Comments on: Are You a Jack or a Specialist?

By: Lela

Lela — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:13:18 +0000

I love Ryan’s unapologetic response. But I’m more like Rob, wondering why I can’t just do the one thing, over and over again. Drea’s probably got it right – lack of attention span.

As for tax codes, agh. At least those are always changing. That gives some respite from boredom. My last tax season I sat for a week doing the same trust returns I’d done the year before. The whole time I was thinking there was no way I could do those a third year in a row. I’d have gone mad. It’s different working for a big firm – you get to master it then teach it to someone else.

By: Kaiserxx

Kaiserxx — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 18:36:04 +0000

I have always been an accountant – first in the corporate world and after 12 years, I went into public accounting. Now at age 68 I am semi-retired but still preparing tax returns and will continue to do so as long as my brain can comprehend the tax codes. My specialization allows me to continue to work. I made good investments but in today’s economy who knows how much I will need later in life.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:20:18 +0000

Jack, all out.

By: Drea

Drea — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:08:31 +0000

I wonder whether generalists are the way they are because of capabilities or preference. I’m a generalist–tho I confess to sometimes having specialist-envy (they seem to get mighty far in the world, don’t they?). I feel intellectually capable of specializing, but boredom and a multitasking/ADD mind prohibit me from sticking with a single focus. My defense: some people specialize in being generalists. There are good jobs out there for people like us. Freelance writer, for example. Consultant. Teacher. Serial entrepreneur. I say the world needs generalists just as much as it needs specialists.

By: Rob

Rob — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 14:37:29 +0000

Thank you for that article Lela…sometimes I feel like I’m “broken” somehow because I don’t have that ONE thing that defines me. I think it may have been Scott Adams (the Dilbert guy) that said (and I’m paraphrasing) that while specialization is valuable, it’s the unique intersections and combinations of the 2-3 things that we’re really good at that make us truly stand-out.