Simon Sinek, bestselling author and world-famous leadership guru, has a contrarian approach to career strategy that goes against the grain. He argues that making seemingly backward career moves—such as accepting entry-level positions in a new industry or returning to school for further education—can lead to greater happiness and success in the long run.
Sinek’s perspective stems from his belief that many individuals feel paralyzed by fear when contemplating reinvention. For this reason and many others, he says, it’s critical to take a step back and periodically reassess your career trajectory. Fear of social stigma or short-term recession shouldn’t be your reasons to prevent you from acting.
“If you’re too paralyzed by fear and you don’t know how to reinvent yourself and you’re not willing to go backwards in terms of money and power and prestige, you’re screwed,” Sinek stated. He challenges leaders to take advantage of opportunities that align with their passions. Deep satisfaction comes from the resolve to always learn and grow.
As Sinek points out, this is the mistake that many of us make—we think that just staying in motion is what counts in order to get promoted. He notes, “I think a lot of people think that if you only maintain forward momentum, that’s the only way to advance.” He likens career progression to a slingshot: sometimes it is necessary to take a step back in order to propel oneself forward more effectively.
It’s kind of more like a slingshot… At some point, you have to go back, and then it fires forward a lot faster than if you were just walking the stone forward,” he explained. This metaphor captures the importance of aligned slowdowns along one’s professional path.
Sinek further criticizes the idea that it’s bad to be “behind” in your career. He maintains that this mentality leads to an unhealthy competition to the finish line. This leads to miscommunication, frustration, and even resentment. “The whole idea of, ‘I’m going to get behind,’ suggests that you’re in a race towards something, which means there’s a finish line and that’s what you’re looking forward to the most,” he said.
After all, he definitely practices what he preaches. Each ten years, he reduces his life to the basics and moves away to begin again. This approach gives him the opportunity to recalibrate his ambitions and dreams frequently.
No wonder Sinek’s insights resonate with the millions of professionals, young and old alike, who suddenly find themselves at career crossroads. Above all, he says, “You need flexibility and a willingness to embrace change.” Such a reminder is welcome, indeed, and a sign that success often means straying off the intended path. Rather, it lies in the bravery to pursue new paths and the grit to bounce back from failure.