Over the course of ten years I have been miserably selling my time for money in IT and consulting.
I started my career as a software engineer and eventually to C level positions. I remember constantly thinking when I started making $x or $y I would finally be happy. When I was in charge I would finally be happy, etc… but every time I got there I wasn’t happy.
Getting to this level came with depression and guilt. Everyone around me was more or less in the same spot they were ten years ago or struggling financially. I felt alone. I felt guilt for what I had. I worked and everyone around me kept living their life.
I thought that making more money and making all the decisions would bring happiness. Instead, it brought the opposite.
It all came to an end when my 6 year old left me a note on my nightstand. It said
“I wish you were happy. I wish you worked less.”
I’m not sure why but something inside me clicked. I no longer call the shots. I no longer make lots of money but I’m happy.
I’m truly convinced that work culture everywhere is toxic. There are too many greedy people in the world.
We all deserve to make enough to easily survive and there’s enough money out there to do it. I was constantly told that there wasn’t budget to keep people. There wasn’t budget for raises. But there was always a budget for bonuses for us. There was always money to pay our salaries.
Everything management tells you has been carefully calculated. Businesses have thrived for the last few decades. Trickle down economics doesn’t work. End rant.