Comments on: How to: Kiss Corporate Life Goodbye http://www.pearsonified.com/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate.php Best Damn Blog on the Planet Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:40:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ron http://www.pearsonified.com/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate.php#comment-185829 Ron Mon, 02 Jan 2012 04:39:28 +0000 http://pearsonified.com/wp/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate_life_goodbye.php#comment-185829 Fantastic article here, I to was in corporate life for sixteen years until one day I woke up to all the stresses and irrational decisions and the blame game that was constantly being played by the head executives. So on New Years Eve 2001, (thats right I have been free as a bird for 10 years) I walked into my boss and gave him my notice I have been working full time online ever since and have never looked back. Working for yourself is the way to go, just take the leap and see where you land it can not be any worse than having a corporate job. Fantastic article here, I to was in corporate life for sixteen years until one day I woke up to all the stresses and irrational decisions and the blame game that was constantly being played by the head executives.

So on New Years Eve 2001, (thats right I have been free as a bird for 10 years) I walked into my boss and gave him my notice I have been working full time online ever since and have never looked back.

Working for yourself is the way to go, just take the leap and see where you land it can not be any worse than having a corporate job.

]]> By: Justin http://www.pearsonified.com/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate.php#comment-184788 Justin Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:02:14 +0000 http://pearsonified.com/wp/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate_life_goodbye.php#comment-184788 Great article. This is all so true. I've been working for myself for years and worked a "corporate" job after finishing my Masters for 3 years. Compared to working for yourself, corporate jobs are the worst but it is important to work in one I think after college so you know what you are up against. Half of the people in the corporate world do not know much. A lot of them front with their degrees and name drop. Real recognize real. They get hung up on CCs in emails, payroll nonsense and OMG your 6 minutes late. Killjoys. The man or woman that started the business is the smart one. They know this. You gotta hustle though and don't listen to the non believers. Small business to Big business and working for yourself is where its at. The web is where it is and where it will continue to go. We are still in the beginning of all of this. Great article. This is all so true. I’ve been working for myself for years and worked a “corporate” job after finishing my Masters for 3 years. Compared to working for yourself, corporate jobs are the worst but it is important to work in one I think after college so you know what you are up against. Half of the people in the corporate world do not know much. A lot of them front with their degrees and name drop. Real recognize real. They get hung up on CCs in emails, payroll nonsense and OMG your 6 minutes late. Killjoys. The man or woman that started the business is the smart one. They know this.

You gotta hustle though and don’t listen to the non believers. Small business to Big business and working for yourself is where its at. The web is where it is and where it will continue to go. We are still in the beginning of all of this.

]]> By: Outta university into corporate http://www.pearsonified.com/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate.php#comment-184539 Outta university into corporate Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:51:05 +0000 http://pearsonified.com/wp/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate_life_goodbye.php#comment-184539 Excellent post - There are possibilities of coming into corporate with grand ideas and ambitions to change the world only to get shot down by burnt out corporate settlers that have been around for years and regard there time in the building as leverage to say it will never work.(Their trump card) The idea of going out on my own is something I think about everyday - the question is however, when do you ever have the right amount of experience to do that? Excellent post – There are possibilities of coming into corporate with grand ideas and ambitions to change the world only to get shot down by burnt out corporate settlers that have been around for years and regard there time in the building as leverage to say it will never work.(Their trump card) The idea of going out on my own is something I think about everyday – the question is however, when do you ever have the right amount of experience to do that?

]]> By: Gail Gardner http://www.pearsonified.com/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate.php#comment-184120 Gail Gardner Thu, 23 Jun 2011 08:21:06 +0000 http://pearsonified.com/wp/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate_life_goodbye.php#comment-184120 I hope Chris doesn't mind my encouraging Dennis and anyone else reading this to listen to his advice in this post. Another friend was just given until the next morning to resign or be fired. Why? She was right at that 20 years. Unusual. NO! Unexpected? No...that hospital is known for doing that - and so are so many companies. While IBM never did that, they did decide to convert our real pensions to 401Ks - breaking promises we were given IN WRITING every one of my 23 years there. That and they did away with our non-contributory health benefits. If anyone believes they didn't KNOW they were going to do that from the start I have a some ocean-front property in Oklahoma they might want to buy. Way back in the early '70s a high school friend's Father worked for Lockheed. When he neared his 20 years they put him on swings, graveyards, had him cleaning toilets - anything to try to get him to quit. He told them nothing would make him quit; they'd have to fire him. (I don't remember what happened but I hope he got his retirement.) Since then I've seen this over and over. Another friend was a programmer at a big insurance company where getting rid of programmers just before 30 years was the norm. She was hoping that MAYBE she might not get fired before she got her pension - but only because she was a Cobol or Fortran programmer and they don't teach those languages much these days. (True, but I bet there are plenty of retired programmers who need to go back to work to take her spot.) Bottom line: retirement promises aren't worth the paper they're written on or verbally given unless you can predict the future far in advance. At a minimum ask around and find out what your odds are! Probably not good. IBMers knew they were underpaid but traded that for "security", full benefits and a full pension. Hah. Joke was on us. I hope Chris doesn’t mind my encouraging Dennis and anyone else reading this to listen to his advice in this post. Another friend was just given until the next morning to resign or be fired. Why? She was right at that 20 years. Unusual. NO! Unexpected? No…that hospital is known for doing that – and so are so many companies.

While IBM never did that, they did decide to convert our real pensions to 401Ks – breaking promises we were given IN WRITING every one of my 23 years there. That and they did away with our non-contributory health benefits. If anyone believes they didn’t KNOW they were going to do that from the start I have a some ocean-front property in Oklahoma they might want to buy.

Way back in the early ’70s a high school friend’s Father worked for Lockheed. When he neared his 20 years they put him on swings, graveyards, had him cleaning toilets – anything to try to get him to quit. He told them nothing would make him quit; they’d have to fire him. (I don’t remember what happened but I hope he got his retirement.)

Since then I’ve seen this over and over. Another friend was a programmer at a big insurance company where getting rid of programmers just before 30 years was the norm. She was hoping that MAYBE she might not get fired before she got her pension – but only because she was a Cobol or Fortran programmer and they don’t teach those languages much these days. (True, but I bet there are plenty of retired programmers who need to go back to work to take her spot.)

Bottom line: retirement promises aren’t worth the paper they’re written on or verbally given unless you can predict the future far in advance. At a minimum ask around and find out what your odds are! Probably not good.

IBMers knew they were underpaid but traded that for “security”, full benefits and a full pension. Hah. Joke was on us.

]]> By: Vijay http://www.pearsonified.com/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate.php#comment-184099 Vijay Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:47:11 +0000 http://pearsonified.com/wp/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate_life_goodbye.php#comment-184099 Hi Chris, Nice insight, I am trying to quit corporate rat race for last 2 years but I am so far not successful, I got motivated after reading this. Let me give the "REQUIRED" push it deserves. Hi Chris,
Nice insight, I am trying to quit corporate rat race for last 2 years but I am so far not successful, I got motivated after reading this.
Let me give the “REQUIRED” push it deserves.

]]> By: Jon Mitchell http://www.pearsonified.com/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate.php#comment-184098 Jon Mitchell Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:27:15 +0000 http://pearsonified.com/wp/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate_life_goodbye.php#comment-184098 So a friend of mine and I are wanting create a consulting company that goes in with a client listens to their problems/concerns/questions about a particular business issue and then we sit with them and throw out ideas (product, process, procedure, etc...) and then they can take an idea that they like and run with it. It'd be that simple. We see ourselves as being valuable because we could give them an outside perspective that isn't tainted by their own "group think". I feel like we could really get this type of consulting business going with a good branding effort and professional presence online. Anyone have any suggestions on how I could get something like this going? So a friend of mine and I are wanting create a consulting company that goes in with a client listens to their problems/concerns/questions about a particular business issue and then we sit with them and throw out ideas (product, process, procedure, etc…) and then they can take an idea that they like and run with it. It’d be that simple. We see ourselves as being valuable because we could give them an outside perspective that isn’t tainted by their own “group think”. I feel like we could really get this type of consulting business going with a good branding effort and professional presence online. Anyone have any suggestions on how I could get something like this going?

]]> By: Dan F http://www.pearsonified.com/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate.php#comment-183621 Dan F Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:42:28 +0000 http://pearsonified.com/wp/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate_life_goodbye.php#comment-183621 Love these comments. Am 55 and completely over the corporate world. Have considerable marketable skills except confidence and have that fear you cannot leave that environment because of that "security". Joke by the way. I just wish that people in the corporate world could stick together to improve what has happened the last 20 years with job security, benefits, etc. Not pro union, not my motivation here but dang, we are doing the work of 2 or 3 people now, have no personal life anymore and why do we take it???? I cannot remember the last time I seriouly heard someone state how much they loved their company and job. What's the answer corporate world employees??? Love these comments. Am 55 and completely over the corporate world. Have considerable marketable skills except confidence and have that fear you cannot leave that environment because of that “security”. Joke by the way. I just wish that people in the corporate world could stick together to improve what has happened the last 20 years with job security, benefits, etc. Not pro union, not my motivation here but dang, we are doing the work of 2 or 3 people now, have no personal life anymore and why do we take it???? I cannot remember the last time I seriouly heard someone state how much they loved their company and job. What’s the answer corporate world employees???

]]> By: MarkP http://www.pearsonified.com/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate.php#comment-183227 MarkP Wed, 27 Apr 2011 02:50:04 +0000 http://pearsonified.com/wp/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate_life_goodbye.php#comment-183227 I agree wholehearted with your post. I cut loose almost 9 years ago, started my own company and haven't looked back. I go through slow periods, but I can earn in 6-9 months (4 day work weeks) what would take me a year to earn as an employee. Every once in a while I toy with the idea of working for a company again, but I won't ever be able to give up my three day weekends. There is no job that will let me take a month or two off between engagements. This life is not for everyone. There are times when it is mildly terrifying, like being the sole breadwinner (at times) with four mouths to feed and there is no new work in the pipeline. Sometimes there is too much work, which is unbelievable, but true. I have no paid sick or vacation time, which means I have to build this into my rates. Depending on where you live, insurance can very expensive, or not very expensive at all. One thing I disagree with is that we set our own value in the market. This is partially true, partially false. Depending on your skill set, the market often determines the rate you can bill or prices you can charge. There is a fine art to setting your billing rate. Too high, and you price yourself out of any work. Too low, and you're devaluing your work. Bottom line is that it comes down to quality of life, and there are few corporations that can offer that to their employees. This was the second best choice I've ever made in my life (marrying my wife was my best choice). I agree wholehearted with your post. I cut loose almost 9 years ago, started my own company and haven’t looked back. I go through slow periods, but I can earn in 6-9 months (4 day work weeks) what would take me a year to earn as an employee. Every once in a while I toy with the idea of working for a company again, but I won’t ever be able to give up my three day weekends. There is no job that will let me take a month or two off between engagements.

This life is not for everyone. There are times when it is mildly terrifying, like being the sole breadwinner (at times) with four mouths to feed and there is no new work in the pipeline. Sometimes there is too much work, which is unbelievable, but true. I have no paid sick or vacation time, which means I have to build this into my rates. Depending on where you live, insurance can very expensive, or not very expensive at all.

One thing I disagree with is that we set our own value in the market. This is partially true, partially false. Depending on your skill set, the market often determines the rate you can bill or prices you can charge. There is a fine art to setting your billing rate. Too high, and you price yourself out of any work. Too low, and you’re devaluing your work.

Bottom line is that it comes down to quality of life, and there are few corporations that can offer that to their employees. This was the second best choice I’ve ever made in my life (marrying my wife was my best choice).

]]> By: Oluwabamise http://www.pearsonified.com/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate.php#comment-182720 Oluwabamise Thu, 24 Feb 2011 13:19:22 +0000 http://pearsonified.com/wp/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate_life_goodbye.php#comment-182720 This is great motivation for me as I am presently made up in kicking the slave rider I've been involved in for the past 9 years without much results, I'm bent on going out by March ending. I know it will be well! Thanks 4 a good post. I"M OUT. This is great motivation for me as I am presently made up in kicking the slave rider I’ve been involved in for the past 9 years without much results, I’m bent on going out by March ending. I know it will be well!
Thanks 4 a good post. I”M OUT.

]]> By: Jeff Fisher http://www.pearsonified.com/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate.php#comment-182453 Jeff Fisher Sat, 12 Feb 2011 04:13:21 +0000 http://pearsonified.com/wp/2006/04/how_to_kiss_corporate_life_goodbye.php#comment-182453 Hi Alex, It's funny Alex, since I wrote my comment to you I have changed what I'm doing. I'm still a coach and a therapist but I've moved more in the direction of doing the kinds of things that you are doing (Marketing Therapists and Coaches). It's about following your heart and going with what energizes you. I think the most important thing (as I said before) is planning and timing. Take care. By the way, I'd be interested in seeing what you are doing in marketing. Where there is a will there is a way. Jeff Hi Alex,

It’s funny Alex, since I wrote my comment to you I have changed what I’m doing. I’m still a coach and a therapist but I’ve moved more in the direction of doing the kinds of things that you are doing (Marketing Therapists and Coaches). It’s about following your heart and going with what energizes you. I think the most important thing (as I said before) is planning and timing. Take care. By the way, I’d be interested in seeing what you are doing in marketing. Where there is a will there is a way.

Jeff

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