generalists in the information age

in a world obsessed with specialization, being a generalist feels almost rebellious. everyone tells you to "niche down" and become the best at one thing. but what if there's power in knowing a little about a lot?

the case for generalists

generalists connect dots that specialists can't see. they bring ideas from different fields and create something new. the most innovative solutions often come from people who can think across disciplines.

think about it: the best product managers aren't just coders or designers—they understand both. the best founders aren't just technical or business-minded—they're a mix of everything.

the information age advantage

we live in a time where information is everywhere. you can learn anything online, often for free. this means the barrier to becoming a generalist has never been lower.

want to learn design? youtube. want to understand blockchain? twitter threads. want to code? countless free resources.

the question isn't whether you can learn—it's whether you will.

t-shaped skills

the sweet spot might be what they call "t-shaped skills"—deep expertise in one area (the vertical bar) and broad knowledge across many areas (the horizontal bar).

you're really good at one thing, but you understand enough about other things to collaborate effectively and see the bigger picture.

my approach

i'm trying to be a generalist with depth. i code, but i also care about design. i build products, but i also write. i'm into web3, but i also study traditional systems.

is it the most efficient path? probably not. is it the most interesting? absolutely.

the future belongs to adaptable minds

the world is changing fast. jobs that exist today might not exist tomorrow. skills that are valuable now might become obsolete.

in this environment, the ability to learn quickly and adapt might be more valuable than deep expertise in any single domain.

generalists are built for this uncertainty. they're not tied to one path—they can pivot, evolve, and find new opportunities.

conclusion

don't let anyone make you feel bad for being curious about many things. your diverse interests aren't a weakness—they're a superpower waiting to be unleashed.

explore widely. learn constantly. connect the dots.

the world needs more people who can see the whole picture, not just the pixels.

until then,
siddharth