Discussion: specialist vs generalist
4646 unread replies.4646 replies.
A head start doesn’t always … well, help you get ahead. With examples from sports, technology and economics, journalist David Epstein shares how specializing in a particular skill too early in life may undermine your long-term development — and explains the benefits of a “sampling period” where you try new things and focus on building a range of skills. Learn how this broader, counterintuitive mindset (and more forgiving timeline) could lead to a more fulfilling life, personally and professionally.
After watching this talkLinks to an external site., discuss with your peers:
Although focused practice is very important. David Epstein also argues that you need a sampling period. What does he mean by a “sampling period”?
Have you done enough sampling or are there other things you still would like to try?
Epstein also compares “Kind Learning Environments” vs “Wicked Learning Environments”, what are these and which one is more likely to be what you’ll encounter in the real world?
We tend to see a wandering career track as unfocused, but what could be some of the advantages of that?
What else did you find meaningful from this talk?
