The Career Path You’re Looking For Probably Isn’t on a Ladder
When we talk to burned out professionals, they almost always say some version of this:
"I did everything right. I followed the rules. I climbed the ladder. And now that I’m here, it just feels...off."
That’s because the ladder was never really built for most of us. It rewards sameness. It punishes divergence. It assumes your only goal is to go up, whether or not that direction actually fits who you are or what you want or your skillset.
So let’s call it what it is: a system that’s way too narrow to contain real growth. And honestly? A lot of us are out here looking for a life, not just a title. Which is NORMAL and FINE.
1. Not Everyone Wants to Be a Manager (And That’s Okay)
Some of the most talented people get pushed into management because it’s the only visible path to advancement. But managing people is a skill set, not a prize, and a lot of people are both bad at it and miserable as managers. And just because you’re incredible at your craft doesn’t mean you want to lead a team.
We need to stop treating leadership as the only version of success. There should be space to grow as an individual contributor, a technical expert, a strategist, a collaborator. Not everyone needs to be a boss to be valuable.
Sometimes the most powerful person in the room is the one who stays close to the work, not the one building the org chart.
2. Growth Isn’t Always Linear
You might move sideways before you move up. You might pause. You might take a pay cut to switch industries or leave a toxic role. That’s still growth.
Ladder-thinking tells you there’s only one direction. Real career growth is way more like a climbing wall- sometimes messy, often nonlinear, and full of unexpected holds that take you places you never planned for but end up loving.
Growth can look like building your confidence back after a layoff. It can look like learning how to rest without guilt. It can look like saying no to a promotion because it doesn’t align with your values. All of that counts. All of that matters.
3. Pay Attention to Your Energy, Not Just Your Title
The question isn’t "What job do I want next?" The question is: "What kind of work actually energizes me?"
What do you want more of in your day? What drains you? What lights you up? A promotion that gives you more of what you hate is not success. It’s a slow drain on your mental health.
You deserve work that sustains you. And if that means redefining what success looks like? Do it. You’re not here to impress a spreadsheet. You’re here to build a career that fits your actual life.
4. Stop Measuring Yourself Against a Structure That Wasn’t Built For You
The ladder rewards visibility, politics, endurance. That’s fine if it works for you, but it was never built with creativity, rest, boundary-setting, or personal values in mind.
If you’ve felt like you’re constantly climbing and still not fulfilled, it might be because you’re on someone else’s ladder. What would happen if you built your own path instead?
Start with this: what are the moments in your work where you feel most like yourself? What are the moments where you feel least like yourself? Those are breadcrumbs. Follow them.
The right path probably won’t come with a neat title or a five-year plan. But it will feel more like you. And that’s the part that matters.
At The Threadsmith Group, we help people map careers that actually reflect who they are—not just who they’ve been told to be. If you’re rethinking what success looks like and wondering what comes next, we’d love to help you find your footing.
Let’s get you out of the box and onto the path that fits.