Generalist vs. Specialist: Which Is Better?

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In his book Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, New York Times bestselling author David Epstein defines generalists and specialists in terms of how people accomplish their goals.
The book posits that in many fields, being a generalist is actually a more desirable and likely path to achieving success. After all, how many Mozarts and Tiger Woods are there in any given generation?
Let’s look at the difference between generalist vs. specialist. Generalists dabble in many areas, also called “sampling,” and they possess a range of knowledge. On the other hand, specialists devote hours of focus, time, and energy into just one talent.
A generalist himself, Epstein says you have to give yourself permission to fail, to choose the wrong pursuit, or to work in a job that’s not your ultimate dream career. These small failures are actually major learning experiences that will help you inch closer to greatness.
See the full article on the difference between generalist vs. specialist here: www.freethink.com/videos/gene...
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[@Spokenwisdom1]

Be a generalist. Hire specialists. As a specialist, look for generalists that look for you to continue to specialize then you can take your pick.

[@johabermuor]

I'm a generalist hired by a generalist team and It's wild.

[@abbeyangevine1773]

As a former gifted kid, this explains so much about how I was taught.

[@nellisterblanche8443]

I can very much relate to being a generalist. Example, I was very into self reliance in the garden. Researching alot seperately on composting and chickens, I had a great idea which turned out to be agrwat success by integrating a compost system and chicken coop. The result was what I called the '3bin chicken hopper'. This system produced healthy eggs and compost at an incredible rate, unprecedented to these two systems operated in isolation from each other. A structural engineering technologist, craftsmen and gardener. These different interests are combined to make me think wider.

[@abeneyas]

this is the most underrated channel on KZbin. great content.

[@freethink]

Thanks for watching Ebenezer!!

[@stuffostuff3323]

agreed

[@CristiVladZ]

Indeed!

[@seantmcvey]

Amen

[@Biomeducated]

Just awesome content!

[@justnikkei_]

Currently reading this book; it literally explains how I’ve always thought about life and education. Things are always changing and current models we have are fit for the “kind environments” - things that are cookie-cutter like and have repetitive patterns which you can get better at with muscle memory and practice. I’ve always felt wired to learn about multiple things from different fields and that I think the pursuit of specialization limits our way of thinking! This made me feel so much better about how I feel about myself.

[@rawbacon]

Specialist are often strange people and limited thinkers. I became a chess champion at 7 for the first time, I turned away from it because of it's limitations on thought. After a few years of defending my title I just couldn't see the point anymore.

[@MrChopstsicks]

Work as a barista, team leader, burger flipper, outlet supervisor, property agent, now seller support. If there is a need to impress, hey, I can make nice latte art

[@mikelahood9600]

Love the little character moment at the credits trying to catch the book :)

[@GT-tj1qg]

This is quite genuinely insightful. There's so many KZbin channels full of pseudo-insightfulness, but this actually seems quite sensible and useful

[@k1ngjulien_]

Very nice! I agree that the time where you could only focus on one thing and do that for the rest of your life is definitely over. In today's age you constantle have to learn new skill and hone old ones to stay ahead.

[@bala8664]

One of the best video I seen in KZbin

[@Biomeducated]

This is a very very inspiring video for a young researcher like myself. Lateral thinking is key! GOT IT. Thanks a thousand!

[@freethink]

Glad you liked it!

[@tommuller9401]

Nice video, it was inspiring

[@rationalthinker9541]

"dont compare yourself that it isn't you, but compare yourself to yourself Yesterday.." wow.. I feel like it wasnt too late for me for a 37 y/o....

[@jimmieraper5807]

You would be surprised how much you can observe no matter how old

[@abbichoa145]

This is exactly what i am looking for to discuss

[@stuffostuff3323]

I never saw a video of a child side by side with his future self doing the same thing.

[@Shreyaagrawal_1657]

David epstein and freethink for the win! Great video. Thanks freethink

[@lohphat]

Binary choices are a false dichotomy. Both have value. An aircraft needs generalists to coordinate specialists to create something safe and useable. Each by the,serve could not execute it alone. The “us” vs “them” narrative isn’t generally a helpful way to initiate a dialog.

[@Polymath9000]

You are absolutely correct in your statement but the problem is that specialists are in charge of everything from school s to businesses to academia.

[@Qaher]

great content.

[@freethink]

Thanks for watching, Qaher!

[@sagarsingh4951]

I want to be generalist with a specialization in 2-3 things

[@solarityaj]

I was kinda like a gifted kid with school, and im still am good at school and stuff, but i was also kind of generalist when I was younger too. Just doing a lot of things. Its honestly just my nature..

[@nightfury1591]

Specialist : They are good at one thing Generalist : They are good at everything *(Your Mom)*

[@pockpicket9360]

that's not how it works

[@boxer6796]

Specialist - Expert - More in demand....Generalist: A Jack of all trades, but a master of none, less in demand.

[@Stop1601]

That’s not true at all. Generalist: Knows a little about everything. Specialist: Knows everything about a little.

[@TheLittlePenguinDude]

I think the ideal is to be a generalist, where you are go in depth for 2-3 domains... for example, I am an engineer and have background in operations management, but also try to learn a bit of everything (finance, IT, sales, etc)

[@juliansihite1289]

Expert generalist

[@lowereastsideastrologist7769]

Yes works the best. Einstein = math + physics specialization

[@aleksszukovskis2074]

0:33 Epstein. I've heard that name before.

[@k1ngjulien_]

as you can see he's still alive and therefore did not kill himself :D /s

[@Genci0]

He just chamged form to an other body.

[@JR-mk6ow]

*A GUY THAT DIDN'T KILLED HIMSELF*

[@frafraplanner9277]

It's a common Jewish last name.

[@sagarsingh4951]

I think parents should give their kids at least some amount of generalized learning environment for the first few years of their initial lives. It is far more valuable to be able to think with various lenses to problems than upfront solving that problem using some preexisting knowledge. The zero to one transition is a difficult one if you can't think multidisciplinary way.

[@crypto2633]

You can become a generalist at any age

[@DivineRight454]

How would i fare if i was a generalist who made various different Artificial Intelligences that specialize in various fields of expertise how far could i go to add and progress to the already vast well of scientific knowledge cuz its kinda been a dream of mine to achieve for a while now

[@MattSaundersCoach]

My trajectory as a designer was to be very general for along time. This helped shape my overall skillset but when it came to actually delivering projects and building a business, I needed some aspect of specialisation. Perhaps specialising is the thing that sits at the front of a broad skillset?

[@uocommonsense]

That is exactly why I am here too. Specialists are preferred over generalists when it comes to delivering work. Not sure about building a business. Looking for a good answer. Have you made some progress ?

[@mid-]

0:32 my spider senses tingeled when i heard epstein

[@jimmieraper5807]

Slow money is better than fast money

[@ikemkrueger]

The workforce is not promoting generalists.

[@specialism640]

I don't wanna be in this fight

[@almaisakinudungsalsabila9590]

Generalist vs. Specialist: Which Is Better?

[@zhio_16]

Should schools produce generalists or specialists? Defend your answer.

[@einmaniac3360]

by the way, this video is pro generalist.

[@darcflame37]

So what's the message? Don't become a specialist? Or just be a better generalist? If you went through school, then you are a generalist, that would make us (young adults) *already* generalists. If I don't specialize in real life you take a salary hit in the mid game. So, we should just bounce around or do odd jobs? This opinion probably isn't for everyone. And this world (U.S.), is left in financial shambles (not the only thing) by previous generation. Not sure *I* would chance it on low prospects, but maybe other/older people would.

[@KaramikoAlexander]

There are some exclusions with your statement about jobs. Some jobs required a person to be more generalist ex: Product Management.

[@jalenmacon]

I like to see it as a group thing. Humans are social creatures, so a group of ppl who specialize in different things will obviously go further than a group of generalists bc the generalists can all do the same stuff at a basic level but the specialists offer THE BEST of what each person does, which skyrockets overall success of the group far more than the generalist group.

[@cluckoothechicken5721]

@@jalenmacon but what I'm guessing he's saying is that new ideas require a single person to have a good knowledge of multiple fields.

[@mihiershastri4499]

I am so fucking confused

[@solidwaterslayer]

specialist? I think specialist is better.

[@Rheinhart2]

tell me you're a specialist without telling me you're a specialist

[@solidwaterslayer]

@@Rheinhart2 im actually an idiot

[@felipeg9022]

​@@solidwaterslayer Aren't we all? Self-awareness is everything LoL

[@lowereastsideastrologist7769]

To a generalist, a specialist isn't generally intelligent. To a specialist, a generalist isn't intelligent at all.