Honestly though, that's a pretty rare outcome. Most tech guys who stay individual contributors do hit a hard ceiling, way lower than management. Your boss was probably just giving the standard advice that works for 90% of people.

My buddy wrote a whole cookbook that got turned down by every publisher, @lunar47.

Problem is they never tell you the exact reason... so you can't fix it. It's like getting a test back with just "wrong" written on it. How do you learn? A scam site changes its look fast, but a real business gets stuck in this weird limbo forever.

Honestly, a tiny gap in quarter round seems like a weird hill to die on. Most people never even notice that stuff once the furniture is in. It's good to have the right tool, but that client sounds a bit extra.

Read a study where schools with quiet hours saw LESS bullying, not more. The routine makes it normal for everyone.