Zig Zags, U-Turns and Sliding Doors: The Career Moves That Don’t Make Sense (Until They Do)

Welcome to the lowdown of Episode 4 of Little Moves, Big Careers, where we shine a big, bold light on a very inconvenient truth: the best career moves often look totally illogical, until they’re not.

This episode is your permission slip to make the move that feels right, even if it doesn’t look linear. Because guess what? Linear’s out and chaotic confidence is in.

The Myth: Careers Should Make Sense

Let’s just rip off the bandage:

• The ladder is broken.

• Promotions aren’t guaranteed.

• That sideways move you’re nervous about? It might be your smartest play.

“Not every step up is progress. And not every detour is a disaster.” - from Episode 4

If you’ve ever felt stuck trying to follow a logical path that doesn’t seem to lead anywhere... welcome. You're not behind, you're just not on rails.

Sliding Doors and Ziggy Victories

We’ve seen it over and over: game-changing moments that start small.

• A chat in a lift

• An intro you almost didn’t make

• A project that seemed boring, but opened a door

These are what we call Sliding Doors Moments - the kind that only work if you’re tuned in enough to spot them. They're invisible on paper but pivotal in practice.

To be aware of these sliding doors moments, you need three things:

• Presence.

• Curiosity.

• Awareness.

Real Talk: Strategic Zigging

Zigging isn’t flakiness, it’s future-proofing.

• A sideways move to learn something new? Smart.

• Taking a step down to reset your mojo? Genius.

• Pivoting into something that lights you up? Bold AND strategic.

We heard it time and time again in our interviews. People didn’t plan their best moves. They noticed them. They seized them.

Game Time: Would You Rather? (Career Curveball Edition)

Straight from the podcast - a few dilemmas we strongly suggest pondering:

• Would you rather take a job in a new sector you know nothing about… or stay where you are and slowly disintegrate into your desk chair?

• Work on something deeply meaningful that no one sees… or get praised for fluff?

• Present to a room full of intimidating execs… or do excellent work no one notices?

There’s no right answer. But your instincts? They’re data. Don’t ignore them.

The Big Idea: The Ladder’s Broken (But You’ve Got Legs)

According to researcher André Spicer, only 35% of workers feel they have clear growth pathways. Women, especially, get stuck on what’s called the “broken rung.”

The solution isn’t always up. It’s often sideways, diagonal, or delightfully weird.

As we say in the episode:

“Sideways doesn’t mean backwards. It means you're collecting skills, dodging dead ends, and keeping your brain alive.”

Listener Favourite: What Would Caro Do?

“I’ve been offered a sideways move. Less pay, weird title. But it sounds fun.”

Caro’s take? Your dad might not get it. But that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

“If the job expands you, excites you, and stretches what you can offer, that’s not a step down. That’s a step through.”

Sweet Extra: Career Story Prompt Pack

Download this cheeky deck of reflective prompts to help you:

• Rethink “weird” career choices

• Name your own ziggy victories

• Get clearer on the kind of curveball you’d actually say yes to

👉 [Grab the Career Story Prompt Pack here]

Listen to Episode 4:

Zig Zags, U-Turns and Sliding Doors on the Little Moves, Big Careers podcast

[Embed or link to episode player here]

Next up: Curiosity is Your Secret Weapon because you don’t have to know everything. You just have to stay curious enough to find out. Sign up here so you don't miss a single episode.

Stay ziggy. Stay curious. And please — stay out of that dusty old lane.