Why Growth Isn’t Linear: How to Rethink Success and Embrace the Unexpected
The Illusion of the Straight Path
Have you ever felt like life wasn’t following the ‘plan’ you were told it would? I used to believe in the straight path to success until I realised it doesn’t exist. We’ve been conditioned to think that education leads to a career which leads to success followed by retirement. That simply isn’t true.
Growth isn’t linear. Careers take unexpected turns, relationships evolve in ways we never foresaw and the most transformative moments often arise from the least expected places. Success is not about climbing a ladder, it is about navigating a vast, interconnected web of opportunities, failures and pivots.
This is where the concept of the rhizome offers a powerful way of thinking about personal and professional development.
What is the Rhizome
The rhizome is a concept from philosophy introduced by Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari in A Thousand Plateaus(1980). Unlike a tree which has a clear trunk, branches and hierarchical structure, a rhizome is an underground network that spreads in multiple directions with no single point of origin or fixed path.
A few key characteristics of rhizomatic thinking:
Non hierarchical and Decentralised. Growth doesn’t happen in a straight line, it expands in multiple directions.
Interconnectivity. Any point can connect to another, forming a web of relationships rather than a linear sequence.
Multiplicity. There is no single ‘correct’ path, multiple perspectives and possibilities coexist.
Resilience and Adaptability. If a rhizome is cut it doesn’t die, it regenerates forming new pathways.
Breaking and Reforming. Challenges don’t signify an end, they create a transformation into something new.
This concept isn’t just theoretical. It is deeply relevant to how we navigate success, learning and growth.
Why Growth Isn’t Linear. The Power of Interconnection
Life rarely unfolds according to plan. The moments that shape us are often those we least expect. A conversation that sparks a new idea, a chance encounter that leads to a career shift or a failure that forces us to rethink everything and ultimately leads to a breakthrough.
M Scott Peck, in The Road Less Travelled, references the rhizome in a psychological and spiritual sense, emphasising:
The unpredictability of growth. Personal development doesn’t follow a straight trajectory.
The deep interconnection of life events. Every experience, even the painful ones, contributes to a greater whole.
The rejection of rigid structures. Growth requires flexibility, openness and adaptability.
In many ways Extrology itself is rhizomatic. The stories shared in each episode connect seemingly unrelated experiences. Whether it is an entrepreneur’s struggle before a breakthrough or an athlete’s unexpected pivot that leads to success. Each person’s journey reinforces the idea that life isn’t about following a single path but embracing the multitude of ways in which growth can unfold.
Resilience and Growth. The Strength of a Rhizome Mindset
One of the most powerful lessons from the rhizome is resilience. Unlike a tree which may wither if cut down, a rhizome continues to grow. It doesn’t resist change. It thrives in it.
Setbacks are not endpoints. A career pivot, a personal loss or a failed venture isn’t the end of the road, it is a new beginning.
New growth emerges from unexpected places. The connections we build, the knowledge we gain and the experiences we endure all serve as nodes in a greater, evolving network.
Adaptability is a superpower. Those who thrive in uncertainty, who embrace flexibility rather than resist it, are the ones who continue to grow and succeed.
How to Develop a Rhizome Mindset for Success
Embrace Unpredictability. Let go of the idea that life must follow a set plan. Trust that growth happens in unexpected ways.
Seek Diverse Connections. The richest opportunities often arise from serendipitous relationships and unexpected intersections.
Let Go of Rigid Success Definitions. Define success as an evolving process, not a fixed destination.
Cultivate Resilience. Understand that every setback is a redirection, not a failure.
Explore and Experiment. Be open to learning, trying new things and allowing your path to unfold organically.
When we stop thinking of life as a rigid structure and embrace the rhizomatic nature of growth, we unlock greater potential. The best opportunities often emerge from the least expected places. The key is to remain open, adaptive and willing to move in whatever direction new growth takes us.
Ask yourself: What if your biggest growth moments are still hidden, waiting to emerge from an unexpected connection?
By thinking rhizomatically, we shift from chasing a single destination to cultivating a dynamic, interconnected and ever evolving journey.
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What’s one unexpected turn in your life that led to something better? Hit reply, I’d love to hear your story.
Love this, I can’t think of one thing , but lots of little things. My life has always seemed a bit of a struggle, and when I’ve hit rock bottom something always seems to turn up to help me through. We develop and learn from things each day don’t we.