Rational vs abstract

This has been bugging mankind for generations. Should you be rational or  abstract?

All the scientific educational system teaches us to be rational. Being rational is likely to leave you with more questions than answers. Being abstract leaves you unconnected with the every day realities.

To understand life ,its complexities and concepts , you need some level of abstraction. You cannot be creative if you apply sheer logic.

Can you come up with an iPhone by applying a formula ?

Can a masterpiece be created in an assembly line ?

Do all groundbreaking and life changing ideas come up by structure thinking ?

Master of one ? Jack of all?

Should you be a jack of all of the master of one?

A successful enterprise needs both. But as usual , there are risks in both. 

Core skill means you are idle when the skill has no demand. Jack of all, means you don't command a premium. 

Core skill may also mean you operate in a silo and not a team player.

Jack of all makes you a potential entrepreneur. Core skill means you need to get ability to manage others to whom you outsource the rest.

What is a core skill today may become a commodity tomorrow that makes you not so valuable. 

Tough choice!!!

Customer, colleague ,vendor

The cycle of customers and Vendors is forever changing. With so much outsourcing around,a customer today could be a colleague or a vendor tomorrow and vice versa.

How best to leverage this cycle?

1. It pays to know how everyone operates be it a customer , colleague or vendor. This way when you change into another role tomorrow , you are not caught off-guard.

2. Network and work your network ! The roles could swap faster than you can imagine.