When I look back at my career journey one truth stands out: no career path is ever as straight as it looks on paper. I remember my first official job at Primark working on the shop floor making sure the stock was available and ready. The customers were served and the till balance needed to be balanced at the end of each day. From my humble days of being a shop assistant to being a HR manager time does really fly by. My career has gone from Retail to Banking in the UK and UAE, it’s funny I never envisioned myself working for a bank. I envisioned my career being in Retail being a manager of some sort or HR person. Supporting others through their challenges has shown me that we often carry the weight of “should” — the belief that our careers should be linear, smooth, and perfectly mapped out.

But the reality? Growth rarely happens on the main road. It comes in the detours — the unexpected roles, the pauses, the “side roads” where we learn who we are, what we value, and how we show up in the workplace.

I’ve seen mentees doubt themselves for not ticking off milestones at the “right time,” only to later discover that those very detours sharpened their resilience, broadened their skills, and led them somewhere more aligned with who they are. I was having a conversation with one of my mentees when they turned the focus onto my own career and where I am today. It became a really meaningful exchange—not just for me, but for them as well. The key takeaway was that not everything needs to be achieved overnight. Our careers are designed to test us, challenge us, and ultimately shape us into who we’re meant to become.

The myth of the perfect career path is just that — a myth. A career is less about climbing a ladder and more about weaving together experiences that shape your story. My journey has been anything but ordinary. I never imagined I’d one day be living and working in Dubai—one of the safest countries in the world. I never imagined I’d share 15 beautiful years with my cat, who sadly passed away due to health complications. And I certainly never imagined I’d own three sports cars and be considered unusual simply because it wasn’t the norm for a woman to drive them.

Am I normal? Well, that depends on who’s asking. I’ve always liked being unique—not to stand out or seek admiration, but simply because I enjoy being myself.

3 Career Reflection Questions for Clarity

If you’re navigating uncertainty, try sitting with these prompts:

1. What patterns do I see in the roles or experiences where I’ve felt most energized?
   (These often point to your strengths and values.)
2. What detours have taught me lessons I wouldn’t have learned otherwise?
   (Reframing side roads as growth opportunities can shift how you view them.)
3. What does “success” look like for me right now — not 5 years ago, not for someone else?
   (Clarity comes from grounding yourself in the present.)

The side roads of your career don’t make you less capable — they make you richer in perspective. And often, they’re the very places where the seeds of your future success are planted.

Thanks for reading

Seann x