Cleaning the house today, I got to listen to Jeremy Wright's BizBlog Show #2, the one where he asks his guests "how do you justify your existence?" It's a very enjoyable show (well done JW!), but something really struck me.
The number of people who, when asked why they are a professional blogger/podcaster, mentioned something about "working from home" and "spending more time with my kids", was pretty amazing. I've had the discussion a few times over the last week with people still caught in what I think of as "the corporate rut". People working 60 hours a week at the office, chasing that next bonus, that next promotion, that next... whatever. I'm not judging it (no, really, I'm not), and I'm not even sure I'm out of it myself permanently (who the hell knows what's going to happen next in this thing I jokingly refer to as "my life"), but I do have to say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the last nine months of "freedom" from the corporate thing, and I think I have a perspective on it now that I didn't enjoy when I was still "in" it. Just having the freedom to work how and when I please, pick up my kids whenever I please (I picked them up early from kindergarten three times this week), to catch a movie with a mate, to just... hang out (IRL or online) with the people I respect and enjoy, not have to put up with morons who annoy me, to not have to compromise my principles each and every day, to be doing something that I am proud of, that I hope my kids will be proud of one day, to be risking everything on an idea, on a dream...
Now... when I'm actually making some money, everything will be complete. :-)
But, you know, I think my priorities in life are changing.
Your a bucket bong & a bean bag away from being a hippie! :)
What if you actually enjoy the corporate life? If you enjoy having to work your butt off to get that payrise or deliver that ?
Posted by: Angus Logan | Friday, March 25, 2005 at 03:38 PM
Angus... umm perhaps you need a couple of years of psychotherapy to find out what deep-seated issues you have left-over from your childhood that provides you with a pathological psychological response to living in a cubicle?
Only kidding. :-)
Posted by: Cameron Reilly | Friday, March 25, 2005 at 03:48 PM
Second-to-last line not withstanding, that was a fine post with admirable thoughts. As a proud father-to-be, I have to agree with your sentiments about priorities in life changing and can only hope that those in corporate placings are able to enjoy the finer aspects to life [i.e. anything not involving work] every so often.
Posted by: Bricktop351 | Friday, March 25, 2005 at 03:52 PM
*psst* you might want to slip in something about the doubleyou ie ef e ...
Posted by: Nicole Simon | Friday, March 25, 2005 at 09:13 PM
Not everyone who is in the corporate world is a cubicle junkie with no life... for some the corporate world is a choice for others a necessity for now.. I am in the corportae world for NOW and it has provided me with the greatest of flexibility travel, work from home, where i want, when i want, i can still pick up my child take her to the park after school if I CHOOSE, i blog, i have hobies and interests outside of the corporate world, weekends are a no work zone and up till now i have been paid damn well for what i do..i havent had to compromise my principles either because i have been vocal about what i will and wont do and what i feel is right and wrong in a work context... Going forward the corporate world may cease to be a choice for me .. i have different priorities and every ride must come to an end eventually
Posted by: Rosky | Monday, March 28, 2005 at 04:56 PM
Hi there!
I've done some research on this subject (but in relation to people who blog about work) and my initial findings can be found on the following link. Feel free to add your opinion on my suggestions.
http://workblogging.blogspot.com/2005/04/so-why-do-people-blog-about-work.html
James
Posted by: James Richards | Friday, April 29, 2005 at 03:02 AM