Ask HN: How did you find what you were good at?

#1

Post by culopatin » Tue, Dec 01, 2020, 3:44 AM UTC

I am inspired by specialized and talented people who are masters of their craft.

My problem is that I am equally attracted to 3 somewhat unrelated fields that I would like to master and I have become static in the sense of not being able to choose one as my path. I've bounced between mechanical engineering, physics and computer science and have made meaningless progress in all of them.

If you were in the same boat, how did you find that one thing that you're good at?

Re: Ask HN: How did you find what you were good at?

#2

Post by MeatBro » Tue, Dec 01, 2020, 8:17 AM UTC

In the same boat with even bigger interest net(finance,science,general art). Still no clue

Re: Ask HN: How did you find what you were good at?

#3

Post by burntoutfire » Tue, Dec 01, 2020, 8:25 AM UTC

Maybe you can't commit because these fields are so similar? They're all analytical, and for example mechanical engineering is just applied physics and physics in practice is often about programming simulations and data processors. So, in a way, it doesn't matter that much what you choose, as these fields have very similar "feel" to them, and also you can fairly easily change fields in the future.

Re: Ask HN: How did you find what you were good at?

#4

Post by redlion » Tue, Dec 01, 2020, 2:34 PM UTC

Masters of a craft may be very good at a number of different crafts. The only difference between "master of" and "good at" is often how you feel doing that activity. Pick the one that you enjoy most and mastery will come.

Re: Ask HN: How did you find what you were good at?

#5

Post by VoodooJuJu » Tue, Dec 01, 2020, 4:05 PM UTC

It's understandable that you're struggling to pursue either of those three subjects - they're too vague and abstract. What does crafting in mechanical engineering look like? In physics? In computer science? What is it specifically that you want to be able to craft? Whatever it is, it might even incorporate elements of one, two, or all three of the subjects you mentioned.

The first carpenters didn't say, "I'd like to become a master of carpentry", no, they probably said something more like "I want to build a workbench". Ok, how do you learn to build a workbench? By building workbenches. Then you build a cabinet. Then you build a house. You do this for years - now you're a master.

You want to make a house? Go apprentice with the carpenter. You want to make a wind farm? Go apprentice with the mechanical engineer. You want to make money in finance as a quant? Go apprentice with the physicist.

Re: Ask HN: How did you find what you were good at?

#6

Post by stevesearer » Tue, Dec 01, 2020, 4:20 PM UTC

My original career choice was to be a teacher.

After doing it for a few years, it became clear that teaching as a career was not for me even thought there were aspects of it that I really liked (the material, helping students navigate life, thinking about teaching). Other aspects were not for me (bureaucracy, high maintenance parents, etc).

You might find that while those individual subjects interest you equally, careers in those fields might have different parts to them which you are not suited to (public speaking, grant writing, research).

All that said, I’m not really sure that I’m good at my current career itself but more that the individual things that make it up suit me better. One thing in particular is that I am able to grind at the same task for many days in a row to meet my goal. This has crossover utility in other fields too but has served me well in my current one.

Re: Ask HN: How did you find what you were good at?

#7

Post by AnimalMuppet » Tue, Dec 01, 2020, 4:26 PM UTC

VoodooJuJu wrote: post #5

It's understandable that you're struggling to pursue either of those three subjects - they're too vague and abstract. What does crafting in mechanical engineering look like? In physics? In computer science? What is it specifically that you want to be able to craft? Whatever it is, it might even incorporate elements of one, two, or all three of the subjects you mentioned. The first carpenters didn't say, "I'd like to…

Why choose? There's a place for people with a foot in two (or even three) worlds. I'm pretty sure that somewhere like CERN has need for people who sit at the intersection of mechanical engineering, physics, and CS.

Re: Ask HN: How did you find what you were good at?

#8

Post by 3minus1 » Tue, Dec 01, 2020, 5:43 PM UTC

My perspective: unless you have iron self-will or insatiable curiosity there's only 2 ways to make meaningful progress in those fields: school and job. If you're still in school (or can go back) it's easy, just start taking classes in the subject you want. Getting a job will depend on qualifications.

Re: Ask HN: How did you find what you were good at?

#9

Post by mvind » Tue, Dec 01, 2020, 7:05 PM UTC

To find the thing which you are good at - is to find the thing which every single amount effort feels well spent even when disregarding any progress.

Re: Ask HN: How did you find what you were good at?

#10

Post by the_only_law » Tue, Dec 01, 2020, 10:22 PM UTC

I’m just not particularly good at anything. Unfortunately, I feel this may simply be the reality for many people.