Sticky Notes: Specialize in What You Do Best

Every minute you spend on the things you do very well will add more value than a minute spent on something that is not your specialty.

Focus as much of your work time as possible doing the things you already know how to do very well, very fast, and deliver with a great attitude. Know what specialties you want to be known for. The more work you do in your specialties, the better your outcomes. Every minute you spend on the things you do very well will add more value than a minute spent on something that is not your specialty. That’s true, whether you are digging ditches or practicing surgery.

That said, do not fall into the trap of being great at just the aspects of the job you like and slacking on the aspects you don’t like or consider ancillary (like paperwork).

The more specialties you have, the more of your time you’ll be able to devote to high-impact value adding.

Bruce Tulgan
Bruce Tulgan is a best-selling author and CEO of RainmakerThinking, the management research, consulting, and training firm he founded in 1993. All of his work is based on 27 years of intensive workplace interviews and has been featured in thousands of news stories around the world. His newest book, “The Art of Being Indispensable at Work: Win Influence, Beat Overcommitment, and Get the Right Things Done” ( Harvard Business Review Press) is available for purchase from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all major booksellers. Follow Tulgan on Twitter @BruceTulgan or visit his Website at: rainmakerthinking.com.