Same as it ever was…
Today I learned that there was nothing I could have said or done. The Boss had decided before interviews even began that he had his man.
Not me.
I reckon I’m too mouthy. These executives say they want to hear it unfiltered, but what they mean is, they want to be praised unfiltered. They want you to suck their syphilitic dick without a rubber, but clearly they don’t want to hear how bad it tastes and smells. But I call it like I see it…and taste and smell it if I want to beat this analogy to a fine paste
The thing about working today is that the people above you expect allegiance and loyalty, but they don’t give it in return. We are a line item in the database. Human capital, not human beings. Each employee is just another brick in the wall to stand on.
but if you pull the wrong brick, or too many, the wall comes tumbling down. I don’t think the nursery rhyme explicitly calls out Humpty as an egg, but these executive types sure are fragile like one.
So today I started poking at the brick with my name on it. The biggest thing that Old Dudes dont understand is the power of the pension. They don’t understand why anyone would ever leave because their future is secured until death. But since corporate America decided pensions are less affordable than paying executives more than they’re worth, there is no reason for loyalty. They expect loyalty, because they had it, because the longer they stayed the better the pension got.
And when the rest of us got no pension but we got 401k matching they were aghast. These entitled fucks complained like they always do, and got both. Fucking Boomers, man.
Point is, unless you own the company you should have no loyalty or allegiance to it. Know your worth as a human being.
Today I took the first step. Applied for some jobs. Decided I’m worth more than their disrespect, no matter the pay. I thought i would retire here, but that may no longer be in the cards.
I guess I need a longer post on my core principles as a person and leader.
spoiler.
They’re basically the same.
Give a shit about people and their lives.
If you expect someone to get their hands dirty, you better have dirt under your nails.
Work to live, not live to work.
I think to myself that maybe my kid's generation has it right. Core values we transfer to our jobs, like loyalty and dependability are misplaced. Self first. If it were up to just us we'd have flipped the bird to the man long ago. But... It's hard to be flippin' when you have an entire family literally depending on you. Difficult to be nimble when you're the brick holding up the future well being of people you love. In THAT dance lies the fuckery. The goal is to do both. Like at the same time.
I, too, am applying and have had some (what I thought) were fruitful interviews. It's hard out here in these streets, but you're a highly qualified dood. You will kill it. Honestly, seeing you do the thing helps me do the thing too.