I have some thoughts regarding people in a workplace. I’ve experienced corporate life at a few places, and whenever the majority of the people seem to suck, I always look at the workplace itself. Is it a pressure cooker? Is leadership and management toxic? Are people underpaid and/or overworked? The first company I worked at out of college was one of the top Big Tech companies, and it was an absolute dog-eat-dog world because it was hyper competitive and achievement oriented, with only a few opportunities for promotion and so called “bottom performers” at risk of being put on performance improvement plans/losing their job. I felt very similarly as OP feels in this post. I remember one of my senior colleagues there, who I previously thought of as very stuffy and uptight. He eventually ended up giving his two week notice, and we had a team meeting at a restaurant right before he left, and I saw a very different side of him. He was completely relaxed right down to his facial muscles, cracking quite a few jokes, and told us a lot more about his life and interests and hobbies. It was also one of my other former colleagues from that job that gave me a referral to help me find my current job. Since then I’ve almost always taken a look at the workplace itself.
People who act very competitive and jealous are described as acting like “crabs in a bucket”, but that’s because crabs don’t belong in buckets, they belong on the beach, the sunshine and the ocean! 🦀
Gosh, this is so relevant and I think it can apply to folks any age. I am 37 and I am facing this with a new job in office. But I decided to show my ass more and be quirky and sometimes share too much because I know these motherfuckers have inner worlds and quirks, and maybe they don't, but I cannot restrict myself and move into a box. "Sometimes what's MISSING is more prominent than what's actually there." This is so well said and a great reminder, keep your heart open.
Oof. This one hit me hard. I really appreciate the videos interwoven with the writing! I never got into Zeppelin as a kid, but my brother did, and now I'm understanding it. I've had a week of feeling totally drained by those in my immediate surroundings - and feeling frustrated how much it brought me down. Maybe next time I'll have a listen to Ramble On during a future sadness spiral and remind myself how Plant got up and sang his song over and over!
That photo! You took me straight back to the summer of 1990. There was a heat wave in New England so I spent a lot of time in my basement reading and watching VHS tapes. I must have watched a Led Zeppelin concert video a hundred times. It was a month before my freshman year in high school and I don't think I'd ever thought about a grown man being sexy before. Thank you for the memory and videos, and for the reminder to ramble on!
I don't think the entire corporate world is terrible. I work for a large healthcare company and mostly see people working together to achieve shared goals. No one really talks about material things. Then again, what do I know? I work from home and talk to animals all day.
I think "define yourself" is one of the greatest pieces of advice I've ever heard. It changed my life!
I have some thoughts regarding people in a workplace. I’ve experienced corporate life at a few places, and whenever the majority of the people seem to suck, I always look at the workplace itself. Is it a pressure cooker? Is leadership and management toxic? Are people underpaid and/or overworked? The first company I worked at out of college was one of the top Big Tech companies, and it was an absolute dog-eat-dog world because it was hyper competitive and achievement oriented, with only a few opportunities for promotion and so called “bottom performers” at risk of being put on performance improvement plans/losing their job. I felt very similarly as OP feels in this post. I remember one of my senior colleagues there, who I previously thought of as very stuffy and uptight. He eventually ended up giving his two week notice, and we had a team meeting at a restaurant right before he left, and I saw a very different side of him. He was completely relaxed right down to his facial muscles, cracking quite a few jokes, and told us a lot more about his life and interests and hobbies. It was also one of my other former colleagues from that job that gave me a referral to help me find my current job. Since then I’ve almost always taken a look at the workplace itself.
People who act very competitive and jealous are described as acting like “crabs in a bucket”, but that’s because crabs don’t belong in buckets, they belong on the beach, the sunshine and the ocean! 🦀
Gosh, this is so relevant and I think it can apply to folks any age. I am 37 and I am facing this with a new job in office. But I decided to show my ass more and be quirky and sometimes share too much because I know these motherfuckers have inner worlds and quirks, and maybe they don't, but I cannot restrict myself and move into a box. "Sometimes what's MISSING is more prominent than what's actually there." This is so well said and a great reminder, keep your heart open.
Oof. This one hit me hard. I really appreciate the videos interwoven with the writing! I never got into Zeppelin as a kid, but my brother did, and now I'm understanding it. I've had a week of feeling totally drained by those in my immediate surroundings - and feeling frustrated how much it brought me down. Maybe next time I'll have a listen to Ramble On during a future sadness spiral and remind myself how Plant got up and sang his song over and over!
~ comments on hold until everyone finds time to watch some videos ~ 🧡
That photo! You took me straight back to the summer of 1990. There was a heat wave in New England so I spent a lot of time in my basement reading and watching VHS tapes. I must have watched a Led Zeppelin concert video a hundred times. It was a month before my freshman year in high school and I don't think I'd ever thought about a grown man being sexy before. Thank you for the memory and videos, and for the reminder to ramble on!
I don't think the entire corporate world is terrible. I work for a large healthcare company and mostly see people working together to achieve shared goals. No one really talks about material things. Then again, what do I know? I work from home and talk to animals all day.
I think "define yourself" is one of the greatest pieces of advice I've ever heard. It changed my life!