{"id":79433,"date":"2022-09-14T17:08:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-14T21:08:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=79433"},"modified":"2022-09-23T09:52:45","modified_gmt":"2022-09-23T13:52:45","slug":"find-your-place-in-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/find-your-place-in-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Find Your Place in the World\u2014With Help From Biology & Physics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Where are you headed in life, and how fast are you going? What’s your niche? Should you be a generalist or a specialist? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If these questions resonate with you, you’re probably figuring out how you fit in the larger scheme of things. You have a unique combination of personality, strengths, and interests, which means that you have a unique place to thrive. Now you just need to get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continue reading for tips on how to find your place in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Finding Your Place<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Authors Beaubien and Parrish offer a set of models that raise the possibility of thriving through divergence\u2014finding your place in the world and choosing the best path to get you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beaubien and Parrish argue that, if you want to thrive, you should find your niche<\/em>\u2014a specific role in the social environment that lets you capitalize on your strengths and maximize your chances of success. The authors argue that, to find the right niche, you should decide whether to be a generalist or a specialist<\/strong>. In biology, a niche refers to the function a species fulfills within its ecosystem. In this context, a generalist (like a raccoon) is a species that lives in a range of conditions and eats a variety of foods, whereas a specialist (like a koala) requires a specific habitat or food source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The authors suggest that this model applies equally well to human competition, such as in the business world. In this context, a generalist business offers a wide range of products or services. Generalist businesses face fierce competition from other generalists in the same niche, but they\u2019re also unlikely to go out of business<\/strong> as cultures and economies change. For example, big-box general merchandise stores like Walmart and Target are generalists because they offer one-stop shopping for groceries, home goods, clothing, electronics, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By contrast, a specialist business focuses on developing a narrow niche that no one else can fill. Specialist businesses can dominate their small market niches, but they\u2019re vulnerable to technological and cultural changes that alter that niche.<\/strong> For example, since 1950, the Nielsen Corporation has measured the viewership of US television programs and provided this data to networks and marketers. Thanks in part to its aggressive patenting<\/a> of its technology, Nielsen historically faced no real competition. However, with the advent of streaming services, DVRs, and other technologies that have changed how people watch content, Nielsen\u2019s accuracy has come into question and new competitors have begun to threaten<\/a> Nielsen\u2019s business model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Specialist niches might be especially valuable for companies who aren\u2019t equipped for heavy competition. In Blue Ocean Strategy<\/em><\/a>, W. Chan Kim and Ren\u00e9e Mauborgne describe competitive generalist markets as red oceans<\/em>\u2014that is, oceans that have been stained by blood from constant fighting. Kim and Mauborgne recommend that instead of jumping into a red ocean and trying to outcompete established businesses, you should seek a blue ocean<\/em><\/a>, meaning a market where you\u2019ll face little to no competition. They say you can do this by offering a uniquely valuable product or service\u2014in other words, by finding or creating a specialist niche for yourself.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, Beaubien and Parrish point out that generalizing and specializing both have their strengths and weaknesses\u2014rather than promoting one over the other, they suggest learning which one best suits you so that you can strategize appropriately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: Most of Beaubien and Parrish\u2019s examples of niches relate to either technological evolution or business competition<\/a>. But niches\u2014and the question of generalization versus specialization\u2014come up in a variety of everyday contexts, as well. For example, you could choose to pursue a wide range of hobbies (a generalist approach), or pick one or two and build your expertise in them (a specialist approach). Similarly, you could choose to read a variety of books or dive deep into a single favorite genre. The stakes of these decisions might not be as high as they are when choosing a business<\/a> strategy, but the tradeoffs are similar\u2014you always have to balance generalist breadth versus specialist depth.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Velocity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once you know where you want to be (for example, which niche you want to fill), you still have to figure out how to get there. That\u2019s why Beaubien and Parrish offer the model of velocity<\/em><\/strong>\u2014which suggests the importance of knowing <\/strong>where <\/em><\/strong>you\u2019re going<\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>and not just how quickly you\u2019re moving<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The authors explain that, although we often use the words \u201cspeed\u201d and \u201cvelocity\u201d interchangeably, in physics, the two terms have slightly different meanings. Speed <\/em>is an object\u2019s rate of movement expressed as distance divided by time (for example, miles per hour or meters per second). Velocity<\/em><\/strong> is an object\u2019s rate of movement <\/strong>in a designated direction<\/em><\/strong>\u2014for example, a car\u2019s speed might be 80 mph, whereas its velocity is 80 mph west<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beaubien and Parrish explain that the distinction between speed and velocity is important because, as a metaphor, v<\/strong>elocity reminds us to choose our direction carefully to make sure we end up where we want to go<\/strong>. For example, cars in a NASCAR race go fast\u2014around 200 mph on average\u2014but they race mostly on oval-shaped circuits, meaning that all of that speed doesn\u2019t actually get them anywhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likewise, Beaubien and Parrish say, i<\/strong>t\u2019s entirely possible to spend all of your time and energy working hard (gaining speed) without actually moving closer to your goals<\/strong>. For example, if you really care about becoming a professional musician, then getting promoted to a managerial position in your office job might increase your speed without actually taking you in the direction you want. (Shortform note: In this sense, velocity is relative<\/em>\u2014for someone who cares about succeeding in business, the managerial promotion is progress whereas a record contract would be irrelevant.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Chart Your Course<\/strong>

So, how do you choose your direction and stick to it? In Start With Why<\/em><\/a>, Simon Sinek<\/a> recommends that you begin with the motivating purpose behind your actions<\/strong>. Although Sinek talks specifically about businesses, this approach is equally valuable on a personal level. When you think not just about what<\/em> you do but also about why<\/em> you do it, you\u2019ll find it easier to make choices that line up with your chosen purpose<\/a>. In other words, starting with why<\/em> is like having a compass\u2014your why <\/em>will always let you know whether you\u2019re pointed in the right direction.

Unfortunately, it\u2019s not always easy to determine which actions will take you in that chosen direction. That\u2019s why, in The One Thing<\/em><\/a>, Gary Keller<\/a> suggests that you take the time to determine the one action that matters most<\/strong> to your goals. Keller explains that once you\u2019ve chosen your purpose<\/a>, you should ask yourself what single, concrete action will do the most to bring you toward your goal<\/a> while making other actions easier or unnecessary. In other words, if your why<\/em> is your compass, your one thing<\/em> is like a GPS\u2014it tells you what specific step you should take right now to get where you\u2019re going.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Where are you headed in life, and how fast are you going? What’s your niche? Should you be a generalist or a specialist? If these questions resonate with you, you’re probably figuring out how you fit in the larger scheme of things. You have a unique combination of personality, strengths, and interests, which means that you have a unique place to thrive. Now you just need to get there. Continue reading for tips on how to find your place in the world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":79436,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,42,43],"tags":[748],"class_list":["post-79433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-career","category-motivation","category-self-improvement","tag-the-great-mental-models-volume-2","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nFind Your Place in the World\u2014With Help From Biology & Physics - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You can thrive through divergence\u2014finding your place in the world and choosing the best path to get you there. 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