if you ever find yourself doubting the value of domain expertise, get a bunch of smart generalists together and have them try to solve a difficult chess puzzle
when you lack domain knowledge, your most creative insight is an expert's first glance https://t.co/crAJQ2u0i9 pic.twitter.com/fj0ZBIIwGW
— TracingWoodgrains (@tracewoodgrains) August 22, 2025
Mostly agreed. There is a general troubleshooting ability, however, and most people don’t have this. I do, and that means I can often solve problems in other domains. I’m brought in to do that fairly often and am almost always successful.
However, there is such thing as deep domain expertise. And it matters, too. In my own fields I can glance at, understand, and solve problems my own junior team members cannot comprehend much less solve in weeks or months. And that’s mostly the result of 25+ years of experience.