The world is hell-bent on shoving you into a niche.

Look no further than the variety of phrases used to shame people for pursuing several interests at once:

• Jack of all trades, master of none.

• You need to pick one thing and stick with it.

• You can't be good at everything.

• You're spreading yourself too thin.

• Focus on one thing and do it well.

For too long, we’ve been fed the lie that you have to pick one thing and stick with it, that being a jack of all trades somehow makes you less valuable. 

Part of the reason the insistence on niching down is commonplace is largely because of false narratives.

It’s an easier, much simpler story to portray oneself as being hyper-fixated on one thing versus explaining the messy, non-linear journey that success normally entails. 

Steve Jobs was guilty of perpetuating this myth.

He often preached laser focus. Take the Jobs’ quote from below, for example:

“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you've got to focus on. But that's not what it means at all. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully. I'm actually as proud of the things we haven't done as the things I have done. Innovation is saying no to 1,000 things.”

However, in reality, Jobs was a polymath who was deeply interested in design, typography, and calligraphy, which he studied extensively before founding Apple. 

He believed that technology and art should go hand in hand, and this belief drove the development of products like the Macintosh, iPod, iPhone, and iPad—devices that revolutionized multiple industries. 

And the cases of the visionaries and innovators who preached absolute hyper-fixation yet practiced multidisciplinary thinking are countless. 

The truth is that the most impactful people have been specialized generalists, taking inspiration from a variety of passions and sources and complementing their primary areas of excellence. 

For Jobs, he understood technology, product design, storytelling, and much more, but he leveraged all of that knowledge to enhance his specialty: being a visionary.  

While this jack-of-all-trades, master-of-one archetype has quietly changed the world, a confluence of factors is leading to a growing acceptance of the anti-niche approach. 

The Rise of The Anti-niche Approach

Specialization is a double-edged sword. 

Sure, it can make you an expert in one thing, but it also makes you vulnerable—fragile, even. 

The moment your industry shifts, your skill set can become obsolete. 

That’s where the specialized generalist comes in. 

These are the people who refuse to be pigeonholed and dive into multiple disciplines with the understanding that the real power lies in versatility. 

The specialized generalist masters one core area while pulling from others to create something entirely new. 

In a world where everything is connected, the ability to cross-pollinate ideas and skills from different areas is what leads to true innovation.

They’re not content to fit into a predefined box because they’re too busy building their own. 

It’s about blending different areas of expertise to carve out a space that’s uniquely yours—a space where you can’t be easily replaced or replicated.

Being nicheless, or anti-niche, makes you more adaptable, more creative, and ultimately more powerful. 

It’s not about being mediocre at everything—it’s about being damn good at one thing while being smart enough to draw from others. This is how you stay ahead, not just in your career but in life.

So why is this shift happening now? 

Because the world is changing faster than ever. 

Industries are evolving, technology is advancing, and the lines between disciplines are blurring. If you’re stuck in one lane, you’re going to get left behind. 

And AI is accelerating the rise of the Renaissance person. Because of AI, the barriers to entry in various fields have been obliterated. 

You no longer have to spend years mastering every nuance of a new skill before you can apply it. 

AI tools can help you learn faster, access specialized knowledge, and execute tasks with a precision that would have been impossible a decade ago. 

This fluidity allows you to seamlessly move between disciplines, making you more adaptable, innovative, and valuable in an ever-changing landscape.

I use it as my not-so-secret weapon, helping me dominate as a specialized generalist with copywriting and creative writing at the core of my expertise.

As the co-founder of an independent book publishing company, Lucid House Publishing, and a content marketing agency, Publish Profitably, I’m constantly shifting gears—whether it’s crafting SEO strategies, producing killer copy, or diving deep into research for my next creative project. 

AI is like having an on-demand consultant ready to accelerate problem-solving and ideation for my businesses. And when it comes to visuals, MidJourney steps in to create unique imagery that brings my concepts to life.

On top of running these ventures, I work professionally and freelance as a copywriter, content strategist, and consultant. 

AI enables me to seamlessly juggle these roles, enhancing my ability to deliver high-quality work across different domains. 

How to Become a Specialized Generalist

So, how do you join the ranks of the specialized generalists? 

Start by mastering one area that you’re passionate about. This is your anchor, the thing that keeps you grounded. 

But don’t stop there—explore other fields, even if they seem unrelated. The goal isn’t to become an expert in everything but to gain enough understanding to connect the dots in ways others can’t.

Forget the traditional career advice that tells you to find a niche and stick with it. Instead, embrace your inner polymath. 

Use AI tools and immerse yourself in books, experiences, and conversations that push you outside your comfort zone. The key is to stay curious, to never stop learning, and to refuse to be boxed in by the expectations of others.

Market yourself as a niche of one—someone who brings a unique blend of skills and perspectives that can’t be easily replicated. This is the epitome of the anti-niche philosophy. 

In a world where everyone’s trying to specialize, being a jack of all trades, master of one, is what will make you invaluable.