What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
(Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2025)
Since 2007, I’ve worked with an executive coach who always comes back to one deceptively simple question:
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
At first, it felt like a throwaway. A bit playful. Maybe even rhetorical.
But over time, I realized it’s the kind of question that gets harder—and more important—to answer the further you get into your career.
The Myth of the Linear Path
Some people have known since childhood. They wanted to be doctors, lawyers, engineers. They followed a defined route: school, certification, training, promotion. Clear milestones. Clear direction.
And honestly? That’s great.
But that wasn’t me.
My journey has been more fluid. More iterative. I moved from role to role, opportunity to opportunity—learning as I went. Every step helped me get a little more clarity, even if I couldn’t see the full picture at the start.
I didn’t always know what the final destination was. But I stayed curious. I followed momentum. And that helped me build a fulfilling, multi-chapter career over time.
There’s Value in Both Styles
There’s no prize for picking the “right” path early. And there’s no shame in still figuring it out.
The traditional model—know your end goal, reverse-engineer every step, and follow the blueprint—works well for people in professions that require credentialed progressions: doctors, architects, pilots.
But it’s becoming increasingly rare in today’s economy.
According to a 2023 report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average person now holds 12.4 jobs between ages 18 and 54. And a LinkedIn study found that career pivots are on the rise, especially among Gen Z and Millennials. Over 45% of young professionals said they plan to change industries within the next five years.
So, if your plan has shifted? You’re not lost. You’re evolving.
Your Education Is Still Valuable—Even If You Don’t Know Where It’s Leading Yet
Education—formal or otherwise—is never wasted.
The skills you learn, the people you meet, the disciplines you build—they’ll all compound. Even if you change directions later.
Maybe you’ll take an accounting background into a startup CFO role. Maybe your psychology degree will make you a better product manager. Maybe your time in customer service will make you a standout founder.
Every chapter informs the next.
The Power of Openness
The people who thrive long-term tend to have one thing in common: they stay open.
Open to change. Open to growth. Open to not having it all figured out.
If you’re early in your career and unsure what you want to be “when you grow up,” that’s okay.
If you’re 20 years in and still asking yourself the same question, that’s okay too.
The key is to keep learning. Keep reflecting. And keep moving forward—even if the path ahead isn’t perfectly mapped.
So… What Do You Want to Be?
It’s not about titles. It’s not about prestige.
It’s about impact. Fulfillment. Joy. Growth.
You don’t have to have a 20-year plan. But it helps to check in regularly and ask yourself:
- Am I growing here?
- Am I proud of the work I’m doing?
- What kind of leader, builder, or contributor do I want to become next?
Because the truth is—none of us are ever fully “grown up.”
And maybe that’s the point.