Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

On 10/08/2010 05:27 AM, Denis G. wrote:
Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Your question almost answers itself.

I don't feel much negative connotation with the term "jack of all
trades" although some might. Call yourself a "tinkerer", though, and
I'll think of you as someone who derives joy from turning screws and
pounding nails without ever actually getting something to work. I can
sympathize with that, but if I'm spending money to have work done I'm
spending money to have the work _finished_, not just messed with.

Describe your target market in more detail, and perhaps someone can help
more.

In high tech, an engineer who spans disciplines and who can ride herd on
the architecture of an entire system is called a "systems engineer",
"system architect" or other name with the word "system" in it.
Effective systems engineers have to be "jacks of all trades" within
engineering, although they're often "jack of all trades, master of one".

In home repair, a guy who can come in the door, fix a leaking hose to a
wash machine, tighten a door hinge or two, repair an outlet, and clean
the gutters on his way out is called a "Handyman".

If you're addressing a market that doesn't seem to have built-in
monikers, consider using adjectives related to "versatile",
"cross-discipline", etc.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

On Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:02:31 -0700, Tim Wescott
wrote:

On 10/08/2010 05:27 AM, Denis G. wrote:
Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Your question almost answers itself.

I don't feel much negative connotation with the term "jack of all
trades" although some might. Call yourself a "tinkerer", though, and
I'll think of you as someone who derives joy from turning screws and
pounding nails without ever actually getting something to work. I can
sympathize with that, but if I'm spending money to have work done I'm
spending money to have the work _finished_, not just messed with.

Describe your target market in more detail, and perhaps someone can help
more.

In high tech, an engineer who spans disciplines and who can ride herd on
the architecture of an entire system is called a "systems engineer",
"system architect" or other name with the word "system" in it.
Effective systems engineers have to be "jacks of all trades" within
engineering, although they're often "jack of all trades, master of one".

In home repair, a guy who can come in the door, fix a leaking hose to a
wash machine, tighten a door hinge or two, repair an outlet, and clean
the gutters on his way out is called a "Handyman".

If you're addressing a market that doesn't seem to have built-in
monikers, consider using adjectives related to "versatile",
"cross-discipline", etc.
How about "practical engineer"
or
"Mr Fixit"

On Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:11:51 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:02:31 -0700, Tim Wescott
wrote:

On 10/08/2010 05:27 AM, Denis G. wrote:
Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Your question almost answers itself.

I don't feel much negative connotation with the term "jack of all
trades" although some might. Call yourself a "tinkerer", though, and
I'll think of you as someone who derives joy from turning screws and
pounding nails without ever actually getting something to work. I can
sympathize with that, but if I'm spending money to have work done I'm
spending money to have the work _finished_, not just messed with.

Describe your target market in more detail, and perhaps someone can help
more.

In high tech, an engineer who spans disciplines and who can ride herd on
the architecture of an entire system is called a "systems engineer",
"system architect" or other name with the word "system" in it.
Effective systems engineers have to be "jacks of all trades" within
engineering, although they're often "jack of all trades, master of one".

In home repair, a guy who can come in the door, fix a leaking hose to a
wash machine, tighten a door hinge or two, repair an outlet, and clean
the gutters on his way out is called a "Handyman".

If you're addressing a market that doesn't seem to have built-in
monikers, consider using adjectives related to "versatile",
"cross-discipline", etc.

Cross-discipline sounds a bit kinky.

How about "practical engineer"

So the rest of us are impractical engineers?

"Mr Fixit"

On 10/08/2010 01:57 PM, Spehro Pefhany wrote:
On Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:11:51 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:02:31 -0700, Tim
wrote:

On 10/08/2010 05:27 AM, Denis G. wrote:
Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Your question almost answers itself.

I don't feel much negative connotation with the term "jack of all
trades" although some might. Call yourself a "tinkerer", though, and
I'll think of you as someone who derives joy from turning screws and
pounding nails without ever actually getting something to work. I can
sympathize with that, but if I'm spending money to have work done I'm
spending money to have the work _finished_, not just messed with.

Describe your target market in more detail, and perhaps someone can help
more.

In high tech, an engineer who spans disciplines and who can ride herd on
the architecture of an entire system is called a "systems engineer",
"system architect" or other name with the word "system" in it.
Effective systems engineers have to be "jacks of all trades" within
engineering, although they're often "jack of all trades, master of one".

In home repair, a guy who can come in the door, fix a leaking hose to a
wash machine, tighten a door hinge or two, repair an outlet, and clean
the gutters on his way out is called a "Handyman".

If you're addressing a market that doesn't seem to have built-in
monikers, consider using adjectives related to "versatile",
"cross-discipline", etc.

Cross-discipline sounds a bit kinky.

How about "practical engineer"

So the rest of us are impractical engineers?

I have known some profoundly impractical engineers. Not so bad that
they needed cross-discipline, though.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

Tim Wescott wrote:

On 10/08/2010 01:57 PM, Spehro Pefhany wrote:
On Fri, 08 Oct 2010 16:11:51 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 08 Oct 2010 12:02:31 -0700, Tim
wrote:

On 10/08/2010 05:27 AM, Denis G. wrote:
Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Your question almost answers itself.

I don't feel much negative connotation with the term "jack of all
trades" although some might. Call yourself a "tinkerer", though, and
I'll think of you as someone who derives joy from turning screws and
pounding nails without ever actually getting something to work. I can
sympathize with that, but if I'm spending money to have work done I'm
spending money to have the work _finished_, not just messed with.

Describe your target market in more detail, and perhaps someone can help
more.

In high tech, an engineer who spans disciplines and who can ride herd on
the architecture of an entire system is called a "systems engineer",
"system architect" or other name with the word "system" in it.
Effective systems engineers have to be "jacks of all trades" within
engineering, although they're often "jack of all trades, master of one".

In home repair, a guy who can come in the door, fix a leaking hose to a
wash machine, tighten a door hinge or two, repair an outlet, and clean
the gutters on his way out is called a "Handyman".

If you're addressing a market that doesn't seem to have built-in
monikers, consider using adjectives related to "versatile",
"cross-discipline", etc.

Cross-discipline sounds a bit kinky.

How about "practical engineer"

So the rest of us are impractical engineers?

I have known some profoundly impractical engineers. Not so bad that
they needed cross-discipline, though.


Some are imprctical, cross and poorly disciplined, though.


--
Politicians should only get paid if the budget is balanced, and there is
enough left over to pay them.

Tim Wescott wrote:

In home repair, a guy who can come in the door, fix a leaking hose to
a wash machine, tighten a door hinge or two, repair an outlet, and
clean the gutters on his way out is called a "Handyman".

If you're addressing a market that doesn't seem to have built-in
monikers, consider using adjectives related to "versatile",
"cross-discipline", etc.

--

Tim Wescott

And that's why my business is a "Handyman and Repair" business and my motto
is "I can fix almost anything !" .
And the business is starting to grow ... got kinda nervous there for a
while , but happy clients are your best advertisement , and I'm starting to
get a few passing my name out .
--
Snag
Learning keeps
you young !

I CAN FIX ANYTHING!
(where's the duct tape?)

CaveLamb wrote:

I CAN FIX ANYTHING!
(where's the duct tape?)


In the attic. (Red Green)


--
Politicians should only get paid if the budget is balanced, and there is
enough left over to pay them.

In article ,
says...

I CAN FIX ANYTHING!
(where's the duct tape?)

Flashing on the IBM ad of a few years back:

"I am, I am Superman, and I can fix anything . . ."

On Oct 8, 4:57*pm, "Snag" wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
In home repair, a guy who can come in the door, fix a leaking hose to
a wash machine, tighten a door hinge or two, repair an outlet, and
clean the gutters on his way out is called a "Handyman".

If you're addressing a market that doesn't seem to have built-in
monikers, consider using adjectives related to "versatile",
"cross-discipline", etc.

--

Tim Wescott

*And that's why my business is a "Handyman and Repair" business and my motto
is "I can fix almost anything !" .
* And the business is starting to grow ... got kinda nervous there for a
while , but happy clients are your best advertisement , and I'm starting to
get a few passing my name out .
--
Snag
Learning keeps
you young !

I've talked with people who've gone into business for themselves and
it sorta terrifies me. I don't think that I've ready for that leap.
I like helping people fix things too. I repaired the washing machine
for someone in my wife's lab. One of her kids socks found it's way
into the pump and it was jammed up. Simple fix, but you had to guess
where to look and not assume it was going to be something like a bad
circuit board, etc. I didn't want to take money. I was just happy to
get the thing going again.

Denis G. wrote:
On Oct 8, 4:57 pm, "Snag" wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
In home repair, a guy who can come in the door, fix a leaking hose
to a wash machine, tighten a door hinge or two, repair an outlet,
and clean the gutters on his way out is called a "Handyman".

If you're addressing a market that doesn't seem to have built-in
monikers, consider using adjectives related to "versatile",
"cross-discipline", etc.

--

Tim Wescott

And that's why my business is a "Handyman and Repair" business and
my motto is "I can fix almost anything !" .
And the business is starting to grow ... got kinda nervous there for
a while , but happy clients are your best advertisement , and I'm
starting to get a few passing my name out .
--
Snag
Learning keeps
you young !

I've talked with people who've gone into business for themselves and
it sorta terrifies me. I don't think that I'm ready for that leap.

This isn't the first time for me . Before I got into cabinet shop work I
ran a home repair/flooring install business . Got tired of the hustle ,
worked for somebody else the last 18 or so years . But people just aren't
all that interedted in hiring a man my age , and so here I am , back in
business again . Got a few more skills now too , last go-round I didn't have
all the metalworking machinery .
Recently , I've been fabbing and installing lock boxes on AC condenser
cages . Couple of bucks for material , and I'm getting 45 bucks each for
them . Works out to just under $30/hour average ...

--
Snag
Learning keeps
you young !

On Oct 9, 6:53*am, "Snag" wrote:
Denis G. wrote:
On Oct 8, 4:57 pm, "Snag" wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
In home repair, a guy who can come in the door, fix a leaking hose
to a wash machine, tighten a door hinge or two, repair an outlet,
and clean the gutters on his way out is called a "Handyman".

If you're addressing a market that doesn't seem to have built-in
monikers, consider using adjectives related to "versatile",
"cross-discipline", etc.

--

Tim Wescott

And that's why my business is a "Handyman and Repair" business and
my motto is "I can fix almost anything !" .
And the business is starting to grow ... got kinda nervous there for
a while , but happy clients are your best advertisement , and I'm
starting to get a few passing my name out .
--
Snag
Learning keeps
you young !

I've talked with people who've gone into business for themselves and
it sorta terrifies me. *I don't think that I'm ready for that leap.

* This isn't the first time for me . Before I got into cabinet shop work I
ran a home repair/flooring install business . Got tired of the hustle ,
worked for somebody else the last 18 or so years . But people just aren't
all that interedted in hiring a man my age , and so here I am , back in
business again . Got a few more skills now too , last go-round I didn't have
all the metalworking machinery .
* Recently , I've been fabbing and installing lock boxes on AC condenser
cages . Couple of bucks for material , and I'm getting 45 bucks each for
them . Works out to just under $30/hour average ...

--
Snag
Learning keeps
you young !- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Cool!

I met someone up here in the Milwaukee area who started a small
business fabbing oil coolers for English motorcycles. He sold me his
HF 3-in-1 shear-brake-roller when he got something better to work with.

On 2010-10-09, Snag wrote:

[ ... ]

Recently , I've been fabbing and installing lock boxes on AC condenser
cages . Couple of bucks for material , and I'm getting 45 bucks each for
them . Works out to just under $30/hour average ...

Sounds like a good job -- but why do they *need* locks on the
cages? Someone stealing Freon? (It is hard enough to get these days so
perhaps that *is* what is happening. :-)

Enjoy,
DoN.

--
Remove oil spill source from e-mail
Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---

On Fri, 8 Oct 2010 16:57:02 -0500, "Snag"
wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:

In home repair, a guy who can come in the door, fix a leaking hose to
a wash machine, tighten a door hinge or two, repair an outlet, and
clean the gutters on his way out is called a "Handyman".

If you're addressing a market that doesn't seem to have built-in
monikers, consider using adjectives related to "versatile",
"cross-discipline", etc.

--

Tim Wescott

And that's why my business is a "Handyman and Repair" business and my motto
is "I can fix almost anything !" .
And the business is starting to grow ... got kinda nervous there for a
while , but happy clients are your best advertisement , and I'm starting to
get a few passing my name out .




"fix anything but a broken heart or the crack of dawn"

On 2010-10-12, wrote:
On Fri, 8 Oct 2010 16:57:02 -0500, "Snag"
wrote:

[ ... ]

And that's why my business is a "Handyman and Repair" business and my motto
is "I can fix almost anything !" .
And the business is starting to grow ... got kinda nervous there for a
while , but happy clients are your best advertisement , and I'm starting to
get a few passing my name out .

[ ... ]

"fix anything but a broken heart or the crack of dawn"

And that only because I can't get the right rod. :-)

Enjoy,
DoN.

--
Remove oil spill source from e-mail
Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---

On 12 Oct 2010 02:34:28 GMT, "DoN. Nichols"
wrote:

On 2010-10-12, wrote:
On Fri, 8 Oct 2010 16:57:02 -0500, "Snag"
wrote:

[ ... ]

And that's why my business is a "Handyman and Repair" business and my motto
is "I can fix almost anything !" .
And the business is starting to grow ... got kinda nervous there for a
while , but happy clients are your best advertisement , and I'm starting to
get a few passing my name out .

[ ... ]

"fix anything but a broken heart or the crack of dawn"

And that only because I can't get the right rod. :-)

Enjoy,
DoN.
For the crack of dawn it's a simple "fusion" problem.

In article ,
wrote:

"fix anything but a broken heart or the crack of dawn"

Dawn must be a plumber.

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by

On Mon, 11 Oct 2010 20:53:31 -0400, wrote:

On Fri, 8 Oct 2010 16:57:02 -0500, "Snag"
wrote:

Tim Wescott wrote:

In home repair, a guy who can come in the door, fix a leaking hose to
a wash machine, tighten a door hinge or two, repair an outlet, and
clean the gutters on his way out is called a "Handyman".

If you're addressing a market that doesn't seem to have built-in
monikers, consider using adjectives related to "versatile",
"cross-discipline", etc.

--

Tim Wescott

And that's why my business is a "Handyman and Repair" business and my motto
is "I can fix almost anything !" .
And the business is starting to grow ... got kinda nervous there for a
while , but happy clients are your best advertisement , and I'm starting to
get a few passing my name out .




"fix anything but a broken heart or the crack of dawn"

Refer broken hearts to handyman James Taylor.

On Fri, 8 Oct 2010 05:27:17 -0700 (PDT), "Denis G."
wrote:

Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

You said "business card".. what is the business or proposed business?

I won't want to pay someone to "tinker" (definitely not by the hour!),
and I might rather have an expert than a "jack of all trades" (and
master of none).

But if you are good at repairing stuff/maintenance, or consider
yourself a generalist.. that might start to sound useful. Card,
website (if any), brochures, personal appearance should all be
congruent with some kind of overall vision and unique selling
proposition. It doesn't have to be conventional, but it had better
appeal to the potential customers.

On Oct 8, 2:19*pm, Spehro Pefhany
wrote:
On Fri, 8 Oct 2010 05:27:17 -0700 (PDT), "Denis G."

wrote:
Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

You said "business card".. what is the business or proposed business?

I won't want to pay someone to "tinker" (definitely not by the hour!),
and I might rather have an expert than a "jack of all trades" (and
master of none).

But if you are good at repairing stuff/maintenance, or consider
yourself a generalist.. that might start to sound useful. Card,
website (if any), brochures, personal appearance should all be
congruent with some kind of overall vision and unique selling
proposition. It doesn't have to be conventional, but it had better
appeal to the potential customers. *

I'm casting about looking for a job. I've been an R&D tech and
engineer skewed to the material sciences, but I've never had a
business card of my own because I've never felt that what I was doing
was building a career. I've had lots of ups and downs (probably like
everyone else here), but I was just looking for ideas for a business
card when I network and meet people. I've read some good suggestions
here, but I'll have to chew on the ideas a bit and see if something
really makes sense to me.

In article
,
"Denis G." wrote:

I'm casting about looking for a job. I've been an R&D tech and
engineer skewed to the material sciences, but I've never had a
business card of my own because I've never felt that what I was doing
was building a career. I've had lots of ups and downs (probably like
everyone else here), but I was just looking for ideas for a business
card when I network and meet people. I've read some good suggestions
here, but I'll have to chew on the ideas a bit and see if something
really makes sense to me.

My "not entirely a joke" moonlighting tagline is:
Electronics, Databases, Woodworking, Earthmoving
I have done (and will do) the first two for money. I keep playing with
the third one but have been leery of turning a hobby I like into a job I
might not, and the last I only do for me (backhoe, yes - giant truck to
haul giant trailer to haul backhoe, and license to drive said giant
truck, and desire to get mired in other people's noisome underground
messes, no. I'm also a good pick and shovel man, but nobody's going to
pay my rates for pick and shovel work, most likely - though it has
certainly come in handy on parts of my own jobs where the backhoe is not
the right tool for the job.)

As for moonlighting more directly in what I spend all day doing - not
interested, already tired of it. If I was more seriously trying to work
the first two I might remove the last two, but I'm not, and there is a
deliberate intent to point out broadness of scope. So far nobody's
called wanting an earthmoving job - they look for the folks who
advertise that in the paper and yellow pages.

....but, that's moonlighting. I can afford to miss a bunch, because it is
not my day job.

The woodworking "not quite a business" is itself also not confined to
woodworking, and I've borrowed a moniker from one of my 1860's lathes
that describes it better: "Maker"

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by

On Oct 9, 8:24*am, Ecnerwal
wrote:
In article
,
*"Denis G." wrote:

I'm casting about looking for a job. *I've been an R&D tech and
engineer skewed to the material sciences, but I've never had a
business card of my own because I've never felt that what I was doing
was building a career. *I've had lots of ups and downs (probably like
everyone else here), but I was just looking for ideas for a business
card when I network and meet people. *I've read some good suggestions
here, but I'll have to chew on the ideas a bit and see if something
really makes sense to me.

My "not entirely a joke" moonlighting tagline is:
Electronics, Databases, Woodworking, Earthmoving
I have done (and will do) the first two for money. I keep playing with
the third one but have been leery of turning a hobby I like into a job I
might not, and the last I only do for me (backhoe, yes - giant truck to
haul giant trailer to haul backhoe, and license to drive said giant
truck, and desire to get mired in other people's noisome underground
messes, no. I'm also a good pick and shovel man, but nobody's going to
pay my rates for pick and shovel work, most likely - though it has
certainly come in handy on parts of my own jobs where the backhoe is not
the right tool for the job.)

As for moonlighting more directly in what I spend all day doing - not
interested, already tired of it. If I was more seriously trying to work
the first two I might remove the last two, but I'm not, and there is a
deliberate intent to point out broadness of scope. So far nobody's
called wanting an earthmoving job - they look for the folks who
advertise that in the paper and yellow pages.

...but, that's moonlighting. I can afford to miss a bunch, because it is
not my day job.

The woodworking "not quite a business" is itself also not confined to
woodworking, and I've borrowed a moniker from one of my 1860's lathes
that describes it better: "Maker"

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by

A friend of mine who was an engineer once told me that when times are
good and there's lots of demand for workers, it's good to specialize.
When jobs are scarce and times are bad, you generalize and take on
many roles. He has his own company now teaching people how to kayak
and leading tours. He's now his own employer.

In article
,
"Denis G." wrote:

Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Probably not, without the cardee being already acquainted with your work
(assuming it's a positive thing to be acquainted with your work, of
course ;-) )

That, and there are so may trades that to really be jack of all is a bit
of a stretch. Just list all the ones you are half-decent at (and
actually care to do for money - I'm good at shoveling horse poop, and
I'll do it for my garden, but nobody wants to pay my rates for having
their horse poop shoveled.)

You do ceramic tile? Fiber optic connectors? Underwater welding? Replace
the jewels in an 18 jewel watch movement? Graft apple trees? Dig wells?
Castrate calves? Any no's and you're missing a trade or two...

And tinkering with things is generally seen as quite different than
repairing them - typically in the "messing about with systems you don't
understand" direction, despite roots in "traveling fixer of metal items,
especially pots and pans." And sometimes the "travelling" part was
important to get out of town before any of the "repaired" pots could be
used and the repair melted...

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by

On Fri, 08 Oct 2010 15:20:29 -0400, Ecnerwal wrote:

And tinkering with things is generally seen as quite different than
repairing them - typically in the "messing about with systems you don't
understand" direction, despite roots in "traveling fixer of metal items,
especially pots and pans." And sometimes the "travelling" part was
important to get out of town before any of the "repaired" pots could be
used and the repair melted...

"Not worth a Tinker's Dam..."

Cheers!
Rich

"Denis G." wrote in news:474bd85c-e86b-42f8-96ab-
:

Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Of the two, I'd definitely go with "jack of all trades"

Then again, a friend of mine used to have cards that said "Dragons slain,
maidens rescued. Special rates for groups." in small print near the bottom.

Doug White

In article ,
says...

"Denis G." wrote in news:474bd85c-e86b-42f8-96ab-
:

Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Of the two, I'd definitely go with "jack of all trades"

Then again, a friend of mine used to have cards that said "Dragons slain,
maidens rescued. Special rates for groups." in small print near the bottom.

Then there was Heinlein's "General Services"--the story ("We Also Walk
Dogs") is worth a read.

On Sat, 09 Oct 2010 02:18:33 -0400, J. Clarke wrote:
In article ,
"Denis G." wrote in
news:474bd85c-e86b-42f8-96ab- :

Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Of the two, I'd definitely go with "jack of all trades"

Then again, a friend of mine used to have cards that said "Dragons
slain, maidens rescued. Special rates for groups." in small print near
the bottom.

Then there was Heinlein's "General Services"--the story ("We Also Walk
Dogs") is worth a read.

And Larry Niven's "Geeral Products" hulls, built by the Puppeteers. ;-)

Cheers!
Rich

Rich Grise wrote:
On Sat, 09 Oct 2010 02:18:33 -0400, J. Clarke wrote:
In article ,
"Denis G." wrote in
news:474bd85c-e86b-42f8-96ab-
:

Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Of the two, I'd definitely go with "jack of all trades"

Then again, a friend of mine used to have cards that said "Dragons
slain, maidens rescued. Special rates for groups." in small print
near the bottom.

Then there was Heinlein's "General Services"--the story ("We Also
Walk Dogs") is worth a read.

And Larry Niven's "General Products" hulls, built by the Puppeteers.
;-)

Cheers!
Rich

Damn cowards , so afraid of a supernova that they moved the whole planet !
But those hulls were the cat's ass if you ended up on a Ringworld !
--
Snag
Learning keeps
you young !

On Sat, 09 Oct 2010 01:34:49 -0700, Rich Grise
wrote:

On Sat, 09 Oct 2010 02:18:33 -0400, J. Clarke wrote:
In article ,
"Denis G." wrote in
news:474bd85c-e86b-42f8-96ab- :

Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Of the two, I'd definitely go with "jack of all trades"

Then again, a friend of mine used to have cards that said "Dragons
slain, maidens rescued. Special rates for groups." in small print near
the bottom.

Then there was Heinlein's "General Services"--the story ("We Also Walk
Dogs") is worth a read.

And Larry Niven's "Geeral Products" hulls, built by the Puppeteers. ;-)

They'll survive ANYTHING!

Once upon a time, someone was a minister and the card read "Marrials
and Burials".

--
You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.
--Jack London

Larry Jaques wrote:
On Sat, 09 Oct 2010 01:34:49 -0700, Rich Grise
wrote:

On Sat, 09 Oct 2010 02:18:33 -0400, J. Clarke wrote:
In article ,
"Denis G." wrote in
news:474bd85c-e86b-42f8-96ab- :

Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.
Of the two, I'd definitely go with "jack of all trades"

Then again, a friend of mine used to have cards that said "Dragons
slain, maidens rescued. Special rates for groups." in small print near
the bottom.
Then there was Heinlein's "General Services"--the story ("We Also Walk
Dogs") is worth a read.
And Larry Niven's "Geeral Products" hulls, built by the Puppeteers. ;-)

They'll survive ANYTHING!

Once upon a time, someone was a minister and the card read "Marrials
and Burials".

--
You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.
--Jack London

Not quite "anything". Beowulf and Elephant busted one once...
I think that was in Flatlander.


--

Richard Lamb

In article ,
says...

On Sat, 09 Oct 2010 02:18:33 -0400, J. Clarke wrote:
In article ,
"Denis G." wrote in
news:474bd85c-e86b-42f8-96ab- :

Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Of the two, I'd definitely go with "jack of all trades"

Then again, a friend of mine used to have cards that said "Dragons
slain, maidens rescued. Special rates for groups." in small print near
the bottom.

Then there was Heinlein's "General Services"--the story ("We Also Walk
Dogs") is worth a read.

And Larry Niven's "Geeral Products" hulls, built by the Puppeteers. ;-)

Well, yeah, but General Products wasn't a JOAT outfit. General Services
was. "Want somebody murdered, don't call General Services. For
anything else . . . We also walk dogs."

"Denis G." fired this volley in news:474bd85c-
:

Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Call yourself a "Universal Repair Service", but then narrow it down for a
reality check.

You're probably NOT a jack of +all+ trades, but you do a number of them
well. List them. Hit the majors, then give a category like "Competent in
all minor mechanical and electrical repairs", or some such.

LLoyd

On Oct 8, 4:19*pm, "Lloyd E. Sponenburgh"
lloydspinsidemindspring.com wrote:
"Denis G." fired this volley in news:474bd85c-
:

Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Call yourself a "Universal Repair Service", but then narrow it down for a
reality check.

You're probably NOT a jack of +all+ trades, but you do a number of them
well. *List them. *Hit the majors, then give a category like "Competent in
all minor mechanical and electrical repairs", or some such.

LLoyd

Ok thanks Lloyd. More to think about.

On Fri, 8 Oct 2010 05:27:17 -0700 (PDT), "Denis G."
wrote:

Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Only to some people. Others look down upon service people like us.
I'm a handyman and that's another word which gets scowls sometimes.

My truck signs say "Home and Garden Handyman; Hardscapes, Repairs,
Maintenance", but the last line says "Wishes Fulfilled!", and that
gets most of the comment by passers-by.

My recommendation is to find some more concise words to describe
yourself. i.e: Independent Engineering Fabrications, Inc.
Whatever you're doing, describe it floridly.

--
You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.
--Jack London

On Oct 8, 4:31*pm, Larry Jaques wrote:
On Fri, 8 Oct 2010 05:27:17 -0700 (PDT), "Denis G."

wrote:
Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Only to some people. *Others look down upon service people like us.
I'm a handyman and that's another word which gets scowls sometimes.

My truck signs say "Home and Garden Handyman; Hardscapes, Repairs,
Maintenance", but the last line says "Wishes Fulfilled!", and that
gets most of the comment by passers-by.

My recommendation is to find some more concise words to describe
yourself. * i.e: Independent Engineering Fabrications, Inc.
Whatever you're doing, describe it floridly.

--
You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * --Jack London

Wishes fulfilled! You should have a genie picture on your business
card. g

On Fri, 08 Oct 2010 21:51:59 -0700, Denis G. wrote:
On Oct 8, 4:31*pm, Larry Jaques wrote:
On Fri, 8 Oct 2010 05:27:17 -0700 (PDT), "Denis G."
wrote:
Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names? Your
thoughts appreciated.

Only to some people. *Others look down upon service people like us. I'm
a handyman and that's another word which gets scowls sometimes.

My truck signs say "Home and Garden Handyman; Hardscapes, Repairs,
Maintenance", but the last line says "Wishes Fulfilled!", and that gets
most of the comment by passers-by.

My recommendation is to find some more concise words to describe
yourself. * i.e: Independent Engineering Fabrications, Inc. Whatever
you're doing, describe it floridly.

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club. *

Wishes fulfilled! You should have a genie picture on your business card.
g

And when you get a storefront, you can say, "Wishes fulfilled while you
wait." ;-)

Cheers!
Rich

On Fri, 8 Oct 2010 21:51:59 -0700 (PDT), "Denis G."
wrote:

On Oct 8, 4:31*pm, Larry Jaques wrote:
On Fri, 8 Oct 2010 05:27:17 -0700 (PDT), "Denis G."

wrote:
Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

Only to some people. *Others look down upon service people like us.
I'm a handyman and that's another word which gets scowls sometimes.

My truck signs say "Home and Garden Handyman; Hardscapes, Repairs,
Maintenance", but the last line says "Wishes Fulfilled!", and that
gets most of the comment by passers-by.

My recommendation is to find some more concise words to describe
yourself. * i.e: Independent Engineering Fabrications, Inc.
Whatever you're doing, describe it floridly.

--
You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * --Jack London

Wishes fulfilled! You should have a genie picture on your business
card. g

Heh, heh heh. If I were doing larger jobs and charging contractor
rates, I might.

--
You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.
--Jack London

"Denis G." wrote in message
...
Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

You only put half the quote:

Jack of all trades, master of none.

When I hear about a guy who can do anything, I am immediately suspicious,
because if he was so talented, he'd be busy and not looking for work. No
one, and this is MHO only is good at everything. They may be experienced,
did some work in that area, or was just watching when someone else did it.

I would think better of someone who said, GENERAL REPAIRS. Or better yet,
just put down what you really ARE good at, and stick with what you know.
It's harder to get into trouble that way.

Steve

On 10/08/2010 05:11 PM, Steve B wrote:
"Denis wrote in message
...
Is it possible to describe yourself as a "jack of all trades" or a
tinkerer without evoking the negative connotations of those names?
Your thoughts appreciated.

You only put half the quote:

Jack of all trades, master of none.

When I hear about a guy who can do anything, I am immediately suspicious,
because if he was so talented, he'd be busy and not looking for work.

By that logic you should only try to hire people who won't come to work
for you. There's reasons to need to find work.

No one, and this is MHO only is good at everything. They may be experienced,
did some work in that area, or was just watching when someone else did it.

But some people are pretty good at a lot of things.

I would think better of someone who said, GENERAL REPAIRS. Or better yet,
just put down what you really ARE good at, and stick with what you know.
It's harder to get into trouble that way.

He hasn't even said yet if by "jack of all trades" he meant he can do
plumbing, electrical and carpentry, or if by "jack of all trades" he
meant that he can castrate brown calves as well as black ones.

In engineering you need a few people (I'm one of them) who can work
across disciplines. I'm not the best software guy, I'm not the best
electronics guy, I'm not the best mechanical guy by far, I'm not the
world's best mathematician.

But when the mathematician is saying things in Math that only he can
understand, and even the software engineer can't wrap her brain around
it, when the electrical guy can't understand why the mechanical guy
can't find a 500 watt motor that's one inch on a side and the mechanical
guy keeps trying to give the electrical guy a mere five square inches
for a processor and a circuit to control those 500 watts -- I can step
in, understand what each party is saying and why, and I can either
propose solutions or explain why the whole approach is a waste of time
and money.

That's one reason a jack of all trades is good to have around.

The other reason is when you have some small job that needs a bunch of
things -- say plumbing, electrical, and carpentry -- all to get done.
One guy who can do it all can sweep in, get it done in a few days, and
be off. He'll take longer at each task than the 'right' guy, but he'll
just make one trip. He may not be perfect at each, but he'll be
thinking ahead to the plumbing and electrical when he does the
carpentry, etc. Insist on "specialists" and not only will it take more
people longer, but the plumber will be drilling holes the carpenter left
out, the electrician won't have a spot for his junction boxes, etc.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html