Craig Aucutt, Designer

More Than One Way to Build a Career

Career Path

We often picture careers as a straight line: join a company, stay, climb the ladder, collect titles and promotions. For some, that model works beautifully. But it’s not the only path. Careers can take many shapes—curved, winding, even zigzagged. And those paths can be just as valuable.

My own journey has looked less like a straight ladder and more like an agency portfolio. Each role I’ve taken has been like a project: I’ve immersed myself, contributed fully, and learned deeply. Then, at the natural conclusion of that chapter, I’ve moved on to the next. To me, that’s not instability, it’s a deliberate way of building breadth, adaptability, and resilience. It's alowed me to explore areas of interest, build connections, frame better ways of thinking, and bring to organizations a skill of seeing the world differently. Something that often gets overlooked.

What Shapes a Non-Linear Career

ADHD and focus cycles

Living with ADHD profoundly shapes the way I approach my career. At times, it feels like a superpower: I can dive deep, hyperfocus, and deliver meaningful impact quickly. That ability to lock in on a problem and push through to results has been a strength across roles. But alongside that comes a constant craving for novelty and change—an itch to move on once the challenge no longer feels fresh.

Scientific research backs up this experience. Hyperfocus in ADHD: A Misunderstood Cognitive Phenomenon" This and others suggest that ADHD is linked to higher creativity and innovative thinking, but also to greater risks of stress, burnout, and difficulty with sustained focus if left unmanaged. These cycles of intense focus and inevitable restlessness have played a big role in shaping not only how I work, but also when and why I’ve made transitions in my career.

The key, I’ve learned, isn’t to fight these tendencies but to manage them. Building in structure, balancing deep focus with intentional rest, and designing my work around projects that allow both intensity and variety help me channel ADHD in productive ways. Practices like time-blocking, regular reflection, and being mindful about recovery prevent the crash that comes after long stretches of hyperfocus. With the right strategies, ADHD can fuel growth, creativity, and resilience—rather than hold me back.

Passion and burnout

I tend to work with intensity and passion. That’s a strength—it helps me move fast and contribute meaningfully. But passion without balance can turn into burnout. Studies link chronic workplace stress to health issues like sleep disruption, cardiovascular risk, and mental health struggles. Over time, I’ve had to learn that sustaining a career isn’t just about giving energy—it’s about managing it, too.

Perception versus reality

A non-linear path is often judged harshly. People assume it signals disloyalty, instability, or difficulty in collaboration. But research into “career empowerment” shows that autonomy, growth, and meaning are critical to engagement and satisfaction—not just tenure length. For me, each move has been intentional, each role deeply invested in. The outside perception doesn’t always match the inner reality.

The Many Shapes of a Career

When you zoom out, there are several valid models for how careers unfold:

The Linear Path: Climbing within one company or field, building depth and steady progression.
The Agency Path: Moving across roles like projects, building a portfolio of diverse experiences.
The Hybrid Path: A mix of both—some long chapters of stability, some leaps into new opportunities.
The Contingent Path: Freelance, contract, or gig work—more flexible, less permanent, but rich in autonomy.
Occupational Crafting: Even in stable roles, shaping your job to stay engaged (adjusting responsibilities, redefining success).

None of these is inherently better. They reflect different personalities, needs, and life contexts.

Why It’s Okay — and Even Healthy

The biggest realization I’ve had is that a non-linear career isn’t something to apologize for. In fact, embracing it can support health and growth.

Adaptability and resilience: Moving across environments strengthens problem-solving and flexibility, both of which are protective factors against career-related stress.

Health awareness: Recognizing cycles of passion and burnout has pushed me to prioritize recovery, balance, and mental health practices—critical for long-term wellbeing.

Identity and fulfillment: Studies show that career satisfaction is more tied to autonomy, clarity, and purpose than to job length. By following a path aligned with how my mind works, I’ve been able to sustain fulfillment, even if it doesn’t look conventional.

Careers are personal. They don’t have to fit a single mold. Mine happens to look like an agency portfolio, and I’ve come to accept—and even celebrate—that it works for me.

Not Every Career is Linear, And That’s Okay