How to Escape the Illusions of Ranks

<p>I come from an Asian country obsessed with rankings and hierarchies. I remember the days when my mother would happily tell neighbors and anyone she met that her daughter was always in the top three. She didn&rsquo;t praise me to my face, but boasting to other mothers was how she showed her pride. Thus, at an early age, I learned to earn my mother&rsquo;s love and validation by climbing the academic ranks.</p> <p>When I started working, my climb did not stop. I climbed the ranks from junior to senior and eventually, assistant manager in a public accounting firm. In client meetings, I usually introduce myself with my name and title. I let my position define me. All of that changed after I lived and worked in a European country.</p> <p>In this country, people didn&rsquo;t care much about ranks and titles. I learned to call people on a first-name basis. I didn&rsquo;t always have to introduce myself with my position first. I let my competence speak for itself. But then, throughout these years, I constantly ask myself, &ldquo;What&rsquo;s next?&rdquo;</p> <p>Like you, I had been contemplating a lot about my journey to the top. When will I know to stop? Why is it that every time I pass a ladder rung, I have more rungs to climb? More places to gain, more people to please, and at one point, I got tired of the endlessness. I don&rsquo;t want to keep climbing ladders only to realize that the things I was chasing will not matter.</p> <h1><strong>Jumping Lily Pads vs Climbing Ladders</strong></h1> <p>In 2018, I read the book&nbsp;<em>The Quarter-Life Breakthrough</em>&nbsp;by Adam Smiley Poswolsky. The book was a gift from one of our audit partners. It was a timely reading because I was indeed going through one of those crises that consume you when you&rsquo;ve just passed the quarter-life milestone.</p> <p><a href="https://betterhumans.pub/how-to-escape-the-illusions-of-ranks-2f78b19e8033"><strong>Visit Now</strong></a></p>