Like a lot of things on this plane of existence, the corporate life isn’t for everyone.
In my opinion, the idea of corporate success as an individual is the biggest collective delusion we’ve had in modern society – especially if you come from a less economically stable background.
Your well-meaning parents tell you to aim for a stable corporate job so you don’t have to suffer like they did. And that sentiment is beautiful. God bless our loved ones.
However, that advice could never account for how psychologically damaging certain aspects of that world are for many people.
It’s all a set-up
Everything we do after turning 14 is to set us up to enter the working world as productive people.
That in itself isn’t the problem. As someone who studied both occupational therapy and psychology, it is absolutely vital to your well-being to have something meaningful to do with your time, otherwise you just waste away – physically and mentally.
However, we’ve been led to believe that a white collar job – no matter what it is – is the ultimate setup for future success. Only for us to get there and realise that it’s all meaningless. Case in point: I recently read about a woman in the US who died at her desk and no one noticed for four days, which is a shitty way to leave this Earth. And this was at a multinational bank.
After a series of increasingly frustrating events, I (kind of) opted out of all of this in 2019, with a brief period back inside in 2022. I can’t lie and say these years haven’t been hard at times – especially during and immediately after the pandemic years – but part of me also wonders what my life would have been like had I stayed when given the opportunity.
Because once you leave the corporate world…
It feels like you’re walking away from the only path to prosperity and success
And some people will look at you like that’s exactly what you’re doing.
There’s nothing wrong with grinning and bearing it so that you can put food on your table and keep a roof over you and your family members’ heads – but it’s also okay to admit it when you just can’t hack it anymore.
There’s a reason the number of people on long-term sick leave in the UK is at an all-time high.
You will struggle with your sense of self
Most people assume their job titles as part of their personality. This isn’t always intentional, and you will only realise you’ve been doing it once you stop.
Stopping isn’t the hard part – it’s navigating social situations without that extra suit of armour your job title gave you. You have to be prepared for unfair judgements and people placing all sorts of labels on you. It can be a lonely road.
You will realise how much you spend on coping mechanisms
Primarily so you can deal with your existence in your 9 to 5.
That could involve indulging in drinking/other substances, spending all your free time working out or doing extreme sports, or just general overconsumption.
And when all of those coping mechanisms aren’t necessary anymore, you’ll wonder what your actual hobbies are. That can take some getting used to.
You will discover who your real friends are
And you’ll also understand who’s there out of convenience, even if you spend weekends with them.
Arguably, you realise this when you leave most workplaces. But there’s an extra element of losing a thread of commonality with most people in the corporate world when this happens. You might even find some people avoiding you because they think you can’t relate anymore (or they can’t relate).
This isn’t you. This is a tribal mentality that’s part of human nature. You will eventually stop holding it against people.
You will miss the structure, and that will make you vulnerable
Hands up if you’ve ever been sold a lifestyle dream by a social media influencer. I’m specifically looking at you, “manifestation coaches” and Lambo-driving motivational speakers.
Freelancers and solo business owners are the prime target of most of those courses and content. Without a larger community to be part of, they prey on your lack of ‘belonging’. It’s like leaving one toxic relationship and stumbling into another – except the next one costs you a hell of a lot more money.
It’s definitely important to build your network, but don’t go searching for it. The right one will find you when you’re out there doing your thing.
Okay, and then what?
Once you’ve left the typical shambles of the corporate world, it is really hard – and I mean really hard – to convince yourself of the benefits of returning, outside of consistent money (which is a powerful motivator, tbh).
This isn’t to disparage those who are thriving in corporate and doing well for themselves. On the contrary: they have more resilience and patience than I ever will in being able to tolerate nonsense, and that is a key skill for the chosen few.
And let’s not pretend that everyone has the privilege to opt out.
When you decide to corp-exit (corexit?), it can be hard to see what your alternatives are. But alternatives do exist, I promise. It’s just about finding what that alternative path looks like for you.
