Career strategy: diversify early, then specialize intensely
lemire · x · 2026-08-31
For researchers and engineers, the author advocates for a strategy of early diversification followed by intense specialization, repeating this cycle.
- Early diversification helps avoid mediocrity and prevents specializing in the wrong area.
- Later specialization is required to achieve high-quality results, which takes years.
- Behavioral impact: This requires saying "NO" frequently and remaining open to crazy projects during exploration phases.
- Research support: Cites De Stefano and Bidwell (2026) showing employees who explore broadly before specializing achieve higher promotion rates and compensation.
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