Last night, I read a post by Frank Keenan titled “Jack of All Trades, Master of One” discussing the matter of specialization within sports business. More specifically, Keenan writes about the approach of being skilled in a number of areas when working for a small college. It’s a matter that has been brought up in the weekly Twitter chat for small college administrators (#SCAchat).

– Read Frank Keenan’s Post Here: Jack of All Trades, Master of One –

With a marketing background and a position as a Marketing Graduate Assistant, I’d certainly point to such as my strength. But I’d readily identify myself closer to ‘jack of all trades’ than ‘master of one.’ I’ve written for football websites in part because of my passion for college football but also because writing has always been a strength. As a 23 year old college student, I’m expected to have a firm understanding of social media — and I do. Fortunately, I’ve been given the chance to grow within my current GA position as I supplement the work of Media Relations in our Athletic Department on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Beyond that, I’ve had the pleasure of volunteering for the NAIA Division I basketball tournament, a pair of 5K races, and plenty of positions on campus during my undergrad.

With all of that in mind, I want to be clear: I appreciate the need to specialize in an area at the right level. Given the choice between an individual who has mastered accounting and a person who has picked up a few things along the way, I know who I want checking my books. But I think there’s something to be said for improving yourself when the opportunity presents itself. And, as I noted in the chat last night, there’s no better time than the present with a wealth of opportunities.

When it comes down to it, why get better tomorrow when you’ve got today?