2. CAPACITY We have an arcane and extremely simplistic view of human capacity, as though there's a fixed amount of attention and ability a person has. Any division of that attention or application of multiple skills splits that capacity into a fraction of the whole, making the work that results in each sector a fraction as good. That's a great approach for specialized robots that build cars. Not so much for humans.  Thinking points: -The whole pie approach fails to take into account the speed at which non-specialists, who are constantly learning, pick up new skills. Non-specialists are unaffected by the stigma of being a beginner, which permits them to learn more new things freely. Because they learn new skills with greater frequency than others, their learning and mastery of those skills is accelerated. -This fixed view of human capacity also fails to consider that skills are transferrable from one area to another and applying a skill set to a seemingly unrelated discipline is what produces breakthroughs.  3. LEGITIMACY The way that we designate mastery or legitimacy is deeply flawed. There is an over-reliance on formal education and official certification to deem that someone is good enough at something to be a) respected for their skill in it b) hired to do it and c) described by it. The idea that you can't possibly be good enough at something to bring value if you don't have some type of official certification to prove your proficiency is just a ruse to get folks to pay more tuition. Also a great way to keep talented non-specialists who prefer the speed of experience over the bureaucracy of formal training out.  Thinking points: -How many times have you hired a person who looks perfect on paper but falls flat on the job? How valuable is their formal education to you now? -What's the easiest way to find out what someone has the ability to do? Give them a task, have them do it and see what they produce.  --  We forge onward. Talk through the thinking points with your friends and coworkers. Put your brain to work on that elusive magic word for non-specialists (Clear, Strong, Resonant) and let me know what you come up with in the search process. And, as always, share with non-specialists and specialists alike.
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