It used to be that people would map out their careers in a very linear fashion. For example, let's say you wanted to be a lawyer. You would plan to go to good schools, land a job with a top firm, and ...

You wake up, brew your coffee and, like clockwork, walk the few steps to your home desk to put out one workplace fire after another. It feels like life's one big shampoo commercial: lather, rinse and ...