#216 Why “That Job Hasn’t Been Invented Yet” Can Keep Kids Stuck

Flourish Coaching

Mar 3, 2026

In this solo episode, Lisa Marker-Robbins challenges one of the most well-intentioned but counterproductive phrases adults often say to young people: “The job you’ll end up doing hasn’t even been invented yet.” Drawing on her work with 15–25-year-olds and their families, Lisa explains why this advice can unintentionally create paralysis rather than progress.

She reframes the conversation around transferable skills, personal “through lines,” adaptability, and lifelong learning. Most importantly, she offers language shifts that replace vague reassurance with clarity, agency, and forward momentum.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

The unintended consequences of common career advice given to young people
How transferable skills provide stability in a rapidly evolving job market
Understanding personality wiring and “through lines” as anchors in career development for all ages
Shifting career conversations with your family from prediction and passivity to action and agency

Key Takeaways:

When young people hear “your job hasn’t been invented yet,” they often internalize that planning is pointless and effort can wait, which leads to disengagement, procrastination, over-research without follow-through, or even fight-flight-freeze responses instead of forward movement.
Even though job titles and roles evolve, the capability to do meaningful work compounds over time; the skills built in school, early jobs, and early decisions travel forward and remain relevant long after specific titles change.
Identifying lifelong personal “through lines”—what energizes or drains them, the types of problems they enjoy solving, preferred environments and teams, and values that matter—gives young people a stable internal compass even when external circumstances shift.
Career momentum is created through action, not prediction; making informed next steps rooted in present self-awareness builds traction and adaptability, whereas waiting for certainty or trying to forecast the future stalls progress.

“Momentum comes from action, not prediction.” – Lisa Marker-Robbins

Episode References:

#214 “You Can Be Anything”: Why This Advice Backfires with Your Young Person: https://flourishcoachingco.com/214
#215 Why “Follow Your Passion” Is Bad Career Advice—and What To Say Instead: https://flourishcoachingco.com/215
Credential Value Index from Burning Glass Institute: https://www.credentialvalueindex.org/
BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) Occupational Outlook Handbook: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/

Get Lisa’s Free on-demand video: THE CAREER IDENTIFICATION COMPASS: How To Be Certain Your 15 To 25 Year Old is On The Right Path to Launch With Confidence–Not Confusion: flourishcoachingco.com/video