The Value of Specialized Knowledge
Getting specialized knowledge and skills will give you an edge over people with only general knowledge. Time and effort spent in gaining specialized knowledge pays handsome dividends. A mind that knows something special is a beautiful mind.
General knowledge is wonderful and very impressive. Knowing the names of all countries in the world is general knowledge. Knowing the names of leading brands of mobile phones is general knowledge. General knowledge may set a good foundation for your success, it will get you through the door, but you only get real results by acquiring and applying specialized knowledge.
The Value of Specialization – My Professional Life
I came to Australia in 1998 and took a course in Marketing & Information System (Bachelor of Business Degree). It felt good to be a graduate from one of the top ranked Business Schools in Western Australia. I was confident that I was going to become very successful as the market was “dying” for someone with my university qualifications.
I got a rude shock when I started looking for jobs. I would buy the newspaper and jump on the internet to see the kind of jobs on offer. Most of the jobs required experience which I had little to none. I applied for over 400 jobs but I kept being rejected. Maybe one of the reasons I was being rejected was because I did not have a defining skill that I could use to sell myself. I had no desirable actionable skill that potential employers could immediately put to use.
One day I was in a bookshop in the city and met a sharply dressed African man. I was curious about what kind of work he did. I was so intrigued and was out seeking the littlest advice I could get. He told me he was from Nigeria and he worked as a computer programmer, helping one of the leading banks in Australia build their online banking system. Wow! I kept questioning him how he got such a job. He told me his secret was that he had special skills that the bank needed. They had flown him in from Sydney to Perth to come work for them.
He asked me what I did at university and when I told him he said that “marketing is not very marketable” (lol) and I should lean on my information system degree. I had done generic course units like information management, strategic information systems, database management etc. He told me that those would not take me very far, especially if I wanted an entry level position.
With his own money, that gentleman bought me a web design book that really helped me. The book was called Sam’s Teach Yourself HTML in 24 Hours. He told me he was blessing a young brother and that I should do the same one day to someone. God bless him. I read the book and within 1 week I was calling myself a web designer and distributing fliers around the city, selling my web design services.
I continued gaining more specialized skills in computer programming (web) and even wrote a program to manage my job applications and fliers distribution. Every time I sent someone my Resume (Curriculum Vitae), or email, I would plug his details into my little program. I could track whether people were opening my emails with precision. I did this by embedding a really small image in the email (not visible to the naked eye). This image would call my program whenever someone opened my emails, and if they then rang me, my program would have alerted me in advance so I would have done a bit of research on their company before hand.
One day I was talking with a friend and told him about my little program. He told me that their organization sent hundreds of newsletters to members and they would love to customize, personalize and track their newsletters. I took on this challenge with my good friend George and made our first commercial software program.
Why am I telling you all this? I hope to inspire you to pursue specialized skills and knowledge. It is only when you get past the general skills that opportunities start opening up. Do not be like everyone else. Acquire a skill that sets you apart. Gain an edge over the competition by gaining special skills and knowledge.
Specialized Knowledge is Power
Knowing the names of major car companies does not give you any power. How about if you can become a good mechanic for one type of car? What if you became the go to guy when people have a particular problem?
Watching morning news in Australia reminds me that every specialized dog has its day. I find it funny and intriguing how the major TV networks are able to come up with an expert for whatever is in the news.
When Australian wildlife conservationist Steve Irwin died, there were so many experts on TV that really understood his life works. Every time something happens, there is always someone on stand by, who just “happens” to have dedicated 30 years of his life specializing on the matter at hand.
Someone who was previously unknown can end up very powerful when his brand of specialization hits prime time.
How to Gain Specialized Knowledge
You can gain specialized knowledge by first deciding what it is that you want to learn. Then fully focus on that, read all relevant books, periodicals, magazines etc. Watch DVDs, attend seminars or get home study courses or even attend a course to gain that skill or knowledge.
Another way of acquiring specialized knowledge is by becoming an apprentice or doing work experience. Apprenticeship means gaining special skills under the instruction of a master. You can take on an apprenticeship on subjects ranging from mechanics to theology. It is well worth it, and I highly recommend it.
Summary
Gaining specialized skills is a good way of enhancing your prospects for success. Specialized knowledge is actionable and will give you more confidence and make you more relevant in the market place.
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Your article is inspiring and very educative. I now realise why it has taken me many years to get the job of my dream.
It has kept me thinking of what unique value can I add to my organisation.
Thanks Dan.
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…and specialized knowledge doesnt just stop at a career path or trade. Specialized knowledge can also, i believe, revolve around the specialized creative element that supercedes the normal way of doing things. For example, the general mechanic at the regular garage will normally open your hood, most of the time ‘guess’ what might be wrong with the car and diagnose ‘appropriately’ depending on what he might think the problem is. But the specialized creative element in a different mechanic at the same garage will tell you, this job cant be done here, try elsewhere! Who do you think will be the first person on this guys mind when his car cranks again?
So i believe that specialization in anything is probably not what you do that others cant do, but actually what you do that basically different from how others do that same thing you all do!
Creative specialization is what sets apart the wheat from the chaff baba!
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Its interesting how you were able to go from a generic job description to a specialist earning just a bt more with a bit of creativity. Great article and maybe I should do the same thing and start out a flier campsign myself……….
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@ Sublimity – Good to have you back.
Getting specialized knowledge alone will not guarantee success. It will just open more doors that would otherwise have remained closed.
Specialized knowledge makes us more perceptive as to what areas are worthy investments of our time. Specialized knowledge is not a panacea but it goes a longer way than general knowledge.
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Dan –
I appreciate your insights on self knowledge, but again question whether it’s as simple as that. I would imagine that there are other factors in play which would determine if knowledge, specialized or general is of any use. Like you, I have specialised knowledge but I refuse to buy the idea that “just having specialized knowledge is the thing”.
Let me use your story. What if you were not impressed by this guy and you never spoke with him? You saw an opportunity and you utilized it. That makes all the difference. What if the guy was an African with an attitude? Or he was too busy and could not have time for you? Possible, but it never happened. That was chance and circumstances. Do you have control of both? No. Only one. The point am trying to make is, it’s how we react to circumstances and opportunities that are presented to us – that determines our success. I appreciate and applaud your initiative, but I have met qualified software engineers and computer science graduates who could not get jobs despite their specialized knowledge. They may never had the opportunities or lacked the initiative, or both. Does specialized knowledge matter in that case? No.
Sometimes when I meet fellow Africans in my business suits – and get to introduce myself (upon prompting), “My name is Sublimity and I work with company XYZ”, I see the amazement (just the same way you were amazed by the Nigerian guy). But a more serious issue is the lack of confidence and self esteem, and a feeling that “It is such a big deal having a professional job in Australia”. A face that tells me that this dude thinks he is destine to meagre immigrant jobs like caring. I do not give them money to buy books, but when I have time we chat – and a pattern has emerged. People have no idea what to do other than go to uni, get specialized knowledge and expect employers to employ them as though they have an obligation to. It is essential to have that knowledge – but that is the beginning of the story.
Probably creating opportunities and chances to meet with real employers may help. Conducting yourself in a manner suggesting you are business like may help. Networking with peers and industry professionals may help. Smart job hunting may save the hustle of sending 400 job applications.
Just my two cents.
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Knowledge cannot be bought… it is to be highly valued by all.. Be wiser than other people if you can, but do not tell them so’…
Thank you for your very story Dan
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yeah i agree too, i know must think of what it is that i could specialize in to make myself more marketable…..i love writing and i’ve been wondering what it is i need inorder to break into the mainstream media a sonly some of my articles have been published and frankly id send articles if only i knew where too( thats sounds really bad but i honestly don’t know where to start, nay suggestions?)…..this has definately given me something to think about though. thanx dann
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Two years ago i met a computer programmer, who had set up a new company’s IT systems. He designed in-house programmes and sourced for relevant software to increase the company’s efficiency and cut down on costs. Come end of year, appraisals were done and he scooped a mark he greatly deserved. His hopes were shattered on receiving his payslip for that month, considering all the efforts and sacrifices he had put in for the company. He raised the issue with the management but they were reluctant in listening to his plea. He chose to resign, and to emphasize on the seriousness of the issue, he din’t show up for a week. Meanwhile word got round in the industry and within no time he was given two lucrative offers. Two weeks later, his previous employer’s IT system developed some complications. He was the only one who understood the codes for that programme.
A time came when the pressure was unbearable, forcing the management not only to double his salary, but also increase his benefits. Being a good negotiator he asked for a week to consider their offer, mentioning he had received an offer from their main competitor. Their final offer was 2.5 times his previous salary. On reporting, there was a staff party to celebrate his come back.(What!)
Talk about an MVP(most valued player). It kept me thinking, can my employer do without me, and how long would it take her to find a replacement?
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The answer: Special skills.
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It is important to also have an idea of where you are heading and who you want to meet.
Last year, at the Kenyan ball,my friends did not understand why I desperately needed to meet Casta Tungaraza.For those who do not know her, she represents immigrants in WA.Just this week she had to meet with Kevin Rudd in Canberra as she is on the advisory board.
Anyway, I did meet her and told her what I want to do. This year she was holding a fund raising event for street kids in Tanzania. She remembered me and I ended participating. You see I want to get into Philanthropy.
Not only was I there for the event but I also met a very influencial lady named Ros Worthington who is a philanthropist and inspirational speaker.
This lady had founded her own organisations too!
Keep an open mind and always sell yourself.It is never about knowing all the steps to a dance,its about having the courage to join the dance even when you do not know the steps:)
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I now know what route to take. Thanks Dan.
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The magic of special skill is wonderful.I’m trained as production engineer but landing a job was a nightmare. Life became hard ad it reach a time i was ready to take any job .By God grace I got a sales job of which I went on job traning ad also specialize by reading wide. I bear a true witness so dont be contentend by want you are trained go for extra mile by specialisation.
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Thats very true,I was one day trying to think of the specialized skill that could sell me,and I realized that I did not have any, though I am a graduate in Accountancy and management.I have the general knowledge but a specialized skill no.This is an eye opener and and an inspiration.
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wow!this piece is not only informative but therapeautic…I can see the error in my ways and You’ve now equipped me with knwolegdge on how to set myself apart form the rest….thank you for helping us improve ourselves daily!
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