The Business Will Run Without YOU

I hope you read this post with an open mind, and don't get offended; though, these powerful words of wisdom from one of my credible career mentors who is an alumni of Stanford University are worth sharing. He gave this sound advice today:

"As much as I love seeing you working hard every day, I will also be pleased to see that you are living a balanced life. You see, no matter how amazing you are, you can be replaced by someone younger and vibrant someday. I can be replaced by another good leader when my time is up. The business will run even if you, or I, are no longer here. Yes, we all want to be part of something that is successful and something that would make a great impression on our CV. But you know what else is more spectacular? Your life.

Corporations that do not empathize with the actual meaning of life tends to allow their employees to serve them and drain their staff until they are no longer inspired. They instill the belief that when the company is earning a lot of money and recognition, the staff earns the same as well. But we both know that is untrue. That is why, even during the busiest seasons and a manager feels burnt out, we ask him or her to take a week or two off, and we manage without them. Like I said, the business will still run without you. What you are doing now is a contribution to someone else's promotion someday, just as what the person before you did when she was in your position.

If the business is not yours, you are not entitled to anything besides your salary, allowances, and vacation days. So take it, and don't feel guilty when you leave your work behind for a few weeks. You earned it by working hard helping the company gain its profit. I repeat, THE BUSINESS WILL RUN WITHOUT YOU. If you want to feel especially entitled with your career, then start your own business; and even then, you will still get replaced by your son or daughter who is next in line to your throne once you're old. Your actual wealth lies not in the amount of money you make, but in the quality of life you build--and leave behind."

Xoxo.