Love What You Do

Sustaining a two-decade career at Meta isn't magic; it's a disciplined practice of aligning what you do with the skills you have and the energy you can sustain. The author argues that "follow your skill" beats the cliché "follow your passion" because skill directly translates into impact and satisfaction, creating a self-reinforcing loop of better performance and more enjoyment.

Energy management is the second pillar. The piece details a personal regimen: take every vacation day offered, treat time off as non-negotiable, and carve out weekly creative pursuits and yearly travel. By treating these breaks as maintenance rather than indulgence, the risk of burnout drops dramatically, preserving both personal well-being and work quality.

The core takeaway for leaders is to model this balance for their teams. When managers enforce real downtime and encourage employees to develop marketable skills, they build a culture where longevity is the norm, not the exception. This directly combats burnout and fuels career growth across the organization.