When you feel you are quick in understanding how things work and mastering new skills but feel scattered or overwhelmed by multiple interests or assigned tasks, you say…
「器用貧乏」 kiyo bimbo
I’m kind of a Jack-of-all-trades type person. Any managers find it handy to have me around, but I don’t think I’m going to make a successful career.
器用貧乏なタイプだから、どんな上司からも重宝がられるけど、このままだと大成しなさそう。
kiyoubinbo na taipu dakara, donna joshi karamo chohogarareru kedo, konomama dato taisei shinasaso
器用:versatile, good with one’s hands
貧乏:poor
If you’re versatile enough to understand and master skills quickly enough, you will be a “grease guy” for the team and be expected to volunteer unpopular tasks. It will be a great contribution to making their groups better off, but you will not be a specialist, become unsure about life-long passions or career path and end up making smaller success in your own career than you would otherwise.
どんな仕事も素早く理解して身に着けることができる器用な人は、組織の「潤滑油」的扱いをされ、人がやりたがらない仕事を任されたりする。組織が回るという意味では大きな貢献となるが、専門家とはなれず、自分の進む道がわからなくなり、自分自身のキャリアとしての成功も小さくなる。