There's a joke that whilst the optimist and pessimist debated whether the glass of milk was half-empty or half-full, the opportunist went ahead and drank the milk. 

I've observed a similar allegory when it comes to the debate of whether or not one should aspire to be a jack of all trades or master of one. 

Whilst the Specialists and Generalists debate which path is better, the entrepreneur - the adaptive mind - went ahead and built something.

Any person with a breadth of knowledge might implicitly recognise this to be true in practice. Dan Povenmire, the Emmy award-winning producer and animator, reinforces this idea in a YouTube video, where he comments on the increasingly popular and extended version of the quote.

Original narrator:

"Everyone has heard the saying a jack of all trades is a master of none ... But the extended version is that a jack of all trades is a master of none, but still better than a master of one is actually the complete quote."

Dan Povenmire:

"I think its important to remember the end of that saying - sic - Here's what I do for a living: Actor, Director, Producer, Animator, Voice Actor, etc. I don't know if I'm a master of any of these, but I've been nominated for Emmys in at least 5 of these categories. Don't let anybody try to limit how many things you can be good at."

Sage advice. Except...

Any person with a depth of knowledge, might immediately recognise that this revised quote is factually incorrect.

So, what is one to do?

Jack can shove it.

Since this isn't a formal lit review, let's presume the original quote is accurate, but the modern sentiment was well-intended. 

Whilst both interpretations embellish their perspective, I've come to observe that breadth and depth of expertise are equally important.

Both are crucial to your creative and professional flexibility and flexibility is one of the chief attributes of a successful modern worker.

Porque no los dos?

When I worked with the NexStar participants, a common source of emotional anguish was whether students should pursue one direction or the other. 

I encourage students and career transitioners alike to wherever possible embrace both. 

Depth of knowledge makes you proficient with and more precise on what you do know. Breadth of knowledge helps you better understand relationships between concepts become aware of what you don't know. 

Depth of knowledge helps you refine ideas. Breadth of knowledge helps you diversify them. 

If depth of knowledge helps you 'thread the needle' of your subject matter, then a breadth of knowledge enables you to foresee the tapestry you're weaving. 

The next time you find yourself worried about whether to go deep or wide in your career, come back to this article. 

Pick any one direction and see where your curiosity takes you. 

That will be the most valuable thing you can do right now.