Why does anyone choose to be generalist ?
Seth has a point that world only requires specialists. But then why does anyone choose to be a generalist.
My answer is :
1. Because some specialist roles die with time – what happened to master watch maker – not the luxury kind, but the town /street’s best.
2. Many times your specialization depends on what pays you at that time. Not on what is required in future and therefore you tend to generalize.
3. One cannot predict the future specialization need.
Or simply put… because one couldn’t figure out which specialization would make money and survive in future, one choose to be a generalist.
Everyone wants a specialist, but there could be very few who can survive being one.
specialists are rare as geniuses; we can all be generalist as you say but only a few would choose the harder way.