Today I left my position at a tech startup (to join a different tech startup). My former boss and I have some differences of opinion, but I respect him a LOT, and he gave me some parting advice that really stuck with me.
He said, "You're going to be successful. You're very good at two things [design and front-end development]. You need to focus on ONE of them, and get from 'very good' to 'excellent'. Then build your career on that."
My career thus far (5-6 years) has been based on straddling the fence between the Photoshoppers and the code wranglers, and I'd like to think that I've gotten to where I am because of that mixed skill set. But my boss wasn't the first person to tell me this. I've had people from both camps suggest that I pick one discipline or the other and really become an expert.
A couple questions:
1) Am I selling myself short by trying to be good at multiple things, when I could be an expert at one?
2) Is it even possible to become truly excellent at more than one thing in one's career?
And a bonus question:
*) Are there any examples of 'generalists' who have built and/or led successful startups?
He said, "You're going to be successful. You're very good at two things [design and front-end development]. You need to focus on ONE of them, and get from 'very good' to 'excellent'. Then build your career on that."
My career thus far (5-6 years) has been based on straddling the fence between the Photoshoppers and the code wranglers, and I'd like to think that I've gotten to where I am because of that mixed skill set. But my boss wasn't the first person to tell me this. I've had people from both camps suggest that I pick one discipline or the other and really become an expert.
A couple questions:
1) Am I selling myself short by trying to be good at multiple things, when I could be an expert at one? 2) Is it even possible to become truly excellent at more than one thing in one's career?
And a bonus question:
*) Are there any examples of 'generalists' who have built and/or led successful startups?