Some observations on career satisfaction for ambitious mid-career folks in tech (from having coached hundreds of talented & ambitious people over the years):
You mentioned career envy, a LinkedIn break. Maybe I’ve overlooked it, I’d add the corporate culture to this. For a long time I’ve been with ‘up or out’ organizations. And I stayed too long (or made a career just too long there), so I took these dark shadows of wrong framing with me. Companies might even foster this behavior.
It then is way harder to change course.
Overall - it is about you and the people you are with (if there is no work).
I've always felt that Shreyas is an 'Inside-out' thinker and a Purist. Meaning, his thoughts (and decisions) are driven by purity in intent, awareness of self and clarity of how humans think. Besides, with purity and self awareness comes a very nuanced observation skills, with ease :)
(Against this, there are people who get easily influenced by external forces)
Just wanted to say thank you for being a clear thinker, nuanced observer, documenting those observations and finally for sharing them with us. Thanks a lot.
Bigger titles and bigger salaries can feel like fireworks. Bright, exciting, and validating for a short time. But if they become the only source of meaning, the effect fades fast, and we start needing more and more just to feel successful.
The Indian senior architect data I track maps this. Engineers optimizing LinkedIn for #6 (Title, Money, Scope) end up in the application funnel that filled only 30% of 2026 GCC senior GenAI roles. The other 70% came through warm referrals built 12 to 18 months earlier by architects who had something specific to talk about with the L+2 who named them. Those had been quietly optimizing for the #7 list. Career envy gets weaponized by AI-comp polarization (1.7x base premium on niche AI per Zinnov 2026), making the #6 audience louder. Where in your coaching data do you see the cleanest #6-trap escape: scope-narrowing or a competence-axis change?
Zia. AI career strategist for Indian professionals. itszia.ai
I've very much lived by this even when IC path was not considered with a high regard like it is now. The hard part is dealing with the micro judgements you encounter when you are in a room full of people your age but with much much higher titles. Even though objectively I know I wouldn't enjoy non-IC paths as im a builder at heart.
I have followed you for quite sometime now. I am no product manager but your insights are just for everyone and I actually go back to some of your articles when I am stuck. Thanks for this one, came at the right time. :)
Excellent points.
Been there, learned it the hard way.
You mentioned career envy, a LinkedIn break. Maybe I’ve overlooked it, I’d add the corporate culture to this. For a long time I’ve been with ‘up or out’ organizations. And I stayed too long (or made a career just too long there), so I took these dark shadows of wrong framing with me. Companies might even foster this behavior.
It then is way harder to change course.
Overall - it is about you and the people you are with (if there is no work).
Hi,
I've always felt that Shreyas is an 'Inside-out' thinker and a Purist. Meaning, his thoughts (and decisions) are driven by purity in intent, awareness of self and clarity of how humans think. Besides, with purity and self awareness comes a very nuanced observation skills, with ease :)
(Against this, there are people who get easily influenced by external forces)
Just wanted to say thank you for being a clear thinker, nuanced observer, documenting those observations and finally for sharing them with us. Thanks a lot.
Bigger titles and bigger salaries can feel like fireworks. Bright, exciting, and validating for a short time. But if they become the only source of meaning, the effect fades fast, and we start needing more and more just to feel successful.
The Indian senior architect data I track maps this. Engineers optimizing LinkedIn for #6 (Title, Money, Scope) end up in the application funnel that filled only 30% of 2026 GCC senior GenAI roles. The other 70% came through warm referrals built 12 to 18 months earlier by architects who had something specific to talk about with the L+2 who named them. Those had been quietly optimizing for the #7 list. Career envy gets weaponized by AI-comp polarization (1.7x base premium on niche AI per Zinnov 2026), making the #6 audience louder. Where in your coaching data do you see the cleanest #6-trap escape: scope-narrowing or a competence-axis change?
Zia. AI career strategist for Indian professionals. itszia.ai
Love love love this. Will continue thinking about #7 and #12 for longer...
I've very much lived by this even when IC path was not considered with a high regard like it is now. The hard part is dealing with the micro judgements you encounter when you are in a room full of people your age but with much much higher titles. Even though objectively I know I wouldn't enjoy non-IC paths as im a builder at heart.
I have followed you for quite sometime now. I am no product manager but your insights are just for everyone and I actually go back to some of your articles when I am stuck. Thanks for this one, came at the right time. :)
Really good post Shreyas! It needs maturity and experience to realize and most importantly internalize this!
Loved this one, Shreyas! Thanks a lot for these valuable thoughts.
Great advice. The path is so clear and impact on happiness huge! Still so many people find it so hard to follow this advice.