In 2005, Steve Jobs wrote to Adobe’s Bruce Chizen reminding him, less than politely, not to poach Apple employees. Back then, the handshake agreement across big tech was simple: don’t touch each other’s talent.

Fast forward 20 years: that gentleman’s agreement is long dead.

Today, the right employee is getting offered $250 million+ packages. Yes, million. Yes, plus.

That kind of compensation isn’t flying around Australia, regardless of how good you are. It’s not just about talent. It’s timing. It’s network. It’s geography. It’s luck. And sometimes it’s just being in the room when lightning strikes.

It got me thinking of an old mantra I’ve carried throughout my career:
You’re either earning or learning.

I’ve taken pay cuts. Jumped across sectors. Dropped levels in the public service. Switched cities. I’ve made more sideways moves than a chess-playing crab. But I did it to work with leaders I admired or to crack open a new industry I didn’t yet understand.

Not everyone can land the $250m job. But everyone can learn to earn, later if not now.

Australia may not have the market to create the next Silicon Valley superstar, but we’ve got plenty of opportunity for those willing to learn fast, move smart, and back themselves (even if it means a temporary step back).