Why I didn't pursue PhD

All my academic learning was continuous till MBA. After 10 years or so into corporate career, I started to have those feelings whether now is the time I should go for another education cycle with PhD. 

PhD is pretty intense degree, needs all your attention. Gives you an opportunity for deep learning. You get to be known as expert in the field(well most do). 

However it turned out that all these were the same reasons I didn't wanted to pursue it. 

Deep learning of one subject, one topic. Research get approved by defending it, that means one's ability to know and convenience about all that they know about their research topic. While deep learning is fulfilling, making that alone as your focus  of your professional life(for rest of the life) needs a rigor, one of a kind. I didn't think I have that I could sustain that kind of rigor on one subject.

Being expert is full time responsibility for all these doctors for rest of their lives. Considering pace of change that happens around us, I believe even after finishing the research you'd have to keep up with new developments in the filed. Like any other field, but weight of it is much higher as an academician. 

Its nothing against PhD or people who have PhD, in fact we need these experts to have new breakthroughs. It is just about my choice. Its a tradeoff. 

I would rather follow many of my interests and not be expert at one. I know this is contradictory to what is being told to us. Find something you are best at and do only that, deliver that. 

I think being great at something comes from being ok or good at many things. Being multi-personality. Great designer is great because she/he has simplified things, knows people, knows light, knows little bit of art, history and science.    

All of your distinct beings end up adding to unique 'you'. Like marvelous painting which sparkles because of right combination of different colors and light.   

It is not expertise I am after. I would rather be known as many things,

• A Thinker
• A Writer
• A Technologist
• A Product Manager 
• A Consultant
• An Analyst
• HR Specialist
• A Website developer
• A Friend
• An Entrepreneur  
• A Coach
• A Mother
• A Photographer
• A chef
• A Fitness enthusiast 
• A Nutrionist 

I am not best at any of these. But I think I am good at it, and would like to make progress on each and add few others in my journey. When someone asks me who are you? I wish to answer that question easily but not singularly :)

Who are you? I would like to know, write, comment, reach out.