The Peter Principle describes what can happen when an employee does well in one job and is subsequently promoted to another job. This continues up and until the employee is put in a position where she stops performing well and is, therefore, left in a place where she is incompetent. It points to an underlying truth.
Peter in the office
In the 1999 movie Office Space, the main character named Peter works hard but cannot get ahead
- It’s only when he refuses to work overtime, plays games at his desk, and incessantly misses work that he gets promoted to a managerial position
- Peter and his friends are observing real corporate incompetence in action
How not to Peter out
Commit to continuous learning
- Many lessons are available online for free or for a nominal fee
- You can watch/listen to lectures on your phone during your lunch break or commute
- This may take some effort, but getting at the knowledge is easier than ever with continued learning
What are you really good at?
Devote yourself to continuous learning while at the same time being mindful of your natural talents and you too can avoid stagnation and self-satire
- You can rise and rise and never find the level of your incompetence
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