This is the biggest mistake young people make in their profession, according to the CEO of Uber. So you can avoid it

Morgan Smith -

While some might argue that the secret to success lies in creating a detailed, linear path to your ultimate career goal, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says over-planning isn't just ineffective — it can torpedo your chances of building a satisfying career. 

"Don't overplan your career... I see young people make this mistake all the time," Khosrowshahi told LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky in a new interview published Thursday.

“They'll say, 'I want to be vice president by now,' or 'I want to make X amount of money.'

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While there's "nothing wrong" with having a general idea of ​​what you want to achieve in your career, Khosrowshahi nuanced, if your idea is "too narrow," you risk missing out on opportunities that could help you cultivate a happier and more successful career. .

“Have an idea of ​​where you want to go, [but] you have to be open to opportunities, then you have to jump on them, you have to take advantage of them,” he added.

"I've never been in a rush in my career, because if you're open and really want to hone your art, it's so much more satisfying [to take your time]."

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That includes being open to new opportunities in your current job and maximizing the development of your skills in each position before moving on to the next.

Khosrowshahi was the CEO of Expedia for twelve years before taking the helm of Uber in 2017. Before joining Expedia, Khosrowshahi worked as the CFO of IAC (InerActiveCorp), a New York-based media company.

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During his long tenure at Expedia, Khosrowshahi said he learned valuable leadership skills, including how critical flexibility is, as well as being a more effective communicator and listener, that have helped him navigate the tumultuous transition of taking over Uber after after ride-sharing app co-founder Travis Kalanick stepped down as CEO. 

“You look at Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Jamie Dimon, Jack Welch…greatness takes time,” he said.

“People talk about financial capitalization: there is a career capitalization that is magical.

I think if you're a 'three or four years and out' kind of person, you're really missing out on that career capitalization takes time, but when you take advantage of that, magic happens."