Comments on: The e-VeryThing Syndrome http://douglasjohnston.net/archives/2006/01/14/e-verything/ random musings from a primate Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:14:34 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Cass http://douglasjohnston.net/archives/2006/01/14/e-verything/comment-page-1/#comment-116355 Cass Sun, 21 May 2006 00:25:36 +0000 http://www.douglasjohnston.net/weblog/archives/2006/01/14/e-verything/#comment-116355 *Perhaps* "gainfully employed for years with decent, stable incomes" is a *vastly overrated* state of attainment.... ...just a thought... *Perhaps* “gainfully employed for years with decent, stable incomes” is a *vastly overrated* state of attainment….

…just a thought…

]]> By: Marc Shiman http://douglasjohnston.net/archives/2006/01/14/e-verything/comment-page-1/#comment-112810 Marc Shiman Fri, 14 Apr 2006 17:35:03 +0000 http://www.douglasjohnston.net/weblog/archives/2006/01/14/e-verything/#comment-112810 From your last paragraph - "I’m still in pursuit of permanent employment with a good future, while all my specialist friends have been gainfully employed for years with decent, stable incomes." you seem to suggest wistfulness about what you are missing out on. This really gets at the heart of the issue; and it isn't generalists vs. specialists. Stay with me for a moment. "Generalist" is often another phrase for "I haven't found my life's calling yet". "Specialist" is not necessarily the antithesis. Often its about "I'm willing to stick with one thing to live the lifestyle I want". I don't think you are a generalist from this post - I think you are the opposite of the specialist who surrenders his sense of discovery in order to get a regular paycheck. (I feel like I can say this a little, because I'm the same). Judging from your story, you want to learn new things, and you don't want to be held back by some employer and a job description. Having a decent stable income isn't all its cracked up to be. There are no "permanent" jobs. On the other hand - bright futures are not the sole domain of the specialized and employed; its just that the generalist don't always see them as clearly. Stick with your current path and resist the temptation to specialize. One day you will be called to do something... your contribution... and nothing else will matter. You won't care that you are a specialist, and it won't be about the job and the benefits. From your last paragraph – “I’m still in pursuit of permanent employment with a good future, while all my specialist friends have been gainfully employed for years with decent, stable incomes.” you seem to suggest wistfulness about what you are missing out on. This really gets at the heart of the issue; and it isn’t generalists vs. specialists.

Stay with me for a moment.

“Generalist” is often another phrase for “I haven’t found my life’s calling yet”. “Specialist” is not necessarily the antithesis. Often its about “I’m willing to stick with one thing to live the lifestyle I want”.

I don’t think you are a generalist from this post – I think you are the opposite of the specialist who surrenders his sense of discovery in order to get a regular paycheck. (I feel like I can say this a little, because I’m the same). Judging from your story, you want to learn new things, and you don’t want to be held back by some employer and a job description.

Having a decent stable income isn’t all its cracked up to be. There are no “permanent” jobs. On the other hand – bright futures are not the sole domain of the specialized and employed; its just that the generalist don’t always see them as clearly.

Stick with your current path and resist the temptation to specialize. One day you will be called to do something… your contribution… and nothing else will matter. You won’t care that you are a specialist, and it won’t be about the job and the benefits.

]]> By: anna http://douglasjohnston.net/archives/2006/01/14/e-verything/comment-page-1/#comment-109895 anna Fri, 10 Feb 2006 15:40:08 +0000 http://www.douglasjohnston.net/weblog/archives/2006/01/14/e-verything/#comment-109895 I love your writing style! I love your writing style!

]]> By: Warren http://douglasjohnston.net/archives/2006/01/14/e-verything/comment-page-1/#comment-109256 Warren Fri, 20 Jan 2006 12:59:09 +0000 http://www.douglasjohnston.net/weblog/archives/2006/01/14/e-verything/#comment-109256 Doug, this is good stuff, as are all of the comments here. I fall into the generalist category as well. Perhaps it is a personality trait that people have or don't have. In any case, thanks for the insight. Well done! Doug, this is good stuff, as are all of the comments here. I fall into the generalist category as well. Perhaps it is a personality trait that people have or don’t have. In any case, thanks for the insight. Well done!

]]> By: Robert http://douglasjohnston.net/archives/2006/01/14/e-verything/comment-page-1/#comment-109169 Robert Mon, 16 Jan 2006 18:34:30 +0000 http://www.douglasjohnston.net/weblog/archives/2006/01/14/e-verything/#comment-109169 "You don’t see us running around with apes, do you?” No, just monkeys. Lots and lots of monkeys. :) Being a generalist has its ups and downs, it's true. Once you're in, though, you can make yourself useful in lots of ways. That's how I got to be a SQL Server DBA at my last job -- "Robert's smart, he can learn it." Thanks, guys... Specialists have different problems -- if the specialty falls out of favor, what do they do? All those COBOL programmers who were hot stuff right before Y2K -- what are they doing today? “You don’t see us running around with apes, do you?” No, just monkeys. Lots and lots of monkeys. :)

Being a generalist has its ups and downs, it’s true. Once you’re in, though, you can make yourself useful in lots of ways. That’s how I got to be a SQL Server DBA at my last job — “Robert’s smart, he can learn it.” Thanks, guys…

Specialists have different problems — if the specialty falls out of favor, what do they do? All those COBOL programmers who were hot stuff right before Y2K — what are they doing today?

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