I started my working life in 1980 right out of High School.  Over the next 4 decades, I worked in numerous companies and roles, not always with increasing responsibility. These are some of the more important lessons I picked up along the way. The benefits of learning discipline and rigor early in your career. Being flexible but doing what makes sense. It's not enough to work hard and do the job, you have to differentiate yourself against your peers. Sometimes you may not be the most knowledgeable, but never underestimate passion and desire.  It's easy to acquire job knowledge.  It's much harder to be passionate. Take your career into your own hands.  Don't wait or expect someone else to manage your career for you. Build a great network early and continuously. Build your credibility, but make sure other people know how good you are too. Find things that motivate you, but don't let them define you.  Be open to new possibilities. Become known as the "go-to" person who can get anything done.  A broad set of transferable skills really helps. Have the courage to take bold career moves.  But manage your stakeholders each and every day.  If you wait till "evaluation day", it's too late. Things are not always as bad as they seem​. Never play a bad hand​. As a Senior Leader, you are expected to change the status-quo​. The need to be resilient in the face of challenge and difficulty. The value of partnering with a great leader​. The value of great leadership skills​. The value of a high trust relationship​. An upward career path may not be the most important thing.  Why you come to work is the most important thing. Know why you come to work​.  It's probably because of that project or analysis that needs to get done. Know what makes you happy at work.