Careers are not linear anymore: 4 smart ways to build your work life now

“Start in a low-level position and work your way upward.” Does that even apply anymore? In fact, the “career ladder” doesn’t work for everyone anymore. Right now, as technology disrupts the work rules, there are no clear paths forward.

The linear career path changed somewhere between the rise of the gig economy and the rise of artificial intelligence. Companies are restructuring. Some industries may collapse entirely in the next five years. I’ve gone from studying law to studying software entrepreneurship to being a self-improvement essayist. My career is still an “experiment in progress.” The world of work is changing. And I’m changing with it.

The people who make it are not those with impressive titles, but those who are willing to adjust to the new 21st-century workplace. That’s why these ideas matter right now. I hope they help you rethink your work life.

1. Build skills, not titles

If the promotion is not coming, don’t dwell on it. Or obsess over the next one. Focus on what you can do to take control of your skills. The title may look great on LinkedIn, but you will want more than that. Do more for your present skills. Can you get good at other skills beyond your current expertise? Can you interpret data? Manage difficult conversations? Build better relationships with the people on your team?

These skills travel with you. Titles don’t. Titles change, while your values and skills evolve. You are either ahead of change or being left behind. Don’t focus too much on reaching the final level of management. Stack indispensable skills you can take anywhere. 

That means take that weird project nobody wants. You’ll learn something. Say yes to the cross-functional team—even if it’s more work. Learn the skill that scares you a little. You will probably be terrified in the process. But you will learn a thing or two. That new skill will open more doors than any title ever could.

2. Think in networks, not hierarchies

The org chart lies to you. It tells you there’s one path up. It tells you your boss’s boss is more important than the engineer in another department. Or to keep your head down and wait your turn. You are better than that. Ignore it. The most valuable people I know have spider-web abilities. They know people across industries, across functions, across companies.

When opportunity knocks, it usually comes through someone you helped three years ago, not through your annual review. I worked with the Microsoft small-business team a few years ago because someone saw my work on a blog. If you can help a former colleague troubleshoot something, try to find a pocket of time to help. You never know how you could cross paths again. Be curious about what others do—even when you are out for a chat.

Start small. Message someone whose work you admire. Just say you admire it. Introduce two people who should know each other. Share what you’re learning. Publicly. Even if it feels scary. Make yourself useful to people you respect—not just to your boss. Useful to humans doing interesting work.

3. Experiment like your career depends on it

Sometimes it does. What’s risky is betting your entire future on one carefully planned path. Diversify. It’s easier said than done, but do what you must within what works for you. It will become the foundation for a career you didn’t even plan for. Be ready for what could happen.

You could be sabotaging your work life if you are waiting for the “right time” or the “perfect plan.” Your experiments don’t need to change your entire work life. You’re not quitting your job (unless you are, in which case, have fun). You’re just testing things. You could spend a few months learning something unrelated to your job after work.

You’ll gain skills you’d never get at work. Start a personal side project with no clear return on investment—just because it interests you. Follow your curiosities. Experiment your way into new skills. Those that fail teach you what you don’t want. The ones that succeed show you possibilities.

4. Redefine what “success” means for you

Ask yourself: Whose definition of career success am I pursuing? I ask myself that question all the time. I spent my twenties trying to impress people. I wanted to work for a prestigious company, and have an impressive title. I got the offer. It didn’t feel right. I turned it down. I’ve never looked back. Your “success” may not be the pursuit of a “career ladder.” It may be living a life that fits you.

Maybe success is the flexibility to pick up your kids from school. Or working on problems that matter. Maybe it’s having time to train for something you’ve always wanted to do. Maybe it’s all three, in different seasons of your life. My point is, you get to decide. And you get to change your mind. Find answers to these questions: What does a good day look like for me? What am I optimizing for right now? Money? Learning? Growth? Time? What would I do if I wasn’t trying to impress anyone? Your answers will change over time. That’s fine. You are evolving.

The 21st-century career right now is not linear. But you have more choices. More opportunities to find your zone of genius. The uncertainty is the opportunity. Every unexpected change in your career. Every time the path disappears. That’s where you get to choose who you become. You’re not climbing a ladder anymore. You’re exploring what could be. That’s more interesting, I think. You get to build something wider and more uniquely yours. So stack those skills. Grow your network. Run your experiments. Define success on your terms. The career you build won’t look like anyone else’s. It’s yours now and in the future.