Your 20s Archetype Isn’t Your 40s Archetype
What you want from work changes with time. The key is knowing which archetype fits your future.
What you wanted in your twenties isn’t what you want now.
Back then, it might have been about landing a job, paying rent, or climbing the ladder fast.
By your thirties or forties, your goals shift—toward meaning, stability, recognition, or freedom.
The trouble is, most of us never stop to ask how our wants have changed. We just keep going. That’s when frustration creeps in: the work no longer fits who we’ve become.
James Root, in The Archetype Effect, offers a way to see this clearly.
He identifies six archetypes that shape what we value at work.
Understanding which one you’re in now—and which one you want next—can change how you shape your career.
The Six Archetypes
Giver – You thrive on teamwork and care. Energy comes from helping others succeed and building community. Think of the colleague who’s always mentoring or checking in on teammates.
Operator – You value structure and stability. You enjoy creating systems and keeping things on track. Picture the person who makes sure the project ships on time, every time.
Explorer – You need variety and freedom. Routine drains you, while new challenges fuel you. This is the teammate who jumps at a rotation abroad or a brand-new project.
Artisan – You pursue mastery and craft. It’s about doing things well and producing work you’re proud of. Like the engineer obsessed with elegant code or the designer refining every detail.
Striver – Progress and success drive you. You’re motivated by goals and milestones. Think of the person staying late to perfect the client pitch.
Pioneer – You live for vision and innovation. The future excites you, and you’re willing to take risks to build it. This is the founder type who sees what doesn’t exist yet.
“Fulfillment comes not from working harder, but from aligning work with what you truly want from it.” — James Root
Reflective Questions
Which archetype best described you in your twenties?
Which one feels closest to who you are today?
If nothing held you back, which archetype would you want to embody in the next 5–10 years?
What would need to shift for you to get there?
Five Practical Ways to Move Toward Your Future Archetype
Name it. Write down the archetype you want to move toward and describe what it would look like in your work.
Align it. Choose projects and roles that bring you closer, even by a small step.
Model it. Find people who embody your desired archetype and study how they shape their careers.
Review it. Check in yearly. Archetypes can evolve—make sure yours still fits.
Share it. Let your manager or peers know what energizes you most. People can’t support what they don’t know.
“Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose.” — Viktor Frankl
Closing
Your career will keep shifting whether you guide it or not.
Look again at the six archetypes.
Which one feels like home for your next decade?