Should you be a generalist or specialist? Answer: Become
In today’s ultra competitive society, it seems like the earlier one specializes by becoming the expert in one’s chosen field the faster one can dominate and become influential in one’s market niche.
Moreover, children today are being introduced to more hobbies, interests, sports, and skills earlier in life such as playing a musical instrument, learning math or becoming proficient in a specific sport.
One would conclude that choosing a specific skill early in life will translate into mastery and, ultimately, life success and happiness.
However, author David Epstein of Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World suggests the opposite.
While there are numerous examples of child prodigies such as Tiger Woods, Epstein argues those who undergo what he calls a “sampling period,” are the ones who truly find greater career satisfaction and life happiness.
One reason for this is the ability to become more creative by combining different skill sets, perspectives, and viewpoints.
In other words, it’s okay if you don’t know what you want to become or study in college---after all, Epstein counters with how does one know what he/she wants to do without ever experiencing it in a world that is forever changing?
Epstein continues to say that as humans we go through life chasing interests and learning from experiences, which will later translate into figuring out what skills and work environments we ultimately are good at and thrive in.
To take Epstein’s thesis one step further, I would argue that skill stacking---being able to “specialize” or become proficient in certain skills and knowledge, when combined, will lead to leverage and finding success.
The few skill stacks that I have been able to acquire over the last few years that have been instrumental in my success have been becoming a better writer and communicator by posting blogs and writing articles, being able to create and produce YouTube videos, and learning how to produce podcasts.
These communication skills---combined with my Asia area interest, trade compliance and supply chain knowledge--- have translated into expressing my ideas, providing advice to others and growing a social media following.
In a complex, fiercely competitive world you need to have several areas of expertise by combining and communicating them so others can take notice, which could mean more
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