An IronExec is a methodical, disciplined lifter who attacks their lifting and their careers with everything they have. The IronExec is not however fixated on an end position. The IronExec of course will set goals and if done properly whether it is in business or lifting they will set SMART goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound. What the IronExec knows however is they won't lock in to an end state. Even if the goal is to be Mr Olympia or a world champion Powerlifter, even if they hit that goal, they don't stop. They keep pushing forward, always looking to improve.
It is this thirst for always improving with lifting that plays out in their careers. Instead of saying I want to be "insert perceived high status role" by this date and then possibly hitting it then never seeking another role in their life again, they continue to look for opportunities to get better. The IronExec doesn't set a goal of a specific role. They are constantly seeking opportunities to build their experiences, their capabilities and competencies. Just as the IronExec will always strive to perfect their squat technique or add another 5kg to their bench press, the IronExec in business is always looking for that opportunity to learn a new skill, to strengthen an existing one or to develop their capabilities. The IronExec that does this is then immune to the chance that they will seek only 1 path and potentially miss out on myriads of other opportunities. The IronExec that focuses on capability and experience building will always do better in the long run then those fixated on linear progression of their career. Even if someone could achieve this utopian view of linear progression, somewhere along the way, it is guaranteed, they will hit a situation they can't deal with. The reason this will happen is they have not experienced as broadly as the IronExec who seeks to master each role they work on, that is happy to take sidesteps to learn a new approach or skill set. This IronExec accumulates a wealth of experience that will hold them in great stead for when ambiguous or complex problems confront them.
The IronExec's career mirrors their lifting progression. No one, and I mean no one, has progressed their strength levels in a linear fashion for eternity. If this was the case we would be seeing 1000kg deadlifts and not the current 500kg record. For many their current 1RM max stalls, sometimes for years, but the IronExec persists, day after day, week after week, year after year, trying methodically new approaches and programs until they reignite to a new 1RM. The IronExec's career may be very similar. For what may seem like a long time the IronExec may feel they are stuck in a rut with their current job. They however give it everything they have just as they do with the lifting, day in day out until finally they break through to a new period of growth. Be it a promotion, a new role somewhere else in the organisation or a new career altogether. Whatever the shift is they have remained focused on getting better and learning each day. As a result they grow. If you take this approach who knows where you will end up? This is why the IronExec does not fixate on a title. The reason is they may set their aspiration to make Managing Director. However what happens if they actually are capable of becoming CEO instead but because they think they've "made it" when they hit MD level they shut down their hunger for capability building. Just as you shouldn't as an IronExec tell yourself that when I hit a double bodyweight squat "you've made it" because who knows, you may just have the capacity to hit a 3 or even 4 times bodyweight squat. The IronExec has an unyielding desire to improve and this is their primary focus each and every day. They don't look too far ahead, they just grind each and every day because they know the end result may far exceed even their wildest dreams.