I landed an easy job at Amazon after years of hard work. I felt deeply guilty until I realized it could be a strategic move.
Years into her Amazon career, Kristi Coulter found herself coasting in an easy role that played to her strengths. Photo courtesy of Kristi Coulter; Getty Images; Alyssa Powell/BI Kristi Coulter was working at Amazon when she found herself in an unexpectedly easy role. She enjoyed less stress and a better work-life balance in the job, but felt guilty about coasting. Coasting gave her the chance to be confident, effective, and a better employee, she realized. One bright April afternoon several years ago, I strolled to my desk at Amazon in Seattle , freshly showered and sipping the smoothie I'd grabbed after my four-mile run. I greeted my officemate and re-reviewed the agenda for my next meeting. I already felt prepared, so I used the 20 minutes before it started to make a few thoughtful edits to a proposal due the next week and to order flowers for a friend who'd just had surgery. Don't look too relaxed, I warned myself. Just in case anyone passed by, I frowned at