Excelling Among the Best of the Best

Not too long ago I wrote to you about how to become the best of the best at your company.  There were just a few steps that it seems most people miss, and really it just boils down to being extremely knowledgeable (yes, reading about work outside of work), applying that knowledge to be one step ahead, and work your tail off.  Doing so will help you get noticed and you will rise to the top of the ranks because most people are, quite frankly, lazy.  They expect things to be handed to them.  So your competition is not fierce, but if you want to rise to the top of those who are willing to go the extra mile, you will have to take it one step further.

Have you ever noticed that there are relatively few general practitioner doctors?  When you go into the walk-in clinic you will usually see one.  They will often give you a quick diagnosis and then send you on to see a specialist.  That specialist has discovered a niche in the medical field that he loves to do, and has become an expert at it.

Have you ever noticed that the “Mr. Fix-it” guy makes a decent living, but he rarely excels to the top?  He is a jack of all trades and can do almost anything well, but he is not great at anything.  The specialist on the other hand, like electricians, plumbers, tile-layers, etc. (proper licensing aside), can charge a premium because they know their trade and they know it well.

Notice the pattern?  It applies to every job out there regardless of the industry.  For me, I work in the financial services field.  My boss is the office “life specialist” and he is the go-to guy for all life insurance questions and needs.  I have a co-worker who specializes in Bank Owned Life Insurance (for the higher ups at banks).  He only makes a few sales per year, but he earns hundreds of thousands of dollars for his work.  For years these two have been pushing for someone to take the role of “disability specialist” and someone else to take on the “investment specialist” position and every nuance of the industry to have a specialist.  If you truly want to excel, and you truly want to be seen as an expert in your industry, you need to choose a specialty.  Stop being a generalist, and narrow down what you like to do, the narrower the better.

Once you have chosen your specialty, the same concepts as the last article apply.  Read everything you can get your hands on.  Attend seminars, webinars, and meet with other industry experts.  Apply that knowledge to your company, work your tail off, and stay one step ahead of your boss.  Not only will you be rewarded with upward movement, you will be rewarded financially as well.  Specialists always make more than generalists.

Specializing is seen in every industry imaginable; that means there are areas in yours in which you can specialize.  Take some time to look into where you can focus your efforts, and get started on your path toward success.

Are you a specialist?  How have you worked that to furthering your career?

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