Several folks in my group are celebrating their anniversaries this week — many with 7+ years at Airbnb — and multiple are entering or able to enter the Decade Club (10 years!). That’s an incredible milestone. It got me thinking: how do people stay at one place for so long and still feel like they’re growing? Especially in Silicon Valley, where it’s common for people to switch jobs every 3–4 years (or even sooner).
I’m personally also staying at Airbnb for many years. Staying doesn’t have to mean standing still. In fact, some of the most meaningful growth comes from evolving inside a familiar environment. I’ve been reflecting on this lately a lot and summarized four ideas that I hope will inspire you:
☀️ Iteration, not repetition
Repetition keeps you steady, but iteration keeps you moving forward. Growth comes from improving what you already know — whether that’s experimenting with a new approach, improving existing system, or setting stretch goals with your manager that push you just beyond your comfort zone. Iteration is what turns experience into momentum. ("Iteration, not repetition" is from Naval Ravikant, https://amzn.to/3JtJQhU)
☀️ Build systems, not emotions
Motivation alone can feel like a rollercoaster. Some days you’re inspired, other days you’re not. Instead, create systems that compound over time: operating procedures, checklists, or workflows that make progress repeatable. When challenges come up (and they always do), use them as signals to strengthen your system instead of letting them drain you. The system evolves - and you grow with it.
☀️ Embrace AI
One of the best ways to keep growing is to stay curious about how new tools can reshape your industry. For example, AI is opening up opportunities to solve problems in entirely new ways — from tackling hard security challenges to rethinking old workflows. Learning how AI (and other emerging technologies) can apply to your work keeps you not only relevant, but ahead of the curve.
☀️ Practice gratitude — and make your work visible
Taking the time to express gratitude to teamates, peers, managers, builds stronger connections and creates a culture where everyone can thrive. At the same time, don’t let your own work go unseen. Share your impact, collaborate openly, and invite feedback. Recognition isn’t about ego — it’s about making sure your contributions set you up for the next cycle of growth.
This week, seeing colleagues approach the 10-year milestone reminded me: growth doesn’t always come from changing companies. Sometimes, it comes from changing how you show up.
👉 If you liked this post, please follow me, hit “like,” and leave a comment — I’d love to hear how you stay in growth mode while staying at the same company. More importantly, stay connected as Airbnb is hiring!!!
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