Shopify’s ~Mastery: Getting Better at What You Love

Most companies have this odd habit of hiring people for their skills and then pushing them onto paths that reward growth, often by moving them away from the work they’re good at and actually enjoy. Climbing the traditional corporate ladder usually means more money, but it also means taking on different jobs. We’ve all seen talented craftspeople lose their passion after being moved into management roles. It’s surprisingly easy to end up in careers we didn’t choose, just because of how most companies are set up.

Shopify, however, does things differently. Founded by crafters, it’s building a company where you can do your best work and contribute for as long as you want. After all, you were honing your skills long before you joined Shopify, and you’ll keep doing so throughout your career. The company celebrates people who show up ready to work each day, those who care deeply, work hard for customers, and pick up new skills along the way. This is the core idea behind every version of Shopify, and they’ve been developing better tools and routines to help you grow even more.

Introducing ~Mastery

This is where ~Mastery comes in. ~Mastery is basically a way to measure the skills you use, the impact you make, and the rewards you get in your job. Every six months, your ~Mastery is reviewed based on your craft excellence and your net impact.

Key Takeaways

• Craft Excellence: This measures the deep skills you have and continue to develop.
• Net Impact: This measures how successful you were in using your skills to help Shopify’s mission.

Think of Shopify like a high-performance sports team. Each six-month period is like a season. Craft excellence is your competitive edge – how you handle the ball, how you pass, the hours you put in to improve your game, and the unique talents you bring. You’re not just playing; you’re perfecting your gameplay. That’s Craft Excellence.

Net impact, on the other hand, is about how you performed on game days. It’s your results. Did you score? Did you assist? Did you defend well? Net impact shows how you contributed to the team’s success throughout the season.

Constant Evolution is Key

An important part of ~Mastery is always evolving. Ever watched a sports game from 50 years ago? It probably looks very different from today’s games. The rules might be the same, but the standards have seriously gone up. It’s the same with ~Mastery; it’s an infinite game.

At most companies, getting a promotion means moving up the ladder to a new job with new responsibilities, often including management. This usually means moving further away from the craft you love. Becoming a manager or changing your career path is great if that’s what you truly want. But if you’re happy on your current path and want to keep getting better at it, ~Mastery is designed for you.

Craft Over Hierarchy

Shopify puts craft ahead of hierarchy. When you consistently show craft excellence and net impact, your ~Mastery will increase. This is a promotion, and ~Mastery promotions are how you’ll earn more money. This will be the most common and celebrated way to grow at Shopify.

Shopify’s high-quality products come from a deep care for craft. The company’s success relies on the combined achievements of people like you, who are dedicated to their skills and contribute to the mission. ~Mastery is how Shopify will build a company that celebrates and rewards people who grow and excel in their craft. This is how they’ll build a company where people can grow their careers by doing what they love. This is the infinite game.