5 Ideas to Expand Your Career Options

Most of us have narrow visions of our careers.

We envision a ladder we’re climbing, or perhaps a climbing wall.

The ladder represents a straightforward upward climb. The problem with it is we may get to a point on the ladder and have trouble moving upward. Or we may realize we don’t like what’s at the top of the ladder.

The climbing wall analogy gives us more flexibility. Rather than just climbing straight up, we realize we can move laterally. We can take a step or two back, find another path, and then continue upwards.

But what if we looked beyond the idea of moving up?

What options would that create for us?

Today, I’m going to share five paths to explore that aren’t upward, lateral, or backwards. They’re just different.

I hope it will help you generate ideas about what is possible.

Five career alternatives that are off the beaten path:

💡1. “The Justin Welsh” - Start a business based on your expertise.

Justin Welsh started a traditional pharmaceutical sales career, moved around a little, and eventually found himself in a sales leadership role.

It wasn’t long before he burned out and left his high-paying job. He put his expertise to work in B2B consulting. To make valuable connections, he became a power user of LinkedIn.

Along the way, he became an expert at using LinkedIn and amassed a huge following on the platform (now over 400,000 followers).

He realized he could build a profitable business by leveraging his LinkedIn expertise to help others succeed on the platform. Now he runs a million-dollar business sharing his LinkedIn expertise through courses.

How many employees? 0

Other than using a virtual assistant for some tasks, he does it all himself.

💰2. “The Codie Sanchez” - Buy “boring” businesses.

Codie Sanchez has an impressive work history in financial services that includes stints at Vanguard, Goldman Sachs, and State Street.

But she “got tired of the rules and trappings of the traditional finance world.” So, she started buying a portfolio of small “boring” businesses to create income. Think laundromats, mailbox rentals, RV parks, and storage facilities.

Typically, she’ll buy a business, improve its profitability, and hire an operator to run it. While many focus on stock market investing, Codie sees more opportunity in fixing up the businesses that we all take for granted.

A couple years ago, she founded Contrarian Thinking, a membership designed to “free minds and build bank accounts” by teaching others to follow her lead.

👟3. “The Nick Loper” - Start a side hustle.

Not everyone is ready to leave a stable job to run a business. Nick Loper offers an alternative. Start a side hustle.

Nick started out in a traditional 9 to 5 at Ford. But according to Nick, “I wanted out. I didn’t want to climb the corporate ladder. I wanted to build my own ladder!”

He started businesses such as ShoeSniper.com (which no longer exists) and Virtual Assistant Assistant.

He also started a podcast that I’ve enjoyed for years - Side Hustle Nation.

Each week, he interviews a side hustler and explores their successes and failures. I’ve listened to profiles that include everything from a parking lot cleaning business to a B2B consulting business. Every episode, I walk away with tons of ideas.

🏃🏼‍♀️4. “The Molly Barker” - Start, lead, or work for a non-profit.

Lots of us yearn for work that makes a clear positive impact in our communities.

Molly Barker took a unique path. She started out as a teacher, became a social worker, and turned pro as a triathlete. She also battled a drinking problem, and as she moved into recovery, she discovered a mission.

“I got to wondering if there might be a way to positively influence young girls with programming, that combined running with experiential life lessons…lessons that would build resilience…so when those negative societal influences hit, they would have healthy coping mechanisms.”

She founded Girls on the Run, which has grown into a national movement benefiting over 2 million girls.

Today, Girls on the Run is “dedicated to creating a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.”

Now that’s impact!

🏖️5. “The Mad Fientist” - Retire early and seek fulfillment.

Brandon Ganch, aka the Mad Fientist, was a young, well-paid software engineer who wanted more control over his life.

To get it, he minimized expenses and maximized savings so that he could retire at the ripe old age of 34. Along the way, he catalogued his journey through both a blog and podcast that you can still access.

What makes the Mad Fientist standout to me compared to other early retirees is that he shares both the highs and lows associated with his journey.

He’s experienced the mountain top of reaching his audacious early retirement goal. But he’s taken a really deep look at how to ensure he lives a meaningful life without the occupational responsibilities that most of us have.

He’s found meaning in sharing his journey, pursuing his lifetime goal of writing and publishing music, and being a father.

Hopefully, these 5 examples have stimulated your thinking beyond the ladder or climbing wall. What could one of these non-traditional routes look like for you?

It’s worth noting that none of these alternate paths is easy.

For the past 2 1/2 years, I’ve been following the “The Justin Welsh” path, adding value through my expertise. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. There are good days and bad days. Great months and awful months.

But it’s been a rewarding experience so far.

Career Thriving looks different for every person. Is there a home for you off the beaten path?

Links to learn more about:

• Justin Welsh

• Codie Sanchez

• Nick Loper

• Girls on the Run

• Mad Fientist

Thanks for reading Career Thriving! This is a brand new newsletter where I’ll share inspiration and actionable ideas to help you build a successful career without sacrificing the rest of your life. Forward this email to anyone who will find it useful. If this email was forwarded to you, subscribe below:

Follow me on LinkedIn.