Don’t Chase Titles. Build Something That Outlasts Them.

The Seduction of Status 

“What do you do?” 

“I’m the [insert title here].” 

In our culture, the title often is the identity. From classroom to boardroom, from teacher to  superintendent, we’re conditioned to climb — to chase the next step on the ladder, the next  title on the business card. 

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: 

Titles are rented. Legacy is owned. 

A LinkedIn headline may open doors, but what remains when the title is gone? Who are you  without the badge? What endures when the meeting invites stop? 

The Status Trap 

Many leaders don’t recognize they’re caught in the 'status trap' until they leave the position  that once defined them. 

A Harvard Business Review article titled 'Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become  Leaders?' highlights how leadership selection often rewards confidence and titles over  competence and contribution. Gallup research reports that only 18% of managers  demonstrate a high level of talent for managing others, yet titles continue to serve as the  primary filter for influence and hiring.

In education leadership, this can be even more pronounced. Superintendents, principals,  and administrators spend decades rising through the ranks — but few are prepared for  what happens when the business card changes. 

As Dr. Marshall Goldsmith famously put it: 'What got you here won’t get you there.' 

When the Title Fades — What’s Left? 

I’ve had the privilege of coaching, collaborating with, and learning from some of the  brightest minds in education and leadership. The story repeats itself: 

The outgoing superintendent who assumed their phone would keep ringing after  retirement — only to be met with silence. 

The award-winning educator who, after leaving the district, suddenly found their network  growing cold. 

Because too many of us invest in roles, not in relationships. In status, not in substance. 

Identity Beyond the Business Card 

A study from the American Psychological Association found that retirees who strongly  identified with their former work role reported higher levels of anxiety and depression  post-retirement compared to those with broader identities tied to purpose, community, or  mission. 

Sociologist Helen Rose Fuchs Ebaugh’s research on role exit shows that without intentional  redefinition, transitions out of high-status roles often result in a crisis of identity. 

But identity isn’t the title you hold. It’s the impact you create. 

Legacy Over Titles — What Lasts? 

Here’s the shift: 

Stop asking, 'What’s my next title?' 

Start asking, 'What’s the body of work I’m leaving behind?' 

Legacy isn’t accidental. It’s designed. 

It looks like: 

• Systems that run without your name at the top of the org chart. 

• Leaders you mentored who now lead others. 

• Ideas that ripple beyond your presence. 

• A platform that allows you to keep showing up and serving — regardless of title.

Stephen Covey called it 'beginning with the end in mind.' 

Clayton Christensen, in his lecture 'How Will You Measure Your Life?', warned that many  high-achievers end up climbing the ladder only to realize it was leaning against the wrong  wall. 

My Story 

I know this because I lived it. 

After years of chasing what felt like the right steps — from teacher of the year to  administrator — I began asking the same hard questions I now pose to my clients: 'What if the work that matters most is what comes after the title?' 

Breaking the Bell™, The Next Chapter™ — these weren’t just business ideas. They were my  answer to the question: 

How do I build something that outlasts the roles I’ve held? 

How to Start Building What Outlasts You 

Some practical steps for readers: 

• Audit your relationships. Are they tied to your title, or your true value? • Clarify your intellectual property. What frameworks, models, or methods do you own? • Shift from operator to architect. Could your knowledge scale beyond your direct  involvement? 

• Invest in mentorship, not management. Who will lead because of you — not just work  for you? 

Final Thought: 

Stop chasing titles. 

Start building something that outlasts them. 

If you’ve felt that quiet shift — the sense that this can’t be it — you’re not alone. And you’re not finished. 

The question isn’t what’s your next role? 

The question is: 

What will remain because you were here? 

Are you ready to design what’s next? 

Let’s talk real next chapters. 

Visit: www.breakingthebell.com