In the fast-paced world of tech startups, having a team of skilled and adaptable individuals is crucial to success. While specialists may have expertise in a specific area, generalists can find new ways to apply their skills to projects and fill in gaps for the organization. When it comes to finding the ultimate generalists, teachers should be at the top of your list.

Startups and DAOs are idea factories, constantly churning out new product or service ideas, and team members often wear multiple hats. As a result, organizations need workers who can plan and execute, constantly seek improvement, collaborate, and build community. Generalists build the machines that specialists will improve upon, and teachers are exceptional generalists.

Teachers are experts at creating and executing plans for small groups. In a classroom, they design their curriculum plan, condense it to daily lesson plans, and must manage their time effectively; they focus on ensuring that students learn and grow daily. This planning and execution ability translates well to the startup environment, where project management skills are critical to success.

Another strength of teachers is their ability to learn on their own. Teachers are autodidacts who constantly seek to improve their skills and knowledge. They investigate new teaching methods and technologies to help students learn more effectively. This passion for learning and improvement is critical in a startup environment, where innovation is crucial for success.

Teachers are resourceful and creative problem-solvers who continuously seek ways to improve their teaching outcomes. They steal ideas from anywhere that works. This design-thievery translates well to the startup environment, where innovation is integral for success. In addition, teachers are skilled at cobbling together a focused, cohesive experience for contributors from a hodgepodge of disparate tools. This is especially valuable in open-source web3, where customization is key, but can also be overwhelming without the right expertise.

Working with groups of people is another strength of teachers. They are skilled at managing classrooms full of students, parents, and colleagues. They understand how to build relationships, manage conflicts, and motivate others to achieve their goals. Their ability to work with groups of people is essential in a startup environment, where collaboration is critical to success.

Teachers are also experts at navigating community. They understand the importance of providing constructive criticism and encouragement to help their students learn and grow. This translates well to startup environments, where a strong culture of feedback and community can lead to a more productive and engaged team.

Finally, teachers are skilled at teaching people about tools, products, and organizational structures. They understand how to break down complex information into smaller, more manageable pieces that are easy to understand. This skill is invaluable in a startup environment, where new employees may be unfamiliar with the products and tools they will be using.

In conclusion, startups and DAOs need generalists until they have the money to hire specialists. Teachers are the ultimate generalists, possessing a unique skill set that makes them invaluable to tech startups. They are excellent planners, implementors, problem-solvers, expert communicators, and community builders. In fact, one could even call teachers... specialists.

Notes

iSpeakNerd is an educator, wordsmith, and DAO techie at Collab.Land. He does community education, documentation, UX, IT, security research, and helps with Operations and tooling for multiple DAOs. His background is in physical science and education.

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