Though I've been advised many times by employment agencies to narrow my focus (I guess in order to make their jobs easier, I guess), I've resisted doing that, so this site is all about all of me. According to this article, that trait is actually an asset, so I'll continue to defiantly embrace my diverse interests and talents. I’m known as a “jack of all trades” to my friends and colleagues because, though I will say that I know quite a bit about a lot of things, I’ll admit that I’m not an expert in anything in particular. I’m always learning new skills though, so I get pretty close to achieving “guru” status, sometimes by accident! After all these years in the graphic design business, I probably would have been deemed an expert if not for software companies radically upgrading their software so often that you have to re-learn it with every version uptick! (I'm talking to you, Adobe!) It takes much effort to keep up with all the changes and new features, but I continue to try!
Regardless, I’d qualify myself as “pretty darn good” at Adobe Photoshop and InDesign in particular, as those are the two programs that I use most often. I seem to have a talent for quickly finding solutions to various “issues” with these programs, and absorbing the answers into my own mental knowledge base. Word gets around, and people are always asking me questions about the technology used in the publishing world... “How do you do this, Ken?”
Back to that “jack of all trades” label I found pinned to my shirt: Sometimes I do envy those single-minded people who, from a very early age, knew exactly what their career path would be. It always makes a great story for the news media too. But I think that, over the years, I’ve accepted my fate. I’m happier trying a bit of everything... and yes, maybe someday I’ll figure out what I want to be when I grow up!
So, as well as thriving in today’s technological environment, I obviously also have a lifetime passion for the less-restricted and ever-changing world of art and music. I wish I had more time to devote to my own personal projects that (for now) will remain classified as... hobbies. Very few of us are going to ever see our most-creative work support us financially, and I have no qualms about working hard at a “regular” job that at least gives me some opportunities to flex my creative muscles, and to make things that people might like to look at.
...And it helps to pay for all the toys!