Is it time to let go of the ladder?

For decades, people have organised their lives around a simple formula: education first, career second, retirement third.

It is a model so familiar that many of us rarely question it. We study when we're young, work our way up a career ladder, and eventually step away from work altogether. Success in the workplace has also traditionally been measured by progression, promotion and predictability.

But what if that model is no longer fit for purpose?

We know that people are living longer which means that careers are becoming less linear, and skills have a shorter shelf life. Yet despite this reality, many of us remain committed to a framework that was designed for a different era. But career longevity isn’t about working longer, it’s about having choice.

Too many people today feel trapped by decisions they made years ago but assume it is too late to change direction, too risky to try something new, or too difficult to step away from a carefully planned path. However, in reality, the opposite may be true.

One of the most powerful mindset shifts people can make is recognising that it is never too late to invest in themselves. It is never too late to learn a new skill, explore a different field, pursue a long-held ambition, or redefine what success looks like. The idea that identity is fixed by job title, qualifications or previous experience can be incredibly limiting which is why we need to let go of the ladder.

The traditional career ladder suggests there is a single direction of travel: upwards. But modern careers increasingly resemble a series of moves across, backwards, forwards and into entirely new spaces. Progress is no longer about reaching the next rung but about growth, learning and impact. In fact, it’s about being open to experimentation.

Embracing experimentation

When we hear the word "experiment", we often think of something risky or uncertain. Yet it can mean something surprisingly small, such as raising your hand in a meeting. It might involve taking on a project outside of your comfort zone, attending a course, or exploring an industry you've never considered before.

By embracing experimentation people can test assumptions, discover new strengths and uncover opportunities that would otherwise remain hidden. This also means risk can be managed by taking small steps rather than making one dramatic leap, recalibrating the approach at different stages.

However, reinvention is not just a personal journey as we don’t operate in a vacuum. The choices we make affect our organisations, communities and wider society. In a world facing complex social, economic and environmental challenges, there is growing recognition that careers should be about more than individual advancement. Increasingly, people are seeking opportunities to create meaningful impact through their work.

Building a new path

This raises an important question for leaders and organisations. If the old education-career-retirement model is no longer fit for purpose, are our workplaces evolving quickly enough to support a new reality?

Organisations that encourage learning, exploration and career mobility will be better placed to attract and retain talent. Those that continue to rely on outdated assumptions about age, experience and progression risk being left behind.

The challenge is not to have every step mapped out in advance. It is to remain open to possibilities, to keep investing in yourself, and to give yourself permission to experiment. After all, if the old model is broken, perhaps the smartest thing we can do is stop climbing the ladder and start designing our own path.

This article was adapted from the keynote session, ‘The 100-Year Career: Surviving the Longevity Economy’, at the World of Work Conference 2026.