About the Author: Joel Ohman is a serial entrepreneur and a Yakezie member/sponsor. You may know him from some of his posts over on Credit Card Chaser (check out the new one on the 20 most expensive credit card receipts ever for a good laugh) or you may know him as the owner of the recent Yakezie writing contest sponsor CarInsuranceCompanies.com. His most recent project is fun website for finding a workout plan, logging workouts, and competing against friends to rack up points for working out. Check out the 100’s of online workout programs if you’re in the mood to get fit.
I love the recent post by Financial Samurai titled “Feel Stupid Sometimes? Me Too And I Hate It!” because it reminds me of a lot of mistakes that I have made and now look back on with oh so fond memories. Consider this post a follow up to Financial Samurai’s in the vein of, “OK, if you hate feeling stupid and not being the absolute best at everything you attempt then – THAT’S OK! Just STOP trying to do everything and become really really good at something.”
Let’s unpack that statement a little bit.
I can certainly sympathize with Sam’s personal illustration of becoming frustrated with not understanding computer programming lingo because even though almost everyone that knows me would most likely label me a true “Internet nerd” there are millions of people who could code circles around my piddling knowledge of the basics. My friend and business partner John always has a good chuckle at my malformed attempts to hack something together. What would take me 3 hours, John can do in 30 seconds – so why bother?
I know I am never going to be a world class programmer. I’m perfectly fine with that. “Why?” you might ask. “Don’t you just get so frustrated that someone out there knows so much more than you about computer programming?” Well, not really. There are quite a few things that I know next to nothing about.
Things I Don’t Know
Time for me to leave my ego at the door. Here are some things that I would never ever want to be quizzed about on “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?“:
- Basic Science/Chemistry: It’s really kind of sad how little I remember.
- Basic Car Mechanics: OK, I may have to leave my “man card” at the door along with my ego because if your car breaks down on the side of the road then I can certainly gesture and pontificate with the best of them but honestly I have no clue what is going on… :)
- Social Skills: Once I mentioned in a group of people that if it wasn’t for my family then I would be content to not talk to anyone for a month straight and just read or do my own thing. I learned very quickly that most people think that that is very abnormal behavior. My wife has helped me to improve dramatically in this regard so now I can proudly say that while I will never be a social butterfly, at least I am no longer a wallflower – maybe I am now a social wallflower?
So, this list could likely go on and on about things I just flat out don’t know but I guess the point so far is to first admit to yourself that you don’t know everything.
Become Really Really Good at Something
Once you have first admitted that there are things that you don’t know, likely will never know, and likely will never be that great at then – stop, slow down, and take a deep breath. It’s OK. Pick one thing and become world class at it.
Take the advice of the illustrious Steve Martin in his autobiography when asked the key to his success, “Become so good they can’t ignore you.”
If you run a great site like many Yakezie Members do, then why the need to also become a world class computer programmer? We’ve got the Yakezie Blogger Services! Sure, it’s great to learn new things and especially new things that are related to whatever the world class pursuit is that you are pursuing but… if you become world class at something then you will usually be rewarded with enough compensation to be able to gauge the value of your time and pay people to do for you what ends up not being worth your time .
What do YOU Think?
Is it a waste of time to try and be a polymath?
What are some things that you are not ashamed to admit that you don’t know/aren’t good at?
What is your “world class pursuit”? (and what, if anything, is distracting you from getting to where you want to be?)
Photo: The last California sunset for 2011, Sam.
This is great because when I first read you weren’t good at science I was like duh not everyone is… I want to know what you really aren’t good at. Then you said basic car mechanics and I was like ok what is going on here anyone can pick safe things that most people aren’t good at… I want deeper stuff. I mean I am not good at nitting or spelling (pun intended) but that doesn’t say much about me… But then you went to social skills and I stood up and applauded. Ok well I didn’t stand or applaud but internally I did. I commend you for saying that because social skills are never really taught and one of people’s toughest things to achieve. Internet gives us a voice we feel comfortable with. Some people are great at being social and other people suck. I tend to be great once I am talking but don’t initiate as much as I should. Although, I was selling a baby chair that my wife and I don’t use anymore and the guy that wanted to buy it came over to see it. We were chatting up a storm as if we had known each other for years. 30 minutes later my wife interrupted and said my husband is a photographer. I was embarrassed because it came out of left field but his wife hasn’t given birth yet and I do pregnancy photos… Anyway, I got an email from him later that night to set up a session with him and his wife. My social skills are great but only when my wife is there to interrupt.
Jai
I always have believed that while it’s important to continually educate yourself and try to constantly learn, it’s also important to know limitations and not waste time/money on those things. I even wrote a post for entrepreneurs about sticking to the things you do well and outsource those which you do not, which the line about not needing to become a programmer exemplifies so perfectly.
Some people think the whole DIY thing helps them to be more frugal or to save money, but my belief is that if you aren’t proficient in something then you shouldn’t be doing it in order to save a dollar here or there, when the fact of the matter is that doing something incorrectly can cost a heck of a lot more the the money that is saved by trying to do it on their own.
I have no problem admitting that I have never been into cars and can’t do more than changing wiper blades, a tire, or replacing a blown bulb on it. I’ll gladly take my car over to a service station for an oil change plus tire rotation and spend $18 on it. It’s especially advantageous for me personally, when I know for a fact that I can earn significantly more preparing a tax return, working on a client’s books, or even writing a post which will attract advertising income in the time that I will wait.
It has nothing to do with “wasting money” on something that I can maybe teach myself to do, but rather optimizing my time, and using mine to so what I am more proficient in.
I was laughed at in one of my posts for paying my automechanic $640 bucks to change all brake pads and rotor on Moose. Yes, I know it only takes 1.5 hours to do + parts, but who the hell has time to order the parts, change the parts, find space to change the parts in San Francisco?
Maybe if I had nothing else better to do, I might attempt to do it myself. But now? Forgetaboutit! What if I install them wrong and the parts fall off!
It is like when my husband states, “$200 for a bookshelf! I can build it and the parts aren’t even $50!” And then I bring him back to Earth and remind him that the time he would spend building it is not worth simply purchasing it. He doesn’t come from a business background so maybe opportunity cost isn’t something he’s familiar with….lol
Financial Samurai: My thoughts exactly. I know how to change the oil in my cars, have done it for years. But though I have the space, I don’t want to spend my time on days off to do it. I will if finances fall all the way apart, but for now, I’ll happily find someone to do that for me, and I’ll be savvy as I can about the pricing on those jobs. As for brakes? I don’t trust myself to do the work, but I do know it is not beyond the skills of a good home mechanic…I just know I’m not that mechanic!
Haha. I used to do this myself on my ghetto cars, and of course I had to emergency brake once off the highway when I found one of the brake valves hadn’t been tightened enough and I was leaking brake fluid all over the place, haha. Those good old days…
Maybe its from studying economics – but I’ve always been amazing at the efficiencies of trade and specialization. If you do what you good at, you can sell your excess and make even more, instead of wasting your time doing things you’re not good at. I will always pay for expert help when needed.
I learned a long time ago, I am only good at a few things. I can cross off all the DIY projects because I have little or no mechanical abilities, although I am really good at finding good tradesmen at low prices. I rather build on my skills and talents which makes me very effective in certain areas. I surround myself with successful people who are much smarter than me and learn from them. I have no problem delegating or outsourcing to people who are good at something. It makes me better and more effective. My big dream was achieving financial independence and achieved it at 38 years old (27 years ago). It made a material change in my life!
I am now working on doing something interesting online (my blog). I created goals and working on achieving them.
Like Krant I have also come to realize that I too am only good at so many things and that this is where I should concentrate my energies. I have also learned it is ok to rely on others. It does not mean you are inferior; it means you are smart enough to know to get help from others when you need it.
I have always tried to network and learn what I can from others and this has been invaluable. It has definitely been worth the time and effort.
I always like to try new things and explore my potential too so I often dabble in untreaded waters. This is how my blog came to be.
While I have the full working knowledge of everything, I do like having enough information to be able to get. I mean, the internet is a fantastic resource where you can anything about anything, should you choose to.
This may sound funny, but there are times where I know more about engine parts and car models than my brothers. While I can’t build one from scratch, it does help me when I need to get something fixed, and I can explain the issues to the mechanics. It also stops certain mechanics from “over-charging” because I am a girl.
I think its like Miss T says. I like new things as well.
I like learning; but have know for some time now that I can’t do everything and somethings are just impossible for me. I don’t understand cars at any level – I don’t even like driving them. I am not very ‘handy’ – I can figure out how mechanical things work but when it comes to using my hands to do it I hit a problem. I use computers and love them – but this is about it. And most of the time I ‘open my mouth just to change my foot’.
But the things that I can and can’t do change – I didn’t cook two years ago, now I do. I didn’t blog eleven months ago, now I do.
I think my stregths are in analysis, ‘symplification without bastardisation’ and writing.
I don’t know much of anything about cars or sports rules and am fine to keep it that way. I am curious about a lot of things other things though, so I tend to dabble in a lot of areas ranging from home improvement, music, knitting, computer stuff, photography, design etc. I don’t want to be an expert in any one in particular at the moment, I just enjoy continuing to build my knowledge little by little.
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses… typically our strengths is where we will be experts and weaknesses is where we need to ask for help. Recognizing this is key in itself.
Strangly, I have noticed that most of us ignore our strengths (talents) and work hard on our weanesses. We could achieve so much more doing the reverse.
I think learning comes with restlessness. Some want to always be shifting hobbies. Others are cutting things out. Most people can be truly good at one or two things, might as well focus on those.
If I counted the things I am not good at, I’d have a long list and nothing to do with it.
A timely post for me as I was just moping over my lack of focus in life…looking for a more sense of direction in life including changing career but not sure what. I wish that I am have a passion that I am willing to give anything up to pursue but I don’t. I wish that I have a unique skillset that I could easily land me a job but I don’t. We don’t need to good at everything and that’s okay. I just need to figure out one thing I can be good at and enjoy doing…not easy at all.
I’m definitely in the camp of “let the expert” do it, though being able to save money with basic home improvement is always calling out to me. I resist it most days. I can fix the innards on a toilet, and that’s about it.
I don’t know much at all about cars nor do I have interest, so when something goes wrong outside of needing more air in the tires or changing the windshield blades, I generally don’t mess around with it.
I am never going to be a world class car mechanic, or a world class singer. Then again, I might become a world class writer one day. It’s quite the beautiful thing that we all have different talents, and THAT is what makes the world work.
I’m never going to know everything or become an expert about any one thing, but if I had a choice, I’d rather know a little about everything than everything about one thing. Makes me more of a well-rounded person, i think.
I agree and disagree! It’s a great idea not to try and do everything. But, personallly, I’m so enthusiastic about so many different areas, it’s hard to stop myself! You made me think, and that’s a good thing.
Hmmm…so you don’t want to be a jack of all trades and a master at none…lol. I agree, although I wish I could know everything there is to know out there and be a walking talking wikipedia, it simply is not realistic even if I was a hermit and not the social butterfly that I am.
I have my Finance, Real Estate, and Law Enforcement skills and if I need to know something about another field, WHAT IS important is having the ability to obtain the information. Nice post! :)
I’m a little guilty of trying to do too much a lot. I agree with Barb though and sometimes the challenge of conquering something keeps me going. Now there is definitely a threshold though – managing opportunity costs is huge there. I think that’s one of the fundamental foundations that should be considered in the approach here. At what points are the costs of taking your own time to master something?
great message Joel. no one man is an island – so it is said. it’s best to leverage each others’ expertise.
I dont really think it’s bad trying to do everything. Just about everything that I do, I had to start somewhere. My problem comes from trying to do things you are absolutely terrible at and just plain old dont like. There’s no sense in getting frustrated with yourself and whatever you’re working on, when you could spend $20 and have someone else do it.
You make great points that really put things into perspective for me. I definitely try to do things I am not very good at it, and truly I don’t give up until I have accomplished a certain skill or at least realize that my failures tell me to seek guidance from professionals. I have noticed that if I don’t try to do everything, I won’t learn anything. But, mainly most of it has to do with interest too. I won’t try something I know I will eventually wont want to do anymore.
Funny you used Steve Martin as an example, the man is good at EVERYTHING! He’s an amazing actor, comedian, writer (The Pleasure of My Company, Shopgirl), producer AND musician! I like the idea of not spending time on things where you might be spinning your wheels, but I like to be good at things I’m not “expected” to be good at: I never knew I would run a successful blog, be a writer (like I always dreamed of), and be comfortable speaking in public. You can’t be good at everything, but being good in a few things helps you to be GREAT in one or two areas.
I’m usually the type of person to try to figure it out myself first. But over this last year, I’ve been realizing that letting the ‘experts’ handle some things is a better use of my time. It helps to remind myself that I could make X amount of money writing or save X amount of money by trying to waste my time fixing the garbage disposal. :)
as a new homeowner I try my best to do things on my own, and since this is my first home, there is a lot that I don’t know how to do. A few times I have been able to do it on my own with the help of google, other times I have hired contractors because I KNOW that I cannot figure it out or it is not worth my time, and finally, sometimes I try, feel like an idiot, give up and call a contractor or a friend for help.
For me one thing I’m not afraid to admit that I don’t know is computer coding. I have tried to learn a little bit of druple but that turned out to be more of a disaster than a success.
No one knows everything. I think the key to success it outsourcing the areas you are not so good in and focusing on your own strengths. I know since narrowing down exactly what I am good at, focusing more on that and outsourcing other things my income has grown.
You don’t want to be a jack of all trades and a master of none…
I firmly believe that you should focus on whatever you are good at and outsource everything else.
In the 6 years I’ve built websites and blogs, I’ve never learned the first thing about creating graphics. I have hired a number of folks to do it for me, but I barely know how to open Photoshop or Gimp. I do know what to expect from the people I hire.
With my car, I know a bit more. I work from home so I have the flexibility to do things like change my oil and brake pads on my car. That’s about the limit of my auto mechanic skills, but I know enough to not get hustled when I go to the shop.
I generally focus on the highest ROI on stuff like that. Changing the oil saves me about $40 per change (I use full synthetic) and only takes me about 15 minutes. The brakes save me about $400 and only takes an our or two, including going to the store.
I was a liberal arts major in college and grad school, so maybe that’s the cause. I think it’s helpful to know a bit about a lot of things, but never hesitate to hire someone who is an expert.
I definitely can’t do or know everything, but neither can most people, and that’s exactly why I we have a specialized society and civilization, so that people can trade with each other. That helps to bring us all closer together. :)
As for remembering stuff, my biggest problem is with trivia. I never remember it. Movies, actors and things like that, just forget it. My girlfriend had to tell me the name of a singer of a song that she liked about 50 times before I finally remembered it. ;)
I really like your quote from Steve Martin. I thinlk that he is a case study in the benefits of focusing on one thing.