Climbing the corporate ladder sucks

When Michael Kanellos--CNET News editor-at-large--asked me to do this blog, he said, among other things, "people spend their whole lives bitching about work and yet we never read about it."

"Well, yeah, that's true, but I want to write about dysfunctional executives and companies," I complained. "You know, I want to write about train wrecks."

"Sure, you can do that too," he said, the way an adult appeases a whining child. "But I'm telling you, focusing on career and management will be cool. You know the topic, you can be funny about it, and people care about it, yet mainstream media pays almost no attention to it."

As I sat there, pondering the apparent wisdom of his idea, Michael delivered his coup de grace: "Climbing the ladder sucks and everyone is obsessed with it, yet few speak out on it."

Wow, I thought, ain't that the truth. Perceptive guy, that Kanellos.

I had certainly spent a good part of my life obsessed with climbing the corporate ladder, almost lost my marriage over it. And for what? For the money? For the pats on the back? For the knowledge that I'd done something with my life that makes a difference?

I don't know about you, and I never wanted to admit this, but I don't think I did it for any of those reasons. I think I did it because I was programmed to do it. My dad grew up in the Depression and thought he was doing the right thing--drilling into me that nothing was more important than a successful career.

And like a good little soldier, I went at it so hard and for so long that it wasn't until I was 46 that I stopped, took a breath, and realized what was happening. I'd spent exactly half my life working and my life had become about work. I had sacrificed everything in the name of obsession.

Actually, I can't even take credit for that fateful pause that changed my life. Two people close to me were very ill, at the time, and that caused me to ponder mortality for the first time. I guess that was all it took, because I wasted no time striking out on my own. I wish I could say I never looked back, but that wouldn't be true. Sure, I think about jumping back into "the life" when opportunities arise, but so far, I've stayed the course.

Now I consult and write, and there's time left over to garden and cook. I work as hard as I ever did, but on my terms. The money's not what it used to be, but hell, I get to smell the roses (for real, I grow roses), and pay attention to what's going on around me and in me (I know that sounds weird, but try it sometime) for a change. It was a little scary at first, way out of my comfort zone, but now I wouldn't change it for anything.

What do I miss the most? The people, the camaraderie, and the respect of position and title (yes, I really am that shallow). Almost forgot--and the money.

What don't I miss? Getting up early, commuting, 3 million miles of air travel, company politics, and meetings.

What's the biggest unforeseen problem? Well, since I work at home, I've invaded my wife's space. Having me around so much really drives her crazy. Also, personal space and boundaries aren't what they used to be. People see me working by the pool--OK, sometimes floating in the pool--and assume I'm screwing off. Well, I'm not, so get off my back!

And the biggest unforeseen benefit is, well, time. Time to try again. Time to do things differently. Time to be young again, to be scared again, to test my limits again. Time to spend on those I love, including me. It's the only thing you can never get back.

[VegasIT]

Amen, Brother!

I couldn't agree more that we need to discuss this topic. There is a shocking level of dysfunction in corporate America (not just the tech world). I have been struggling with this topic for the last 3 years. Do I continue to forego my health, my precious time, and ultimately my life for the hopes of reaching the "C" or "VP" level before my 60's? While I am still trudging along in the corporate trenches, my head has adjusted to believe that is no longer a valid goal. I am no longer willing to accept working for large, established companies with a high level of mis-management. I am in the transition period of disconnecting from corporate life and striking out on my own. Its scary, but it is oh so sweet.

[rugisis1]

Bottom of the ladder.

Hey, this was an interesting article. Something i havent seen before. Well im much younger than you dudes and i am right at the start of the "corporate ladder". I do want to climb it and all that i just don't throw my life away for it. Which makes it not as bad.. Yes commuting for 2 hours every day sucks, and the pay is not that great yet. I dont really mind the politics, and i actually enjoy the meetings. I guess it depends what kind of company you work for and how much you enjoy doing what you do. And when the weekend comes it's all about partying and doing thigs that i like to do so it kinda charges me for the work week. I guess it must suck if you worked there for 222,324,423 years, but hey something has to pay the bills and since i do like the corporate world i dont it's that horrible for me.

[groyal]

Your Not French Are You?

Just Kidding (-:

[AndyBeal]

Now for the kicker...

I'm lucky that I came to this realization at 33. However, like you, I built my career and reached the top of the ladder. This made it a lot easier to switch to a life of consulting and writing. How can a 20 year old hope to do the same? It's one thing to point out that life is better when you're not obsessed with the corporate ladder, but you may need to climb it a bit in order to have the experience and funds to support a more relaxed lifestyle.

[ecowper]

Having Fun On My Way

Interestingly, I never set out to climb the corporate ladder. These days I have a C level position in a multi-billion dollar company and I just turned 40. I didn't do the intentional stuff to get here either. I don't have a business degree or an MBA (my degree is engineering), I didn't start out as a supervisor, become a manager, yada yada. I don't know what that ladder looks like. I just did the best job I could, found work I enjoyed and was passionate about and never turned down an opportunity.

I enjoy the travel, but I miss my family. I enjoy being able to drive change, I dislike the politics. I don't think it's shallow to enjoy the respect and title. IF you've earned them. As long as you aren't consumed by position, title and prestige.

I realize many people spend their adult life climbing the corporate ladder, and really end up disliking it. That was not my experience, I got here by a different route. But, I'm here now, and having a great time!

[BoardJIVE]

Oh, this strikes a chord!

I could have written this same blog verbatim and my, how time does fly along
with your healt. I had a similar epiphany a couple of years ago and it wasn't
by choice.

It all started after I decided that 20 plus years in corporate IT departments
and other IT positions that I was burned out. It was time to make the switch
to the business side of the house. What I realized after about 5 years in
various business roles was how many non-leaders there were in management
and executive ranks. I came up through a business era where management
leadership was a paramount skill that companies sought out and
compensated adequately for. Now most large companies just throw warm
bodies at those positions and if that manager doesn't work out, next. This
same cycle keeps repeating over and over.

It's a miracle that companies can even grow with this mentality. Now, I'm not
saying all companies are this way, it just seems like all the ones I worked for
were.

Back to the topic... A few years after my transition, I decided it was time to
enter into the Junior Executive ranks by accepting a position within a newly
formed group. Myself and 4 other managers reported to a wonderful VP at
the time who actually possessed leadership skills and knew how to mentor.
Great, I could finally hone my management skills and climb the corporate
ladder utilizing past IT skills while also following my business 2.0 career.
After 2 years in this position, I was gunning for a directors position in this
fortune 100 company. It was within sight! All those 16-18 hour days,
weekends, skipped vacations, you name it were seemingly paying off!

This is when business education 2.0 kicks in. Your VP decides to quit
because the EVP they hired over them had a prior rocky past and they wanted
no part of this new game. You think to yourself, OK, just another stone to
jump over. Then they bring in a VP to replace your outgoing VP and within 3
months, you go from great reviews and raises to one of the worst managers
the company has ever seen according to this (sic) new VP.

Without the proper training in true butt-kissing etiquette, you soon find
yourself out the door. What you find out later is that this VP wanted to
completely change the way the group by reorganizing it the way THEY think
is more efficient and bringing in your prior buddies is just the thing. It
doesn't matter that this group to date has been very successful executing
their charter.

When this sort of thing happens, you go through phases. The first phase is
anger towards the person who threw away a perfectly good corporate asset
(yeah, we actually view ourselves as that over time). The next phase is you
tell yourself you want to do something completely different, and I did. The
third phase comes after you finally have truly worn yourself out over phase 1
and 2 and decide that your not an asset but a person with talent and skill.

This is when you kick into gear and decide that corporate america is not such
a bad place to gain practical business experience and that you can later utilize
that experience to build your own successful business.

Invest in yourself, not a company who only wants to give 1%-3% raises
because you did such a great job (compared to 10 years ago when it was
10%-15% for the same level of work). What you soon realize is that other
small to mid size businesses (which btw, accounts for about 70% of the actual
business in the US) can use your talents and are willing to pay you for it. I
work more hours now but I call the shots, decide when I want to work, spend
time with my daughter that I should have from day one (they aren't getting
any younger either), take vacations and smell the roses. Is the pay as good in
the beginning, not usually but I'm working to eclipse that one day so my wife
can retire and we can enjoy the rest of our time together.

Life is short. I you have an idea or dream and you can materialize it in a
business plan, do it.

[ribarbora]

Honesty and the open market

I think if people were not motivated by making sure their stock price stays up and goes up, they would tend to be more honest, less stressed, and would probably run their businesses in a more ethical manner, which would translate into better treatment of their main asset, their workers, as these workers climb the ladder.

If we can find a way to let corporations worry about their valuation in the open market and somehow have that not affect how they treat their workers, this will result in paradise for everyone -- shareholders and employees alike. Too bad that's probably not realistic or possible.

[Orgdoc]

Corporate Personality Disorder

My view is that the Industrial Age model of how many organizations are structured is what's behind greedy (and criminal) executives, shareholder revolts, consumer boycotts, and employee outrage (and stress). We've been trained and told to behave like a cog in the wheel, to suck it up and hide out emotions, and to "read rank." And therein lies the problem. People are NOT inert parts of a Mechano set, but living, breathing, emotional creatures. My term for organizations presenting nutty behavior is Corporate Personality Disorder - and we see it now at an epidemic proportion! (for more see www.corporatepersonalitydisorder.com).

Thanks! This is a GREAT blog!

Dr. Eli Sopow (PhD)

[tenc21]

So, consult instead of climb?

I wonder who you consult for? Could it be the corporations with the ladders you no longer climb? If these corporations no longer existed, could consultants consult for each other? for mom and pop establishments? small businesses? Could the new corporation-less business model sustain the multitudes of consultants who all want to smell the roses and float in the pool?