The Single Decision That Will Make (or Break) Your Career Path

Ever feel like you’re trying to run through water?

Like no matter how much effort you throw at your job, you’re barely moving?

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Lately, I’ve been thinking about work. Not just jobs, but the whole machine we call a career. And how easy it is to get stuck in one that never fit in the first place.

The #1 Career Mistake

Here’s the truth: One of the biggest missteps you can make in life is choosing a career that fights your wiring.

Most of us didn’t land where we are because of some grand vision. We landed here because it made sense on paper. Or because someone older said it was “a good job.” Or because we didn’t know any better and needed a paycheck.

But eventually, it shows.

You feel it when Monday feels like a punishment. When you’ve got to gear yourself up just to make it through another round of tasks that make you question everything.

When Work Becomes a Clue

Here’s a quick story. I remember trying to whittle once. (Yes, i’m that old lol) Couldn’t get it to turn into anything. No matter how careful I was, it was just a piece of wood.

That was my early clue. I don’t click with mechanical things. I can respect people who do, but it’s not in me.

If someone had told me to go be an engineer, I would’ve been miserable. Not because it’s hard, but because it’s the wrong kind of hard. There’s a difference.

Misalignment Feels Like Dread

If your work feels like a slow grind, it’s probably because you’re working against your natural current. That’s the signal.

You start avoiding tasks.

You watch the clock.

You fantasize about quitting more than you care to admit.

The world loves to hand out scripts. Safe jobs, predictable ladders, golden handcuffs… But most of those scripts never asked who you are before they handed you the pen.

The Digital Economy Changed the Rules

Today’s different. You don’t need to wait for permission. You don’t need someone to pick you. We live in a time where you can build a life that fits you. Not the other way around.

The gatekeepers are asleep. Take advantage.

Whether it’s freelancing, coaching, coding, writing, building a product, making something weird that sells. There’s space now.

Real space. Not just for survival. But for work that actually energizes you.

A Quick Litmus Test for Alignment

Ask yourself this: What were you naturally drawn to as a kid?

Did you love organizing your baseball cards or hosting imaginary shows in your room? Were you the one explaining how stuff worked to your friends? Making games? Drawing endlessly? Solving puzzles nobody else could?

That stuff matters.

Because it didn’t come from pressure. It came from you.

That’s not fluff. It’s evidence.

Work With What You’ve Got

Sure, you can hustle your way through just about anything. But if the game you’re playing constantly drains you, there’s a deeper cost.

I’ve seen folks who write code like it’s breathing. They’re not pushing a rock uphill—they’re surfing.

Others spend years trying to “get good” at something that doesn’t fit. They still look like beginners after years of effort.

The difference? Natural aptitude plus genuine interest.

You can’t manufacture either one.

We’ve Got Tools Now—Use Them

This is the part your parents didn’t have. They couldn’t test-drive other lives the way you can now. But you can.

→ Skills assessments like CliftonStrengths can show you where you shine→ YouTube and Coursera let you dabble without a second mortgage→ Side hustles can reveal what’s viable before you burn the ships→ LinkedIn data shows what skills matter across industries→ Mentorship platforms let you buy an hour with someone who’s already doing what you’re thinking about

Experiment fast. Fail cheap. Learn quickly.

Is It Too Late? Not Even Close

Maybe you're thinking, “I’ve been in this career too long to change.” But the longer you stay misaligned, the more expensive it becomes. Financially. Mentally. Physically.

Ask yourself: If I stay on this track for 10 more years, how will I feel?

If the answer is regret or exhaustion, that’s your signal. Don’t ignore it.

You don’t have to flip the table. You just need to start moving your pieces.

How to Pivot Without Nuking Your Life

Don’t leap. Slide.

If you’re in operations and love coaching, take on mentoring roles at work. If you’re in marketing and love tech, start learning analytics or automation tools.

Build sideways before you build up.

Start with the skills that overlap.

→ Try a freelance gig→ Take on a small consulting project→ Say yes to the weird opportunity→ Talk to people who’ve already done it→ Post your thoughts online and see who shows up

Every step is data. Every conversation is a breadcrumb.

You Don’t Need Permission But Here It Is Anyway

You’re allowed to walk away from a career that drains you. Even if you trained for it. Even if you’re “good” at it. Even if people expect you to stay.

You’re allowed to pursue a path that fits who you are now—not who you were when you were 22 and scared.

Small steps count. A side project here. A conversation there. Momentum builds faster than you think.

Forget 'Should.' Start With 'Could.'

Most of us grew up with a rulebook full of shoulds.

You should chase stability.You should climb the ladder.You should choose money over meaning.

But try switching that.

You could choose stability—or you could build a business that excites you.You could climb the ladder—or you could design your own.You could chase money—or you could chase mastery.

See how that changes the tone?

What To Do Right Now

→ Be honest: What kind of work makes time disappear for you?→ Look for friction: Where do you shine without trying? Where do you grind without reward?→ Run small tests: Give 5 hours a week to something new and see what clicks→ Find your people: Talk to others doing the work that excites you→ Make a plan: One that works with your current life, not against it

Work will take up 90,000 hours of your life.

Don’t spend it proving a point to people who don’t have to live with the consequences.

Spend it building something that fits.