Working in the corporate world is not for me. I have tried it and my DNA does not mix well with CYA. After spending many years of my life tied-up within unhealthy organizational environments my brain and my body made the decision to transfer me to a different profession; entrepreneurial-based business ownership where I was free to develop and execute ideas. I didn’t want to think small, I wanted to think big.
Another problem was that I found there is a certain type of person in each organization who seeks to make other lives miserable. These carriers of misery can occupy staff, administrative, technical, professional or management positions. They are compelled to spread their venom so they can feel better about their own miserable existence. We call these people jerks, assholes, bullies or bossholes. Their toxic work spreads like a virus. The more jerks there are in an organization, the greater the communal illness, including employee turnover, stress, heart disease, high blood pressure, customer dissatisfaction, and a management takes all compensation strategy.
When I started my career I was very naive about how business really worked. Business school taught me how business was supposed to work but real life showed me the ugly, inner-workings of the corporate world where climbing the corporate ladder is a full-contact sport with no rules or referees.
Now my passion and goal is to help company leaders get refocused on the mission of their firm and how to create a great workplace where people are valued and treated with respect and dignity. Great workplaces outperform these other dog-eat-dog organizations who are more than willing to eat their own while their customer goes under-served. It is nice being on the outside looking in. The truth hurts in many cases with clients who need to make the great workplace leap. However, the financial rewards for employees, leaders and the community are worth the momentary pain.
