Beyond the Beaten Path. Redefining Career Success in Today's World.

As someone who mentors between 37 to 42 young professionals every year, ranging from college juniors to early-career professionals, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what it means to have a successful career. I also advise C-suite executives in Fortune 200 companies, helping them navigate the complexities of this continually reshaping world. While the story of how I came to this role is for another time, today I want to focus on an idea I’ve been living and advocating for years: there is no single, fixed path to career success.

The Stairs: The Traditional Career Path

For much of my early career, I subscribed to the traditional "staircase" model. This concept is straightforward: you start at the bottom, working hard to climb toward the top. My journey began as an assistant account executive at an advertising agency, fully expecting that with dedication and commitment, I would someday rise to become the CEO of the company.

However, this approach became obsolete as business models changed, industries evolved, and entire sectors became obsolete. Today, I know very few people that have spent their entire career at one company and the idea of a predictable step-by-step climb to success has gone the way of the dinosaurs.

The Winding Road: A Modern Approach to Career Growth

A more fitting metaphor for today's career progression is a winding road. This realization struck me during a family vacation in Spain, particularly heading to Montserrat. As we navigated the winding roads up the mountain, it dawned on me how closely this was a metaphor for today's career journey.

On a winding road, there are multiple intersections, each representing choices. The decision you make to turn might lead you to reinvent your role, redirect your career, or redefine your goals. Somehow, the journey becomes less about reaching a single, predefined summit and more about embracing the varied experiences and opportunities that suddenly emerge along the way.

It is a more dynamic and realistic view of today's career paths. Growth isn't linear. There are times you may move sideways or even backward, but each step becomes an asset in your long-term growth. Each twist introduces new experiences, skills, and connections that will potentially reshape your future.

My Personal Journey: Embracing the Path Less Followed

Looking back, my career has been a long and winding road. I started at Grey in India, where I built a solid foundation in strategic brand marketing, working with the best creative team in South Asia. When I moved to the US, I joined Wunderman Cato Johnson, where I learned the intricacies of direct and promotional marketing. These experiences prepared me for global brand roles at JWT and FCB, where I later co-founded FCBi, a pioneering digital agency platform.

A pivotal moment came when I launched my own strategy firm, which was later folded into Omnicom. From there, I joined Euro RSCG, where I spent six years helping rebuild the Chicago office, creating a global retail practice, co-founding a strategy consulting capability and Euro RSCG Discovery, a next-generation digital, data, and analytics company.

In 2010, I joined Lake Capital to help rebuild SolutionSet. In just 30 months, we transformed five disparate companies into North America's largest independent marketing services company, culminating in a highly profitable sale to ADS/Epsilon in 2012. After a brief tenure as CEO of Epsilon Agency Services, I founded zednext, an incubator for digital-age ideas, and then established Shapiro+Raj. By merging Shapiro’s decades of research expertise with my vision for a forward-thinking insights company, we built a firm that today ranks as the seventh-largest independent agency, #1 Strategic Insights Consultancy, and #5 most innovative research company.

Each role represented a different path, requiring new skills, connections, and experiences. At each stage, I wasn’t following a set path. Instead, I was going down new roads, sometimes unpaved and unmarked, and away from the "peak" that everyone was climbing. During these travels, I always felt like I was moving toward a new and expansive future. And I was learning the principles that I feel privileged to share:

Flexibility and Adaptability

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is the importance of being flexible. This was hard for me to embrace initially, but given the pace of change today, the ability to adapt and reinvent yourself is crucial. Flexibility allows you to respond to changing circumstances, whether it’s a shift in your industry, a new technology, or an unexpected opportunity. It makes you dynamically capable, allowing you to react faster than others and stay relevant.

Every step of the way, I had to reinvent myself. I didn’t always know what the next step would be, but I always kept an open mind to new possibilities. When I shifted from traditional advertising to digital and data, it was a risk that paid off. Similarly, starting my own firm and later joining major agencies wasn’t part of a master plan—it was about recognizing opportunities and being willing to pivot. I went from being a strategic brand guy to becoming a strategic holistic thinker and, eventually, the “growth whisperer.”

Patience and Persistence

A successful career also requires patience and persistence. Not every move you make will work. Not every challenge you face will be successful. There will always be setbacks—projects that fail, clients that fire you, roles that don’t meet expectations, and opportunities you missed. It’s easy to become discouraged, but remember persistence is key. Treat every obstacle and challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow.

And remember, success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, and the path won’t always be clear. Stay committed, maintain a positive outlook, and keep pushing forward—even when the road gets tough. As George Harrison said, "All things must pass"—and they will!

Finding Joy in the Journey

One of the greatest revelations for me is that success isn’t just about a title or a specific job. I’ve embraced the idea that every opportunity and challenge along the way is valuable, teaching me something new. Each role, skill, or experience is like hitting a cool new locale, only to discover that there’s another one right ahead, waiting to be explored and enjoyed.

This realization has brought me tremendous joy over the years. This is why, I no longer see my career as ending with a specific title or at a specific place. Instead, I find fulfillment in every twist and turn—continuing to learn new skills, meet new people, and embrace new challenges.

Embrace the Journey, Not Just the Destination

So, my advice to you: Don’t believe there is just one way to be successful. It won’t be defined by a single endpoint or achievement. Whether you choose to climb staircases or take winding roads, embrace the journey. Find joy in the learning process, adapt to changes, and seize every opportunity.

Each stage can be a steppingstone, leading to new destinations and experiences. Enjoy the ride, learn from every twist, and turn, and discover new paths that are meant for you. Remember, you control the pace, and the view along the way will be amazing!