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- are you a generalist in a specialist's world? there's more to your growth story.
are you a generalist in a specialist's world? there's more to your growth story.
Mindaugas Petrutis
February 06, 2024
hello,
the term “a jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one” has been scoffed at throughout history. yet, in our accelerating world, broad knowledge and adaptability are increasingly important. enter the 'deep generalist' – individuals who blend a depth of knowledge with a breadth of skills, equally comfortable navigating an array of interconnected domains as they are in their core specialisation.
these deep generalists show their value by spotting opportunities often missed by specialists. their ability to transfer knowledge across different areas and their ease in initiating new ventures show that they'll dominate the future of business and innovation.
however, this sparks a significant question. are we redefining the qualifications for success, or merely extending the playing field? does this signal a shift from deep specialisation to a more encompassing, holistic approach to professional expertise?
if you’re as intrigued as I am by the idea of the 'deep generalist' and the possibilities they can unlock for our future, join me in taking a deeper dive into this fascinating concept.
related to this week’s main topic, I've been thinking about how we could better learn from each other in real-time but in an asynchronous Q&A way and get perspectives from multiple people simultaneously while sharing our knowledge in bite-sized video comments with a broader audience.
so, I recorded a Loom to answer the question: in these uncertain times, with the threat of AI and the fear of job insecurity or being laid off from a new role, how can we regain control and ensure more security and autonomy in our career paths?
I then shared it with a few folks so they could record their thoughts too. already, the awesome Jayneil Dalal from the Design MBA podcast jumped in with his video reply. feel free to do the same if you have any ideas and advice - I'll share this on Linkedin later this week.
if you don't have a Loom account you'll need to sign up for a free one to access the video comments, takes 2 seconds.
what our members are talking about this month
future of work trends: gartner's article outlines nine future of work trends for 2024, including AI reshaping work and the crumbling of career assumptions. it suggests that AI will enhance workforce opportunities rather than diminish them.
"reimagining design: unlocking strategic innovation" - a book by Kevin Bethune that explores the transformative power of design in problem-solving and innovation. Bethune, with a background in engineering and business, as well as experience as a designer for Nike, shares his professional journey and insights into how design can be strategically leveraged to drive innovation and create meaningful change. get your copy here.
“you have a choice: beyond hard work to meaningful impact” - a book that serves as a resource for individuals who are high achievers on successful career paths but feel something is missing in their professional lives. the book is written by Eric Nehrlich, a former Google leader, who shares his own experiences and insights to help readers redefine success and find a more meaningful and impactful way of living and working. get your copy here.
“how David Perell uses ChatGPT to write for millions” - David Perell is one of the best-known internet writers of his generation. he’s amassed almost a half million followers on X, hosts the popular podcast How I Write, and founded Write of Passage, which has taught thousands of students how to be digital writers. watch the episode here.
“the state of product onboarding” - discover the industry report from 80+ companies (B2B, B2C, PLG) to empower your onboarding experience. here's what you'll find inside: main user challenges during onboarding, successful experiments and insights and recommendations and resources to enhance the user onboarding process. get your free copy here.
member spotlight - learn how Kerry McPhearson went from tech support to design at the giant that is Disney. he’s an incredible example of how frustrations with tech can turn into a career in tech. read his story here.
Galileo Ai - a UI generation platform for easy and fast design ideation I have been waiting to test out for a while. they just opened up access. at first glance, this is incredibly powerful! check it out here.
we’re currently binging on the Growthmates Podcast, your shortcut to connecting with inspiring leaders from Growth, Product, and Design helping you grow yourself and your product.
the first season featured guests from industry leaders like Dropbox, Miro, Pinterest, Adobe, and Atlassian. the new season will include Amplitude, Canva, HubSpot, Intercom, Coda, and many more talented leaders. created by Coho member Kate Syuma and Oscar Torres, this podcast is your shortcut to expert knowledge about product and career growth.
season 2 started on January 15th!
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I hope you enjoyed this issue of Blueprint. if there's anything you'd like to share or discuss, just hit reply.
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until next time,
Mindaugas Petrutis - Co-Founder & CEO @ Coho
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