Be a specialist
Smart generalists rule the world.
This seems to be the popular opinion on Twitter recently. Is it true? Usually, there are examples of Elon and Steve. But what about Linus, Einstein, Tesla, Da vinci, Von Neumann? Most of them are Specialists or polymaths (specialists in multiple fields). Didn't they rule the world, Or at least shape it significantly?
As I see it, generalists stand on the shoulders of specialists. It's comfortable to be a generalist. You learn a little bit of everything. With the internet, that has become easy, almost too easy. However, everyone has access to these resources. That's why most generalists just become a replaceable cog in the machine. Probably because they are standing on the shoulders of specialists, and offer nothing unique. To stand out, you need to specialise in a skill (or two).
It takes a certain character to be a specialist. You must have a genuine interest, passion and a knack for keeping at it without success for long periods. You have to cut all the noise, ignore all allures and focus on one thing. You get completely lost, understanding the intricacies and see something others weren't able to before. You can only do that if you have a genuine interest. Any generalist, however smart they are, can't replace the contributions from the thousands of specialists who do deep research in a niche field and find something new. The exchange of ideas between these specialists is where the magic happens.
History tells us that the trade of specialised skills is what catapulted the progress of Homo sapiens, and separated us from Hunter-gatherers and Neanderthals[1]. Specialising in a skill, making a product and doing trade for that product is what breeds and fosters innovation. Not generalists. Everyone was a generalist in the hunter-gatherer tribe. Everyone had to know how to hunt, gather, and protect themselves. And where did it take them? Nowhere. They went extinct. They couldn't evolve, because they lacked specialists.
So, don't be shy to become a specialist. If you're one, be proud. You're helping to shape the world.
[1] Rational Optimist by Walt Ridley