Promotions matter.
But none of them tells the whole story.
A stronger measure is the person you’ve become through the work.
Can you handle more ambiguity?
Can you solve less familiar problems?
Can you make better decisions?
Can you communicate more clearly?
Can you see the bigger picture?
Can you work with different kinds of people?
Can you recover when things go wrong?
Can you take ownership without needing constant instructions?
Can you teach others what you’ve learned?
Can you take what you’ve learned somewhere else?
If the answer to several of those questions is yes, your daily work is probably doing something important for your career.
You’re not simply accumulating years.
You’re accumulating capability.
And eventually, that capability becomes what gives you the freedom to take on better problems, pursue different opportunities, and decide what you want your next stage of work to look like.