TIP: Why Monkeys Go Further Than Ants (in their careers).

 You're working hard, but it's sometimes hard to see where this is all going. Deep down you wonder. What if I've chosen the wrong path? What if I'm wasting time, climbing higher in a role I don't even like? But imagine sticking with the wrong ladder for the next 5, 10, or even 20 years? Sure, you might earn a decent pay check, or pick up a fancy title, but what about your happiness, your growth, your sense of purpose?

In a world evolving as fast as ours, sticking to one straight path might actually hold you back. What if your career path wasn't a ladder at all? What if it was something completely different? Today, you're going to discover a different framework for your career. And you'll learn why monkeys go further than ants.

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Topics:

Escape the 9 to 5 

Escape the 9-5 

Career Coach 

Career Advice 

Career Guidance 

Career Transition 

Career Change 

Next Step Careers Limited

Auckland Wellington Christchurch New Zealand

Episode Transcript

Shure MV7 (00:00):
You're a respected professional who climbed a ladder.

(00:04):
A ladder you decided to climb whenyou were maybe just a teenager.
A ladder that seems to be taking youfurther and further away from yourself.
But what if it's leaningagainst the wrong wall?
You've put in the time, built theskills and followed the rules.

(00:24):
But somehow you're still unfulfilled.
You're working hard, but it's sometimeshard to see where this is all going.
Deep down you wonder.
What if I've chosen the wrong path?
What if I'm wasting time, climbinghigher in a role I don't even like?

(00:47):
But imagine sticking with thewrong ladder for the next five,
ten, or even twenty years.
Sure, you might earn a decentpaycheck, or pick up a fancy title,
but what about your happiness,your growth, your sense of purpose?
And here's the real kicker.

(01:08):
In a world evolving as fast asours, sticking to one straight
path might actually hold you back.
What if your career pathwasn't a ladder at all?
What if it was somethingcompletely different?
Today, you're going to discover adifferent framework for your career.

(01:28):
And you'll realise whymonkeys go further than ants.

(02:19):
You're a working professionalstuck in a nine to five job.
Stuck in the grind.
Stuck in the traffic.
Maybe even stuck in a cubicle.
I'm career coach Dr Steve O'Leary,host and creator of Escape the 9 to 5.
Having interviewed some of the mostinteresting career changes on the
planet, top career coaches, and alsodiving into the career research,

(02:41):
there are simple, proven strategiesto make changes in your own career.
Strategies like Treating yourcareer like a jungle gym.
Stop climbing and start exploring.
of a career ladder is just that.
Old.

(03:01):
It's rigid, linear, and assumes thatsuccess can only be found at the top.
But life isn't a straight line.
And neither is your career.
The Jungle Gym approach is different.
Instead of focusing on movingup, you focus on moving around.
You build new skills, exploredifferent roles, and discover what

(03:25):
excites you and energises you.
Here's why this mindset shift matters.
One, you build career resilience.
think about a jungle gym.
Sometimes you climb higher, sometimes youswing sideways, and sometimes you even
drop down to the ground to start over.

(03:49):
These lateral moves Like switchingdepartments, industries, or even
taking on a new hobby, help youto build a diverse skill set.
And in today's world, adaptabilityis the ultimate superpower.
You know that AI is coming foryour job in some shape or form.

(04:11):
So if you're not adapting,you're going to be left behind.
Two.
You discover hidden passions.
When you explore, youlearn about yourself.
You might find that you enjoy a jobyou never thought you would, or that
you're a natural at mentoring, evenif you grew up as the youngest child.

(04:33):
You might discover a vague interestactually turns out to be something
you develop a passion for whenyou spend more time working on it.
These discoveries don't happen when you'refixated on climbing a single ladder.
Three.
You gain a broader perspective.
Sticking to one path can be limiting.

(04:54):
Working in different roles, and evenindustries, will broaden your skill set.
And your perspectives.
Not only will you gain newperspectives about work, you'll gain
newer perspectives about yourself.
For example, when I was working as a Vet.
I never would have believed I wouldenjoy working as an Emergency Vet.

(05:17):
Especially because I hated beingcalled in for after hours work.
But, when I actually took an emergencyrole, I realised I only ever hated
the unpredictability of being on call.
But actually doing emergency workduring a set schedule, I realised
I found emergency work far moreinteresting than routine practice.

(05:39):
And ironically, less stressfulthan dealing with the demanding
clients in a GP setting.
Don't rule out trying something justbecause you think you might not like it.
Try different things, even ifit means a drop in pay, or God
forbid, starting at the bottom.
These different experienceswill broaden your perspectives.

(06:04):
who knows, even pave the wayfor a new and exciting career.
And here's the safety net.
You can always go back to your old job.
How to start treating yourcareer like a jungle gym?
Say yes to new experiences.

(06:24):
Volunteer for a cross functional project.
Take a course outside of your experience.
Or even apply for a job outsideof your current industry.
I once had a guest who suggestedgoing and watching opera.
Not because he had any experiencein this area, because it was
something completely different thathe knew absolutely nothing about.

(06:47):
It might sound bizarre, but you'llget some of the best career ideas
from the most unexpected places.
Network across, not just up.
Build connections with peers indifferent departments or industries.
Gravitate towards people youfind the most interesting.

(07:07):
You never know where thoserelationships might lead.
Embrace the detours.
That off track job or unexpected projectmight be the most important step you take.
Because if you're not fulfilled inyour current job, you won't find
your dream job without trying things.

(07:28):
You can even use my podcastinghistory as an example of this.
When I started podcasting, I wasunhappy in my job at the time and
wanted to try different things.
I started with a politicalpodcast and ended up trying four
different podcast ideas beforesettling on Escape the 9 to 5.
because I realized my interestswere aligned with self development

(07:51):
and challenging the status quo.
And when I came to the point that Iwanted to make a living from podcasting,
I got a coaching qualificationwhich led to the formation of
my business, Next Step Careers.
I never went into podcastingwith the idea of career coaching.
I was an unhappy vet who said yesto new experiences, experimented,

(08:15):
and embraced the detour.
I'm now an internationallyaccredited coach, run my own
business, and still host a podcast.
The goal of the Jungle Gym approachisn't just to move, it's to move
with curiosity and intention.
It's about following your interests,listening to your gut, and

(08:36):
creating opportunities yourself.
Not waiting for shit to happen.
Your boom appearance grew upin a time where people worked
for a company for 30 years.
There was loyalty to the company, butthe company was also loyal to you.
The old approach was about being an ant.

(08:57):
Disciplined, focused, and steadilyclimbing in a linear, step by
step manner towards a single goal.
But times have changed.
And if the career ladder isn't dead, it'scertainly already in a retirement village.
The new approach is about being a monkey.

(09:17):
Curious?
Adaptable!
And unafraid to swing between differentbranches, to explore opportunities
and find the best path forward.
Remember, monkeys go further than ants.
Thanks for listening to Escape the 9 to 5.
I'm career coach Dr SteveO'Reilly, your host, and thanks

(09:39):
for being part of our movement.
See you next time.