I’m Not Good at Everything

I like to write. I think I’m fairly good at it (or at least people willing to pay me think I’m good enough at it to keep on paying me). I like to blog. I seem decent enough at that. I like to play around with the code on my blog, but I’m only good enough to be dangerous. I like to design and create, but I know I spend more time mucking than actually making. I like the idea of public speaking, of sharing my ideas with a group of people, but I suck at it.

As I get more and more into the professional world it seems like everybody has to be good at everything. But at the same time everybody knows how stupid that is. The number one piece of advice a small business owner will hear is to hire professionals to do the things you aren’t good at. Lawyers, accountants, graphic designers, techies, writers, etc. Let a professional do it so you can get back to what you’re good at.

But then every writer or marketing wonk has to be an excellent public speaker. Every blogger thinks they can be a podcaster, or worse, a vlogger. Every pastor has to be a best-selling author. You end up with a lot of mediocre.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t experiment and try new things. I just don’t understand why everyone expects you to be good at everything. Just because you have the opportunity and the platform to do something, doesn’t mean you should.

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