#33: What is a "Career River" and How Do You Get In the Flow?
What if we all ditched the career ladder metaphor for something more flexible, free, and flowing?
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What is a "Career River" and How Do You Get in the Flow?
What if, instead of viewing our professional lives as a race to the top, we viewed them as an essential component of a thriving ecosystem, one whose twists and turns are crucial parts of a larger journey? -
by
A big shout out to
who coined the concept of the “career river,” which turns the metaphor of the “career ladder” on its side…literally. Instead of trying to race to the top, why not try to navigate the twists and turns? If you’ve defected from the 9-5 game, have been ejected from it against your will, or were never a participant in the first place, I think a rejection of the “career ladder” metaphor is especially useful. According to Bridget, the 3 key components of the career river are:Charting your course. While a ladder has only one direction, a river can create a delta of many different paths, which together create a fertile area for growth.
Finding flow. A river’s curves and changes in direction are all part of the journey, where what came before informs what flows after.
Navigating obstacles. On the ladder, when faced with a broken rung you risk getting stuck. But when you encounter an obstacle on your career river, you can choose to go around it or carve through it.
You can read the rest of Bridget’s piece here. I wanted to share the concept with you because the “career river” metaphor has been instrumental in shifting my thinking about my professional life. With my self-employment journey in full swing, I’ve recently been asking myself, What happens next? Where do I go from here? Inspired by the “career river”, here are 3 things I’ve been reflecting on:
How should I think about career growth at this stage? I’m certainly not experiencing major financial growth, but I’m having an influx of new clients and work opportunities that feel so much broader, more expansive, more fulfilling, and more abundant than my fancy job with a fat paycheck and a big title ever did. So, it’s a broadening of opportunity, but also, a broadening of connection with people. That’s how I’m defining and prioritizing growth. Opportunities and connections.
What does success look like now that there’s no corporate ladder to climb? Is it a paycheck? Is it a feeling? Is it achieving specific goals? For me, first and foremost, I think it’s about doing work I’m proud of and that’s authentic to me, making enough money to pay my bills without that middle-of-the-night money anxiety, and creating the work/life balance necessary to take a vacation again…someday. So, pride, authenticity, and balance.
How should I direct my ambition? If I’m not moving up, how am I moving? If I’m no longer climbing, striving, or winning, then I’m charting, flowing, and navigating. In both scenarios, I’m working hard, but in the latter, I’m working in a way that suits me best, knowing that instead of paddling furiously, can I wade or even float sometimes.
Linkapalooza
This week’s most clickable bits n’ bobs.
While we wait for more think pieces on Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis reveal, read Anne Helen Peterson of ‘s take on what preceded it //Beverly Hills, 90210, Squatters // When parents profit off their influencer children 🥴 // That feeling when your co-worker launches into a too personal rant // There’s a new kind of work burnout called '“misalignment burnout” // When did everyone get so dysregulated? // Her name is Meow Dalyn, like a cat, but she identifies as a dog // A growing number of American families have had to escape from states that have become hostile environments for transgender communities// I went down an absolute rabbit hole this weekend about the failed Willy Wonka experience…when is the documentary coming out? //
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