The Era of Generalists is at Hand

For the most part, the last 50+ years have been the era of specialists. Whether they be doctors, lawyers, scientists, reporters, accountants, or others, we’ve seen too many graduates work in highly specialized areas of interest at the expense of liberal arts majors whose forte used to be how to think logically. But, a curious thing has happened with specialization run amuck—specialization has led to the death of common sense and great thinkers.

My touchstone has always been to question: How Will History Judge?

A relative of mine received a troubling initial medical diagnosis. His primary care physician quickly opined that he needed to see a specialist, who, surprise, surprise, definitely thought he was in the right place, except he wasn’t. Teachers and school systems employ legions of “experts” and consultants to tell them what they must do to improve this or that in Johnnie’s school experience or to support teachers better. The problem is, based on decades of records, trend analysis, and failed outcomes, kids are failing to learn!

The Shift in Learning:-

Before New Math, Phonics, computer-aided learning, and centralized curriculum, most students learned and retained much more than they do today. A significant number of high schoolers graduate functionally illiterate and unable to balance a checkbook or manage their household budgets, not to mention how little they understand what made America great. This is on top of an overall 5% who drop out.

Where are all our great inventors? People like Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Ford, Linus Pauling, and many more defined American ingenuity for the entire world. We have Elon Musk but few other basic patent holders. Let me share something interesting about all of these geniuses: none of them were specialists; what they shared in common was that they saw a problem and sought solutions that cut across academic disciplines. Nikola Tesla invented alternating current electricity, the induction motor, the radio (Marconi refined it), neon lighting, and dozens of other primary and secondary inventions that changed our world.

Where did Paul Harvey, Rush Limbaugh, Walter Cronkite, Walter Winchell, or Edward R. Murrow go? All the aforementioned men held America rapt as they factually explained the news and assured us that being an American was our greatest blessing; they were also technically generalists.

What Makes a Generalist? Defining the Jack-of-All-Trades

A generalist can be defined as:

Someone who has a broad range of skills, knowledge, and expertise across various fields rather than specializing in just one area

Name the area of specialization, and I’ll show you how a lack of common sense has negatively impacted lives. Most miss an essential requirement to absorb multiple pieces of information, intuitively knowing what to discard, which to learn more about, and how to form conclusions that plot the best course forward. Look at some of our recent presidents and witness those who exhibited common sense vs. those who didn’t.

Presidents showing a lack of common sense:

• Lyndon Johnson—Johnson always doubled down on what wasn’t working.When Vietnam became a quagmire, he left what to do to his generals to his detriment instead of owning the issue. Johnson valued political advantage over substance, and many Civil Rights policies created under his administration did not achieve the promised benefits despite a legacy of financial ruin and a lack of upward mobility left in its wake.
• Jimmy Carter—Carter’s presidency faced challenges such as the Iran hostage crisis and economic difficulties.Critics argue that his handling of these issues lacked effectiveness and practical solutions.
• George H.W. Bush—During his 1988 presidential campaign, Bush famously promised, “Read my lips: no new taxes.” However, facing a growing budget deficit, he later agreed to tax increases.Many of his supporters saw this decision as a dumb move, cited as a significant factor in his loss to Bill Clinton.
• Barack Obama—Obama’s Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed through Congress without a single Republican vote, which intensified political divisions.This approach birthed the Tea Party and created a polarized political climate.Having drawn a “red line” regarding the use of chemical weapons in Syria was seen as a lack of decisive action. This decision reverberates to this day concerning U.S. credibility in the region.
• Joe Biden—The chaotic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan led to widespread criticism.The rapid collapse of the Afghan government and the takeover by the Taliban was a predictable failure.Biden never acknowledged that inflation created by reckless spending was the root cause, and Americans never forgave Biden for the harm it created.Biden’s opening of the border to millions was the other action he took that Americans will never forgive him for.

  Covid-19 measures, including massive counterproductive spending that resulted in millions of people leaving the workforce forever, created today’s supply chain disaster. Just ask Boeing.