I came across a stack of my daughter’s old business cards from her time as a grad assistant at the University of Florida. My first thought was “jeez, I am old” but my next thought was “wow, my daughter is really killing it, becoming who she was meant to be”. I called her and asked if she wanted the cards. She didn’t but I kept them instead. I needed to keep them. They were a symbol of me playing a role in helping my daughter get to this stage in her life.
At this stage in my career, it’s not about ascending the ranks. I’ve done that. It’s about doing great work for my organization, guiding others and helping the younger folks around me get better, build resumes, earn greater career opportunities. If I can look back later and say I’ve done these things, well, then mission-accomplished.