius is 99% perspiration, 1% inspiration." I find myself following that a lot and I have this bad case of thinking if you can do it then why can't I? <br><br>As for master's that I am not but hope are: Doctor, Engineer, Astronaut, Dentist, etc... I hope they are not like me...<br><br>Great post and have a great V-Day!<br><br>Thanks,<br>Shane Mac<br>@shanemacsays Nice work. Being a guy who is all over the map and tries to kick ass in all that I set out to do, I am unsure of my thoughts on this. I hear ya when you say, “Jack of all trades, master of none.” I get that. I am definitely not a jack of all trades but I feel I have figured out a few. Master? Not really.

I try to learn as much as I can about all that I do and then realize that I don't know it all and will continue to learn forever. Sometimes though you figure out how the game works and are content with that.

Take my music for example. I play a show where I was sponsored by Miller Lite and played shows all over the midwest. Am I great at guitar? No. Best Singer? Not at all. I use a damn computer to be my band for gosh sakes. I have a guitar with 6 strings that make noise and could care less that I don't have the best fender guitar. (Everyone always tries to knock me for having a knock off guitar and I just smile. I save $1000 and the six strings still make noise…)

Do you feel like it is more about how you perceive 'master?' Could master mean your ability to dive into something and just start doing rather than always thinking about it? I see that a lot and love the Thomas Edison quote that “Genius is 99% perspiration, 1% inspiration.” I find myself following that a lot and I have this bad case of thinking if you can do it then why can't I?

As for master's that I am not but hope are: Doctor, Engineer, Astronaut, Dentist, etc… I hope they are not like me…

Great post and have a great V-Day!

Thanks,
Shane Mac
@shanemacsays

]]> By: Finding Focus in Your Skill Set | Twenty Set http://blog.monicaobrien.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/comment-page-1/#comment-461 Finding Focus in Your Skill Set | Twenty Set Wed, 16 Apr 2008 18:29:35 +0000 http://twentyset.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/#comment-461 [...] and having a broad perspective, and today I am continuing with the same theme. Rachel made an excellent point in the comments section of that article, basically saying I never define a scale of [...] [...] and having a broad perspective, and today I am continuing with the same theme. Rachel made an excellent point in the comments section of that article, basically saying I never define a scale of [...]

]]> By: Roman http://blog.monicaobrien.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/comment-page-1/#comment-460 Roman Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:32:20 +0000 http://twentyset.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/#comment-460 I meant that a person who is rounded in a lot of subjects, but not specialist in anything is good candidate to be an assistant to the top performers.Since, they will be able to deal with variety of subject on a low level of execution. I think it is the same thought you had in the post. I meant that a person who is rounded in a lot of subjects, but not specialist in anything is good candidate to be an assistant to the top performers.Since, they will be able to deal with variety of subject on a low level of execution. I think it is the same thought you had in the post.

]]> By: Carla http://blog.monicaobrien.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/comment-page-1/#comment-459 Carla Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:34:33 +0000 http://twentyset.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/#comment-459 While choosing a major and areas of study in college, I was still so focused on being "well-rounded." If I was involved in an academic organization, I would accompany that with being involved in a social or sport organization. I followed the high-school advice of well-rounded=successful. After my senior year in college, I have learned that while well-roundedness may make you an interesting person, passion for one thing- your area of expertise- will make you a better hire. While choosing a major and areas of study in college, I was still so focused on being “well-rounded.” If I was involved in an academic organization, I would accompany that with being involved in a social or sport organization. I followed the high-school advice of well-rounded=successful. After my senior year in college, I have learned that while well-roundedness may make you an interesting person, passion for one thing- your area of expertise- will make you a better hire.

]]> By: Monica O'Brien http://blog.monicaobrien.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/comment-page-1/#comment-458 Monica O'Brien Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:38:23 +0000 http://twentyset.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/#comment-458 Glenn, thank you for sharing that link. I enjoyed the read. I think it's great that you've gotten past the "I'm doing this so I can put it on my resume" stage. It sounds like you are headed to college soon, so I wanted to encourage you to continue pursuing your interests and find new ones. College is not a time to get too serious about one thing, so experiment. You are already headed in the right direction. Rachel, I think you are absolutely right. I've only answered the Why, but haven't explained myself thoroughly on the What and How. Be on the lookout for another post. Jaclyn, I look forward to reading what you have to say about this! Great point about specializing. Torbjorn, good points. You and Jaclyn are both talking about balancing between expert and nothing. Biodun, thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Miguel, sounds like your brother is a smart guy. This is exactly what I meant - taking a multi-disciplinary approach to your job. ie: Just because someone is a scientist or engineer doesn't mean they can't use psychology principles in their daily work. Roman, I'm interested in the administrative assistant comment. What do you mean? Just curious. Thanks to everyone for the comments! I know this post was short and I should write some follow-up posts to clarify. Glenn, thank you for sharing that link. I enjoyed the read. I think it’s great that you’ve gotten past the “I’m doing this so I can put it on my resume” stage. It sounds like you are headed to college soon, so I wanted to encourage you to continue pursuing your interests and find new ones. College is not a time to get too serious about one thing, so experiment. You are already headed in the right direction.

Rachel, I think you are absolutely right. I’ve only answered the Why, but haven’t explained myself thoroughly on the What and How. Be on the lookout for another post.

Jaclyn, I look forward to reading what you have to say about this! Great point about specializing.

Torbjorn, good points. You and Jaclyn are both talking about balancing between expert and nothing.

Biodun, thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed the post.

Miguel, sounds like your brother is a smart guy. This is exactly what I meant – taking a multi-disciplinary approach to your job. ie: Just because someone is a scientist or engineer doesn’t mean they can’t use psychology principles in their daily work.

Roman, I’m interested in the administrative assistant comment. What do you mean? Just curious.

Thanks to everyone for the comments! I know this post was short and I should write some follow-up posts to clarify.

]]> By: Roman http://blog.monicaobrien.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/comment-page-1/#comment-457 Roman Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:25:50 +0000 http://twentyset.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/#comment-457 Just wanted to agree that becoming a specialist in one area is way more valuble than being well rounded, but not a real specialist. It is especially true for cut edge professions for example SEOs, mobile web desginers, social network ad representative or M&A specialists. That is why specialist can dictate a price like $500 per hour, because the knowledge is just so unique to the person that it is just not easy to replace one. I think naturally professionals are curios people so they might know just enough about other area as well. P.S. administrative assistants should be well rounded. Just wanted to agree that becoming a specialist in one area is way more valuble than being well rounded, but not a real specialist. It is especially true for cut edge professions for example SEOs, mobile web desginers, social network ad representative or M&A specialists. That is why specialist can dictate a price like $500 per hour, because the knowledge is just so unique to the person that it is just not easy to replace one. I think naturally professionals are curios people so they might know just enough about other area as well.
P.S. administrative assistants should be well rounded.

]]> By: Miguel Wickert (Pineiro) http://blog.monicaobrien.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/comment-page-1/#comment-456 Miguel Wickert (Pineiro) Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:06:05 +0000 http://twentyset.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/#comment-456 hey Monica Thought provoking post, you said, "Well-rounded employees dip their toes into everything, but don’t ever jump in. They are easy to replace, because they haven’t developed expertise in one area. They are the employees who support top performers rather than become them. They are the employees who get described as 'Jack of all trades, master of none.'" I never considered this perspective, naturally one might expect the individual called the "Jack of all trades" to be better off than the one who masters a particular skill. The person this describes is my girlfriend's brother. He is excellent at stepping into different disciplines so he might learn not just for the sake of learning, but to implement his broad knowledge back into his daily work related tasks. Great read, this might be the longest I've spent on any site this week. Thanks for sharing! hey Monica

Thought provoking post, you said, “Well-rounded employees dip their toes into everything, but don’t ever jump in. They are easy to replace, because they haven’t developed expertise in one area.

They are the employees who support top performers rather than become them. They are the employees who get described as ‘Jack of all trades, master of none.’”

I never considered this perspective, naturally one might expect the individual called the “Jack of all trades” to be better off than the one who masters a particular skill.

The person this describes is my girlfriend’s brother. He is excellent at stepping into different disciplines so he might learn not just for the sake of learning, but to implement his broad knowledge back into his daily work related tasks.

Great read, this might be the longest I’ve spent on any site this week. Thanks for sharing!

]]> By: Biodun http://blog.monicaobrien.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/comment-page-1/#comment-455 Biodun Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:04:18 +0000 http://twentyset.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/#comment-455 Great Post, having broad perspective disciplined in a field being an expert in the field, then learning more aspects in other disciplines is a good way improve a company's growth. Great Post, having broad perspective disciplined in a field being an expert in the field, then learning more aspects in other disciplines is a good way improve a company’s growth.

]]> By: torbjornrive http://blog.monicaobrien.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/comment-page-1/#comment-450 torbjornrive Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:11:51 +0000 http://twentyset.com/the-meaning-of-well-rounded-in-corporate/#comment-450 Depending on your area of work, moving from well-rounded to job specific will greatly improve your worth to the company. In some cases, being well-rounded may as well mean you're an intern. Once you are the go-to person for specifics you know you've found your place in the company. Then again, you never want to be known as "not well-rounded". Good, quick, succinct post! Depending on your area of work, moving from well-rounded to job specific will greatly improve your worth to the company.

In some cases, being well-rounded may as well mean you’re an intern. Once you are the go-to person for specifics you know you’ve found your place in the company.

Then again, you never want to be known as “not well-rounded”.

Good, quick, succinct post!

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