124: ”Are You Climbing a Ladder You Don’t Even Want to Be On?” ft. Alli Murphy

When Alli Murphy’s “not-an-SVP” LinkedIn post sparked hundreds of comments and DMs, it revealed something deeper: a quiet crisis around success.

In this episode, Erik and returning co-host Alli unpack the generational tension around achievement, the invisible scripts we inherit about status and ambition, and why more leaders are choosing flexibility over prestige.

From corporate ladders to ski days on Tuesdays, this conversation challenges the default definitions of success—and offers a more intentional path forward.

🧭 Conversation Highlights

• The Viral Post That Hit a Nerve
   Alli’s LinkedIn post—“I’m not an SVP. I don’t own a Rivian…”—unlocked a flood of responses from women reconsidering what success actually means.
• The Corporate Ladder Awakening
   Erik shares his realization as a sales leader: the higher he looked up the ladder, the less he wanted the lives attached to those roles.
• The Generational Disconnect
   Millennials are the first generation whose childhood blueprint doesn’t map to adult reality. The rules changed—and no one told us.
• Lifestyle as Success
   If you can ski midweek, take your kid to school, or grab lunch with your spouse on a Tuesday—you might already be “there.”
• Redefining Leadership in the Workplace
   As millennials and Gen Z reshape the workforce, flexibility, autonomy, and clarity around non-negotiables are becoming the new currency.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Success without alignment leads to quiet resentment—even if it looks impressive on paper.
• Generational shifts aren’t weaknesses; they’re context.
• Flexibility is more than hours and salary—there are multiple levers leaders can use to attract and retain talent.
• You must define success for yourself—or risk chasing someone else’s version forever.
• Leaders who understand what motivates their people can unlock performance without sacrificing humanity.

❓ Questions That Mattered

• What version of success did you inherit—and is it still serving you?
• If you stripped away titles and optics, what would “winning” look like for you?
• What are your non-negotiables now that weren’t before?
• How can organizations design roles that reflect real life—not outdated paradigms?
• Are you climbing a ladder you don’t even want to be on?

🗣️ Notable Quotes

“If you can take your wife to lunch on a Tuesday, you’ve already arrived.”

“A lot of what we saw growing up doesn’t map to the world we actually live in.”

“You don’t have to want what society tells you to want.”

“There are more levers in work than just hours and pay.”

🔗 Links & Resources

• Listen to other episodes co-hosted with Alli