When I was little, and people asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I didn’t always have a clear answer. Sometimes, I said I wanted to be a marine biologist, other times a lawyer.

But I don’t remember ever saying what I truly wanted to be out loud. Frankly, I used to think about it all the time. I was actually kind of obsessed with it, but the older I get, the more I’m glad that it never panned out.

I wanted to be the best at something. Anything, and I didn’t care what it was: a sport, a job, a musical instrument, a skill.

The. Best.

Meet the Generalist Doer

Fast forward a few decades, and instead of being the best (or an expert or specialist), I consider myself a proud generalist.

Generalists are jack-of-all-trades, the glue that holds teams together, and the champions of cross-functional collaboration. Generalists are invaluable assets in a world where problems are rarely confined to neat little boxes. They can:

• See the bigger picture: Generalists are less likely to get bogged down in the details and can instead focus on the overall goal. 
• Think creatively: Generalists are used to drawing from various disciplines, making them more likely to come up with innovative solutions.
• Adapt to change: The ability to learn new things quickly is essential in today’s rapidly changing world, and generalists are well-positioned to thrive in uncertain environments.

Plus, knowledge and skills are only half the equation. We also need people who are willing to roll up their sleeves and get sh*t done. This explicitly includes those in leadership roles. 

I hope that my colleagues see me as a doer too.

Here’s the thing: sometimes understanding every single pixel of a problem can actually blur the bigger picture. It’s like getting lost in a forest by focusing on every leaf instead of the path ahead. Suddenly, that quick fix becomes a marathon of overthinking, leaving everyone else twiddling their thumbs.

Don’t get me wrong, specialists are valuable. We need them too. While we’re better than average at a lot of things, we generalists aren’t great at much. 

Specialists are the ones who solve complex problems, make accurate diagnoses, and implement precise solutions. There are times when a brain surgeon is a better choice than a general practitioner. But especially in the fast-paced world of tech, speed matters too. Sometimes, a good enough solution delivered yesterday is worth more than a perfect one tomorrow. Balanced teams with both generalists and specialists are the sweet spot to strive for.

My Kids, Job Seekers, Teachers

This whole specialist vs. generalist thing starts early. Here, kids can choose to attend science-focused or arts-focused schools starting from age 11! 

In higher education, fewer students are earning more generalist humanity degrees, and instead are seeking highly specialized-oriented programs. They are understandably after careers in health, technology, or business with the goal of making the highest salary possible after graduation. I get it. 

I’ve long been a proponent that education should be more about experiences than outcomes. We should invest more in fostering soft skills like collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity than in hard technical skills and rote learning. 

Teachers by definition are typically strong generalists too. Trained communicators who can think on their feet and draw connections. We need all the great educators we can get, but if you are a teacher looking for your next adventure, don’t pigeon hole yourself into an edtech or learning role. With a little practice, you’d likely be good at product marketing, project management, operations, sales, and more. 

So, to my own kids, any job seekers, and all the teachers out there: don’t be afraid to branch out and dabble in different disciplines. Embrace the generalist in you, the doer in you, and remember, sometimes the best answer to “what do you want to be when you grow up?” is simply: a little of everything.

What do you think?

*The featured image was created with ChatGPT. A little creepy how much the profile actually looks like me, as that was not part of my prompt.