What's your specialty?
- Started 9 years ago
- Last post 9 years ago
- 17 Responses
- bklyndroobeki
Anyone think it's important to have a "specialty" or that thing that you do incredibly well and other people KNOW and it's YOUR thing?
...making you are the GO TO @ the office when ppl have questions or in your network of colleagues to find out HOW TO perform the task @ the best of their ability. People know that you eat, sleep, and breathe this stuff; ie. you're a typographer and "the bowl" is your shit, you can talk about bowls all day.
You don't have to say what that thing is here, just wondering how many ppl have that 1 specialty thing within their field.
- monospaced2
I feel that it's good to develop a specialty naturally, and at a mature stage in ones career. From my experience it seems that a self imposed specialty starting out young is something short sighted and naive and ends up becoming limiting or worse, an obstacle later down the line.
- Personally, I'm only now finding mine and I'm a decade into this whole thing, despite how I've tried steering it. And I'm happy I didn't insist on one.monospaced
- excellent insightbklyndroobeki
- SteveJobs2
I've always thought everyone on this earth has that one talent, gift, or specialty (sometimes several), but unfortunately for some their values or uncontrollable outside circumstances veer them away from the path that helps them realize what it is they're incredibly good at.
I often wonder how many people could have influenced the world in ways that would have brought them and others far more fulfillment than what the path they chose has.
Similarly I wonder sometimes what seemingly insignificant choices some of those we regard as great influential people might have made differently that would have caused them to never see that coveted life they lead.
Btw, I'm a jack of all trades and have come to realize that in itself can be a specialty. Also a good problem solver too :)
- Totally agree with you- values and philosophies they've accepted can veer someone away from their path.bklyndroobeki
- Yes the problem solving jack of all trades thing has served me well too. a great way to discover a passion or develop direction.monospaced
- I tell people I am a "jackass of all trades and a master of some." LOLmg33
- Musashi book of five rings********
- mg331
An ability to look at most things from several angles in my job doing UX work. Studying advertising did that to me I think. It's not a unique trait by any means, but over the years I've gotten the impression that coworkers know I'm always interested and able to give equal weight to multiple - and often opposing - perspectives.
In othe ways, and I fully admit this is completely subjective, I feel I have a knack for quickly determining if something is too dependent on a quick trend. I've been guilty of that myself in the past (ex: using borders too much on Instsgram). I much prefer long-lasting, timeless things that I know will still work and be appealing years from now.
I will also tell you why your photo(s) suck because you didn't bother to straighten your horizons when editing the photo, or didn't bother using the in camera grid to get it right when you took the photo.
- antimotion2
It's important to know your skill-set for sure. Definitely agree with Mono that it takes time.
I can't say that 10 - 15 years ago I was thinking the same way - maybe more Gung ho - just make it pretty. Maybe with age I've become a little more strategic.
I know what I can do at this point on a professional level. Skills that I'm not confident with yet are more for fun/experimental projects like motion / 3D... Practice makes perfect as they say.
IMO, it's always good to let the client know your personal scope as well so there are no surprises down the line. It's just bad business and possibly bad karma if expectations are set too high.
I see postings for creative directors that only need 2 years of experience, but have to have expertise in a novel's length list of skills and I shake my head. Very disturbing.
- MrAbominable1
I can see the air.
- utopian0
making dreams come true
- kingkong-4
talking nuns into bed
- ********-3
COTD
- bklyndroobeki1
So nervous about being a jack of all/master of none; but it's incredible when i see people wear many hats well. There are a few of you here :)
I think if you keep asking yourself "where lies my focus" the answer will likely arrive.
@antimotion that video is kind of what happened when it hit me.
- bklyndroobeki1
if i may say so myself, this was a pretty good thread.
- BK1
Jerkin' it.... and graphic design.
- Fax_Benson0
spelling speciality correctly.
- Fax_Benson1
seriously though, I've never been able to stick with anything long enough for it to become my 'thing'.
I think, subconsciously, that I worry that I've picked the wrong thing. What if I'm wasting time with this when I should be focusing on that.
It's a rare thing to have a both a natural aptitude and love of one true skill. You can tell those types a mile off.
- maquito2
I play drums.
- Maaku2
Captain Feng Shui at your service.
- bklyndroobeki1
Good article
https://hbr.org/2013/04/make-you…
- CALLES2
Two pump chump over here? No women is having an orgasm anywhere near me