Why Being "Pretty Good" at Multiple Things Beats Being Great at One
I recently came across a piece of career advice that completely changed how I think about professional success. The idea came from Scott Adams (yes, the Dilbert creator), and it's brilliantly simple: instead of trying to be the absolute best at one thing, focus on being really good at a combination of skills.
This hit me because I see this pattern everywhere in successful people I know - and it perfectly describes my own unconventional path to becoming a UGC creator.
My journey? Over 25 years as a sign language interpreter, 12 years as a homeschool mom, currently as a web designer and SEO/AI strategist, and now UGC creator. Each skill seemed random at the time, but together they created something unique.
Adams mentions, “For every person who studies something specific like law or medicine and actually ends up in that career, there are probably five who let chance pick their path.” That works out more often than you'd think, but Adams suggests there's a better strategy.
This post was inspired by Scott Adams' career advice on combining skills rather than pursuing perfection in one area. (2007)
The Problem with the "Follow Your Passion" Advice
Most career advice tells you to find your one true calling and pursue it relentlessly. But here's what I've noticed: the most successful people I know didn't follow one passion - they combined multiple interests and skills.
Adams calls this the difference between two strategies:
Become the best at one specific thing
Become very good (top 25%) at two or more things
My UGC Creator Origin Story: Three Skills That Changed Everything
Here's how this played out in my own career.
I spent years as a sign language interpreter - a job that taught me to read facial expressions and body language like a book.
I became an expert at understanding what people really meant, not just what they said.
During that time, I was exposed to every industry you can imagine.
Medical appointments, business meetings, legal proceedings, educational settings - I absorbed knowledge about different fields without even trying.
Then came 12 years of homeschooling my kids. Talk about learning to communicate complex ideas simply, managing multiple projects at once, and understanding what actually works versus what sounds good in theory. Homeschool moms become masters of research, organization, and authentic product testing (because when you're spending your own money on curriculum, you better believe you're thorough).
After that, I pivoted to web design. Suddenly I was learning all kinds of tech skills (some of which I learned while being an interpreter) - how websites work, user experience, visual design, problem-solving when code breaks at 2 AM. But running my own web design and SEO business taught me something equally valuable: how to work with clients.
I learned to translate technical concepts into language clients could understand, manage expectations, handle revisions professionally, and deliver projects on time. Those client interaction skills? Pure gold for brand partnerships.
None of these seemed connected until I discovered UGC creation.
Now I realize I had the perfect combination:
Reading people: Understanding what resonates with audiences (thank you, sign language interpreting)
Industry knowledge: Knowing how different businesses actually work (from all those interpretation assignments)
Education and communication: Breaking down complex topics and speaking authentically about products that actually work (12 years of homeschooling)
Technical skills: Creating professional content without needing a whole team (web design background)
Client management: Translating brand needs, managing expectations, and delivering on time (running a web design business taught me this)
I'm not the world's best at any single one of these skills. But together? They make me a UGC creator who can understand brand needs, connect authentically with audiences, deliver polished content independently, and work professionally with clients.
Why This Combination Strategy Works for UGC Creators
The UGC space is crowded with creators who can make pretty videos. But how many understand the psychology behind why someone stops scrolling? How many have actually worked in the industries they're creating content for? How many can handle their own tech issues when equipment fails during a shoot?
This is exactly what Adams was talking about. You don't need to be the most beautiful person on camera or the most technically skilled video editor. You need to be good enough at several things that matter to brands:
Understanding audiences (my interpreting background helps me read what people really want)
Industry credibility (exposure to different fields through interpretation work)
Technical competence (web design skills translate perfectly to content creation)
Problem-solving (every career I've had required figuring things out on the fly)
The combination is what makes UGC creators valuable to brands, not perfection in any single area.
Why This Strategy Works in Any Economy
Capitalism rewards things that are both rare and valuable. You make yourself rare by combining two or more "pretty goods" until no one else has your mix.
That script supervisor Dilbert mentioned? Her verbal and writing skills were obviously enough to garner attention plus she must have had excellent people skills. I'm guessing she also has high attention to detail and a few other skills in the mix. None of those skills are best in the world, but together they make a strong package.
The Essential Third Skill: Communication
At least one skill in your mixture should involve communication - either written or verbal. It could be as simple as learning to sell more effectively than 75% of the world. That's skill one.
Now add whatever your passion is - that's skill two, because passion is what you'll easily put enough energy into to reach the top 25%. If you have an aptitude for a third skill, perhaps business or public speaking, develop that too.
Real Examples of Skill Combinations That Win in UGC
The formula isn't just theory. Look at successful UGC creators and you'll see this pattern everywhere:
Former teachers who understand how to explain products clearly
Retail workers who know what questions customers actually ask
Healthcare professionals who can authentically review wellness products
Parents who combine life experience with genuine product testing
Tech workers who can create content about apps and digital tools
Each person combined skills that individually weren't world-class, but together created something rare and valuable for brands.
My interpreting background means I can spot when someone's facial expression doesn't match their words - crucial for authentic UGC. My web design experience means I understand user experience and can create content that actually converts. My exposure to different industries means I can speak knowledgeably about products I'm featuring.
How to Identify Your Top 25% Skills
Start by asking yourself:
What do people often ask you for help with?
What feels easy to you but hard for others?
What activities make you lose track of time?
Where do you get consistent positive feedback?
Don't overthink it. Most people underestimate their abilities in areas they find natural.
The Biggest Mistake People Make
The biggest career mistake is thinking you need to pick one thing and stick with it forever. That's old-school thinking that doesn't match how modern careers actually work.
Instead, think of your career as a combination lock. You're not looking for one perfect number - you're looking for the right combination of skills that unlocks opportunities others can't access.
Why This Beats Traditional Career Planning
Traditional career advice tells you to "follow your passion" or "find your purpose." That's nice, but it's not practical. This formula is:
Realistic: Top 25% is achievable for most people
Flexible: You can adapt as industries change
Measurable: You can track your progress in each skill area
Rare: Most people don't think this way, giving you an advantage
Getting Started: Your Next Steps
Audit your current skills - List everything you're decent at
Identify your strongest area - Where are you already in the top 25%?
Choose a complementary skill - What would make your strongest skill more valuable?
Add communication - If it's not already one of your skills, make it the third
Remember, you don't need to be the world's best at anything. You just need to be pretty good at a few things that don't often go together.
Questions People Ask About the Two-Path Strategy
How long does it take to reach top 25% in a skill?
For most skills, 6 months to 2 years of focused practice can get you there. The key is consistency, not intensity.
What if I'm already deep into one career path?
Perfect. You already have skill one. I thought my interpreting career was completely separate from content creation until I realized how much it taught me about reading audiences and understanding different industries. Your current career is probably teaching you skills that transfer to UGC in ways you haven't considered yet.
How does this apply specifically to UGC creation?
UGC isn't just about making videos - it's about understanding people, being authentic, solving technical problems, communicating effectively, and knowing how to work professionally with brands. Think about what unique perspective your background brings.
Former retail worker? You know customer pain points and how to handle difficult conversations. Parent? You understand family-focused products and have experience managing competing priorities. Office worker? You get productivity tools and professional communication. Teacher? You can explain complex products simply and understand learning styles.
The key is recognizing that brand partnerships require business skills too. You need to write professional emails, meet deadlines, understand contracts, and communicate your value clearly. These aren't "creative" skills, but they're what separate hobbyists from creators who build sustainable businesses.
What if my combination seems weird for UGC?
Weird combinations are often the most valuable. My sign language interpreting background seemed irrelevant until brands started commenting on how authentic and engaging my content feels compared to other creators.
The Bottom Line for Aspiring UGC Creators
You don't need to be the most polished creator on social media. You need to be good enough at several things that matter to brands: understanding audiences, creating quality content, and bringing unique perspective.
Your "random" career background isn't holding you back from UGC - it's your secret weapon. The combination of your skills is what will make you irreplaceable to the right brands.
What are your three skills going to be?
This post was inspired by Scott Adams' career advice on combining skills rather than pursuing perfection in one area. You can find his original insights on skill combination strategies on his blog.
