Comments on: Skill Generalizing http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/02/07/skill-generalizing/ Thu, 29 Jul 2010 01:29:16 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Swaroop C H, The Dreamer » Blog Archive » Specialization vs Generalization http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/02/07/skill-generalizing/comment-page-1/#comment-228152 Swaroop C H, The Dreamer » Blog Archive » Specialization vs Generalization Sun, 10 Aug 2008 18:08:13 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/02/07/skill-generalizing/#comment-228152 [...] course, it’s not just software programmers who have this debate, even designers and productivity specialists [...] [...] course, it’s not just software programmers who have this debate, even designers and productivity specialists [...]

]]> By: Swaroop C H, The Dreamer » Archives » Specialization vs Generalization http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/02/07/skill-generalizing/comment-page-1/#comment-227328 Swaroop C H, The Dreamer » Archives » Specialization vs Generalization Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:42:28 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/02/07/skill-generalizing/#comment-227328 [...] course, it’s not just software programmers who have this debate, even designers and productivity specialists [...] [...] course, it’s not just software programmers who have this debate, even designers and productivity specialists [...]

]]> By: Scott Young http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/02/07/skill-generalizing/comment-page-1/#comment-5805 Scott Young Thu, 08 Feb 2007 15:08:11 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/02/07/skill-generalizing/#comment-5805 Alex, I'm not pro or anti skill specializing. As I mentioned with the model T, the idea is that you should have a small degree of skill in a bunch of areas (the top part of the T) and be incredibly skilled at a few. Wulfen, Great job on the icebreaker. Toastmasters isn't just about overcoming nervousness, it is about mastering communication. I'm giving my 9th manual speech tonight. Alex,

I’m not pro or anti skill specializing. As I mentioned with the model T, the idea is that you should have a small degree of skill in a bunch of areas (the top part of the T) and be incredibly skilled at a few.

Wulfen,

Great job on the icebreaker. Toastmasters isn’t just about overcoming nervousness, it is about mastering communication. I’m giving my 9th manual speech tonight.

]]> By: Wulfen http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/02/07/skill-generalizing/comment-page-1/#comment-5782 Wulfen Thu, 08 Feb 2007 10:36:30 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/02/07/skill-generalizing/#comment-5782 First thing: I had my Icebreaker yesterday. Pretty cool :). I have no fear of speaking in public (have done it previously) but I find very insightful the comments and advices from other members to improve my technique. I think I'm in for a long time. On skills: there it seems that our society considers pretty valuable to have one skill in a superlative grade: top scientists or top athletes are admired. I don't think this is an useful thing, though maybe that's because I don't have any skill at world-level class. But I'd daresay that it's better to have a wide spectrum of knowledge than to specialize a lot. Who does not know the case of an athlete that is very good at his sport, but then fails in other areas of life? (Maradona or Mike Tyson come to mind). Same with scientists: Einstein is widely admired but in real life he seemed to be quite associal. I find that when you are knowledgeable in many areas of your life and don't let anything stray, you are in general quite happier, and you can use those synergies to improve your overall effectivenes. I've always liked computers, and I was pretty good with them, but nowadays that I put an effort to go to the gym, I have more energy so I can focus more clearly on the problems, and I don't get dragged by energy slumps: my technical skills benefit from that. And now that I've improved my social skills, if I have a technical idea or vision, it's easier for me to communicate it, for instance to my boss, so my ideas can have more impact. Rock Hard, Ride Free, Wulfen First thing: I had my Icebreaker yesterday. Pretty cool :) . I have no fear of speaking in public (have done it previously) but I find very insightful the comments and advices from other members to improve my technique. I think I’m in for a long time.

On skills: there it seems that our society considers pretty valuable to have one skill in a superlative grade: top scientists or top athletes are admired. I don’t think this is an useful thing, though maybe that’s because I don’t have any skill at world-level class. But I’d daresay that it’s better to have a wide spectrum of knowledge than to specialize a lot.

Who does not know the case of an athlete that is very good at his sport, but then fails in other areas of life? (Maradona or Mike Tyson come to mind). Same with scientists: Einstein is widely admired but in real life he seemed to be quite associal.

I find that when you are knowledgeable in many areas of your life and don’t let anything stray, you are in general quite happier, and you can use those synergies to improve your overall effectivenes. I’ve always liked computers, and I was pretty good with them, but nowadays that I put an effort to go to the gym, I have more energy so I can focus more clearly on the problems, and I don’t get dragged by energy slumps: my technical skills benefit from that. And now that I’ve improved my social skills, if I have a technical idea or vision, it’s easier for me to communicate it, for instance to my boss, so my ideas can have more impact.

Rock Hard, Ride Free,

Wulfen

]]> By: Alex Shalman http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/02/07/skill-generalizing/comment-page-1/#comment-5747 Alex Shalman Thu, 08 Feb 2007 03:10:26 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/02/07/skill-generalizing/#comment-5747 Hey Scott, Nice to see your helping out the new guys at Toastmasters. A good speech always makes people feel welcome, if it doesn't sound like a sales pitch. About your post, could you clarify if you are pro-generalizing/ anti-specializing in skills or just in the context of generalizing life's lessons? One of my favorite analogies of life skills is that of a farmer tending to his garden. "You reap what you sow" never gets old to me, nor does it do anything but sound more appealing, the more that I hear it and experience it. Hey Scott,

Nice to see your helping out the new guys at Toastmasters. A good speech always makes people feel welcome, if it doesn’t sound like a sales pitch.

About your post, could you clarify if you are pro-generalizing/ anti-specializing in skills or just in the context of generalizing life’s lessons?

One of my favorite analogies of life skills is that of a farmer tending to his garden. “You reap what you sow” never gets old to me, nor does it do anything but sound more appealing, the more that I hear it and experience it.

]]>