Vincent Van Gogh faced the same question that Beyonce faces after each project: create another piece like that one or something different? Depth or breadth?
This is one of the most important questions not only for artists but for anyone pursuing a craft or a career.
I have struggled with depth versus breadth questions throughout my career:
Should I stay in this role to refine these skills or take on a new one?
Do I remain at this company or industry or leave for that one?
Grappling with this question led me to a simple framework for evaluating the trade-offs.
A career framework for depth versus breadth
My process starts with two basic questions:
What industry do I want to get experience in?
What functional role do I want to get experience in? (e.g. partnerships, operations, etc.)
Here’s how I chart depth versus breadth options:
I started out as a generalist with some basic skills but not much depth in any domain. Over time, I had to decide whether to pursue becoming:
Industry and Functional Specialist - This is the sales lead, for example, who has sold to retailers for many years. She knows every persona within a retail organization and how they make decisions.
Industry Specialist - This is the fintech specialist who has worked in operations, marketing, customer success and partnerships. His versatility throughout the fintech industry is a powerful strength; his functional knowledge is more shallow.
Functional Specialist - This is the partnership dealmaker who can structure agreements with every partner type and has led deals across each customer segment in several multiple industries.
I don’t know which path is right for you. But here are a few things I have learned along my journey:
Breadth is your asset in a changing economy.
If there is one safe bet today, it is that the jobs will look very different in 10 years (or likely much sooner). Given this, I find it is risky to specialize over the long-term in one industry and one function.
In David Epstein’s book Range, he makes a compelling case that developing deep expertise in a silo, a single domain, is problematic. Citing evidence from sports, science and art, Epstein highlights the power of developing knowledge in one domain and then transferring it to another.
Personally, I owe much of my effectiveness in one domain (technology sales & partnerships) to the knowledge I transferred from the years I spent in another domain (political communications).
Breadth (also known as “range” or “versatility”) is particularly valuable in an era of artificial intelligence. As David Epstein writes:
“The more constrained and repetitive a challenge, the more likely it will be automated, while great rewards will accrue to those who can take conceptual knowledge from one problem or domain and apply it in an entirely new one.”
Zig-zag from here to there.
Over the years, I have cultivated experience in one industry and used that experience to create a new opportunity, where I gained new functional expertise. Then I used that functional expertise to gain a foothold in a new industry. By zig-zagging between a few industries and functions, I have gained depth and breadth.
I liken this to the way that monkeys move through a canopy. They use one arm to cling to what is familiar (the branch behind them) and another arm to reach for the next new branch.
Most careers are not linear. Zig-zagging with intention is often the way to acquire a valuable breadth and depth of experience.
Be married to the problem.
I once heard a gem of career wisdom from the entrepreneur Suhail Doshi that stuck with me: “Be married to the problem, not the technology.” This advice applies to everyone, no matter what you are pursuing. Don’t get distracted by shiny objects - cool tech, hot companies or a fancy title. Be married to the problem.
Building something meaningful - a product, a team, a career - is so difficult. But if you are truly committed to addressing the underlying problem, then you can find the strength to push forward through the setbacks you will inevitably face.
Once you find a problem you are truly committed to, the next question is how can you help solve that problem. The answer lies in honing your skillset …
Focus on the craft.
Even though I work at a desk most of the day, I try to approach my skills like a woodworker or a chef treats their knife. I'm obsessed with sharpening my blade, refining my skills so that I can cut with precision through obstacles at work.
This craftsman mindset is captured in the excellent documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi, about a master sushi named Jiro Ono in Tokyo. During the film the 85 year-old chef describes his attitude towards his craft:
“Once you decide on your occupation... you must immerse yourself in your work. You have to fall in love with your work. Never complain about your job. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That's the secret of success.”
While I’m certainly guilty of complaining about my job, I find inspiration in Jiro Ono’s lifelong pursuit of the skills needed create the perfect piece of sushi. Check out the film.
Listen to your own voice.
You will have colleagues, friends, parents and others who will insist that you need to focus on depth - that you should stay put and gain more expertise in your current position. You will have others you trust who will argue for breadth - that your growth requires that you transition into something new. These breadth versus depth dilemmas can be difficult. But you cannot let others’ opinions define your career decisions.
You need to chart your own path and listen to your internal voice about how long to stay and when it is time to move on. As former Intel CEO Andy Grove once said:
“Assume any career moves you make won't go smoothly. They won't. But don't look back.”