Friday, January 9th 2026, marks my 20th anniversary at Meta. I’m proud to have been there that long — but my longevity isn’t an accident.

I’ve never thought “follow your passion” was particularly good advice for young people. A better heuristic is “follow your skill.” Failure isn’t fun. Success is. And success is self-reinforcing. You get better, you enjoy the work more, and the loop tightens.

But skill alone isn’t enough to sustain stability. You also have to manage your energy — day-to-day, week-to-week, year-to-year.

Sacrificing your happiness for your company is almost always a short-term play. Eventually you burn out. Your work suffers. The company questions your judgment or your trajectory. Your options narrow. Resentment creeps in. No one wins.

At Meta, I’ve taken every single day of vacation I’ve ever been offered — and that’s saying something given our generous benefits. When I’m working, I’m more or less on call for anyone who needs me. But when I’m on vacation, I’m often unreachable. Every day I prioritize time with my family. Every week I make time for creative pursuits. Every year I travel with loved ones.

That isn’t indulgence. It’s maintenance. The key to longevity is learning to love the work and the life around it.