If the term “golden handcuffs” resonates with you, you’ve either experienced sporting a pair of these (or perhaps still are), or know someone who has. If you’re not familiar, well, you’re actually the more fortunate one in this scenario.
Nobody intentionally puts themselves in this situation. You nurture your talents, build your skill set, get in with a growing organization that provides a great compensation package, and before you know if, if you’re good at what you do, your seniority and salary have continued to increase. And right now you’re asking yourself, “So what’s the problem here?”
There may not be a problem, if the organization you’ve dedicated yourself to is just as dedicated to you. If the organization shares your values, and exhibits those values to a degree that you feel good about the work you do and where you do it, then a great compensation package is really the added bonus. You enjoy your life and the lifestyle you’ve earned. But what if this isn’t how you feel? Enter stage left…
The “golden handcuffs”, a stealth and deceptive villain, slips into the story and goes unnoticed for quite a while. Then one day, something happens and it hits you that you aren’t in alignment with how your organization operates, or with the values (or lack thereof) that colleagues or leadership demonstrate. You no longer feel good about what you do or where you do it, but yet you stay anyway.
Sure, you enjoy the lifestyle the robust compensation package provides, but what if you suddenly realize you’ve been sacrificing a joyful life for that lifestyle? If so, you might want to look down for a minute. Try not to panic, but there they are – the golden handcuffs. How do you get out??
You are the one who has the key, you just need to have the courage to use it. Make a change. You may not find that same financial compensation package, but if your values align and you feel valued, that payoff is much bigger.
Again, if you are truly happy with your LIFE, not just the lifestyle, then relax and enjoy! But if you have to make a choice between the two, a joyful life beats a flashy lifestyle any day of the week.