While I have not dwelled on the past in retirement, preferring to look forward to the new opportunities in life, one of the things that retirement enables is more time – and certainly perspective – for internal reflection.

We recently held the ten year anniversary of Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis and Anne Arundel County (BikeAAA) and I received the “Versatile Endurance Advocate Award”. Jon Korin, our President and Founder, mildly embarrassed me by rattling off a litany of organizations I’ve been involved with and the variety of things that I’ve done for them. However, I think the award captures the essence of the impact I’ve had in my life and it got me thinking that it would be a good opportunity to write down some thoughts about something that has swirled around in my head since a NASA colleague Brad Carpenter said to me a long time ago: you’re a utility ball player.

At the time I wasn’t really sure what to think about that because Brad is a smart guy with a very acerbic nature (that I came to really appreciate over the years) and it came off as a rather ambiguous/backhanded compliment in the context how I was handling a particular assignment. But, let’s back up a bit and put the comment in some larger context: what’s a utility ball player and what’s their greater role in the world beyond sports? Of course Chat GPT can help us here:

Utility players in sports are often referred to as the unsung heroes of a team. These versatile athletes possess a wide range of skills and can adapt to various positions, making them invaluable assets to any roster. In baseball, for example, a utility player can seamlessly transition from the outfield to the infield or even pitch in a pinch. Their adaptability not only provides crucial depth to a team but also contributes to the overall success by filling gaps when injuries or roster changes occur. Utility players bring a unique value by offering consistency, versatility, and a willingness to do whatever is necessary for the team’s success.

In the broader context of the world, the concept of utility players extends beyond the realm of sports. Generalists, individuals who possess a diverse skill set and the ability to adapt to various tasks, play a vital role in many aspects of life. Whether it’s in the workplace, where generalists can take on a variety of roles, or in community settings, where they can contribute in multiple ways, their flexibility and adaptability are essential. Generalists often serve as problem solvers, bridging gaps, and finding innovative solutions to challenges that may not be apparent to specialists. They foster cooperation and collaboration, as their capacity to switch between roles can bring people with different expertise together, resulting in more holistic and effective outcomes.

In an ever-changing and interconnected world, the value of utility players or generalists cannot be overstated. Their versatility and adaptability allow them to navigate the complexities of modern life, responding to shifting circumstances and addressing multifaceted challenges. By embracing a generalist mindset, individuals can become valuable contributors in diverse fields, enhancing their own personal growth and making a positive impact on their communities, organizations, and the world at large. Just like utility players in sports, generalists exemplify the essence of adaptability and provide the stability and depth needed to succeed in an ever-evolving environment.

OpenAI Chat GPT

Related to me, it’s a bit hyperbolic for sure, but the sentiment is 100%. The notable thing to me is that it has taken me 25 years to be comfortable with that place in the world. In a culture that reveres experts, generally and especially at a place like NASA full of experts with impressive CVs and Nobel Prizes – where I spent my entire working career – not being an expert at anything can be rather intimidating. Early in my career made me feel like I was never really doing very good work compared to my peers. It wasn’t until about the last 15 years in my position as an IT project manager that I realized the value of being a utility player. The development team I lead really helped me understand that value of being an intermediary between experts and how that manifested in the work we accomplished and my role in it.

This is especially true in the software development field where often the failure of IT projects hinges around requirements and expectations almost more than technology. Being able to understand both the business part and the technology part and having the ability to express both perspectives to each side of the equation was the key to success (along with iterative techniques like agile software development methods which incidentally have fundamental overlap with Strong Towns principles, a post for another day).

This part of what Chat GPT produced hits it: “Generalists often serve as problem solvers, bridging gaps, and finding innovative solutions to challenges that may not be apparent to specialists. They foster cooperation and collaboration, as their capacity to switch between roles can bring people with different expertise together, resulting in more holistic and effective outcomes.”

So what does this all mean?

As I hinted about in my last sailing post, not being an expert in any of the endeavors I have been involved with in my working career (research and engineering) or my non-work activities (city planning, cycling, sailing, you know Urbanism, Advocacy, Bikes and Boats) might mean I am destined to be seen (or not seen as the case may be) as a bit player. I’m not a baseball fan, but how many of these top utility players does anyone know?

Being a generalist dovetails very well with my political leanings and Myers-Briggs personality type (both subjects for another day) and it facilitates interest in and learning a wide variety of new things quickly. That really keeps life interesting. And it helps with seeing the big picture, something that is often lost when experts concentrate very narrowly on specific topics, especially where there are compromises between different values that must be made.

It’s really the key insight into my personality, and I have realized this is an immutable part of what makes me me and I am comfortable with it. Finally!