A talk with my retired neighbor made me question the whole 'climb the ladder' idea

He was a VP for 30 years and said, 'I wish I'd taken the lateral move to marketing in '92 for the fun of it, not just the next promotion.' That hit different because I'm up for a manager role I don't even want. Anyone else turned down a promotion for a better fit?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_simon1mo ago

Is it really that deep though? A job is just a job, and you can always change your mind later. Sounds like you're overthinking a simple choice.

spencer_park261mo ago

Oh, is that how you pick your career? Just close your eyes and point at a list? I mean, some of us have rent and student loans, so maybe it feels a little bigger than picking a sandwich. But yeah, you're right, I'll just flip a coin and hope I don't end up hating my life for 40 hours a week. No big deal.

daniel1401mo ago

and actually i think spencer_park26 has a point even if it came out a little rough. the thing about turning down a promotion is it's not always as simple as chasing a better sandwich or whatever. i've seen plenty of people take the title and extra money and end up miserable three months later because the job itself doesn't fit them. your mileage may vary obviously but a lateral move that keeps you happy and engaged can be way better for your long term sanity than a promotion that just looks good on paper. the retired VP guy had 30 years to figure that out so his advice is worth hearing even if it's not a perfect fit for everyone.