It is difficult enough to navigate our competitive society. In order to be financially successful, lawyers and other professionals need to impress Judges, clients, colleagues, and opponents, with their ability and competence. Why do we complicate things by joining a hierarchy, such as a large corporation or institution, or Big Law, and then spend valuable living time trying to impress those higher than us in the hierarchy, and even those lower than us? What a waste of energy. What a waste of our precious little time on this earth? Mitch Albom said a wise thing, when he said:
If you're trying to show off for people at the top, forget it. They will look down on you anyhow. And if you're trying to show off for people at the bottom, forget it. They will only envy you. Status will get you nowhere. Only an open heart will allow you to float equally between everyone.β
Mitch Albom
This is actually a sister principle to the Stoic advice that we should never consider the opinion of others; but, to live our lives according to our own light. This is much easier to do in an environment where others have less of an effect on your life.