The Career Path Myth

Unpopular Opinion: I hate the phrase ‘career path.’

Why? Because it sets leaders and employees up for unrealistic expectations and disappointment.

This metaphor is so ingrained in how we talk about careers—right up there with "climbing the corporate ladder" (don’t even get me started on ladders!).

But here’s the problem:

A path suggests something clear, visible, maybe even paved. You can see the way forward, the next step, the curve ahead.

But that’s not how careers actually work.

So why do we pretend they do?

When we tell employees to "follow the career path," we create frustration and doubt.

• Those who don’t see a path (which is all of us, let’s be real) may feel like they’re missing something.

• Worse, they might think they’re jeopardizing their future just because they can’t see the next step.

• It creates that eerie feeling that everyone else knows something you don’t.

🚨 Spoiler alert: They don’t. And that’s okay.

At a recent career development workshop, I asked 100 employees to turn to each other and describe their career journey.

As they did, I noticed something fascinating: Not. A. Single. Person. described a straight line.

Instead, I saw hands making rollercoaster motions, zigzags, and looping circles in the air.

So I asked:

"If the journey that got you here was anything but a straight path… why do we expect the way forward to be one?"

I was looking at a woman in the front row when I asked that question, and I saw the exact moment it clicked for her. It’s funny how we forget how much wisdom we already have.

The Reality: Careers Aren’t Paths—They’re Evolving Landscapes.

And when leaders or employees get stuck searching for "the path," they get frustrated.

Instead, consider this:

• How did you get to where you are today?

• What happens when we stop searching for a perfect path?

• What’s a better metaphor for career growth than ‘career path’?

Because that’s the real conversation we should be having.

Let’s rethink how we talk about career growth. What metaphor makes more sense to you?