About 13 years ago, I began my first job at MegaCorp and it was an exciting and fulfilling time – lots of hard work paid off with good salary, stock vesting, and benefits such as 50% 401K match and much more.
As anyone who has worked at a MegaCorp (or any large organization, for that matter) knows, there can be an immense amount of external pressure to perform (whether numerical attainment or project work), including frequent one-on-one’s with your manager, self-promotion from peers, quarterly performance reviews with “360 degree feedback”, and the promise of promotion down the road. No matter your past history is, two subpar quarters in a row is enough for pressure to build up to become overwhelming – no matter if this time!
No matter how productive your company may be, internal pressure can also be immense. Being your own harshest critic and experiencing impostor syndrome are very real phenomena; and when progress slows or stops altogether, feelings of being behind can make working even longer hours necessary to catch up.
After spending several years at a much lower-paying non-profit, I recognized my relative wealth for what it was: something to cherish.
As I began this website and studied personal financial numbers more closely, I quickly recognized a unique opportunity before me and my colleagues. Research had demonstrated that the first decade of lifetime earnings is often crucial; once you reach 40’s it may even decrease!
So out of love and concern for my friends (including those who didn’t listen), I advised all who would listen (including some who wouldn’t): “Don’t waste this opportunity; save as much as you can now!”. Following my own advice, my personal savings rate reached 80- 90%+ annually.
After years have gone by, not as many heeded my advice and I take no joy in proclaiming my intuition was correct. Unfortunately, several friends hit walls and began withdrawing gradually… just a sample…
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