A question rolls in from a reader called Thomas:

(great name!)

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In your view; would it be possible to stay below the radar (but still find something meaningful to do) for a lifetime within such a system, and just consider work as a paycheck allowing you to support a family, enjoy Nature, a spiritual journey and having a nice hobby?

***

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about the corporate system and the well-worn chase for job titles, promotions and corner offices.

This is the “system” Thomas is referring to.

And it’s an interesting question.

Can someone hold down a corporate job without getting sucked into the status game? 

My take on things is that you absolutely can. But it does mean removing your default corporate goggles.

Case in point:

During my first two years in the merry world of banking, I’d spend many evenings with my colleagues sampling the pubs and ales of Edinburgh.

One topic of conversation which often wormed its way in was about the bigwigs in the office (team heads, senior exec, managing directors and the like…)

When the convo did turn this way, these honchos were spoken about with such worship and awe that it was like listening to a football nut losing their marbles over a Lionel Messi backheel.

Honestly, if you were eavesdropping one of these chats, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the bank’s senior execs were all the second re-incarnation of Jesus Christ and worthy of their own stained-glass windows in the company’s boardroom.

That was the majesty and prestige their status seemed to carry.

Funnily enough, I soon found myself talking about the senior bods in much the same way, even though I’d never met most of them and had no idea what they did.

i.e. this corporate status swooning quickly “infiltrated” my mind.

Thing is, as soon as you jump into the merry world of corporate, ten-a-penny ideas like this start to reel you in. The office narratives take over and before you clock what’s going on, you might start thinking like everyone else and start chasing things you don’t even want.

It could sound like I’m pooh-poohing anyone who’s hungry to climb the corporate ladder or who’s already made it to the top rung.

But I’m not.

What I’m pooh-poohing is the idea that one version of success is the only version of success.

This is something author and work/life freedom pioneer Paul Millerd got into when I interviewed him for this newsletter a few months ago.

When I asked Paul what success and ambition look like to him, he said this:

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Success is whether my family and I are able to live the life we want to be living.

In my twenties, I was obsessed with the next achievement but I genuinely don’t have that pull anymore. It’s just not interesting to me at all.

I’m only ambitious to live our version of ambition as a family. It’s very personal and not aligned with what others see as ambitious. 

***

Sure, Paul has left corporate and taken a different path with his life and work.

That was the right step for him.

But as Paul says, living a fulfilling life isn’t about copying someone else. It’s about following what’s right for you.

Which takes us back to Thomas’s question:

If you want to work a 9 to 5 job without that job becoming your life, it’s entirely possible. And you can absolutely opt out of the rat race without quitting the race altogether.

Best of all, it doesn’t require re-training, hunting for a new job or betting it all on your own business.

All it requires is a fresh perspective.

With that in mind, I’m putting together a small group for anyone who’d like to put this into practice.

The purpose of the group is to help you get clear on what you do and don’t want from your job so that you stop chasing the things you don’t want and make space for the stuff that actually matters to you – in the office, and outside the office too.

If you’re interested, please hit reply and let me know.

I’m going to keep this group small. So while replying doesn’t commit you to anything, it does mean I can keep you in the loop. It also means you can help shape the content so the group is as tailored to you as possible.

If you're curious, I look forward to hearing from you. 

That's all for today.

To fulfilment,

Tom