What are some specific alternative career paths to consider, for (1) someone who is already in the maze and wants a “second act”, and (2) someone who thinks climbing the corporate ladder is their comparative advantage, but hasn’t started yet?
In both cases, I think ‘start one’s own business’ should be at the top of the list. This can be a start-up designed to make a lot of money—and that’s by far the highest EV play if you can take a real shot and afford to fail. But it does not need to be something so risky. If you have a trade where you can open a store, or put yourself and perhaps a small number of others out for hire, or even become a consultant of some kind, consider doing one of those before anything else.
Doctor → private practice. Lawyer → small law firm as possible. Programmer → own projects, short term gigs, employee number 1.
Similarly, the easiest way to avoid a large business is to work for a small business. Especially good is of course to be employee #1 and get equity, but even employee #5 with nominal equity upside is pretty good.
I’d also encourage people not to think in terms of fixed career paths, but rather in terms of developing skills, doing real things, seeing what opportunities present themselves, etc. But my situation was always very unique, and I took paths most people can’t, so I don’t claim to be any kind of expert in all this. This comment is likely quick / half baked.
What are some specific alternative career paths to consider, for (1) someone who is already in the maze and wants a “second act”, and (2) someone who thinks climbing the corporate ladder is their comparative advantage, but hasn’t started yet?
In both cases, I think ‘start one’s own business’ should be at the top of the list. This can be a start-up designed to make a lot of money—and that’s by far the highest EV play if you can take a real shot and afford to fail. But it does not need to be something so risky. If you have a trade where you can open a store, or put yourself and perhaps a small number of others out for hire, or even become a consultant of some kind, consider doing one of those before anything else.
Doctor → private practice. Lawyer → small law firm as possible. Programmer → own projects, short term gigs, employee number 1.
Similarly, the easiest way to avoid a large business is to work for a small business. Especially good is of course to be employee #1 and get equity, but even employee #5 with nominal equity upside is pretty good.
I’d also encourage people not to think in terms of fixed career paths, but rather in terms of developing skills, doing real things, seeing what opportunities present themselves, etc. But my situation was always very unique, and I took paths most people can’t, so I don’t claim to be any kind of expert in all this. This comment is likely quick / half baked.