I've been both those things, yes. Don't see much reason to deny that. I still am both of those things, I suppose, even temporarily displaced.
I've stood at the apex you mention, too. And while a lot of people think they want to do the same, I wonder how many of them actually appreciate what it means to be there. It's constant work and vigilance, and even if you climb to the highest of your sphere, you still have to contend with those who've done the same in spheres of their own. So in essence there is no true apex - just a bunch of bigwigs jostling up against each other in too small of a room, constantly playing a game of who they can afford to offend and who they have to play nice with. Power, wealth, happiness, freedom - you think that if you reach the top, you're granted these things in endless measure, only to find that there's a price to pay for all of them...at least, if you want to wake up at the apex again tomorrow. When the system breaks down, it takes you with it. So you do the maintenance, and you realize sooner or later that you're chained to the machine as much as anyone else.
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I've stood at the apex you mention, too. And while a lot of people think they want to do the same, I wonder how many of them actually appreciate what it means to be there. It's constant work and vigilance, and even if you climb to the highest of your sphere, you still have to contend with those who've done the same in spheres of their own. So in essence there is no true apex - just a bunch of bigwigs jostling up against each other in too small of a room, constantly playing a game of who they can afford to offend and who they have to play nice with. Power, wealth, happiness, freedom - you think that if you reach the top, you're granted these things in endless measure, only to find that there's a price to pay for all of them...at least, if you want to wake up at the apex again tomorrow. When the system breaks down, it takes you with it. So you do the maintenance, and you realize sooner or later that you're chained to the machine as much as anyone else.
But I'm sure it's different for you.