The internet seems to compress time in most things. Why should career expectations be any different?
In the past 24 hours, I’ve had conversations with 3 different people, all between the ages of 30 and 36. Each had pursued an accelerated career path, with one being partner of a successful interactive agency, one just becoming the head of marketing and sales for a new technology start up, and one responsible for presenting information seminars for a large online publisher. They all work in the online space, and they all measure their individual success against what may be an impossible standard.
I’m almost 45, and in most circles, I would be considered successful. But in the elite of the online world, I’m a success “slug”. My progress towards success would be considered glacial. In the hyper-active world of online, if you’re not worth millions by the age of 40, you’re doggin’ it. Success is measured against the likes of Steve Jobs (started Apple by the age of 21, now 51 and worth $4 billion), Bill Gates (founded Microsoft at the age of 20, also now 51 and worth over $100 billion ), Sergey Brin and Larry Page (Worth 13 billion at the age of 33). Even if one lowers their sights a little, you’re constantly rubbing shoulders with people like Josh James of Omniture (31 years old, worth a lot ).
There’s this head long rush towards the ultimate exit strategy, the hope that the next career move will bring the right stock options, or the next start up will be the one that catches. There’s an urgent need to keep up with the rest of the pack, and with each tale of astounding success, you can’t help feeling that you’re losing ground.
As I mentioned to one of my success bound acquaintances, we have to realize we live in a hyper reality. We live among the uber-successful elite. Most of us number in our circle of acquaintances at least one phenomenal success story, and we can’t help but measure ourselves against this demanding standard.
Perhaps it’s age, or perhaps it’s accumulated wisdom, but I try to encourage those starved for unqualified success to step outside our world and examine their achievements through the eyes of the other 99.5% of society. Don’t trade balance or the essentials of life for being obsessed with some impossible standard of success. Remember that there’s a reason why only 5% of our population are millionaires. Sometimes the price is too great to pay.
Do what you’re passionate about, do what you consider important, do what you love. Sometimes, that’s reward enough.