I’ve been going through a career crisis of sorts lately, and this is exactly where I landed. It’s fine to try to rise or make something out of a career, but you

I’ve been going through a career crisis of sorts lately, and this is exactly where I landed. It’s fine to try to rise or make something out of a career, but you have to be so careful to decouple your success in that from your self worth. The big machine is fickle and unfair. Loyalty and becoming a corporate cheerleader may feel like it gets you ahead for a while. But when shareholders demand budget cuts, or you go through a hard time in your personal life and don’t quite perform the same, they will not remember your loyalty or enthusiasm. You will be surgically excised and replaced. Or, sometimes worse, you will be shown a carrot you will never reach and be cheerfully told you’re almost there. It can be yours. If you only give just a little more.