How do you define yourself?
What are your real career objectives?
What are your “inner life” objectives.
Are you aware of the rich, deep solar system of your mind, your heart, your emotions, and your cognitive resources?
Do you love your work?
Does your work enhance your sense of self and your core person?
Do you honor your intellectual and creative passions?
When your career winds down, what will be the ultimate measures of your success?
Is there a top to the mountain, or will you forever measure yourself by someone else’s peak?
If your long-term vision is a bit hazy, it is not entirely your fault. Wall Street is not always perceived as being rational when it comes to rewarding performance.
For instance, according to an article by business reporter Andrew Lo in the Oct. 9, 2009, issue of the New York Times, in the midst of the dramatic downturn, “Despite the public sentiment surrounding finance-industry payout, the fact is that no one objects to paying for performance. We just want to make sure we’re not getting fleeced or paying for pure dumb luck, and that’s where the problem lies.”[1] [1] “Radical Reform of Executive Pay,” by Andrew Lo, NY Times, Oct. 9, 2009.