I Used To Be A Corporate Slave

Employee, yuppie, white collar worker, corporate slave.. whatever you call it, I was once part of the population who had an 8 to 5 job (compulsary overtime not included). I used to work for one of the big four international accounting firms wherein I was with its financial advisory services department.

I enjoyed the benefits and perks of having to hold a high profile job knowing that I was fresh out of college. My colleagues marveled at the fact that I was a boy attending client meetings with the adults showing relative ease and composure dealing with it. But, in truth, I was a nervous wreck inside everytime such a thing ensued.

I had high admiration for my immediate superior, as he did too. We would be doing project proposals at one time, and be sharing a plate of gambas and a pitcher of iced tea at the end of the day. The big bosses lauded us for our propensity to perform under pressure, yet questioned us for our modern methods concerning working out of the office by connecting to it electronically. They were old school, we were new breed. That wasn't much of a problem though they didn't actually subscribe to our methodology.

As I was doing mergers and acquisitions, liquidation, and market entry, the once exciting world that was consultancy inevitably became a monotonous routine. I'd be going early for work, read and reply to emails, submit administrative reports, and do actual work at hand. Then, I'd be staying for a minimum of three hours overtime everyday to salvage the consequences of my bosses' over-commitment and would sometimes go to work on Sunday morning because six days weren't really enough. I suggested the possibility of having a virtual workplace through electronic connectivity with the office, but my old school boss just laughed at the idea. At that time, it was the way to go though the head honchos didn't share my enthusiasm.

I felt like I was in a box. I did the same thing everyday with no chance of doing it any other way than what I was asked to. I wanted to break free. Enough with monotony and corporate masochism.. I left.... Aside from the fact that it was doing enormous damage to my once flourishing social life, I wasn't happy anymore. So I resigned..

Now I'm my own man.. Nobody tells me what to do and how it should be done.. I believe that work isn't about time spent in the office but it should be about output.. Working shouldn't take the fun out of life, it should be interesting and encourage learning. It's not about working harder but working smarter.. The real gauge of success is not how far you've gone or how much money you've amassed, it's just being happy with what you've accomplished..

Success is getting what you want... Happiness is wanting what you get.. You can be successful and be happy at the same time..

Oh, if there's one thing I regret about leaving the corporate world.. it's the great view of the Ayala Triangle and the southern tip of Makati that I oh so MISS.

Much Love

We argue, we quarrel and say rude things to each other..
We fight over countless things and even the useless ones..

For many years it's always been like this.
Yet, we manage to make it up to each other..

Maybe it's because I love you very much and I never want to let you go...