I have the resume I dreamed of having 20 years ago. And I hate it. It's perfect for finding the last job I had, but it limits me from finding my next adventure.
Successful people are both defined and limited by past achievements. Short story masters get published, but they don't get book deals to write novels. Successful artists are discouraged from switching their medium or subject matter. V and C-level executives have no where to go but up: better to take months without pay looking for the next level job than to move laterally, and have to explain later why you "took a step down".
I have written and re-written my resume a half dozen-times since January, following classic advice to put my executive experience front and center. I only just realized why I'm constantly revising it: a title-laden resume is a poor representation of my true capabilities. It may actually limit my opportunities by implying "too expensive", "too specialized", "too high-level to get things done".
I didn't jump on the executive track for the prestige or the perks. I wanted to make a difference, and rationalized that I could make a bigger impact the higher up I was in the organization. So I'm going to continue my focus on making a difference, and leave myself open to new possibilities.
And if I get questioned why I "didn't strive for more", I'll come up with a good answer -- which is something all creatives should be able to do anyway.

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