Career Progression Hub
London, UK
Starting your career is like being handed a blank canvas… except someone also handed you a dozen paintbrushes, a rulebook, and a list of people telling you which colours ‘look right.’ Promotions, accolades, and climbing the ladder are all well and good – but what if your ladder doesn’t even have to be straight?
Breaking the mould means deciding early that your career success doesn’t have to match anyone else’s. It’s exciting. It’s a little terrifying. And yes, it can be way more fun than following the crowd.
Success isn’t a one-size-fits-all label – it’s the badge you design for yourself.
Define What Actually Matters to You
Most people treat career success like a checklist: job title, salary, corner office, applause. But here’s the reality: success is personal. For you, it might look like:
- Working in a field that actually excites you (yes, passion counts).
- Hitting financial goals without sacrificing sleep, sanity, or happiness.
- Prioritising work-life balance from day one.
- Making a small or big impact on your community or industry.
Actionable steps:
- Take 20–30 minutes to write down your ‘non-negotiables.’ What would make a workday feel genuinely good?
- Pick one ambition that excites you – even if it’s unconventional or makes your friends say, ‘Really? That’s your plan?’
Reflection prompt: Are you chasing someone else’s version of success, or creating your own?
Embrace the Unconventional
Early careers are messy. Your first job probably won’t be perfect, your dream role might not exist yet, and you’ll make decisions that feel like jumping off a cliff while hoping there’s a trampoline below.
Some ways to break the mould:
- Explore side projects or freelance gigs that align with your passions.
- Take a role that might pay less but gives you skills, connections, or experiences money can’t buy.
- Be open to moving sideways, not just upwards – sometimes a detour teaches more than a straight path ever could.
Actionable advice:
- Identify one small risk you can take this month that nudges your career toward what excites you.
- Treat experiments like mini-adventures: low stakes, high learning.
Reflection prompt: What’s one unconventional move that could make your work feel more like you this week?
Setting Your Own Boundaries
Success isn’t just about what you do – it’s about what you allow to happen. Setting boundaries from the start protects your energy, focus, and mental health (and makes you less likely to fall into the ‘overworked zombie’ trap).
Try:
- Saying ‘no’ to tasks or projects that don’t help you grow.
- Protecting chunks of time to focus on work that actually matters.
- Prioritising relationships and projects that energise you rather than drain you.
Actionable steps:
- Make a ‘boundary list’: what you’ll accept, and what you won’t.
- Practice politely declining one thing this week that doesn’t serve your career or wellbeing.
Reflection prompt: Which boundary, if reinforced, could make your first few career steps feel more intentional and less chaotic?
The Power of Building Your Own Definition
Your career is your playground. Success isn’t about winning a trophy – it’s about making your own rules and having fun along the way.
Ideas for personalising success:
- Become a skill ninja in your chosen field, even if no one notices yet.
- Balance part-time, flexible, or unconventional work while still achieving meaningful outcomes.
- Experiment with projects that push your boundaries and teach you something new.
Actionable advice:
- Choose one goal this month that reflects your definition of success, not someone else’s.
- Celebrate small wins, even if they wouldn’t make it onto LinkedIn.
Reflection prompt: What would your career look like if you ignored everyone else’s rules for a week and followed only what excites you?
Final Thoughts: Own Your Career from Day One
Breaking the mould isn’t just inspiring – it’s practical. Early in your career, defining success on your own terms means:
- Feeling energised, not exhausted.
- Making decisions aligned with your values, not just external expectations.
- Creating a career that’s uniquely yours from the start.
The ladder might still exist – but now you get to decide how to climb it… diagonally, sideways, or by building your own staircase entirely.
