The Polymath Playbook

When I was younger, people always made it seem like you should dream of becoming the best athlete, the best writer, or the best at anything. What I came to learn as an adult is that being the best at one thing may not make you the best version of the person you want to be. Doing many things well may help you see things no one else can, better than someone who is the best at one thing. This post by Salman Ansari opened my eyes to the term "polymath," which describes a kind of person who looks at the world through this lens and finds unique, novel, and interesting answers to questions others may not be asking.

You’ve likely heard the saying: “A jack of all trades is a master of none.” It warns against the futility of pursuing too many disciplines. Be a specialist, or you’ll be nothing.

But there’s more to the story. An extended version of the saying tells a different tale: “A jack of all trades is a master of none, but often times better than a master of one.” With a subtle addition, its meaning becomes inverted. It touts the benefits of being a polymath (a.k.a. generalist), rather than admonishing them.

How Will You Measure Your Life?

Clayton Christensen lived an extraordinary life, best remembered for coining the revolutionary concept that has defined decades of business innovation, "The Innovator's Dilemma." He is revered in many circles, but what I find most inspirational about Mr. Christensen is the simplicity of his goals and values. In this essay, he explores what truly matters in this world, what your purpose should be, and how you can define your personal principles to live a happy life full of integrity.

My class at HBS is structured to help my students understand what good management theory is and how it is built. On the last day of class, I ask my students to turn those theoretical lenses on themselves, to find cogent answers to three questions: First, how can I be sure that I’ll be happy in my career? Second, how can I be sure that my relationships with my spouse and my family become an enduring source of happiness? Third, how can I be sure I’ll stay out of jail?

Though the last question sounds lighthearted, it’s not. Two of the 32 people in my Rhodes scholar class spent time in jail. Jeff Skilling of Enron fame was a classmate of mine at HBS. These were good guys—but something in their lives sent them off in the wrong direction.

An app can be a home-cooked meal

This is one of my favorite blog posts of all time. Robin Sloan (a true genius) discusses the act of creation and explains why making an app doesn't have to be a major endeavor or the beginning of a new business. I make apps for my friends, my mom, and even myself — apps that will never earn a dollar. However, what they will do is make the people in my life happier, solve their problems, or simply bring joy.

The exhortation “learn to code” has its foundations in market value. “Learn to code” is suggested as a way up, a way out. “Learn to code” offers economic leverage, professional transformation. “Learn to code” goes on your resume.

But let’s substitute a different phrase: “learn to cook”. People don’t only learn to cook so they can become chefs. Some do! But many more people learn to cook so they can eat better, or more affordably. Because they want to carry on a tradition. Sometimes they learn because they’re bored! Or even because they enjoy spending time with the person who’s teaching them.