I returned to corporate after eight years of small business and start ups. Big upside was that I knew what I was getting into in terms of corporate rah-rah culture and also how to play the game to move up the ladder faster this time.
It has been three years and frankly I do not miss the Wild West feeling of small business. I like knowing the business I work for isn’t going to fold up due to market fluctuations. I do miss the open ended opportunities of making big changes in a small company though.
Working in a small company meant I took on many more roles and responsibilities which was good for my resume. On the other hand, in a corporation I am focused in one place and have enough free time to work on my automation projects. Plus, I make twice as much money.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t love my job and I don’t love to work. I would quit immediately if I could. I just happen to like the sense of security better. The main thing I gave up was being able to always wfh, now I have to see the office every other week.
A) Play up my auspicious naked arrival as supernatural and attempt to live as the wisest person in the area. I’ll speak in Spanglish and mystify them!
B) The jig is up, I’m wearing a neon shirt so anyone in the area will spot me and wonder wtf I am doing staring at a little thing in my hand. I’d do the best a pocha can to speak the two or three words of Quechua I learned on vacation, then attempt to make their lives better, and educate them to the best of my abilities.
C) My partner and cats are coming too! Same as above but with the benefit of lots of science, tech, and medical books. I’d be so much happier to have my partner, cats, and my own hovel to retreat to.
This is my philosophy. I credit George Carlin for summarizing it with “People who see life as anything more than pure entertainment are missing the point.”
Sneeeeefff