I've been thinking a lot about being a generalist versus a specialist. First off, is it really such a sharp dichotomy? I think both have immense value and we all wear different hats in different situations. However, I resonate more with generality. 

Being interested in multiple areas doesn’t mean you only have surface-level knowledge of many things. A generalist can have deep understanding of many parts of the puzzle and contribute in multiple ways.

Here are a few thoughts on embracing generalism:

1. Having diverse Interests doesn't condemn you to shallow understanding:

Just because you explore many topics doesn’t mean you lack depth. In fact, having a wide-ranging knowledge base can allow you to synthesize ideas and solve problems from multiple angles.

2. Embrace Exploration with Intent:

When I started programming, I dived into many languages and ideas. The starting and stopping and picking up dropping new tools began to feel overwhelming and like I wasn't making progress. I learned that I needed to lightly control my curiosity. I used a notebook to jot down fleeting ideas in a notebook then I returned to my main task. This simple practice helped me focus on my main tasks without losing the spark of new ideas. Ideas screaming for attention now felt heard and I could focus on the matter at hand.

3. Generalists Are Great Translators:

With a wide understanding of various fields, generalists can bridge the gap between different audiences. While I'm glad some technical talks are geared to only those deeply invested in the discipline, it's so refreshing to learn something from someone who has the perfect balance of detail and ambiguity. Generalists can use their breadth to translate the same concept into a digestible form for many different audiences. When it goes super well they communicate to a diverse audience simultaneously and effectively.

4. Balance Exploration and Exploitation:

You may never hit the perfect balance between chasing new ideas and sticking to a single goal. But by dedicating a portion of your time to exploring, you allow yourself to occasionally stumble upon something awesome.

Maybe I'm just making excuses for my compulsion to learn a little bit of everything that crosses my path (I'm not claiming that it's possible to learn a slice of everything just those topics that appear in your light cone). I do hope it leads to me having a broad understanding of the world. But I know I have to implement some controls.

What methods to you use to stay focused some of the time despite the geyser of knowledge erupting all around you? Do you label yourself as a specialist of a generalist?