drinking the corporate coo-laid
There are benefits to being single, gay, childless, and under-employed. A different perspective, for one.
Post-university, I heard stories of my friends freaking out at their high-stress jobs. One by one, they'd either drop out from burnout or babies. But they seemed unanimous in their support of 70-hour workweeks being normal.
I'm sorry. Unless I'm a world leader, partner in a law firm, or Martha Stewart, there is something wrong with a 70-hour workweek. At this level of slavery, you should probably employ something called a "household staff" and have at least two personal assistants. But my friends were in mid-management positions and still picking up their own dry cleaning.
I saw reflections of my friends in Leslie Stahl's piece on 60 Minutes last night; in particular, the three "Best Bi" workaholics. God bless Leslie Stahl: she had a hard time maintaining a neutral position as she looked at these people and said, "you're brainwashed."
Money aside, tell me the difference between the passion that North Americans publically demonstrate to their jobs and the fervour that North Koreans publically demonstrate toward their government... the difference between armies of yuppies trying to Blackberry as they drive and the rallies of the former Soviet Union...
There was an article in Fast Company a few years ago about job satisfaction where one ex-corporate-schmuck outlined his reasons for quitting: what good is a $200,000 annual income when all I have time to spend it on is takeout food and expensive suits?
Post-university, I heard stories of my friends freaking out at their high-stress jobs. One by one, they'd either drop out from burnout or babies. But they seemed unanimous in their support of 70-hour workweeks being normal.
I'm sorry. Unless I'm a world leader, partner in a law firm, or Martha Stewart, there is something wrong with a 70-hour workweek. At this level of slavery, you should probably employ something called a "household staff" and have at least two personal assistants. But my friends were in mid-management positions and still picking up their own dry cleaning.
I saw reflections of my friends in Leslie Stahl's piece on 60 Minutes last night; in particular, the three "Best Bi" workaholics. God bless Leslie Stahl: she had a hard time maintaining a neutral position as she looked at these people and said, "you're brainwashed."
Money aside, tell me the difference between the passion that North Americans publically demonstrate to their jobs and the fervour that North Koreans publically demonstrate toward their government... the difference between armies of yuppies trying to Blackberry as they drive and the rallies of the former Soviet Union...
There was an article in Fast Company a few years ago about job satisfaction where one ex-corporate-schmuck outlined his reasons for quitting: what good is a $200,000 annual income when all I have time to spend it on is takeout food and expensive suits?
Comments
Bravo on this Rouge. Your writing gets better and better with every post.
happiness is also important. i can never do work that sacrifices my happiness. there is always a choice. earning less is alright with me.
1/ "Clawing you way to the top to make more $"
2/ Simply not working fast enough or incorrectly prioritizing your work load.
I sometimes work a lot more than I should and I sometimes work a lot less. But as Jimmy says as long as I get the job done.
Now get to work you lazy bastards!
Thing is, in this country, addiction to work is celebrated. If you hear about someone drinking themself to death, the reactions go from disgust to pity. But someone who works themselves to death? Tragic, yes. But hell, he was a good provider, wasn't he?
Yeharr
As long as there is a lot of people out there....straight or not... who are willing to work these hours we will all need to or you will be left behind in your career....like it or not.
PS, I want to kiss Brian Finch, he is cute ;-)
YJA: FECK OFF
everyone else: hearting u
I decided to go for voluntary simplicity. No car, shitty neighborhood, 20 hours a week job.
Hey, blogging is free!
Thanks for the link!!! wuv u!!!! ;-)
someday, we will meet and we'll try all kind of ice-creams together, jeje! ;-)
This quote hits it bang on. My last job required ridiculous hours out of me. I once spent a weekend at the office, napping only about 3 hours each night on my office floor, in order to meet a huge project deadline. It was insane. Needless to say, I happily quit and returned to school to complete my degree. :)
It sucks!
Even in grad school, you were expected to work 50-60 hours a week in the lab. Postdoc fellowship? 60 hours or more.
I had to get out.
Maybe that's why I'm not married.