What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Data Scientist Self?

I was asked this question recently via LinkedIn message: "What advice would you give your younger data scientist self?" The best piece of advice I honestly think I can give is this: Forget about "data science."

I get asked data science career advice on LinkedIn regularly. As much as I would like to use my limited knowledge to answer peoples' specific questions, it genuinely becomes too time-consuming. I have created posts in the past to try to shed light on topics of interest to wider numbers of people, such as this one, but individual, personalized requests are, unfortunately, not something I can usually partake in.

I hesitated to even write the above paragraph, since I think it may paint me as a bit of a jackass, quite honestly. I don't posses any special insight beyond what my limited experience has allotted me; however, my association with KDnuggets and my activity on LinkedIn perhaps makes people think that the individual behind that activity might be worth reaching out to. I'm really the furthest thing from conceited that there is, and would be happy to share what I do know with everyone, time permitting.

Anyhow, moving on... I was asked this question recently via LinkedIn message:

While I did not think about the question much at the time, I find that it's popping into my head more and more over the past few days. And I think the reason it does so is for one piece of advice I honestly think I can give people, which is this:

Yep, that's right. You should forget all about data science. Let me explain.

I am a "data scientist" by job title, and I am the editor of a "data science" website, and I deliberately pursued a career of "data science," and I am interested in all things "data science."

But I don't really like the term "data science."

From 5 Career Paths in Big Data and data science, Explained.

The reason I don't like the term "data science" is because it is so broad and unspecific.

Data science means nothing, and also everything.

So, what it comes down to, is that I would suggest you forget the data science forest and find a tree that interests you.