The K(Now) Unfiltered: Multi-skilling > Multitasking

Welcome to The K(Now) Unfiltered—where career truths get served straight, no chaser - just the raw, uncut version of what you need to hear. Get ready to have your comfort zone shattered, one savage truth at a time. ??

I was chatting with a former colleague the other day, and she drops this gem on me: "I’ve made so many pivots in my career—writing to corporate comms, scripting, reporting—and now I’m thinking of going back to comms. Am I just all over the place?"

My response to her, “I get it. But no. You’re not all over the place. You’re just out here collecting superpowers while everyone else is still busy worrying about their one "niche."”

I’ve been there, done that, and trust me—every pivot has made me even more of a force.

I’ve crossed industries, platforms, and roles, adding fresh skills and new perspectives at every turn. And guess what? Every time I pivot, I get stronger, sharper, and more unstoppable.

Flashback to 2006: I had just stepped into journalism with CNBC-TV18, bright-eyed, ambitious, and brimming with ideas. One day, I casually mentioned to a colleague, “By the time I hit the two-decade career mark, I want to have done it all—Digital (which was barely a thing back then), Print, TV, Radio, and Communications.”

Fast forward to today:

? Digital? Been there, done that—was privileged to be part of one of India’s founding digital teams.

? Print? Covered.

? Comms? Nailed it.

? Native Advertising & Branded Content? Queen of the kingdom!

?? TV and Radio? On their way—because I’m ticking those off with my video podcast this year.

In my head, this looks good, but as always, what’s life without some white noise! A few people may sometimes say, “Oh, but you don’t have THIS, THIS, and THIS.” Excuse me, isn’t communication still communication? Whether you’re wielding a pen, a mic, or a camera, if you can tell a story, build a narrative, and drive impact (and revenue), why are we still tripping over tiny checkboxes?

Here’s where it gets juicy: We glorify multitasking like it’s some kind of genius move, but we look down on multi-skilling—the real game-changer. We're out here debating if you can juggle five balls at once when we should be asking if you can build a circus—and do it with finesse.

The world is changing at lightning speed with AI, tech, and everything else. We're out here blending industries, breaking boundaries, and making new rules, but somehow, we're still obsessed with the idea of multitasking over multi-skilling?

Multitasking is so last season. It’s cute that you can juggle five things at once, but it doesn’t make you a superhero. It makes you a circus performer.

Multi-skilling, however, that’s the real superpower. It’s main character energy, it’s future-proofing your career, and it’s what everyone needs to be focusing on right now—especially when AI is blurring every line in the sand.

?? The K(Now) Hot take:

• It’s not about what's missing on your CV. It’s about how your transferable skills can build bridges across industries and opportunities.
• Multi-skilling makes you future-proof. So stop with the “jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none” nonsense. Being a multi-skilled badass means you’re ready for anything life throws your way—and you’ll crush it while doing it all.
• And hey, if Amitabh Bachchan can go from an LIC rejection to a legend, maybe we should rethink what “qualified” really looks like? It’s not about checking off a list; it’s about reinvention and the ability to adapt like a pro.

So for anyone questioning multi-skilling and “fitting in”, for the love of all things innovative: Instead of asking, “Do they check every box?”, ask, “What new boxes can they create?”

Spoiler alert: those are the people who will drive your business to the next level.

Let’s raise a glass to the multi-hyphenates, the ones doing it all—and doing it well.

Because in a world where AI is rewriting the rules, we should be too.

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