[dcow]

You're missing the point. Putting yourself in a position where you're close to indispensable gets you the title. Because the company now has to make a choice, stop having person X manage some area and find a new person who's not as good or won't be for some time, or just forget about the politics and rubrics and other annoying BS and give person X the title and raise. Way cheaper for the company to do the latter. Usually a better strategy too because you retain talent. I've known a few title chasers in my time and they don't last long. /2cents

[clintonb]

The caveat here is that you need to be truly indispensable. This may not always be your piece of the company. As key initiatives change, you either need to change or risk being dispensable. The truth is we are all dispensable at some point.

Your attrition may be regretted, but you can be replaced.

[dangwhy]

> Putting yourself in a position where you're close to indispensable gets you the title.

If you are indispensable at maintaining convoluted stored proceduces with business rules baked into them . Most likely you won't get the next level position which would need company to find somoneelse.