We’re now on bullet #8 from my post How To Know If You’re a Corporate Slave. When you think about compromising values what comes to your mind? A busy executive not willing to spend time with his family? Or the sales gun who can’t seem to get off the road? Both of those situations would fit, but I want to explore the over-time affect.
In my days in the corporate jungle, I had more than a few occasions where I let my career override some of my values. There were times where I would get the call from my wife asking me when I would be leaving the office. Feeling torn, I would cave and say I needed to stay a little longer. Then came the agonizing silence and a soft spoken "ok." Funny how things get eroded over time…small decision after small decision. At that time in my life I knew who was master and who was slave.
Many in corporate America think what they do is noble and for the good of all (economy, families, the American Dream, etc.). But in the reality I lived in it was about profit. Don’t get me wrong, profit is a good thing until greed takes over. We could have left a little on the table and still have been profitable. Funny how greed always seems to be crouching at the door. I regret not living free.
So what are you to do? You’re a corporate accountant or a sales engineer and you’ve been doing that for years. You can’t just give it up. Or can you? Consider the following as you contemplate living free:
- Many people should just give it up. They’ve been dormant, if not dead, for too long and there life is passing them by.
- If you’re employer is ok with you compromising your values, then they probably are involved in the corporate slave trade. You can know their ok with it based on what they ask you to do in a given week, month or year.
- Compromising values is an over-time process…a very subtle process. So subtle that you might even think that everything is wonderful (promotions, titles, bonuses, etc.).
- Your values are the things that really pay you. Counter-logic here, but show me a man or woman who have been allegiant to their values, and I will show you someone of true wealth.
- Better stop compromising now because eventually you will have to answer for the life you’ve shaped.
- If you’re early into your career and haven’t gotten attached to the subtleties of deceit, then ask questions about what’s being asked of you.
- If you’re well into your career, see #6.
- It’s always a battle to hold your values as sacred. Don’t think this will be easy, there’s something at stake.
- Do you have someone to keep you accountable? Do you answer to yourself only?
- Corporate slavery succeeds when people forget what living free is all about. See my post on Taking a Stand for greater clarity.