Specialize in Your "Rut"

I remember the first time I thought I knew more than my mom.  I was like 6 years old.  I can actually remember thinking, "wow, I can't believe she doesn't know this."  So of course, in true know-it-all fashion, I took it upon myself to bestow my knowledge upon her.

And so it went well into my 20's.  It seemed the older they got, the less they knew.

My oldest son turns 6 years old next week.  Can you see where I'm going with this?!  Back at me.

Funny thing is, now that I'm middle-aged, I've discovered something that I truly did not expect. I was partially right when I was six!  It wasn't just adolescent arrogance!  I can't believe how many areas of my life I seem worse at than just a handful of years ago. 

I think I've become a worse driver - or so my wife tells me!  And I don't understand the new ways they're teaching math in school.  That's not the way we did it.

So given my recent decline in genius, I've been motivated to think more about this.  Here's what I've come up with.

As a kid, I didn't usually get to see my mom when she was in her element.  Most of the time I saw her when she was trying to enter my world.  Moms simply aren't very good at being teens.  But now, it's different. I've had opportunities to see my mom in her world now.  And she rocks.  It blows me away.  She's doing things I could never possibly do myself. 

And thus... my new theory.  I've come to believe that as I get older, I get much better at the things I'm good at, while the fringe becomes a casualty.  I'm becoming a specialist.  Even if my son thinks it's weird that I didn't know how to do something in his Webkinz account, I am refining the craft of entrepreneurship and marketing.  But he won't see that.

Some people call it a rut -- sticking to what you know and what you're good at.  I call it "specializing."  Though I can't recall the direct quote, I hold on to Peter Drucker's statement that it's not a good use of time working to become better in the areas of our weakness.  Rather we should focus on the areas of our strengths and outsource or partner in areas of weakness.

That might sound like an old man who doesn't want to change.  I think it sounds right on.  The tricky part is making sure we specialize in the right areas.  Lest we become out of touch.

Comments

[mindy peterson]

so what if our areas of weakness are in cleaning or cooking, but we are a homemaker? what then peter drucker?

[Ben]

On behalf of Peter, outsource. Get someone else to do the things you're not as good at and focus on what you are.

Not it!

Heck - a couple hundred a month to free up the stress, time, etc... you could easily recover that with gained revenue through your photography business.

[your hot wife]

then are you going to hire someone to write me love letters, buy me flowers and whisper sweet nothings in my ear?

[your hot wife]

that was a joke... i love you just the way you are... for the most part.