I got this from Janel's newsletter for the curious. Check it out here

Don't fall for the promotion trap in your career. 

"To get promoted, you need to show a track record of “wins” leading up to the decision. This incentivizes more focus on “looking good” than “getting good”. There’s rarely a prize for doing things the hard way. Why work on gnarly problems when you can score a series of layups?

The shame is not in playing the game. The shame is being so focused on constant validation that you lose the courage to try new things." 

It's never too late to change your approach. 

Remember that everyone is playing different games, and the best one to play your own. Because only intrinsic motivations last.