Has anyone else outgrown career progression as a status symbol?

No longer care about my title as long as I get paid well, have autonomy, not worked half to death, and treated like an adult. I only care about $$$ to the extent it gives me freedom and not upgrading my car.

Just like many millennial’s relationship with friends, social status, substance abuses, FOMO, etc have changed, so has my perspective compared to the ambitious < 35 year old I once was. A 25 year old me would have been impressed if they told me they were a partner at a law firm or a managing director at a bank. Now at 38 I roll my eyes at them (in my head) thinking they are wasting their lives. Not that career success is mutually exclusive with being a good person, but I mostly respect those who are good to others, responsible towards dependents (kids, aging parents, spouse, pets), and wise about life

To be fair, it’s not just age, covid lockdowns, bad employer behavior, inflation, and general absurdity of society has a lot to do with it too.