42 years. That’s how long a successful career is supposed to last ? 🤔
Actually here’s the thing: 42 years isn’t the problem. Our obsession with a one-size-fits-all career path is.
Somewhere along the way, "we" decided that “grinding” for decades is the ultimate goal. Work hard now, they said. Rest later, they said. But what if “later” never comes?
When I turned 40, I found myself at a crossroads. The company I had co-founded with my friend Amin Rafinejad came to an end (a story for another day), and I didn’t know what was next. It felt like I’d failed.
But instead of diving straight into the next thing, I stepped away.
For a week,
for a month,
for a year,
for 2 years,
for 3...
and finally for almost 4 years.
Four years off.
No work. No hustle. No project (almost). Just... life. And you know what? It didn’t ruin me (though my banker had their doubts).
Four years off didn’t ruin me. It saved me. I stopped chasing someone else’s definition of success.
And now I’m here to tell you: There’s no single right way to build a career. The traditional path works for some. But others of us thrive on pivots, pauses, or unconventional journeys.
So instead of asking, "How many years have I worked?" Ask yourself:
- What impact have I made?
- What joy have I lived?
- Am I building a career that fits me?
That’s what real success looks like.
It’s not about rejecting 42 years of work. It’s about rejecting the idea that everyone must walk the same path. Whether you take a break, switch careers, or design your own way forward, what matters is that it’s YOUR journey.
P.S. I get it. In France, 42 (or 43) years of work tie into pensions and the retirement age debate. But this isn’t about legal frameworks or politics. This post is about something much bigger.