When this question comes up, I always think of Leonardo da Vinci. The man was perhaps the least focused genius in history and it's a wonder he got anything done

When this question comes up, I always think of Leonardo da Vinci. The man was perhaps the least focused genius in history and it's a wonder he got anything done at all. He spent years experimenting with science, engineering, new painting techniques, and various other things that went nowhere. Yet, today he's probably one of the top five most successful artists of all time, largely for a handful of paintings. So, when it comes to the arts, it seems like you can do both. Be a generalist, but make at least one work that is a masterpiece.