My advice is if you specialize, make sure you specialize in a technology that is used in a wide variety of industries. I went specialized in a very narrow industry that was retracting and on its downslope. I decided to coast that hill to the bottom thinking by the time I got there I’d be done and ready to retire. Low and behold, there was a steeper drop off at the end of the hill and the industry is basically dead 7 years sooner than I expected.

You don’t want to put yourself in the position as the last telegraph operator when you need another 7 years left to fill your nest egg.