The Great “I’m Worth It” Debate

Alright, so picture this: I’m fresh out of college, fully equipped with a diploma and enough self-confidence to power a small city. I land my first “real” job in a sleek, modern office—the kind that offers kombucha on tap and meditation breaks. I’m young, ambitious, and naturally, convinced that my contributions to this world should be met with immediate respect, financial reward, and perhaps an engraved nameplate on the door. I was practically owed my first promotion. You know, the usual post-grad entitlement, right?

A few months in, I start eyeing a coveted promotion that I think I’m perfect for. Sure, the position calls for five years of experience, but let’s be honest, my recent group project on business analytics was close enough. So, one day, in a moment of pure gumption (or delusion), I saunter into my manager’s office, drop into the chair, and say, “I’m ready to discuss my promotion. Let’s make it happen.”

She blinked. Once. Twice. Then, trying to keep a straight face, she asked, “What makes you think you’re ready for this?” Without missing a beat, I launched into a monologue about my untapped potential, my creative ideas, and the fresh perspective I brought to the team—because, obviously, no one else could possibly think of the things I do.

She nodded politely, let me finish, and then laid down the reality check. “You’re doing great work for someone at your level, but experience takes time. Stick with it, and there’s no doubt you’ll go far.” Translation: no promotion. I was floored. How could she not see it? I had contributed at least two viable ideas during meetings that month!

After that, I took a beat, re-evaluated, and realized, maybe I’d skipped a few steps. Lesson learned: entitlement doesn’t pay the bills or land promotions, but it sure makes for a funny story later on.