I believe this attitude goes hand-in-hand with the idea of jumping ship every few years. As an employee, your impact only extends as far as the projects handed

I believe this attitude goes hand-in-hand with the idea of jumping ship every few years. As an employee, your impact only extends as far as the projects handed to you. You offer no growth potential to an employer. Similarly, management that only looks for this is offering no reward for better, and deserves the attrition they'll see. There are roles and companies where growth is both valuable and rewarded. I think it has to be an org where the technology is the product, and not a cost center (necessary, but not sufficient). I think you really have to be paying attention to know what type of org you are in. Taking this attitude up-front at any new job, you may not even see the opportunity.