For a long time we have argued that the best way to get ahead in our careers is to pick one field of expertise and master it.
Nowadays, with so many different options and more knowledge available to us than ever, is it still a good idea to limit ourselves to just one area of mastery, or is it better to dabble in multiple areas and become more of a generalist? Or better yet, is there a way to maximize the benefits of both?
Master of One
Specialists are known for commanding top dollar in their fields. They also command more the longer they’ve been in the field. And considering it takes an estimated 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to achieve expertise, the earlier you get started in your field, the better.
From this perspective, choosing a career path in college and sticking to it until you get to the top seems like the smart move. However, in today’s world, gaining and standing out as an expert in a major field is becoming more and more difficult.
With the vast amounts of information available in any given field, it’s virtually impossible for one person to retain it all. Additionally, focusing solely on expertise in one area often means ignoring developments in other fields that might impact your industry and field.
So while becoming a specialist – in the traditional sense – may seem like an attractive proposition, it may take longer than you think to get there and you might not be able to keep up with the rapid changes along the way.
Jack of All Trades
The alternative proposed to being a “master of one” is to be a jack of all trades – a generalist who knows a little about a lot of things, but not a lot of any one thing.
For anyone aspiring to be a CEO, business owner or top level manager, this may be an attractive proposition. Knowing a bit about many things means you can effectively lead and oversee others – understanding just enough to be able to guide them, but not needing to know much more since you’re not doing the work on your own.
Generalists may be able to understand all the moving parts and gain keen insight from their top-level view, but if a problem or changes require deeper knowledge and expertise, they are usually at a loss. Occasionally, this can mean missing out on big opportunities for change or growth.
The Hybrid Model
Luckily for us, becoming a generalist or specialist is no longer mutually exclusive. Thanks to the advent of the Internet, the multitude of information available to us and the diversity in career options,our generations and the ones after us are free to choose our own path!
In his book, Range, David Epstein encourages folks to first pursue a multitude of interests, passions and skills – to get an understanding of what they like and don’t – before selecting your path.
This not only helps you to find something you enjoy, but you can often combine multiple skills or interests into a dream job that’s perfect for you. Do you love accounting and marine biology? Become the CFO at an aquarium attraction. How about tech and film-making? Maybe you start a YouTube channel showing folks the latest cool gadgets. The possibilities are endless, and most importantly, all up to you!
Furthermore, even when you’ve found that path, you shouldn’t give up on exploring other areas. Instead, embrace the 80/20 rule by putting 80% of your energy towards your main area of expertise, and reserve the other 20% for exploring other interests. Not only will this keep you entertained, you might gain insight from other areas of exploration that help you in your main career.
No matter which path you choose, always be open to learning and exploring new things. And even if you choose a path and you’re on your way to expertise, don’t be afraid to switch things up if that’s what you truly desire. We only get one life, so we shouldn’t spend a minute of it doing things that don’t fulfill us, no matter how much it pays.
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