The Unexpected Path to Creating Great Local Content

Jerry Jones started in oil and gas.

He wasn’t planning to own the Dallas Cowboys. He was just doing the work in front of him: making deals, taking risks, learning how business worked.

Those years in oil taught him everything he needed to eventually buy an NFL team and turn it into a $9 billion franchise.

He couldn’t have known that at the time. He was just taking the next step.

Why What You’re Doing Now Matters More Than You Think

That thing you’re doing right now that feels disconnected from where you want to end up? It’s probably teaching you exactly what you’ll need later.

The skills you’re building.
The people you’re meeting.
The problems you’re solving.

They’re all stepping stones, even if you can’t see where they’re leading yet.

The Problem With Needing to See the Whole Path

We want certainty. We want to know that what we’re doing today will lead somewhere meaningful tomorrow.

But life rarely works in straight lines. Careers don’t follow predictable paths. Success doesn’t come from executing a perfect 10-year plan.

It comes from doing good work right now and trusting that it will lead somewhere valuable.

The anxiety of not knowing where you’re headed can be paralyzing. You might avoid taking action because you can’t see how it connects to your ultimate goal.

But that’s exactly backwards.

How Stepping Stones Actually Work

You can’t see the next stone until you’re standing on the current one.

Jerry Jones couldn’t have known that oil and gas would lead to football. But the negotiation skills, the risk assessment abilities, the business acumen he developed? Those were universal skills that transferred perfectly when the opportunity arose.

Your current work is teaching you things you’ll need for opportunities that don’t exist yet.

You’re not wasting time. You’re building capabilities.

My Own Non-Linear Path

I started creating content about art history. Then I got into filming. Then I started traveling to work with small business owners. None of it was part of some master plan.

Each thing I did led to the next thing, which led to the next thing.

The art history taught me storytelling and how to make complex topics engaging.

The filming taught me technical skills and how to capture authentic moments.

The travel taught me how to quickly understand new communities and build trust with strangers.

Now I’m doing work I couldn’t have imagined when I started. And it only exists because I followed each stepping stone without needing to see where they all led.

Why “Random” Experience Isn’t Random

The job that seems like a detour? It’s teaching you something.

The project that feels like it’s not going anywhere? You’re building skills.

The client work that isn’t quite what you want to be doing? You’re making connections and learning what you do and don’t want.

Nothing is wasted if you’re learning and growing.

Even the experiences that feel like failures or wrong turns are teaching you valuable lessons about what doesn’t work, what you don’t want, and who you don’t want to become.

How to Trust the Stepping Stones

Do excellent work right now. Even if it’s not your dream job or ultimate goal, do it well. The reputation you build follows you.

Pay attention to what you’re learning. Skills transfer in unexpected ways. Take note of what you’re getting good at.

Build relationships everywhere. The people you meet in “unrelated” work often become crucial connections later.

Stay open to opportunities that don’t fit your plan. The best opportunities usually don’t look like what you expected.

Trust that it’s all useful. Even when you can’t see how, assume that what you’re learning matters.

Real Examples of Unexpected Stepping Stones

Steve Jobs got calligraphy training in college. Seemed useless at the time. Became the foundation for Apple’s design philosophy.

J.K. Rowling worked as a secretary and researcher. Those jobs weren’t related to writing fantasy novels. But they taught her discipline, gave her time to develop ideas, and provided inspiration for characters.

The founders of Airbnb started by renting air mattresses in their apartment because they couldn’t afford rent. They weren’t trying to build a billion-dollar company. They were solving an immediate problem.

Each stepping stone seemed small or disconnected at the time. In retrospect, they were essential.

What This Means for Your Career

You don’t need the whole path mapped out. You just need to do the thing in front of you well and trust that it’s taking you somewhere.

The pressure to have a perfect career plan? That’s a myth. Most successful people’s paths look chaotic and random when you’re watching them unfold.

It’s only in hindsight that the stepping stones form a clear path.

Your Challenge This Week

Stop worrying about whether your current work “counts” toward your ultimate goal.

Instead, ask yourself:

What am I learning right now?
What skills am I developing?
Who am I meeting?
What problems am I getting better at solving?

Those are the things that will matter later, even if you can’t see how yet.

FAQ About Career Stepping Stones

What if I’m in a job I hate? Is that still a valuable stepping stone?
Yes, if you’re learning what you don’t want, developing transferable skills, or building the financial stability to eventually make a change. But don’t stay longer than necessary.

How do I know if I should take an opportunity that doesn’t fit my plan?
Ask: Will this help me grow? Will I learn something valuable? Will I meet interesting people? Will I just simply enjoy doing it? If yes to any of these, consider it.

What if I feel like I’m falling behind my peers who seem more focused?
Their paths aren’t yours. Many “focused” people end up limited by their tunnel vision. Your varied experience will become an advantage.

When should I ignore the stepping stones and just pursue my goal directly?
When you have a clear, achievable goal and a direct path to it. But be honest about whether you’re actually ready or just impatient.

The Bottom Line

Jerry Jones didn’t waste years in the oil business. He was preparing for an opportunity he didn’t know was coming.