The pact
At some point, you'll need to make a deal with yourself.
What is this career for? What are the boundaries? What are you keeping score of, maximizing, improving? Who do you serve?
Once you make this pact, don't break it without a great deal of serious thought.
You might say you're seeking to create freedom and joy. But then, incrementally, you find yourself trading freedom for money, for status or for approval from strangers…
Or you might sign up to build leverage and wealth. Which is fine, except when you blink in the face of the huge opportunity you've worked hard for.
We know you can't have everything. No one can. So, what's it for?
The best time to make a pact is right now. And the worst time to re-visit this pact is when there's a lot of short-term pressure.
HT to Chip Conley for the concept.