i want to be like you

Hmm... i won't even be happy if my daughter/son says this.

during an appraisal session, one of my staff said this to me ! when asked what do you hope to be in 2 years time, he said to be where you are, a mid level management position
it caught me off guard, had to do a quick recovery and pretend i'm cool as always.
i actually don't know how/what to feel. i'm flattered that someone wants my place and yet i think that he's no where near me to be able to take over my place.
it's sometimes amazing to see how people rate themselves.

anyway, here's a brief conversation i had with him.
him : i want to learn up all the equipment/software we have here so that i can be a manager like you.

me : Ok, well you'll have to be informed on new equipments and what's happening in the industry, so far have you been keeping up with these things.

him : yes, but mostly from another colleague. Like i know they just launch a new editing software called....... i forgot the name.

me : ah..., hearing from him alone is not going to be enough. you've got to do a bit of surfing as well.

him : yeah i know but i don't have an internet at home.

me : well, you can stay back and do some surfing, get the info that you need, know what's going on.

him: yeah but now my wife's pregnant and i can't stay late.

me : ok, work something out..

i wonder if he thinks that just because i know how to use almost all the software here that qualifies me to be a manager and by mastering these same software they too can manage an outfit like this. i sure does not work that way. there are a few other chap who are more ready than him. i sincerely don't think he's cut out for it yet, in fact he's a long way from it.

still it got me thinking . . . . . . if he takes over my place, who's place can i take over ??
it's things like this that makes appraisal interesting !