“To do many things at once or not…?”

This a pointless dilemma which misses the point

It’s not about how many things you do — it’s how you do them.

 

You can do as many things as you’re good at. Very good at.

You only want to do less things if you are not good at things.

You want to focus so that you’re even competent. Preferable more then competent. Preferably very good

 

Being best is overrated.

Yes – the outcome and reward is disproportionately larger for the no.1

The natural predisposition, hard work and luck required are disproportionate too

 

Be VERY GOOD

Being very good is relatively easy

Pareto would argue that 20% of work should get you to 80% of skill. This is more then fair. And more then enough.

 

Most don’t get to 80%. Most have to focus on a single thing because they can’t even progress at that. Learn to learn first. Then you can learn a LOT of stuff.

 

It is preferable you do many things. You are creating an option for the fortune to bless you. In form of your own hidden potential, or favorable outside circumstances. You never know before you try

 

You can stack talents. You may not be the best in the world at a single thing but you can be the best in the world in the combination of things you do.

Likely you will be more creative merging two fields into an interesting confluence rather then merely getting to the top of your industry and doing the same old thing.

 

Obviously be intelligent about it all

Unless you’re very good — you’re just bad. You don’t want to be bad. Cut in half your distractions and get GOOD at what you do. Don’t fool yourself.

 

Don’t stick with one thing for life.

Even if you’re still learning (which you’re not) — the returns are drastically diminishing. Go expand your competence vertically.

 

Anyone could and should be a Renaissance man. Now so much more then ever

You don’t want to be a robot no more. We have plenty of robots these days.

You want to be a man. A Renaissance man.