Do you think it’s better to be an expert at one thing, or competent to good in a range of things? Obviously some people are just going to be better at some things then other with a minimum of effort, but aside from that.
On a related question, do you think it’s better to focus on a few things you are really interested in, to invest in your strengths, or is it better to find things you are bad at that are nonetheless useful and bring those up to a level of competence, try to eliminate or significantly diminish your weaknesses?
Assuming you only have the time, energy and money to really do one.
You only live once, so it never makes sense not to enjoy what you do.
But I enjoy dabbling and dabblers, so I’d say try your hand at lots of things.
I live in an artist’s compound, and the most boring people are those who try for a single “style”, which often is something like “large urns with glaze on the top third”, or “Jackson Pollock drips but every one with a right angle somewhere”.
Sure they have perfected this, and perhaps can make a living being art factories, but it has to kill the soul.
Specialization is for insects. I’d rather know a little about a lot than a lot about little. Of course, if you go too far in either direction you will either know nothing about everything or know everything about nothing.
There is a third option: serial specialization. I like to learn about all kinds of things, but I have a short attention span. I can focus on something for a considerable time and get reasonably good at/knowledgeable about it, but eventually I get bored and want to try something else. Jack-of-all-trades, but master of at least a few.
Do you mean personally or professionally? Professionally I specialized, but somewhat serially. I became an authority in the field I got my PhD in, but decided it didn’t have a future (I was right) and switched to something else, which I also became an authority in. I figure that they’re more likely to lay you off if you are only as good as everyone else in the area they’re interested in, and less likely if you’re the best in a narrow area. It’s worked for me so far. Even if they do, if you have a reputation getting another job should be easier.
Personally I know a little bit about lots of things, and a lot about a few.