My philosophy has always been to actively avoid *locally* optimizing my career. Why? Because local optimization practically guarantees being far from globally optimal: There are too many easy steps to advancement, and almost all of them are paths to a small-hill optimum.
We do the right thing because as human beings we should do the right thing especially when doing the right thing is hard and unpopular. This applies at the macro and the micro, both with not using the power/violence of government to impose your will/beliefs on others and with not being a jerk to the cashier at the restaurant you are eating at.
I've always said that if everyone was required to work in either retail or food & beverage for at least 1year (ie part-time when in high school ) the world would be a better place as people would be more respectful towards each other. I go out of my way to be polite to every food & beverage/retail employee I deal with and while it doesn't always pay off I can guarantee you I've most likely never been shorted or had my food tampered with. I can also testify to often being given the heads up on special sales/events, all from simply being nice to people who often get treated like crap.
It also helps that you can look yourself in the mirror later!
We do the right thing because as human beings we should do the right thing especially when doing the right thing is hard and unpopular. This applies at the macro and the micro, both with not using the power/violence of government to impose your will/beliefs on others and with not being a jerk to the cashier at the restaurant you are eating at.
I've always said that if everyone was required to work in either retail or food & beverage for at least 1year (ie part-time when in high school ) the world would be a better place as people would be more respectful towards each other. I go out of my way to be polite to every food & beverage/retail employee I deal with and while it doesn't always pay off I can guarantee you I've most likely never been shorted or had my food tampered with. I can also testify to often being given the heads up on special sales/events, all from simply being nice to people who often get treated like crap.