Choose Wisely: Some Career Advice is Better Than Others

3 memorable pieces of career advice...only one good one

Think about the worst and the best career advice you’ve received. What was it? Who gave it? Looking back, was it good? Or, was it forgettable?

I remember three pieces of advice I’ve received. They’ve come from a stranger, a “career coach”, and my dad. I may be biased, but one of the best pieces of advice came from my dad.

I’m sharing these today because they all relate to career options. Plus, I’ve got a book recommendation that should be part of your 2025 reading repertoire.

“Terrible” Advice

People want to help. It’s admirable. The problem: people oftentimes give bad advice. They mean well. Yet, advice is rooted in our own experiences. Just because something worked for one, doesn’t mean it makes sense for another.

I recall getting terrible advice on two distinct occasions. One time was from a random stranger on a golf course. Another, it was from a career guidance “pro” in my university career office.

Advice from a random dude on the links

I clearly remember the setting and the advice even though it came about 30 years ago. It was a warm, overcast July morning in Western Illinois. My dad and I were playing golf. The starter randomly paired us with a middle-aged attorney. Little did I know that he’d provide some “wonderful” advice once we hit the back nine.

The “life-changing” guidance came when we were on the twelfth hole. He asked 16 year-old me the age old question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I was used to this question coming from family and friends, not some random dude.

I’m a bit of a snark. I love sarcasm. I probably told him something completely unserious like “A cat herder.” I mean, isn’t that what all of us dream to be during our formative years. At times, it feels like that’s what we all become, regardless of our profession.

He sensed my sarcasm. This was before the term “Ok Boomer!” was created. Yet, he didn’t pick up on the fact that a 16 year-old he just met probably isn’t interested in the advice, nor should he be. He continued. “You need to find a career as soon as possible and then stick with it. That’s the key.” He went on telling me how amazing his kids were. One was an engineer. Another was an attorney. According to him, they both picked early, focused, and now walked on water.

I said “thanks for the advice.” Then, I proceeded to clean his clock on the golf course. I ignored that advice. You should be careful follow it and selecting too soon, as well.

One Path is to CEO…

The other piece of “bad” advice I received came from a lady in my MBA career office, of all places. She was very nice. Her advice normally was good. Yet, when I had two job offers in hand, the guidance she provided was questionable and not rooted in fact.

One job offer was from United Airlines. I would have worked in the business strategy group. The other in finance with Procter & Gamble.

I was one of the lucky ones with two job offers, but I was struggling with the choice. It felt like a monumental decision, one that was critical to my future success.

Instead, the choice was really just one of many in a long career. The work at United appealed more to me. Plus, I was from Chicago. Yet, I knew P&G was one of the most venerable companies in the world, a great place to continue my MBA education.

She gave me the unwavering, you are making a critical decision, linear advice. She said, “You’re really choosing between being a CEO and CFO.” She clearly was looking purely at the job function and assuming it’d be one track the rest of the way.

“Really?!” I thought. Way to take the pressure off this “important” decision.

Why It Was Bad Advice

In both situations, “the advisor” was preaching an unwavering, linear path. Each was preaching the “you have to choose now, or else” advice. It was like an implied ultimatum. Ultimatums typically aren’t helpful.

I get it. Their advice came from their lived experience. They grew up in the pick a path and stick with it all costs, ulcers and anxiety be damned, world.

I decided to go to P&G. I chose P&G because of the brand recognition and the potential to shift from finance to marketing at some point. As you may know, P&G invented brand management.

It seemed like a great way to learn business basics in finance and accounting. Then, I could shift into more creative pursuits with marketing.

When I got to P&G, I found a well worn path of switchers. Leaders who started in finance or operations or R&D oftentimes shifted to marketing. I was told that former CEO David Taylor was in P&G’s product supply function before moving to marketing.

Embrace Optionality, Valuable Career Currency

My dad gave me one of the best pieces of career advice I’ve ever received. He has routinely said “to keep your options open” when I’ve asked for his career advice. This advice stemmed from his father’s advice: be a jack of all trades and a master of none.

It’s a little ironic that he provided this advice. My dad has worked for the same company for more than 40 years. Regardless, it’s spot on for today’s world.

I recently completed the book Range by David Epstein. The book is fabulous. It extols the value of exploring your career options and not specializing too early in life.

Epstein leads off with comparing Tiger Woods and Roger Federer. It’s a comparison of specializing early versus trying a variety of things before diving deeper into a specific space. Most of us know Tiger’s story. He focused on golf from birth. By contrast, Federer dabbled with a variety of sports before embracing tennis in his teens. Federer explored, then dove deeper.

Epstein shares stories of other career adventurers who invented video game consoles and painted unique works of art. His point is that too much or too early specializing can limit success. We can become myopic and lack the creativity of those who actively explore a variety of paths. We become better associative thinkers and innovators with unique experiences.

Get Over Fear of Change…

We’re entering 2025. It’s the annual time to look at our lives anew, to embrace new paths. It’s the time for resolutions and not letting a year go to waste.

I recommend that you pick up a copy of Range. Read the stories. Reading how others have successfully embraced non-linear paths and excelled will help you get over your fear of change. Oftentimes, change is what holds us back. It keeps us from stepping outside of our comfort zone.

After reading it, you should see that leaping from the comfort of your current raft doesn’t mean you’ll drown. You’ll likely find or build an entirely new raft to navigate your career.

Here’s to 2025!

Paul G. Fisher