In this age of online banking, downloadable transactions, and software that balances your checkbook for you, it’s easy to let your banking run on autopilot. But if you don’t check your bank statements, you should....
When talking with doctors, we patients are often reluctant to ask questions. Since we’re so reluctant to ask doctors about big things—like how to keep from going to an early grave—it’s no surprise that in many cases, we don’t even consider asking them about little things. ...
In any construction project, all of the technical experts work hard in their own areas of specialty. But without a generalist who can see the big picture, coordinate the various technical aspects, and keep everyone focused on the needs of the owner and end user, sometimes the entire project suffers....
A strong project manager is a value-added professional—someone who bring skills other than technical expertise to the table. One of those skills is the ability to recognize which of many factors is the real priority in a given situation....
The medical field has always been a realm of various types of specialists. (And when I say “specialists,” I’m including primary care providers, since they too have specialized knowledge compared to a generalist like me.) But in recent years the health care system seems to have added more layers of specialization. We used to say were “going to the doctor”; these days we’re more likely to interact with one or more members of a medical team, each with different credentials and responsibilities....
A number of years ago I designed and built a new home for myself. I was working with an architect who had a good reputation in the community and was proud of it.
At one point, the architect asked me about the wall separating the great room from the bedroom wing. Did I want 5/8-inch or 3/4-inch drywall installed, and did I want it screwed or nailed? My stomach lurched—a familiar sign that I had no idea what he was talking about.
...
You might know Oprah Winfrey from her long-running talk show. Maybe you’ve picked up her magazines, tuned in to a radio broadcast, seen her in a movie, watched her cable network, or picked up a novel from her book club. A media magnate, she glides from television to movies to magazines to politics and philanthropy, applying what she learns in one situation to make each following one a success. That’s earned her many titles, but what she really embodies is the spirit of a generalist....
