Technically, this term describes the movement of an object in a
skyward fashion. This is not typically how it's used, though. It is most commonly applied to the movement of an individual through the rigors and challenges of the
corporate structure toward some nebulous and often elusive end goal.
Some become so consumed by the idea of upward mobility that the rest of their
life ceases to exist. This is known as the
Downward Spiral. Upward mobility and the downward spiral conspire to create a
viscious cycle that leaves the individual questioning their
identity. If the downward spiral continues, the individual may lose such important things as family, friends or their
mind. The trick is to balance upward mobility and downward spiral so that the first continues despite the last.