When I consult executive candidates, I often need to encourage them to think outside the box in terms of their career. There's not a single path that works for everyone and rarely is it a straight-line trajectory to the top. All told, I'd say it's working. We keep close tabs on the successes of our placements, and we're currently seeing an average of one per year advance to CEO.
This article from the Harvard Business Review found the same thing -- that there's no tried-and-true formula for becoming an executive. To me it says "Keep an open mind about your career." That risky career move you're considering may be the ticket to something huge.
I hope you'll take the time to read it.
