Monday, March 3, 2008

On Specialization

insect"A Man should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently and die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." - Robert A. Heinlein

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree. good quote.

David said...

Tiffany,
Thanks for the comment! I really liked the quote and will always "jump" at the opportunity to put pictures of insects on my blog :) Glad you liked it!

Nicholas Z. Cardot said...

At the beginning where it says, "A Man should be able to" it should "Nick is able to..."

Just kidding. I totally agree. Society spends so much time on specialization instead of teaching people how to learn new skills and continue growing as a person.

Anonymous said...

What is Specialization?

David said...

nicholas,

It should say "Nick and David are able to..." yeah!

Specialization ithe fs ocus of the business world because specialists get paid much more than a "Jack of All Trades". I should know. I've done so many odd jobs over the last 10 years; from being a vacuum cleaner repair technician to an electrical apprentice, to a data entry clerk, to a sales rep, etc. Unfortunately I can't call myself a pro at any of them so I don't have any of those skills to "fall back on". That's why I want to get some traction in the finance world. It's cool to know everything, but you gotta pay 'dem bills!

David said...

anonymous,

That is a question much better suited for Daniel Webster.

Sis. Julie said...

I was scanning down your posts and stopped because there was this ugly looking creature looking at me!! Lovely!!

David said...

Hey, you stopped so I guess he had the desired effect! Just kidding :) When I was a kid, we called all grasshoppers "Joey". I don't know why but I just remember that. I also remember having a "grasshopper funeral" every time we found one that had died. It was always a somber time.

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