Featured Insights
Written By Rahul Rawal – Founder, Thrive and Include – ICF Credentialed Life Coach and Inclusion Advisor
“We often grow up believing that a successful career moves in one direction, upwards. Promotions, bigger titles, more responsibility. It all looks great in hindsight. But anyone who has been on that track long enough knows that linear growth, while rewarding on the surface, can start to feel a little… hollow and shaky.
The truth is, the most meaningful growth often happens when we step sideways. What looks like a detour on the organisation chart can actually be a doorway to fresh skills, new perspectives, and, most importantly, a deeper understanding of ourselves.
In my own experience, I have found that my holistic calling has come through multiple lateral moves. There will be failures, but those won’t push you backwards- they add the required ingredients to complete your perfect dish.
In conversations I’ve had as a coach, I’ve seen how lateral moves bring you closer to the kind of growth that sticks. The kind that doesn’t just build your résumé but builds you. These shifts might not give you instant validation, but offer something far more valuable: the space to explore, to reconnect with your strengths, and to realign with your deeper purpose.
This isn’t about jumping around aimlessly. It’s about growing with intention, even if that growth doesn’t follow a straight line. Sometimes the zigzag path gives you the firmest ground to stand on and thrive.
If you’re in a place where you feel stuck, try moving sideways. It might just be the most honest step forward you’ll ever take.”