It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way

This was the quote on my Starbucks cup today:

By the time executives get married, take on a mortgage, raise kids, cope with the crabgrass, climb the corporate ladder, do their best to manage career pressures, build their net worth and get into their 40s, they’ve lost touch with what they believe in and care about most deeply. -Allan Cox, CEO coach and author

I refuse to believe that it has to be this way, that you can’t have it all and be true to yourself. Then again, I’m not interested in most people’s definition of having it all. Do I want a satisfying career? Yes, but my goal is not to reach the top of the corporate ladder. I want to build my own ladder, chart my own course, and enjoy the journey with my family by my side.