Recently, The Confessor and I have gotten turned on to Penelope Trunk, a career writer who calls herself "The Brazen Careerist". I love the things she has to say and I am proud that she is out there unafraid to tell it like it is and help change the workplace climate for the better. First of all, she's out there challenging things, and second of all, she was recently interviewed by Guy Kawasaki. This gets tons of points in my book because I LOVE Guy Kawasaki and if you ever have a chance to hear him speak, listen! He has some great perspectives on careers and life.

Anyway, as I was saying, I came across one of her blog articles titled "Getting a promotion is so last century" and loved what I read. Here's an excerpt:

Instead of letting last century’s carrots dictate your workplace rewards, think about what is right for you, right now. What do you really need? You don’t need a promotion. It’s something else. Think about what would really make a difference in your life and then make it happen.

She also refers to job titles as "accoutrements of hierarchy in a nonhierarchical workforce". RIGHT ON PENELOPE!

This is what I've said all along! I've always told people there was no way I wanted to move up in the company. I have no desire whatsoever to move up the corporate ladder. NONE. People have said to me "Well, is that what you say as an excuse because you're not going to get a promotion?". Sure, I might think that too, if I was narrow minded.

The truth is that, I'm a very hard worker who takes pride in her work. I've been approached about promotions before and I've been groomed since childhood that that's what you do: you go to school, get a job and move up the ladder. But I've come to realize that I care much more about my sanity. I care much more about not being taken advantage of by a company and I care much more about my stress level. I'm also hip enough to know that a promotion means jack squat in the grand scheme of things. It means you spend years upon years as a middle manager. It means you have tons of added responsibility with disproportional amounts of salary increases. It means you have to sacrifice more than a fair share of your life to the company. It means you are a animal who perpetually chases it's own tail.

And most of all it doesn't mean that you are safe from outsourcing, offshoring, downsizing or otherwise being pissed on by a company.

Now, to be clear, I'm not suggesting that you don't work hard and I'm not suggesting that hard work does not deserve to be rewarded. But consider other options besides being a zombie and climbing the ladder though meaningless promotions. Instead of a promotion or meager salary increase, Penelope suggests asking for more flex time, a bigger training budget for yourself or a mentor within the company. These mean more for you in the long run and are more valuable that a crappy 4% raise that means nothing after taxes.

And I agree---especially on the flex time part. Be your own crusader. Crusade for your own cause. No one is going to say, "You know John, you've done such a great job, you deserve more flex time". You've got to ask for it. You've got to be the one that carves out your own type of promotion and make it work for you.

Now, if you're reading this and you've ever gotten a promotion, are trying for a promotion or are any step above a peon, please don't take offense or think, "Hey...!". The promotions I am referring to are the ones that don't mean anything---the ones that come with a nominal salary increase. The ones that exist in Corporate America between cubicle dweller and CEO and are just another rung on the ladder. If you were an Administrative Assistant and you got promoted to Graphic Designer because that's what you've always wanted to do---then I say congratulations to that! That's the type of path I applaud, because you're going after what your heart desires and you aren't chasing an elusive carrot.

And if by chance, you're reading this and you hold one of those middle ladder positions, well...um...uh...good for you? The fact that you're on JobSchmob at all gives me hope for you yet!