On The Impacting of Ceilings

I ran into a ceiling again yesterday.

It was not a 100% surprise.  Something I had suspected for sometime.  Still, the actual impact of the reality hurts.

What does one do in such a case?  Sure, you hear the usual responses:  "Doing a fine job.  Everyone is happy with what you are doing.  It is just that...well, this is from the highest levels.  Outside experience is needed."  It still buns a bit of course - after all, the apparent reality is that the ceiling is in place and nothing that you can do will change it.

The demotivation is almost instant, of course.  It feels as if one's entire efforts are spent in trying achieve things that simply will never be.  One aims at the targets that one thinks are the targets to be aimed at, only to find that such targets are not at all what the key seems to be to advancement.  Competence in career and a sincere effort in keeping things going is not enough - it is merely assumed.

I was, as you can imagine, depressed.  And then, from a friend, this:

"Push your own agenda" was his accompanying statement.

And then, it made perfect sense.  If no-one is going to promote you, work at promoting yourself.

100% room to grow.  Not dependent on the goodwill and charity of others.

And certainly, the only ceilings one finds are the ceilings one builds one's self.