The Corporate Slave

As we draw closer to the end of yet another year - many of us reflect on what we accomplished, what we need to work on for next year and generally take a step back to analyze where we are in life. I must admit that this blog today was supposed to be about new years' resolutions -but someone said something to me last week that really pissed me off - and had me thinking.....and that's what I want to talk about!

Before I tell you what this person said - Let's call him Moe - I have to let you know that I was not pissed at Moe per say  - I was more pissed about the fact that there are millions of people with the mind-set like Moe here in North America, and all over the world who fall into this category. What is this category you may ask? The category of Corporate Slave.

I was having a casual conversation with Moe last week and he told me that in his last job he was on call 24/7 and had only taken 5 days off in 5 years. Moe is now divorced (surprise, surprise) and has two children "almost teenagers" he barely knows. Now some of you may say wow - 5 days - that's a lot of time off!This blog is dedicated to YOU!

I must admit that I too was a - "workaholic" is the common term  - but my new term is "Corporate Slave!" I know we all have financial obligations and responsibilities that we need to take care of as adults - I also know that there are companies out there that take advantage of their "dedicated workers." They push you harder and harder -  you step up to the challenge every time - before you know it - working 12 hours a day isn't enough - you bring work home - the weekend becomes your "quiet time" to do work - and ten years later - everything around you has changed except your dedication and commitment to your employer.

Your social life is non existent - limited to lunch room and water cooler talk with co-workers (most of which by this point you cant stand). Finding someone crazy enough to be in a long-term relationship with you is futile - when someone sees that you are home a total of 40 hours per week and you spend it sleeping, that can be a tough sell to anyone even the people who think you are AMAZING! Your health suffers as you find that ordering take-out becomes a way of life  and your idea of a workout is looking at a set of stairs to the second floor and/or pumping gas into your car.

Your boss loves you - because you make him/her look good - while taking most of the credit for your efforts (funny how that works eh?). You drift away from all your loved ones - family and friends - And all they seem to ask about at family gatherings or the bar was when was the last time anyone saw or heard from you....The answers ranging from 5-15 years.

O.K. so you don't have a significant other (your pet doesn't count), you have now destroyed all your relationships with family and friends - the ones you don't send money to, and your health is sub par to say the least. BUT......You are in line for a promotion at work! It comes with prestige, a stock option plan and an increased salary of  $20,000 more per year (that works out to a few hundred bucks extra per pay check in your new tax bracket).... BUT everything is OK because after 15 years of sacrifice - you are finally where you think you need to be.....And then you find yourself asking your boss questions like - "Do you mean Corporate Restructure?" "Are you letting me go?" "After all my sacrifice and everything I have done for this company?" -  To which his/her answer  is YES to all of the above.

After 15-20-25 years of dedication to your employer and after all your sacrifices  - you find yourself being shown the exit door - escorted to your car - and eye-balled off the property you helped to grow and maintain! Yup, My friend you just got a dose of the Corporate world! Now you are angry, depressed and looking for answers in all the wrong places - Your attorney's office being one of them - trying to seek justice!

So now you go "home" to a place equipped with half eaten Chinese take out on your dining table, a 6 pack of beer in the fridge along with mustard, cheese and yogurt you are unclear about where they came from or more importantly  - how long they've been there. You realize how malnourished your pet fish is looking from all the neglect and now start to wonder what you have done with the last 15 years of your life....

From all accounts it would appear NOT A DAMN THING! You have not traveled, you have no friends, your family doesn't remember what you look like and your idea of a life partner is your malnourished gold fish! All your hard work - dedication - commitment - FOR WHAT?!!! Why were you even working so hard in the first place?

At this point you are probably wondering where this is going - well I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that no matter how valuable you THINK you are to a company, no matter how hard you work for them, no matter how many sacrifices you make, no matter how good you make your boss look, no matter if you play golf with he owners of the company - YOU ARE REPLACEABLE!!! In addition to which - You are just another employee who makes them richer!!! With that in mind - you need to strike a balance between your work and personal life. Jobs come and go - BUT you only get ONE life to live - Don't give it all to a corporation - because they sure as hell won't be giving you everything they have....

The real question you have to ask yourself everyday you are on the job is this - What is the main reason why I work so hard? Who does all of this benefit? How is this enhancing my life and the life of my loved ones? Do I have and end game or an exit strategy? Am I getting the most out of my current situation? Do I love what I do? Does it love me back? 

The moral of the story is this - Life is truly what you make it. PLEASE ensure that YOU are the one making the decisions about your life and not someone on your behalf (corporation) because 10 out of 10 times the person/entity making the decision on your behalf is looking out for numero uno - want to guess who numero uno is? I will give you a hint....IT'S NOT YOU!!!

To all you dedicated, loyal, committed worker bees out there - I applaud your drive and effort but also encourage you to step back and smell the roses from time to time - Look at your life and give some time and energy to what REALLY matters. Take a moment out of each day to remember your REAL priorities! If you don't life will simply pass you by.....Does anyone really want that?

And as for Moe.....Thanks for inspiring me to reach out to my readers in this way - This topic is one that I am personally connected to as I was the guy who worked 12 hour days and on the weekends. I was the guy who started to drift away from all the things I should have been paying even more attention to. I was the guy who was laid off and depressed seeking advice from all the wrong places. PLEASE don't make the same mistakes I did! You have one life - one family and in most cases one true love - Make sure you take care of your REAL priorities in life while working towards the goals of the corporation for which you work. Find the BALANCE. Until next time my friends....