For most careers, the best answer is both: build a broad base of experience, then go deep in one or two areas that are valuable. Depth makes you useful. Breadth helps you adapt and connect ideas.
The case for specializing
Specialists often earn more because their skills are rare and in demand. Deep knowledge in a specific area makes you the person people call. Many professions, such as medicine, law and engineering, reward deep expertise.
The case for being a generalist
Generalists can adapt when industries change, connect ideas across fields and lead teams of specialists. Writer David Epstein's 2019 book Range gathered examples of people who sampled widely before narrowing down and argued that breadth can help in fast-changing, unpredictable fields.
A practical middle path
Many people describe the ideal as "T-shaped": broad across the top, deep in one area. In practice:
- Early in your career, try different kinds of work and learn broadly.
- Then choose an area to go deep, one that's valuable, that you're good at and that you can stick with.
- Keep learning broadly around it, especially skills like communication, writing and managing money.
What it can't tell you
The right balance depends on your field. Some jobs reward deep specialists heavily. Others reward people who can do many things well.
The rule that makes it stick: review it once a year
Once a year, ask whether your deep skill is still valuable and whether your broad skills are keeping up. Adjust your learning plan for the year ahead.
This week
Write down your deep skill, or the one you want to build. Then write down one broad skill that would make it more valuable.
The keep
Building depth and breadth costs years of steady learning. It gives you a skill people pay for and the flexibility to adapt.
This article is for education only and isn't financial or career advice.
The Selfmade Newsletter: one idea every Friday on what self-made people do differently. Free, on Substack. Join here.
