Run Your Own Race

Navigating your career by sticking to your own yardstick

When I first graduated from college, I had a friend at work who was my age. We started in the same role and leaned on each other as young new grads. He was extremely smart and driven, and I valued his perspective, advice, and insight. As the years wore on, our career paths started to diverge. We both left the company we started at, pursued new roles, and took on different challenges. He became a VC and I stayed in product. He moved from city to city while I largely stayed put. When we’d catch up every once in awhile, I couldn’t help but notice a growing sense of judgement from him around my career choices. I’d tell him about securing an offer for what I thought was an exciting job opportunity and he’d counter with a disappointed look, bordering on condescension. I couldn’t help but feel like I was letting him down and worse, wasting my potential. I knew he believed in me and I hated feeling like no matter what opportunity I pursued now, I always seemed to be in the wrong lane.

But as I reflected on the life decisions I might make differently if given the chance, I didn’t have much to do over; the choices I’ve made have always felt right for me and my goals at the time. While I had regrets like anyone else on a micro level (that outfit last week, my nail polish color, dining at that terrible…