About

Ah, the corporate world, rich with promises of a steady salary, pay increases, benefits and maybe…a bonus. Plus, holidays and weekends off!! Sounds like the perfect place to spend 40 years of your life. Until you do. No one tells you about the mental toll, commuting toll, lack of common-sense toll, loss of self-toll, political craziness toll. The list goes on.

Yet many of us aspire to work in the four walls that chain us to desks and deprive us of sunlight and fresh air for 8 to 10 hours a day (or more). We thought it would be a good idea to educate ourselves with an eye toward a position in short walls that make up cubicles and maybe if you’re lucky one day–taller ones, then if you’re really lucky, walls that reach the ceiling and inside contains a window which not only allows you to see the sunlight you’re not in but the snow you get to drive home in!

Yet, the corporate world is my favorite place to work. As a 17-year old, I was a camp counselor for 25 five-year-old kids. The experience made me swear I’d never be a mother (I have two sons). And there was the fast-food job which required me to wear a dungaree-colored dress and a cowboy hat which put a serious dent in my 80s permed hair. I left the job smelling like fried chicken and went to the high school parties. I suspect this aroma is what attracted some of the boys. After that, I swore I’d never work with food again (I’m married to a cook so still a step away—at least I get to just eat it and not serve it). I worked retail while attending college and wasn’t thrilled with the fact that I had to work black Friday even if I was dead (I didn’t get to test that rumor as I always showed up for work).

So, let’s walk through the hallowed halls of organizational life, let’s laugh and let’s buy a winning lottery ticket so we don’t have to come back.

These observations are based on generalities and have no specific reference to any of the wonderful companies I’ve been lucky enough to be employed by. I truly appreciate every paycheck and 401k match (please keep them coming) not to mention the free water.