I think this is a great article explaining exactly why it's okay to step off the career progression ladder and say this is what I want to do.
The alternative is the Peter principle where you end up promoted upwards until you fail.
OP, I wonder if you had frank talks with your line management about your long term career trajectory or if this was a sudden realization?
We talked frequently but I always kept my reservations about continually moving up the ladder pretty hidden. It wasn't until this realization and acceptance that I finally was extremely open and frank about things.
> The alternative is the Peter principle where you end up promoted upwards until you fail.
I mean... to play devil’s advocate, if each promotion accelerates the compounding of your investments to the point where by the time you fail you’ve already reached financial independence, then oh well? Can always go back down the ladder or jump to different types of ladders at your convenience then.
I'd love to live in a world where failure is free, but this aint it. This seems like it has potential to poison your image and potentially harm others as well.