> The FAANGs and similar corporate environments and even academia have unhealthily competitive "up or out" cultures.
If given a choice between "up or out" and "up" is not what one wants to do (for whatever reasons), then "out" is the only path which might lead to happiness, as "here" is not an option allowed.
Completely true. Not for all of them, but at least one.
> ... people are simply not allowed to not care about success or they'll get washed out because of low promotion velocity.
And you state:
> Simply untrue. FAANG would be _very_ happy to not have to promote.
So how is what I wrote; "Simply untrue"? Or did you mean to reply to the GP and not me?
I’m not sure why you came up with this statement, I’d love an explanation. Certainly people are apathetic about many things at FAANG, but they are rarely apathetic about their own career. No one is particularly happy about “coasters” (people who may or may not be coasting but aren’t playing “the game”) who are quite frankly singled out for victimization and almost everyone would rather that they quit.
- "No one is particularly happy about “coasters”" - your word, your assertion
- quite frankly singled out for victimization and almost everyone would rather that they quit: I could see it, heard horror stories about Amazon, Google had great work/life balance. It absolutely was not expected you were busting ass for promo. Infamously you'd usually get a better grade by doing less. It was a "don't like tryhards" culture.
You're doing it wrong. This is about politics, not happiness. If you aren't moving up, then you're a loser like the rest of us. Have to climb for power and money.
Perhaps I am, perhaps not. It depends on what one values I suppose.
> This is about politics, not happiness. If you aren't moving up, then you're a loser like the rest of us. Have to climb for power and money.
"Power and money" are antithetical to happiness. Ultimately, one can choose to pursue the former, the latter, or neither, but not both. Which is "better" is of course subjective and the subject of much thought by philosophers for millennia.
Choose wisely.
See Peter Principle, etc...
He (IC5) clearly was not interested. He was happy with the pay and did not want all the other BS/Responsibilities that comes with Staff.