You are very smart.

There is some area where you know more than almost anyone else. Guaranteed. There may be one or two more, but there’s at least one.

That area is almost certainly some small niche, but it’s an important one, and a valuable one. Depending on your age, you have likely known this specialty for a long time.

And because you know it well, you assume that others know that area well, too.

They don’t. Others have their areas where they are likewise smart, but they don’t know yours.

One of the beauties of an advanced society is that we have the luxury of being able to specialize. And we are all better off for that. Our oven broke last night. Specifically, one of the elements burned out.

Could I repair it? Probably. Repair it well? Probably not.

And I don’t have to. I will cheerfully pay someone to repair it. He will do so quickly and easily. Meanwhile, I’ll do the things I’m good at. That’s the way it should be. It’s dumb (even with the help of online videos) to try to do everything. (Unless you’re wanting to get good at something and enjoy it. But that’s another matter).

So cultivate the things you’re good at. Try to get better, and maybe even great at those things. Maybe have a good time with them and make a little money. And if you don’t know what you’re good at, maybe spend some time this weekend looking at your life and work and what interests you and what others tell you you’re good at, and figure it out. In the long run, you’ll make the world a better place.