Men in great place are thrice servants,—servants of the sovereign or state, servants of fame, and servants of business.

Moving up into a position of power buys less freedom than it appears to, and usually less than the person had before. You answer to whoever put you there, to your reputation, which now has to be maintained daily, and to the work, which no longer waits for your convenience. From outside it looks like command; from inside it is a set of obligations that arrive without being asked for.

Before taking the next step up, be specific about what it costs in hours, attention and freedom to say no. If you already hold such a position, decide which master you will sometimes disappoint, because all three cannot be satisfied.