The Advisor's Edge: Depth, Breadth and creating meaningful content.
The Perfect Storm
Years ago, when I was working on commercial fishing boats, we often talked about fetch.
In the context of wave formation, fetch refers to the uninterrupted distance over which wind blows in a constant direction. It’s a crucial factor in determining wave heights—especially when you're 100 miles out to sea like I was. The longer the fetch, the more energy the wind transfers to the water's surface, leading to larger waves.
In October 1991, three weather systems collided off the coast of Nova Scotia to create a storm of staggering intensity, producing waves over one hundred feet high. Among its victims was the Andrea Gail, a sword fishing boat based in Gloucester, Massachusetts, which tragically vanished with all six crew members aboard.
Fetch created the Perfect Storm.
In writing, depth and breadth create the perfect content—the kind that holds a reader’s interest and keeps them coming back.
Breadth = Range of Ideas, Connections, and Context
Think of breadth as the "wide-angle lens" in your writing. It brings in:
Multiple perspectives
Cross-industry examples
Cultural references
Contrasting viewpoints
Related trends or history
Example in action:
When I write about financial concepts, breadth might include:
A historical reference to Rockefeller’s 80/10/10 rule
A modern quote from Warren Buffett
A TikTok trend on “cash stuffing”
A lesson from a personal budgeting failure
A link to current inflation data
Breadth gives your reader a mental map. It helps them connect dots they didn’t even realize were related.
Depth = Insight, Storytelling, and Emotional Weight
Depth is your "zoom lens." It reveals:
Personal experience
Nuanced insights
Emotional storytelling
Tactical or step-by-step clarity
Vulnerability and truth
Example in action:
When I write about real estate investing, depth might look like:
Sharing how I lost money on my first deal
Explaining what I learned from the process
Describing the emotional toll of sleepless nights and uncertainty
Walking through one framework or system I still use today
Depth builds trust. It shows real skin in the game—and makes readers feel like I’m sitting beside them, not preaching from a stage.
“I don’t want any messages saying, ‘I’m holding my position.’ We’re not holding a damned thing. We’re advancing constantly.”
— Gen. George S. Patton Jr.
Eighty-one years ago this month, General Patton gave this speech to his newly formed Third Army. That same army would go on to advance through France, liberating roughly 10,000 towns.
We, too, must advance constantly to succeed.
Depth and breadth of content give us the momentum to keep moving forward.
Don’t quit writing your story.
Stay encouraged.
Until next time,
David