New user and new install. I plan on going through all the “free” tutorials and guides. What I would like to know is that, do long time successful users of Houdini focus in certain areas, or the entire program?

Thank you for your time.

Houdini can be for a ‘generalist’ or ‘need to focus’.

It all depends on what your needs and what you consider “best results”.

Best way is to start a project you want to do.

By doing so you'll start to get an idea of how much time you will have to invest in the process using Houdini vs. considering using other options to accomplish what it is you want to do.

both.
Can't say which is the most successful, depends on what motivates you: if its bragging-rights go specialist, if its stimulation go generalist, if its money become a graphic designer.