It’s a Contract, But Not a Marriage Contract

Let’s get this out of the way:

Working in corporate is not some lifetime vow.

You didn’t marry your employer.

You entered into a transaction.

You give something.

They give something back.

That’s it.

This is not about loyalty, or love, or sacrifice.

This is about value exchange. And you’re allowed — encouraged — to re-evaluate the deal at any time.

What You Bring. What You Get.

At its simplest, your side of the transaction is:

• Your time

• Your focus

• Your skill set

• Your commitment to results

And what you get in return:

• A salary

• Benefits

• A job title

• Growth (maybe)

• Recognition (ideally)

That’s the deal.

It’s not emotional. It’s not permanent.

And it’s not supposed to be based on unspoken hope or blind loyalty.

It’s an active agreement — a working contract that only makes sense if it continues to work for both sides.

You Are Not Bound. You Are Engaged — For Now.

You’re allowed to change. So is the company.

Sometimes you give more, and it’s worth it.

Sometimes they take more, and it’s not.

Sometimes you realize the math just doesn’t add up anymore.

That’s not betrayal.

That’s just a mismatch in the terms of the deal.

And guess what? You are allowed to renegotiate.

To push for more.

To say, “This doesn’t work for me anymore.”

You’re allowed to leave.

You don’t owe them “till death do us part.”

This is a job. Not a joint bank account and matching towels.

If You’re Going to Give More — Make Sure It’s Explicit

Want a promotion?

Ready to stretch yourself?

Willing to take on more responsibility?

Great. But don’t just quietly over-deliver and hope someone notices.

This is still a transaction.

If you’re putting more into the deal, it should be:

• Done with intention

• Communicated clearly

• Tied to a specific outcome

Say it plainly:

“I’m going to take on X because I want to move into Y. Let’s agree on what that path looks like if I deliver.”

That’s how you build toward the career you want — not by hoping your manager connects the dots for you.

There’s No Downside to Advocating for Yourself

Let’s be really clear:

There is no downside to negotiating for your value to be recognized and compensated fairly.

When you advocate for a better transaction, one of two things happens:

• You get closer to the balance you’re asking for

• You get information that helps you make a clearer, stronger decision about what comes next

Both are wins.

You either make progress toward what you want, or you get confirmation that it’s time to look elsewhere. Either way, you’re not stuck guessing.

You Are in Control of Your Side of the Deal

You don’t get to control everything in corporate.

Budgets change. Priorities shift. Leadership turns over.

But you do control:

• How you show up

• What you contribute

• The clarity you ask for

• The goals you set

• The value you measure

And if the value you’re delivering consistently outweighs what you’re getting back?

Say something.

Advocate. Negotiate. Or, when it’s time, exit the agreement and look for a better one.

This Is Not a Life Sentence. It’s a Business Arrangement.

So let’s stop pretending that staying in a job is an act of loyalty.

And let’s stop feeling guilty when we admit a role no longer works for us.

This is a contract. A deal. A mutually beneficial arrangement.

And if it’s no longer mutually beneficial?

You don’t owe anyone a lifetime of trying to make it work.

You owe yourself a career that does.

Action Required:

Start treating your job like what it actually is: a contract. Not a lifelong commitment.

Ask yourself:

• Am I over-investing emotionally in something that’s transactional by design?

• What expectations have I placed on my job that it never agreed to?

• What would shift if I saw this role as a two-way exchange instead of an identity?

Then do one thing this week to rebalance the relationship:

• Revisit your job description and assess if you're delivering (and if you're being met halfway).

• Check your boundaries — are you over-giving in hopes of being “chosen”?

• Identify one way to advocate for yourself like a business partner, not a loyal subject.

Remember: loyalty is a value. But in business, value is mutual — or it isn’t sustainable.