Hollis, thank you for a wonderful post and challenge. There are some of us from the "old school" who don't recommend as necessity "sticking to some long-held hierarchical path to achieve a pinnacle." Some pinnacles can't be achieved any other way. But I definitely agree with you that career satisfaction seldom comes with a gold watch any more. It comes more from pursuing your best and highest ideal with talent, either innate or learned. That's why I like to write about character-based leadership. Often the pinnacle you mention is a position and, at least to me, positional leadership drains. People want to join leaders who are moving and changing, rather than protecting a position, like you mention above.

Thanks again for a challenging post. You got me thinking, which is what I enjoy most about Lead Change! Mike...