When did you realise it was time to stop "waiting" for a promotion?

I've been thinking about this after talking to a few people at work.

A lot of us start our careers believing that if we work hard, take on extra responsibilities, and stay patient, the promotion will eventually come.

But I've also seen people wait for years, only to realize that nothing was changing. Some switched companies and got a better role almost immediately.

It made me wonder where people draw the line.

How did you know it was time to stop waiting and start looking elsewhere?

Was there a specific moment that made you think, "I've learned what I can here, it's time to move on"?

I'm more interested in real experiences than career advice.