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When I think about the “standard life”, I think about all those expectations we grow up hearing: get married, have kids, buy a house, live happily ever after. It’s supposed to be the blueprint for happiness and success for everyone.

But it doesn’t fit everyone. And just like with life, the same outdated script gets forced onto our careers.

The Career Path That Doesn’t Fit You

There’s this idea of the “right” career path: a stable job, a steady climb up the ladder, showing up at 9 and leaving at 5. Alongside that, there’s an unspoken code for how you’re “supposed” to behave at work. Be flexible, be friendly and agree more than you disagree. But if you’re someone who thrives quietly, who needs freedom to think deeply, or simply can’t muster fake enthusiasm for open office chatter, this “standard” path can feel like a cage. You either pretend to fit in, hiding parts of yourself just to get along, or you push back and suddenly you’re labeled as “difficult,” “too quiet,” or “not a team player.”

This standard career model was made for one type of person — the one who’s willing to bend, to conform, to fit neatly into expectations. But most of us aren’t wired that way. Yet the systems around us haven’t caught up. They often still reward constant availability, unquestioning agreement, and putting work above all else.

Write Your Own Career Story

Maybe you’ve already tried to “play the game.” Stayed late when you wanted to go home. Smiled through meetings you dreaded. Said “yes” when your gut screamed “no.”

It’s time to stop forcing it.

To write your own story, one that fits you and your life, not someone else’s checklist. Because the only career path that really matters is the one that fits YOU.

If you’re torn between wanting out but not knowing where to begin, start by asking yourself: Which parts of the “standard” career feel true to me? Which parts feel like chains? What’s one small step I can take to make my work life feel more authentic?