Another reason to be a generalist (Feat. Teddy Roosevelt)

“Play hard while you play, but do not mistake it for work. If a young fellow is twenty it is a mighty good thing that he should be a crack half-back; but when he is forty I am sorry if he has never been anything else except once at twenty a good half-back.”
–Theodore Roosevelt, in an address to the University of Minnesota, April of 1903

Teddy Roosevelt was speaking to college students and athletes in the early 20th century. They probably had ambitions to play professionally, make a little money, get a little famous. Much like us. But he told them in clear language: if all you are in your life is a good half-back…that’s not good enough. 

Our society praises champions and experts. We envy athletes, musicians, actors—especially when they find success around age 20. But what we fail to recognize is that by 40, when their legs have slowed down, and they’re no longer relevant, and their looks have wrinkled…they don’t have much else going for them. 

They’re not generalists. They’re one-trick ponies.

This is why it’s so important to be a generalist. To learn everything that interests you. To continue to challenge yourself in different ways, not just for a résumé, but for the good of society. 

Learn to manage a team better, so you can make people’s work lives more enjoyable. Learn to cook delicious meals, so you can eat tastier food. Learn to be a consistent friend, so you can enrich the people you love most. 

The more things you learn, the more you have at your disposal. The more things you learn to appreciate, the greater percentage of life you can enjoy. 

Being an excellent photographer is great. But if all people can say of you at the end of your life is “she was a great photographer…” that’s a failure. If they can’t also say “she was a loving spouse” or “he was a generous friend” or “they were a peaceful person” or “he made the tastiest BBQ,” then that’s a failure. 

Being a loving spouse, or a generous friend, or finding peace, or making great BBQ…all of these things take as much work as being a great photographer. 

But they are way more important.