Positional Power.

We never credit the undercurrent for carrying us so swiftly; we credit ourselves, our talents, our skills. I was completely sure that it was my swimming ability that was carrying me out so swiftly that day. It did not matter that I knew in my heart that I was a very average swimmer, it did not matter that I knew that I should have worn a life jacket and flippers. On the way out, the idea of humility never occurred to me. It was only at the moment I turned back, when I had to go against the current, that I even realized the current existed.

Shankar Vedantam

You work.

Progress.

Get promoted.

Get rewarded.

Work harder.

Get promoted.

Watch others stagnate, fall back, leave.

Feels good.

Life’s good. You’re good.

A small slight. An injustice. A boss dumb decision.

You speak up. You question. You turn. You paddle.

Next thing, you’re treading water. Then going backwards. You paddle harder. You’re tiring. Why is it so hard just to stay afloat when it used to be so easy to move ahead?

As you sink, others effortlessly float past - riding the rip of positional power.