If money is by far your top priority, sure. But the shortest path to the title might be a miserable one filled with politics, stressful high visibility projects with ton of micro management and extra hours.
In the meantime, I went from junior to principal on a slightly longer path but I side stepped most of the downsides of the shortest path.
I would even argue that because I was less pressured and overworked, I had the energy and excitement necessary to get involved with more initiatives and was perceived as more productive than some of my peers who were powering through massive features!
You can think of it as the 80/20 rule or "Slow and steady win the race."
In the meantime, I went from junior to principal on a slightly longer path but I side stepped most of the downsides of the shortest path.
I would even argue that because I was less pressured and overworked, I had the energy and excitement necessary to get involved with more initiatives and was perceived as more productive than some of my peers who were powering through massive features!
You can think of it as the 80/20 rule or "Slow and steady win the race."