Doing well...? Well,...

Looking up, looking high... I know not everyone would like to do so. But when you are positioned at a middle level, you will know the difference more, between higher level and middle level. Literally, middle level is better than lower level. Ah, sorry, let us align our perceptions first. Usually, in a working environment, there could easily be defined into 3 levels. Ordinary staff, middle management, and senior management.
Ordinary staff are usually working on operational tasks. In a company hierarchy, the population should be the largest. And usually, regarding their pay checks, comparatively, they get the lowest amount.
Middle management staff are usually having sub-ordinates, no matter how large your team would be. Population in a company would be in a smaller portion when compare to the size of ordinary staff. And, they are sub-ordinates of senior management. Regarding pay checks, they should have bigger amount, a little bit bigger.
Senior management staff, that is the top most level, usually driving the wheel of their specific functional areas. With the smallest population in a company, but with a lot bigger pay checks.

Large company out there, with better structure and mature talent management, middle management staff should be willing to develop themselves there. They can find a clear career path for them to grow. And one day, they knew they could be one of the senior management staff. Unfortunately, comparing to large companies, there are thousands times of small companies more than large companies. So, what did middle management staff see in these smaller companies?

No difficulties, there would not be clear career path. Their supervisors would not want them to be outperforming. Pay checks size would be squeezed to minimize the increment range. On the other hand, all tedious works, difficult tasks and challenges would be put on their shoulders. Those are really good chances for them to be outperforming, right? But remember, supervisors would not want this to be happening. Thus, they will take over all the credits. This is the fate for middle management in small companies.

So, how to tackle? First, does it really matter? If not, don't bother to do any tactics. Second, are you learning something from those challenges? If not, better re-think again. There should be something you could learn. Third, are you enjoying? If not, could the second point compensate?

Life is really interesting, regarding the above 3 points. While you are earning for life and you are gaining something or learning something new, you earned more than the value of your pay check. And, think further, you are equipping yourself for stepping into senior level. Of course not in the same company.