Why Career 'Planning' Often Fails and How Work Modeling Solves It

Traditional career planning asks you to choose a path early, then stick to it. Reality almost never fits this script. Life changes, industries shift, and opportunities appear in unexpected shapes. Most people experience career disruption not because they're careless, but because planning assumes a predictable future that rarely exists.

Work modeling offers a smarter approach, drawn from design thinking and business frameworks. Instead of picking a single job target and working backwards, you lay out several interconnected pathways, mapping which skills, roles, or experiences could serve as stepping stones. This makes it easier to pivot when circumstances shift—you're not locked into one plan, but adapting as you gather new insights.

This process mirrors how startups and innovators experiment: try, learn, iterate, and adjust. Research shows that those who treat their careers like flexible models—regularly testing and refining—enjoy more satisfaction, resilience, and success than those holding rigid career plans.

Let go of the need to predict your career’s exact path, and instead write down where you hope to grow in the next few years. Map alternate skills and routes, even if they seem risky or unconventional. Review and reshape your model any time you gather new data, whether it’s a win, a failure, or simply a change in your interests. Life moves—your work plan can too.