A client called me last week, torn between two offers.
One was at a well-known language learning platform. Great product, strong user engagement, beautiful UI.
But she was spiraling about the future.
“What if AI translation makes language learning obsolete? The stock’s been declining. Will this be like physical maps when Google Maps took over?”
She was paralyzed by trying to predict an entire industry’s trajectory.
My advice?
✋ Stop thinking 10 years out. Think 2 years out.
You can’t predict where an industry will be in 5+ years. You definitely can’t predict where YOU will be in 5+ years.
Even if disruption is coming, strong companies don’t disappear overnight. Their moats (habit formation, content quality, user experience) still matter right now.
Your career isn’t a 20-year commitment to one company anymore. You’re building transferable skills and experience.
The question that matters:
“Will this role help me grow in the next 24 months?”
💁 Help handling big career decisions
✍️ Try this AI prompt when you’re stuck on a big decision:
“I’m deciding between [Option A] and [Option B]. Walk me through a 3-part decision framework: first-principles, cost/benefit, and second-order effects. Include examples from people in similar situations.”
This breaks down your decision systematically and shows you trade-offs you might be missing.
Focus on the next 2 years, not the next 20.
Your future self will thank you for the skills you build today, regardless of which company logo is on your LinkedIn.