the more I watch this, the more I admire people that have figured out their own path.

Rich I’m one step below C-level at the #1 company in my industry, and your videos genuinely changed my perspective on my life and career. At some point, I realized: this is not going to be me. I need a different kind of challenge.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with building a career and climbing the corporate ladder. It’s a respectable path if that’s what feels right for you. But I’ve realized it’s not what feels right for me. It’s not better or worse, just different. For me, starting my own journey now feels right.

Your videos played a big part in opening my eyes to that.

I’m so grateful for your practical view of the world and, especially, for the depth behind your thinking that, as a parting gift to the Directors on my team — and as a small “eye-opener” for them — I’m leaving them three of your videos.

BIG THANK YOU.

Please keep doing what you’re doing. You’re helping more people than you probably realize, especially at a time when the traditional “employee career” is about to be seriously challenged and reshaped by AI.

Definitely, you should observe what the actual culture is, not necessarily what they tell you it is.

I was a newly hired junior software engineer, and I was told by leadership that they greatly value engineer collaboration and mentorship. I was encouraged that if I'm getting stuck on something, even for less than an hour, no matter how small, to seek help in a group chat we had with engineers. I should have looked at the history of that chat and realized no one actually seeks help.. Needless to say, after posting twice in that chat, I was in a one-on-one meeting with my manager later that week explaining that an executive had noticed that I'm struggling and that I better improve fast.

Didn't post in that chat ever again, and just figured stuff out on my own and definitely didn't reach out for help, as that was not the culture or expected behaviour. This also tarnished first impressions with many of my fellow engineers, making it a double fail. Lesson learned, though: observe first, listen second.

I bucked the organizational culture and ended up starting my own business! Playing the game was mentally too draining for me.

So true 😂 I was at a FAANG company, happily doing my thing, until my manager told me to innovate. So I did… and another manager wasn’t too happy about it 😅 I was out of the team pretty quickly, while the people who stayed in their box were still there long after. Moral: innovate, but only inside your box.

Having worked in large multinational corporations for most of 20 years, I already know all this. But having someone tell it back to me with humour, candour and sensitivity is making me feel just so peaceful.

I'm going back to work tomorrow after 4 weeks vacation lol so this is a good refresher

Step 1: get good at box.  Step 2: have higher position open up.  Step 3: be praised for how well you do in box while they bring in someone from the outside to fill the open position.  Step 4: die in box.

I'm only an IC so more flexibility, but I figured out the glass/rubber ball distinction a long time ago. Realized I can essentially ignore almost every email, every initiative and disassociate through every IRL training day. You'll find out what matters and can look up whatever you need to do.

After a layoff, I got a temporary minimum wage job to pay the bills. A lot of my colleagues are complaining about what the bosses do. My time in the corporate world has explained my boss's behaviour. I now explain it to colleagues as "He's doing it this way because his boss told him to." My understanding of this is part of the reason my boss is writing me recommendation letters for positions in my field.

Rich, what I just realized after watching your video is that I’m working so hard for a promotion I don’t really want. It’s been ingrained in me to keep aspiring. Truth is Im happy where I am.

Very grateful for your thoughtful and candid insights. Especially as someone in their 40’s and raising a family.

Starting my new job on Tuesday. I'll make sure the Rich voice in my ear reminds me not to work so hard or prove any points - just do the box-ticking stuff! Thanks Rich!

An older colleague of mine fell for the 'whole self' scam, it turned out her whole self didn't want to go to work (duh) and now she's on a PIP.

At the team meetings/away days, when they ask the group how you're doing - you're always doing great.

The organism analogy is excellent 👌

Thanks Rich

this is brilliant

I got to agree with most of what you are saying and I can see the big picture getting more clear.

I'm the unique person in my family that went to college, that got into a corporate job, and the first w a manager job at 26, and your videos helped me a lot

Yeah he’s right don’t give real feedback or be yourself. Not worth it

EXCELLENT expertise and advice, per usual.  Thank you, Rich!  Ime every ‘difficult’ manager made me infinitely wiser, better in my comms, and improved me - how I show up in every other area of my life.  Unless you are adept at systems (religion, Greek, corporate, government, family, sports, etc), the tendency is to take everything personally.  Personal responsibility- yes.  However, despite the American archetype of the self made person, Lone Ranger, outsider, etc, these are fantasies.  Embody the system or go start your own thing and even then, you’ll meet the System in spades.

you are back !