The Trap: Corporate American Dreams and Nightmares
I’d like to start this piece by extending love to those who’ve lost their job during this global pandemic. Things will get better; all is not lost. You will land on your feet again, and this next chapter of your life will be the most fulfilling in your life.
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My brakes squealed when I came to a stop in the narrow parking space way in the back of the lot. It was my own fault—better parking was reserved for the go-getters who arrived bright and early. I was late again, and I didn’t even care. I stared vacantly ahead for a moment before killing the engine and gathering all of my belongings to make the trek across the parking lot. My stomach churned from the anxiety. I eased my car door open and sandwiched myself between my car and the car next to me, hoping not to drop my phone on the pavement. Beep, Beep! My lights flashed to let me know my doors were locked. I reached into my pocket to make sure I had my badge—I didn’t want to visit the guard desk. I began slowly weaving through a sea of middle-class economy cars. The corporate elite parked their Mercedes Benzes and other high-end cars near the front of the lot. I smiled when I saw a friend wave in the distance as they ran toward the garage entrance of the building. Must be late too, I chuckled to myself. Oh, but the joke was really on me. Moments later, there I was, standing face to face with the badge reader. God help me. I swiped and the doors unlatched. It was time for another dreadful day of work.
As I inch closer to the release of my novel, There’s Somethin’ About Love, I’ve been in a reflective state of mind. I’ve spent the past week or so exploring several themes found within my upcoming book; today’s topic is one that I feel strongly about. It’s a topic that many of us are intimately familiar with. Perhaps, you may relate to these words. Dexter, the main character in my story, is dealing with a difficult manager, on the job stress, and frustration as a result of settling for passionless work. As I crafted those scenes, I thought about my own experiences while working for a large corporation. Today, lack of career fulfillment is at an all-time high, and with COVID-19 wreaking havoc on the job market, executing an exit strategy can be that much more challenging. If you’ve been wanting a change in your work life, then I’d say confidently, this piece is for you.
I wrote this piece for the folks who feel stressed at the very thought of working another day. This is for the people who feel their stomach churn with anxiety at the thought of having no other options. This is for someone who scoffs at the idea of putting up with corporate abuse for thirty years. If you’ve ever cried in the parking lot before work, then I assure you, you’ll find value in my words. I promise you, there’s hope.
When I think about some of my worst jobs, they all seemed to share certain commonalities. The office space was filled with old, boring cubicles, junk food-filled vending machines, and there were large posters plastered on the walls with the company’s operating principles printed on them. If you looked at them closely, you’d realize they were probably printed in the eighties. There was a café downstairs with overpriced, poor quality food. Most of the people that I worked with were on autopilot and got super uptight when the higher-ups came around. Wherever you work, I bet you can relate. The upper-level guys and gals worked several floors above mine, dangling the carrot of corporate stardom if I’d just put in the work. Nobody ever really knew what that meant, so we chased an ever-moving target. I put in long hours and did my best to prove myself, even at the expense of my own mental health. But when it came time for my review, they gave me a big, fat, “MEETS EXPECTATIONS.” That’s just the tip of the iceberg though. I had to deal with all of the corporate politics, crazy personalities, and even covert abuse at times.
These experiences are not unique, I’d later learn from talking to others. I had a friend who once told me their manager screamed at them every day. The interesting thing about abuse is that some people may not even realize they’re being abused—it’s not always screaming and yelling. Abuse can come in the form of manipulation and fear-based tactics such as passively using your job security to get more work out of you.
But one of the more sinister forms of abuse involves food. Everyone loves food, right? So did my management team at the time. All month long they’d terrorize us with their unreasonable demands. We’d work late and do whatever we had to do to get something done while the managers cracked the whip from their cozy offices without the slightest clue what it took to actually get the work done. Poor leadership and incompetence added fuel to the fire. Many of the decisions these managers made were motivated by their own pursuit of the next level. They’d backstab, lie, and throw others under the bus without an ounce of guilt. It was rough; I felt trapped. At the end of these abusive cycles, they’d roll the pizzas in thinking all was well. On the surface it seemed to work. I looked around the room when the fresh pizzas arrived, and everyone was smiling when moments before they had expressed their displeasure. I thought I was in a twilight zone. Free food doesn’t fix a hostile work environment. Some organizations use this abusive tactic to make you feel like they care about you after they’ve run you into the ground. It’s about power and control.
The strangest part of all of this is how some people are excluded from some of the abuse. Have you ever worked for a company where senior management hired their kids and family members, who obviously didn’t have an ounce of skill? These family members get ahead without doing nearly as much work. Ah, yes, nepotism at its finest. Again, this isn’t true of every corporation, but these things happen more often than you might realize. The thought of dealing with something like that for a minimum of thirty years is pretty scary. For the folks who worked from home, some of these issues were hidden in plain sight. You start to notice things after your one-thousandth check-in meeting with your manager via Zoom.
I’ve always held to the unpopular belief that as an employee you’re providing a service to the organization you work for. You’re not a servant or a slave, although they overload you with so many rules and regulations you’d think you didn’t have any rights. You’re a necessary stakeholder. For years, we’ve been taught to fear the people who have “power” over our jobs. This mindset has left people tense, afraid to make mistakes, willing to accept abuse, and other hurtful actions just to remain employed. Working has become a fight for survival. All of this is a symptom of a much bigger issue in the American work culture. Greed and capitalism have influenced big businesses. People, sadly, have become disposable objects in their pursuit of larger profits. This is why companies are doing so little to protect their workers during the pandemic. It’s eye-opening, but not surprising.
One of the most tragic things I’ve seen in corporate America is when good people who’ve given an organization their best years, find themselves tossed out in the cold after they’re perceived to have no value. There is no loyalty in this game. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or sacrificed in the past, they will always do what’s best for them. This is why you must do what’s best for you. If you feel like it’s time for a change, then keep reading.
What can we do to change our situation if we’re feeling stuck in an unfulfilling work situation? How can we prepare ourselves to take the leap if we’ve decided to own our future by starting a business or seeking other employment opportunities? How do you cope mentally when you’re still working for a bad organization?
1. Let it Out: I know your friends and family might say you’re complaining when you’re expressing your feelings about your job. I don’t necessarily believe every moment of venting is an act of complaining. You should never bottle up how you feel. I encourage you to journal your thoughts and feelings as you begin this new journey of finding meaningful work or entrepreneurial success. Let it out. Bottling up your emotions is hazardous to your health and will ultimately make you sick or worse, kill you. Stress really does kill. I also advocate speaking to a counselor. Working in a toxic work environment is mentally taxing. It was immensely helpful for me to talk to someone and I encourage everyone to get help if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
I have a little exercise that I created by accident one night when I was at my wits’ end. My friends and family had gotten tired of listening to me rant, so I created this method of letting it out. Grab a piece of paper and draw a line right down the center of the sheet. On the left side, write down everything that bothers you about your current work situation. Don’t spare a single detail—this works best if you’re detailed as possible. On the right side, write everything you want in your next work situation. If you’re going into business for yourself, describe how your business will operate and what would make it a joy to run. This is where you get to be really honest with yourself. Once you’re finished, fold the paper in half and focus on the side where you’ve written down what you want to see in your work life. Place it where you can see it every day. Review this list as often as you want. Feel free to add to it as your vision becomes clearer. By focusing on what we want, we align our actions with our greatest desires.
2. Adjust your mindset: If you’re going to take this journey of newfound career or entrepreneurial happiness, then we’re going to need a mindset shift. I want you to close your eyes for a moment. Imagine yourself waking up happy and full of life. Imagine how you’d feel working in your dream occupation or owning a successful business. How are you feeling right now? What would you be doing? How would you be making money? To change our situation, we have to believe that we deserve to find happiness and fulfillment. We must believe in ourselves. We must also rid our minds of those limiting beliefs in our heads that say things like, “I’ll never be happy at work,” or, “I’m too old to start a business.” All of these things aren’t true. You haven’t missed the boat. This is your season. Today is the day you start down the path towards a life you love.
3. Seek purpose: Discovering our purpose is everything. Finding meaning in our lives begins and ends with purpose. When you know why you’re here on earth, you begin to align yourself with your destiny. Everything you do begins to be influenced by your purpose. I find that when I’m operating in my gifts, I’m at my happiest. Not only am I feeling great, but I’m helping people in the process. What do you enjoy doing the most? What are your natural strengths? Often when we sit down and really dig deep, we’ll find that there are plenty of jobs and opportunities that align with our purpose. If you don’t know what your gifts and talents are, I encourage you to spend some time soul searching. You were born with gifts. They’re inside of you and most likely right under your nose.
4. Become skillful: I believe In order to achieve success, we must put ourselves in a position to be successful. Sometimes that requires receiving more education and training—and I’m not talking about going to college. There are great books, videos, and other cost-effective resources out there that can help bolster our skills. Becoming skillful requires an investment of our time and at times, our money. Finding others who are on the same journey can be equally beneficial. I know good mentors can be hard to come by, but some of my greatest mentors were people I didn’t even know. Thanks, YouTube!
5. Networking: Getting to know people is a very important aspect of getting what you want. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There’s nothing weak about asking someone for advice. There are people who can help you get where you want to go. Some of my greatest opportunities have come from getting to know people. You may meet someone who has valuable connections. Just make sure that your networking is not one-sided—we all have things to offer each other.
6. Devise your exit strategy: Now that you’ve been thinking about what you want, you can start to plan how you’re going to make your escape. This part is the toughest. Many of us have families and important obligations that make career transitions challenging, but if you plan it carefully, you may be able to dampen some of the risks. Risk is ever-present, but it doesn’t have to be a roadblock. Have you been thinking about taking the leap into entrepreneurship? Have you been thinking about updating your resume? Now is the time to build your plan.
7. Take the leap: Things won’t be perfect when it’s time to take the plunge. Many times, when our moment arrives, we feel like we aren’t ready. Sometimes you’ve got to just jump. Put yourself out there. Apply for the job. Create the LLC. Action is a necessary step. It can be scary, but you can do it. You’ll never know what you’re capable of if you don’t take the leap.
What does all of this mean, you may ask. Will, you quit your current job and find the perfect job overnight? Probably not. Life isn’t that cut and dry, but by becoming intentional, you will put yourself in a position to get what you want. Do I believe everyone should become an entrepreneur or that all jobs are evil? Absolutely not. While I’m a firm believing in Entrepreneurship, I do understand it isn’t for everyone. Whether you’re set on finding a new job or stepping out on your own, I believe everyone should find work that aligns with who they are. Your life is important. Just because our parents worked a job they hated for thirty years doesn’t mean we have to follow the same path. This is the information age—you have more options than you think. Don’t let chasing the money trap you into staying where you aren’t blooming. And in the same vein, don’t let your lack of salary keep you from pursuing greatness. It’s all a process, and the ball is in our court. We don’t have to succumb to the Corporate American trap. You deserve to find work you feel good about. You also deserve to find opportunities that value what you bring to the table. Let’s go get what we deserve.