depends on what you do, use, etc....jack of all trades, or master of one!? - Rob Sellen :o)

I think being a master at learning whatever is needed at the time is a great skill to have. As far as in today's business climate, I don't think actual talent is usually involved to succeed. So I'd go with the former over the latter. - Rahsheen ™

A little about a lot (actually wrote a blog post about exactly this!). It's served me well in my current job because I've had to take on such disparate duties. - FFing Enigma (aka Tina)

I know some about a lot - Lindsey is Fierce!

Tina, what's the link? - Ken Stewart | ChangeForge

Rah, I see you are the ever-optimist ;-) - Ken Stewart | ChangeForge

Here's one for you, Rah - if not talent that what chops do you need to succeed? - Ken Stewart | ChangeForge

Here you go: http://www.isthisstupid.com/article... - FFing Enigma (aka Tina)

To be an effective trainer I have to know a whole lot but make it seem like a little bit at the time. - MLx from fftogo

MLx - now that is an interesting take I had not thought about. So you have to chunck it out so people can catch-up to you... very good rationale. - Ken Stewart | ChangeForge

I remember that post... that was a really good one. I see a lot of college professors that fall into that category. - Ken Stewart | ChangeForge

MLx makes a good point as well. When I was a trainer it was a very fine line to straddle, keeping up with what my students knew versus what I knew and how to share information without it being too advanced to be accessible. - FFing Enigma (aka Tina)

I am quite good at most things - if I make the effort - an acceptable answer. I seem to be able to grasp the external stuff quite well - but mentally no no no. - laprensa66

Bye the way Tina - I know what you mean. - laprensa66

I don't think Talent is as important as it used to be in most cases. I think it's more about networking and who you know. This is not to say that talent is not an asset, but it's just not THE asset as it once was. - Rahsheen ™

Rah - so sociability skills have replaced tech skills in your opinion? Knowledge-workers over Line-workers? - Ken Stewart | ChangeForge

I think perhaps the marketable talents now aren't the same ones we would have seen even 20 years ago. Especially in a dodgy economy, having a diverse background and the proven ability to adapt to address business needs can be much more valuable then a specific talent in, say, coding one language. - FFing Enigma (aka Tina)

A I know a little about many things, a lot of a few things, and might be able to claim to be master a something... Not sure what that something would be though. :) - Grant Bierman

Ah, Tina - that could be a whole 'nother can of worms - or 20 for that matter ;-) - Ken Stewart | ChangeForge

Tina makes a good point. I also think paperwork has gotten in the way. You got someone who gets a degree and 17 certs, then you got a guy who has been coding since Logo Writer in the 4th grade, can do things with a programming language that would make you pee your pants, but the paperwork always wins. Hell, look at the music business. Most of these people with platinum albums have minimal music talent. - Rahsheen ™

What people really know: a little about a little. - Todd Hoff

Maybe it all comes back to being able to market yourself. Maybe there is more competition, so you have to make yourself stand out beyond just your talent. Can't put my finger on it, really :) - Rahsheen ™

One of my school teachers said "A little about a lot is always good especially during interviews". I agree with that too. A little about a lot is always better. You can start a conversation with almost everyone if you know a little about a lot and you can learn from them. When you know a lot about little, you can only start conversation with few people. :) - Ramkarthik

I definitely know a little about a lot, and a lot about one thing. - MVB

Both. I know more than you might think about a *lot* of truly eclectic topics, and a *lot* about my specialty. I think I've managed this by knowing *nothing* about several whole fields of human endeavor, like sports. - Michael R. Bernstein

A little about a lot. Which means I've always been good at pinch-hitting for other people at work, but I never know enough to actually do a high-paying job for a living. - Jandy

Rah - I wonder in music if there isn't a DIGG-effect going on there? Ram - I like your thought on only being able to start a conversation with a few people. Michael - you advocate the trivial pursuit approach it sounds ;-) ? Jandy - high pay is both relative as is your perception of value and worth. Ask for what you are worth. - Ken Stewart | ChangeForge

todd - I suppose it does take all kinds, indeed :-) - Ken Stewart | ChangeForge

I love this debate. Personally, I believe it is more fulfilling to know "a little about a lot" as you put it. This post asks the same question of entrepreneurs : “Would you rather be great at just one particular thing…OR…just good at many things?” : http://www.techsoomer.com/type-en... - Kevin Pruett

I think both. You should know a little about a lot of topics, but also be very well educated on a select few. - Summer