David wasn’t just good at his job. He was exceptional. For five years, he was the go-to person for every major initiative. He delivered projects ahead of schedule, mentored new hires, and consistently ranked among the top 1% of performers at his 8,000-employee company. Most importantly, he was engaged in his work. After a private equity acquisition in late 2023, the company reorganized and David spent his days duplicating colleagues’ work.