Before You Rush Ahead: Is Your Career Really on the Right Path?

Because racing to the top is great—unless you’re climbing the wrong mountain.

These days, it feels like everyone’s telling you to speed up your career.

"Get promoted faster!" "Climb higher!" It’s the message behind countless newsletters, LinkedIn posts, and podcasts. It can make you feel like you need to be moving at a breakneck pace just to keep up. But there’s a crucial question we rarely stop to ask: Is the path you’re accelerating on even the right one?

Maya’s Dilemma: Moving Fast But Feeling Lost

Let me introduce you to Maya. She’s a product manager who seemed to be checking all the boxes. Just five years into her career, she was already leading teams and moving up the ladder at an impressive rate. On the outside, it looked like she had it all figured out.

But on the inside? She felt completely disconnected. Her days were full of back-to-back meetings and the stress of constantly managing stakeholder expectations. The creativity that once made her love product management was gone, replaced by endless busy work 🤔. Maya was moving fast, but something just didn’t feel right.

One day, after another marathon meeting about OKRs and deadlines, Maya had a moment of clarity. She asked herself, Where am I even going? She realized she’d been accelerating without really knowing why. The promotions and new job titles had been exciting at first, but they were pulling her further away from what truly mattered to her.

Why Persistence, Consistency, and Clear Direction Matter

The problem wasn’t that Maya wasn’t trying hard enough. In fact, she was working too hard—but without any clear sense of direction. In her rush to climb the ladder, she’d lost sight of three key values that actually lead to real success: 1/ persistence, 2/ consistency, and clear 3/ direction.

1. Persistence
   Persistence isn’t about pushing through just for the sake of it. It’s about staying committed to the things that genuinely matter to you. Maya had been persistent—but in chasing promotions, not in pursuing what she loved: building products that make a difference.
   Think about this: It’s like when you work on a product—sometimes it’s not about how fast you can deliver, but about sticking with something that will bring real value. The same applies to your career. You can be persistent in honing your craft, mastering your role, and finding joy in the long-term journey rather than racing to the next promotion.

2. Consistency
   Consistency is showing up day after day, even when it’s not flashy or glamorous. Maya had been hitting deadlines and impressing her bosses, but she hadn’t been consistent in pursuing what really motivated her. The little things—like investing in user research or improving processes—had taken a back seat to the rush of “doing more.”
   In product management, consistency is key. Whether it’s consistently gathering feedback or making small product improvements, it’s those daily efforts that add up. Your career works the same way. Growth doesn’t have to happen in leaps—it happens in the quiet, steady steps you take each day.

3. Clear Direction
   Moving fast is great, but if you don’t know where you’re headed, it can leave you feeling empty. Maya had been accelerating, but she realized she didn’t have a clear direction. She was chasing promotions because that’s what she thought she should do, not because it aligned with her vision of success.
   Take this to heart: Every product needs a roadmap, right? Your career needs one too. If you’re not sure where you want to go, take some time to think about it. What kind of work excites you? What kind of impact do you want to have? Once you know that, you can move forward with purpose.

Let’s Talk About the Reality

A recent study showed that 60% of employees who speed through promotions end up feeling unfulfilled or burned out. They’re persistent and consistent, yes—but often in the wrong direction. It’s easy to get caught up in chasing external success, but if it’s not aligned with what truly makes you happy, it can leave you feeling empty.

On the flip side, research shows that people who find purpose and meaning in their work report higher levels of satisfaction and engagement. They aren’t just moving fast—they’re moving with intention.

Research from Gallup shows that employees who find purpose and meaning in their work are three times more likely to be engaged and satisfied.

Maya’s Recalibration: Getting Back to What Matters

Once Maya realized she was heading in the wrong direction, she decided to make a change. She didn’t quit her job or make any dramatic moves. Instead, she started focusing on what mattered most to her. She became persistent about improving the products she cared about, consistent in showing up with her best efforts every day, and clear about the kind of work she wanted to do in the long term.

She still aimed to grow in her career—but now, it was growth with intention. She wasn’t just climbing the ladder for the sake of it; she was building a career that aligned with her values. And you know what? The results followed. Her work became more fulfilling, her team noticed her passion, and she felt more in control of her future.

Key Takeaways for You as a Product Manager

• Persistence with Purpose: Be persistent, but make sure you’re putting that effort into things that genuinely matter to you. Stick with what makes you feel fulfilled, not just what looks good on your resume.

• Consistency Over Flash: Real growth doesn’t always come from big, bold moves. It’s in showing up every day, putting in the work, and improving bit by bit. Over time, that’s what leads to real success.

• Know Where You’re Going: Don’t accelerate just because everyone else is. Take time to define what success looks like for you. Whether it’s building products you’re passionate about, leading teams, or making a difference in your industry, having that clarity will guide you in the right direction.

“Bonus” A Practical Framework for Realigning Your Career

If you’re feeling like you’re moving fast but unsure where you’re going, here’s a simple framework to help you realign:

1. Pause and Reflect
   Take a step back. Are you moving toward something that excites you, or just chasing the next promotion? Ask yourself what truly drives you.

2. Identify What Matters
   Figure out what your core values are. Whether it’s leading teams, solving real problems, or innovating, knowing what matters to you will help guide your decisions.

3. Create a Long-Term Plan
   Don’t focus just on the next step—think about the bigger picture. What does success look like in the long run? Build a plan that aligns with that vision.

4. Stay the Course
   Growth doesn’t happen overnight. Stay persistent, stay consistent, and trust that when you move with intention, the results will follow.

The Path Forward: Building a Career That Aligns with You

As Maya discovered, success isn’t about how quickly you can climb the ladder—it’s about moving in the right direction. Before you rush ahead, take some time to ask yourself: Is my career aligned with what really matters to me? When you’re persistent in pursuing what you care about, consistent in showing up with your best work, and clear about your direction, career growth becomes not just fast, but meaningful.

Maya’s story is a mirror for many product managers today—racing ahead without pausing to ask if they’re on the right path. Her journey reminds us that real success isn’t just about acceleration; it’s about moving with purpose.