That last point is key. You can’t always see how things could come together, but there may be a serendipitous connection there. In my (shorter) experience, when I’m looking for a role I can’t see ahead to predict or drive how things will pull together, but when I look back a few months into a new job they usually do.
- If I stuck with a focus on database programming from my early career, I would have a very valuable specialty.
- If I stayed more technical I probably would have weathered 2008 with more sanity.
But...
- Being a generalist opened up some international work.
- I met my wife on a career tangent.
- I get bored doing the same thing over and over.
- My last two roles (in a long career) have finally pulled everything together.