Age changes perspectives
I am not the same person as I was at 25.
Then, I was wildly career-ambitious. As a fresh graduate enrolled in a consulting firm, all I wanted was rapid promotions. The firm said 3 years to the next level. I aimed for 2. When my manager said 2, I wanted 1.5.
And of course, I paid the price. Willingly. I slept with my phone beside me every evening. When I rang, I responded. In that world, I was known to be on the ball.
Now at 40, I am a very different person.
I am [still] the same ambitious me. I [still] work long hours for my life ambitions. And I realized one thing.
My bullshit job is holding me back.
Acceptance
I gladly accept that I am working on a bullshit job.
To be clear, there is a purpose for my job. Without sales, software product houses will go kaput. My job is to take what we have, sell it, and bring home the bacon for the ops teams.
Is it necessary? I have no doubts.
But that does not mean an unhealthy chunk of it is necessary. 60% of my internal meetings are a [copious] waste of time. External…