Once upon a time, a “career” meant working your way up one ladder. You might start in the mailroom, rise to the corner office, and retire in your 50s or 60s after 20 or 25 years of steady service. Most people worked out of necessity—to pay bills, raise families, and survive. Passion and purpose were often left for hobbies or retirement. But times have changed. Today, many of us will live to 100 and remain productive for 60 years or more. Companies rarely last as long as they used to, technology and industries transform overnight, and people’s interests shift over time. Instead of one career, we may have eight to ten careers across our lives—some for income, others for passion, and still others to pursue deeper purpose.

The Age Brilliantly mindset embraces this shift as an opportunity. Instead of seeing career changes as disruptions, we see them as portfolio building: crafting a collection of experiences that reflect who you are and who you’re becoming. The question isn’t “What job will I do forever?” but “How do I choose the right job for me, right now—and the one after that?”

Understanding the “Job to Be Done”

In the book Job Moves, inspired by Clayton Christensen’s “Jobs to Be Done” theory, every product—and every job—serves a function. You don’t buy a drill because you love drills; you buy it because you need holes in the wall. Similarly, we don’t stay in jobs for titles or perks—we stay because they fulfill needs: financial stability, growth, joy, belonging, meaning.

We leave when those needs aren’t met anymore. During the Great Resignation of 2021–2022, more than 50 million people quit their jobs—not because they stopped working altogether, but because those roles no longer did “the job” they wanted done. The lesson? Understanding why you’re making a career move is as important as the move itself.

Designing a Portfolio of Careers

If you’re likely to have 10 or more careers over 60 years, each one becomes a building block toward your larger life vision. That means asking intentional questions at every transition: What do I need most from my next role—income, flexibility, growth, or meaning? Am I leaving because I’ve outgrown this position or because something fundamental is missing? Does this opportunity align with one of my 8 Life Essentials (health, finances, relationships, purpose, passions, continuous learning, time mastery, legacy)?

Approaching each career shift this way transforms job changes from reactive to strategic. You’re no longer chasing titles or paychecks alone—you’re curating a life portfolio that balances income, passion, and purpose over time.

The Role of Passion and Purpose

Early in life, survival may drive career choices. But as financial security builds, many people pivot toward passion (work they love) or purpose (work that serves others). We see this shift often when someone “retires” from a primary career only to launch a second act as a teacher, nonprofit leader, or museum docent. The key is not to wait until retirement to pursue meaning. Weaving purpose into multiple stages of life ensures that you’re not just working to live—you’re living fully, through your work.

How to Prepare for the Next Great Career Move

If you’re considering a career change—or your first step into a new field—start by taking stock of what matters most to you today, and what you’ll want in five or ten years. Tools like the Assessment Center in theAge Brilliantly platform can help you identify priorities, clarify values, and map out a strategy for your next move.

1. Reflect on what’s missing in your current role and what energizes you.
2. Define the “job to be done” for your next career—income, learning, impact, or balance.
3. Explore industries and opportunities that align with your evolving interests and skills.
4. Plan transitions intentionally, considering both financial and personal goals.
5. Stay flexible—careers will keep shifting, and that’s part of building a fulfilling portfolio.

Living Brilliantly Across Careers

A fulfilling 100-year life isn’t about staying in one job forever or constantly chasing the next shiny role. It’s about consciously aligning your work with your evolving passions and purpose while nurturing all eight life essentials. Careers aren’t isolated chapters; they’re threads woven into your lifelong story.

Where are you in your career journey? Are you preparing for your next shift—or rethinking what “work” means to you entirely? Share your thoughts in theAge Brilliantly Forum and explore how others are building lives filled with purpose, passion, and fulfillment through every stage.