Since my previous post, I have had some great conversations with people on what I wrote about, and I have been able to gain some insights to some of the topics I touched on.
One that is still stuck in my mind, but with which I have not been able to find a way to take further, was to not just consume content, but to engage in proper debate on topics, which engages the brain. (Thanks so much Cass for your deeply thoughtful comment on that post)
This morning I had the pleasure of engaging in a conversation on LinkedIn with an old colleague that has gone on to do great things for the development community as a whole, around AI, the implications of using it, but also what this might mean for us as humanity in the future, and I loved it, and it just confirmed the fact that this level of engagement is what I want and need in life. Not just to consume content and other peoples ideas, but to have deep conversations and debates about issues, problems and life in general.
Before this, I have found myself spending a lot of time thinking about what it really means to be a generalist, and the confusion that it brings to life. The reason for this is, that I have been spending some time to look into what other career opportunities are out there, that I feel speaks to me. There was a couple of positions that I applied to, that I know I have the skills and experience to do the job, but you get blocked by not having a specific degree on your resume, never mind 25 years of actual work experience.
It almost feels like that when one reaches your 40s and 50s, you are almost forced to stay in a career you already have, even if you know that it is not something that you want to do long term, or you have to go out and take the risks of starting something new.
But this might also be a ‘me’ problem, as a generalist, or it might be a tech industry problem, where the average age is a lot lower than other industries. It might also be that I just have too many interests, which makes it truly difficult for me to find that one thing where I can integrate knowledge, interest and joy, all in one.
Thus, to finish off this relatively short rant, let’s have a discussion/debate about how the world engages with people entering the later years of their lives, but also those that have a broad spectrum of skills and interests.
I had a business partner early on, who one day screamed at me, you are nothing but a generalist, a doer of many things, master of none. He thought that was a handicap, so did I for a minute, now I think that is what makes you more valuable. The things and ideas you bring from different experience is more valuable in most cases than tunnel vision. That is amplified later in your career. The right people will recognize that and value it!