Corporate contemplation #2: be defined by your impact, not your role/title/airline status

Of course every young career person is fixated on the magical day when they will earn a big, important title. They imagine confidently sitting at their new desk in their big corner office and being respected by all.

Set aside the fact that no one works in an office any longer…

Turns out that the progressively bigger titles and roles with progressively larger scope are only meaningful if you DO SOMETHING MEANINGFUL WITH THEM.

At one point, I was “so busy” at work that I made the decision to cut back on my community and church involvement. Looking back, I realize how astoundingly stupid and selfish that was.

The executives that I most admire are regularly active in their community, national organizations and philanthropic endeavors. They pick a cause and devote their treasure to it. They consider it their responsibility as a corporate leader to also be a community leader.

I now understand that I would much rather be defined by what I contribute. That contribution may be to an employer, a business endeavor, a charity, a fund-raiser, or my family. No one cares about my title, the big corporate role I may hold or how many airline miles I have accumulated. What matters is the impact that I have on the people in my sphere of influence.

I wonder if some of those boards I resigned from will let me back on?

Agree or no?

Here's the entire list of lessons that ring true for me:

https://www.eight2eightpursuits.com/post/lessons-to-share-from-a-career-of-corporate-contemplations