Comments on: The funeral industry can teach you how to specialize in your career http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:45:35 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Mark W. http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-203552 Mark W. Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:39:28 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/#comment-203552 I found this post to be very interesting. I understand the generalist and specialist viewpoints a little better now after reading Ben's comment, your comment, and your career path. Your career path started with writing(a generalized subject area) which requires specialization in order to be a star performer. My career path started with a degree in ceramic engineering in the ceramic industry (a relatively niche industry). I switched over to the defense aerospace industry after six years in a ceramic engineering capacity. It became necessary for me to become a generalist in many ways to understand other engineering disciplines and their lingo in order to understand how my efforts fit into complex and varied systems. I think your career has taken you in a generalist direction to understand how your writing fits in new social media applications even though it is still career writing. As you said, the important thing to keep in mind is to watch trends in your industry and your own career. I found this post to be very interesting. I understand the generalist and specialist viewpoints a little better now after reading Ben's comment, your comment, and your career path. Your career path started with writing(a generalized subject area) which requires specialization in order to be a star performer. My career path started with a degree in ceramic engineering in the ceramic industry (a relatively niche industry). I switched over to the defense aerospace industry after six years in a ceramic engineering capacity. It became necessary for me to become a generalist in many ways to understand other engineering disciplines and their lingo in order to understand how my efforts fit into complex and varied systems. I think your career has taken you in a generalist direction to understand how your writing fits in new social media applications even though it is still career writing. As you said, the important thing to keep in mind is to watch trends in your industry and your own career.

]]> By: Delellis http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-180242 Delellis Sat, 31 Jan 2009 09:00:51 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/#comment-180242 There seems to be a growing number of people ( especially the younger generations ) that prefer to be cremated rather than buried. In fact I had two relatives who got cremated within the past few years. Personally I agree with them , being cremated seems be less of a bother because after cremation the deceased ( inside an urn of course ) can be brought home or a nice and small memorial place. Your don't have to worry about the extra expense and trouble by looking for a burial plot. -Dino Delellis There seems to be a growing number of people ( especially the younger generations ) that prefer to be cremated rather than buried. In fact I had two relatives who got cremated within the past few years. Personally I agree with them , being cremated seems be less of a bother because after cremation the deceased ( inside an urn of course ) can be brought home or a nice and small memorial place. Your don't have to worry about the extra expense and trouble by looking for a burial plot.

-Dino Delellis

]]> By: Jill http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-170263 Jill Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:41:14 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/#comment-170263 Adam - actually the majority of funeral homes in the country are still privately/family owned and operated. As for the pricing/gouging, the mark up on items really isn't as high as everyone thinks. I've been in this industry over 12 years, and it's very annoying when people think that all we do is take advantage of them. Do you go to the car dealership expecting to pay the same price that the dealer did? Do you go to a restaurant or department store and expect to pay whole sale prices? No, you don't. The funeral BUSINESS is no different. Jill Adam – actually the majority of funeral homes in the country are still privately/family owned and operated. As for the pricing/gouging, the mark up on items really isn't as high as everyone thinks. I've been in this industry over 12 years, and it's very annoying when people think that all we do is take advantage of them. Do you go to the car dealership expecting to pay the same price that the dealer did? Do you go to a restaurant or department store and expect to pay whole sale prices? No, you don't. The funeral BUSINESS is no different.

Jill

]]> By: Jill http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-170262 Jill Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:40:50 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/#comment-170262 Adam - actually the majority of funeral homes in the country are still privately/family owned and operated. As for the pricing/gouging, the mark up on items really isn't as high as everyone thinks. I've been in this industry over 12 years, and it's very annoying when people think that all we do is take advantage of them. Do you go to the car dealership expecting to pay the same price that the dealer did? Do you go to a restaurant or department store and expect to pay whole sale prices? No, you don't. The funeral BUSINESS is no different. Adam – actually the majority of funeral homes in the country are still privately/family owned and operated. As for the pricing/gouging, the mark up on items really isn't as high as everyone thinks. I've been in this industry over 12 years, and it's very annoying when people think that all we do is take advantage of them. Do you go to the car dealership expecting to pay the same price that the dealer did? Do you go to a restaurant or department store and expect to pay whole sale prices? No, you don't. The funeral BUSINESS is no different.

]]> By: Nancy Dotel http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-110572 Nancy Dotel Tue, 06 Nov 2007 03:37:27 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/#comment-110572 Well I'am 53 yrs old i just got a high school diploma and yes I did not listen to my parents when they urge me to study, my children are grown and I don't know which path to choose. I have given some thought to Billing and coding, but at this age I donot want to be tied down all day to a computer so I have always liked the funeral business. Please gime some insights on the different fields in this career. would really appreciated. thank you Well I'am 53 yrs old i just got a high school diploma and yes I did not listen to my parents when they urge me to study, my children are grown and I don't know which path to choose. I have given some thought to Billing and coding, but at this age I donot want to be tied down all day to a computer so I have always liked the funeral business. Please gime some insights on the different fields in this career. would really appreciated. thank you

]]> By: Sarah Dillon http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-3964 Sarah Dillon Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:56:04 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/#comment-3964 Well said Penelope. Specialising definitely offers people a way of (affording to) hold down an intellectually interesting job, while also having a personal life. People are realising this as ever increasing numbers of highly educated and experienced professionals make the conscious decision to opt out of the corporate world. I guess we're realising that being at the top of corporate America's "T" isn't necessarily worth aspiring to. As a result of this shift, generalists will indeed become more and more in demand over the coming years! Well said Penelope. Specialising definitely offers people a way of (affording to) hold down an intellectually interesting job, while also having a personal life. People are realising this as ever increasing numbers of highly educated and experienced professionals make the conscious decision to opt out of the corporate world. I guess we're realising that being at the top of corporate America's "T" isn't necessarily worth aspiring to.

As a result of this shift, generalists will indeed become more and more in demand over the coming years!

]]> By: Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-1011 Penelope Trunk Thu, 14 Sep 2006 06:54:18 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/#comment-1011 I agree with your T idea, Ben. I like that way of describing it. At the very top, you're right, you have to be a generalist. I am not sure how many people would really want to be there, though. I mean, right now you have to give up so much of your personal life to be at the very top. Hopefully that will change. I'm not sure about this, but maybe it is true that for people who want intellectually interesting jobs today, the more you want to hold on to your personal life, the more you have to specialize. I agree with your T idea, Ben. I like that way of describing it.

At the very top, you're right, you have to be a generalist. I am not sure how many people would really want to be there, though. I mean, right now you have to give up so much of your personal life to be at the very top. Hopefully that will change.

I'm not sure about this, but maybe it is true that for people who want intellectually interesting jobs today, the more you want to hold on to your personal life, the more you have to specialize.

]]> By: Ben Casnocha http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-1010 Ben Casnocha Thu, 14 Sep 2006 05:59:25 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/#comment-1010 Penelope, I actually would disagree with a little. I think generalists are going to be more in demand in the coming years because so much of business and life is about seeing the intersection of ideas, or "thinking at the border" as I've put on my blog. Moreover, working with people from different industries and countries is going to be critical. Specialization is important in the same way that vocational schools are important. They work for some people, but usually not people at the top of corporate America. I think of the letter "T". People need to be deep in one thing, and broad and "wide" in other fields. Penelope,

I actually would disagree with a little. I think generalists are going to be more in demand in the coming years because so much of business and life is about seeing the intersection of ideas, or "thinking at the border" as I've put on my blog. Moreover, working with people from different industries and countries is going to be critical.

Specialization is important in the same way that vocational schools are important. They work for some people, but usually not people at the top of corporate America.

I think of the letter "T". People need to be deep in one thing, and broad and "wide" in other fields.

]]> By: Adam Gordon http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/comment-page-1/#comment-1009 Adam Gordon Wed, 13 Sep 2006 17:34:37 +0000 http://lolindrath.dyndns.org/lolindrath/wordpress/2006/09/13/the-funeral-industry-can-teach-you-how-to-specialize-in-your-career/#comment-1009 I know this wasn't the gist or point of your article at all, but I felt I should point it out anyway - not like you didn't know anyway...most funeral homes (at least the ones in major cities) are now owned and operated by large corprations and are no longer family-owned. When my mom died 2 years ago, we used the same funeral home we had used for her parents - and wow had they changed. I remember sitting in the conference room with my uncle, my mom's sister, and going over the pricing options with the rep from the funeral home and all I can say is OUCH. My mom wanted to be cremated, so buying a casket wasn't necessary, however we could rent one for a nominal fee of $2000 (the pine box was $900). Then there's all these other fees, room rental, cremation, mortician, official copies of the death certificate... I mean we paid for it out of her estate, but the final damage was around $5500. The funeral home business might be changing/adapting, but it's still a business and they are still [very] profit-motivated. -adam I know this wasn't the gist or point of your article at all, but I felt I should point it out anyway – not like you didn't know anyway…most funeral homes (at least the ones in major cities) are now owned and operated by large corprations and are no longer family-owned. When my mom died 2 years ago, we used the same funeral home we had used for her parents – and wow had they changed. I remember sitting in the conference room with my uncle, my mom's sister, and going over the pricing options with the rep from the funeral home and all I can say is OUCH.

My mom wanted to be cremated, so buying a casket wasn't necessary, however we could rent one for a nominal fee of $2000 (the pine box was $900). Then there's all these other fees, room rental, cremation, mortician, official copies of the death certificate… I mean we paid for it out of her estate, but the final damage was around $5500.

The funeral home business might be changing/adapting, but it's still a business and they are still [very] profit-motivated.

-adam

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