What is ‘career-limiting’ anyway?

What does it mean to ‘limit one’s career’? Why are there preconceived ideas about what we ‘should’ be doing to progress our careers? Where is this unspoken ladder we talk about, and where can I break it?

Between 2010 and 2016 my career was a bit of a rollercoaster ride. I went from database administrator to team leader to service manager to team leader of another 2 teams, then Service Delivery Manager, back to team leader, and finally to middleware administrator.

Phew.

After about 6 months in each role, I started getting itchy feet again and searched for the next challenge. I gained a reputation among my colleagues on when I’d be moving next. It’s funny, but not funny at the same time.

My latest role of Middleware Administrator is a technical role again. It’s been over a year now and I still enjoy working on anything I can get my hands on. I’ve found true joy in my job (which is rare for many people) and I don’t foresee any role-hopping in the near future.

What people think

In the eyes of many people I’ve spoken to, though, they see this as a ‘demotion’ of some sort and a step backwards in my career. “Why would you go back to technical?” is a common question I get from them.

To add some context, in I.T. a technical role is lowest on the corporate food chain.

I can feel their confusion (and sometimes disdain) about why I went back to technical. I can feel them thinking he’s taken a step back in his career or he’s taken the easy road.

Career or happiness

Does it really matter how successful someone is? Does it really matter how high up in the corporate ladder we are? Does it really matter how much money is in our paycheck?

I don’t believe it does matter. And, deep down, neither do you.

We talk about this all the time. We complain about our unhappiness in our job. We describe how we’re under strain due to the extra pressures of managing a team or client. We live for the weekend, dreaming Friday can’t come soon enough.

Why?!

Why do we put ourselves through this day in and day out — because we were told it’s what we should do? It’s completely ludicrous.

What do you want to do?

The big question is: Would you rather be the head honcho, or be happy in your role?

I’m certainly not telling you to ‘follow your heart and fly with the birds’. That’s just as bad. For me, I still work Monday to Friday — the difference is I want to and I’m happy.

We spend 80% of our lives working in a job. We may as well make it count, right?

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Originally published at helpgrowchange.com.