A Thirst for Growth

It was around this time that my drive for growth became insatiable. I started to feel stuck in a routine: writing code, doing code reviews, moving Jira tickets from one status to another, managing releases – over and over again. I wasn’t getting the same satisfaction anymore. The IT market in Romania was moving at lightning speed, with new companies setting up shop in Bucharest. I wasn’t fully aware of the different types of companies – product, services, consulting, or even tech-enabled e-commerce – but I was drawn to the big names.

Then, one day, I got a message from someone at German Bank. They were opening a new technology center in Bucharest, and I was intrigued. Working for a German company? That seemed like a dream. All I associated with Germany back then was their obsession with quality, punctuality, and respect. Not to mention, I hoped one day I’d own one of those German cars I admired so much.

This led me to accept my first interview invitation in three years. The last one had been the start of my career, and this felt like the next big step. Now that I think about it, it connects perfectly with what a CEO mentioned to me recently: successful people change roles or jobs every three years. Staying in the same role too long means you start getting comfortable, and comfort rarely leads to growth.

His theory was that after two or three years, you become 90% efficient in a role. Reaching 100% takes longer, but switching roles before then bumps you back down to 30% and forces rapid growth to reach that 90% mark again. This constant resetting keeps you sharp, pushing you to develop and perform at your best. And, looking back, I realize I’ve never stayed in one role for more than three years. I’ve been with the same company for longer, but I’ve always shifted roles.

It’s funny how things work out, even when you don’t realize it. This mindset, even if I didn’t know it at the time, has paid off both professionally and personally. Growth isn’t just about mastering your current job – it’s about pushing yourself into new challenges, staying curious, and never letting yourself get too comfortable.