Circle of Competence

Biological Parallel

Specialist pollinators like yucca moths evolved for one plant genus. Their competence within yucca flowers is absolute—they detect receptive stigmas, pollinate precisely, and lay eggs in ovaries with 100% accuracy. Outside yuccas, they're helpless. Generalist bees visit many flowers but master none. Buffett's circle of competence mirrors specialist strategy: deep expertise within a narrow domain outcompetes shallow knowledge across many, because fitness landscapes reward mastery over breadth.