But I do know some people who can't do that, for whatever reason.
The first half of my career, I was just reaching, reaching, reaching for the next rung of the corporate ladder. Then, a miracle disguised as a wicked curveball flew across the plate: my company got taken over and it gave me an opportunity to stop and think hard about why I was striving so hard for position and recognition. I realized a good bit of it was tied up in self-esteem and daddy issues, so I left for a different company and recalibrated. I still worked my arse off, but this time passing up promotion after promotion and instead focusing on working rewarding projects...and ones that generated bigger bonuses for me to retire early.
My original peers zoomed passed me in titles and, presumably given my early retirement, zeroes in the investment accounts -- and that's ok by me. Occasionally, the competitive little voice in my head starts whispering about how far up the ladder I could have gone. Then I grin, thinking about all the silly, goofy-arse sheet I've done with my grandsons over the past seven years, and I put that voice back in the closet where I keep all my other little childhood insecurities.