The article argues that it is neither realistic nor necessary to master every skill in one’s field to build a successful career. I fully agree with this premise, as most professions rely on gradual learning, practical experience, and the ability to build upon foundational knowledge rather than achieving perfection from the start. Expecting full mastery before entering a field would make degrees, certificates, and even entry-level jobs nearly impossible for anyone to attain. How can you be a master of a craft you have never done before?

I see this painfully clearly in my own experience studying to become a goldsmith. My program lasts two years, and by the end of it I will only have a grasp of the basics: how metals behave, how tools are handled, and how fundamental techniques are executed, if that. Yet I will still graduate with a diploma. isnt that odd?

 However, my credential doesn’t claim that I am a master craftsman, it simply shows that I have enough foundational competence to continue learning in the real world. Foundational skills truly are enough to begin.

Where I differ slightly from the writer is in the assumption that average skills always suffice in every field. In a niche and highly competitive field like jewelry making, standing out is often necessary. The market is small and the number of emerging makers steadily growing due to the popularity jewlery making has gained online. While mastery is not a prerequisite for entering the field, honing one’s ”skill stack” to its peak can make all the difference. Developing a distinctive style, perhaps design sensibility, storytelling, or even marketing skills, can help a jeweler rise above the competition. In this sense, refining one’s abilities can be not only beneficial but crucially important to the longevity of ones business.

Still, this does not contradict the core idea of ”skill stacking”. As Scott Adams describes, being “good enough” at multiple things can create a rare mix that holds more value than excellence in a single area. The key is understanding your limits: recognizing the skills you already have, adding new ones as needed, and shaping them into a stack that supports your own dreams, never your employers!