The concept of a “non-linear” career path came up in a call of leading U.S. educators of women yesterday. This topic is simply not discussed enough. Our research has shown the non-linear career path is a CRITICAL realization for the success of many Hot Mommas (read: “Doing it all. Doing it well.”) Yet, many of the messages we see reinforce traditional models of part-time, full-time, and a linear promotion/goal-achievement path. A model Hot Momma, Mary Cheh, said in her talk to young women at the “Agents of Change” conference in DC: “Think of your life in phases…Life is about choice. You don’t need to have the whole package set up right from the beginning.” For more on Mary Cheh (DC Councilperson & George Washington University Professor of Law), click here: http://www.marycheh.com/marycheh.htm.
Note: If there were women’s business royalty, Myra Hart would be part of the monarchy. She pioneered much of this research in her study of career off-and-on-ramps for women. For more on Myra Hart click here: http://hbswk.hbs.edu/faculty/mhart.html and http://drfd.hbs.edu/fit/public/facultyInfo.do?facInfo=bio&facEmId=mhart.
The extreme of the non-linear career path? Here’s proof you can do it at any age. Check out Inc’s slide show on some inspirational experienced entrepreneurs:
http://inc.com/multimedia/slideshows/content/8-over-80-americas-coolest-octogenarian-entrepreneurs_pagen_2.html