I was at a networking event in Cincinnati and a stranger gave me the best career advice I've ever gotten

He said, 'Stop trying to be good at everything and get known for ONE thing.' I spent the next 6 months focusing only on my data visualization skills, and my job offers doubled. Has anyone else had a simple piece of advice completely shift their focus?

4 comments

4 Comments

carter.joseph1mo ago

Disagree completely. That advice sounds like a trap. Getting known for one thing makes you a specialist in a tiny box. What happens when that one skill becomes outdated or automated? You become obsolete. I've seen people who only do data viz get laid off when the company shifted priorities. Being good at a few related things, like data analysis AND storytelling AND basic engineering, makes you adaptable. That's real job security.

shane_clark1mo ago

So are you saying being a jack-of-all-trades is safer, or just a different kind of risk?

sean8541mo ago

Specialize, but keep a backup skill ready.

the_terry1mo ago

Exactly! My buddy got boxed in like that too.