I'M AT WORK AND THIS TOOK OVER AN HOUR TO TYPE LOL
ITT: observations and first world problems from my experiences of life in the real world after graduating from Smogon University.
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Adults are big kids
The people that I work with on a day to day basis represent a cross section of the modern middle class; cosmopolitan, educated, and respectable. Yet behind the veneer of professionalism, they have their petty squabbles and power struggles, bitch about each other, are easily influenced by peer pressure, and worry about trivial things.
We still play with toys, only the toys are different and usually more expensive, and the opposite sex remains a conundrum to many. Bodily fluids, vulgarity, and flatulence are still amusing to most, while alcohol might just be the elixir that allows people to act their true mental age.
Everything is bullshit
Increasingly, I am lead to believe that the only thing separating adults from say... a teenager is the ability to switch on the bullshit machine. Accordingly, the more senior the colleague or client employee, the better honed their bullshit ability appears to be. This is a necessity because the corporate world is drowning in bullshit. Doing anything nowadays involves compliance with excessive red tape and regulation that keep people like me employed at great opportunity cost to the wider economy. As my line manager succinctly (and ironically) puts it, “business is a massive arse covering exercise”.
”Is this it?”
I imagine most people will have an “is this it?” moment early into their adulthood. At some juncture, you will likely step on to the metaphorical treadmill and begin the 40+ year run towards nowhere in particular, or if you are a protein bore, this may prove literal. If by sheer good fortune, you find stimulating employment that you genuinely love; congratulations, you are the 1% and I envy you. The reality is that almost nobody is satisfied with their job. The particulars will vary between individuals, but there exists infinity and one reasons why this is the case.
What to do then? A friend once asked me “what was the last thing to make you smile?” She then told me to do more of it. Ultimately, this is it. I reject popular notions of what happiness looks like and I know not what I want out of life, nor do I know where I am going, but I do know the little things that will make my journey tolerable and often times enjoyable. Obviously, this is no ground-breaking insight, but it is something that is easily forgotten. Simple pleasures keep me gently ticking over; for example, it is a good day if I hear one memorable anecdote.
"Passion"
We all recognise as nonsense the vacuous spiel that professionals spout from shows like the Apprentice (how do I become “dynamic”?). However, the trivialisation of legitimately meaningful words deserves more coverage. The most obvious example is the commercialisation and dilution of whatever “love” is supposed to mean. But it is the word “passion” that has been getting on my tits. Apparently, it is no longer adequate to simply “like” something. No, you are required to be passionate about it.
I remember when I was looking for jobs in 2009 and a relatively common question during preliminary interviews and on application forms was “what are you passionate about?” Umm… nothing really… I mean I enjoy cricket, I play Pokemon… a lot, and I eat at too many fancy restaurants, but none of this constitutes a passion.
The flippant throwaway usage of “passion” is most evident on CVs (resumes). If and when I become an employer, I am going to highlight the word and ask the candidate to explain during the interview what makes their interest a passion. If you own a high spec digital camera and can talk enthusiastically about the intricacies of taking the perfect photograph, you get a pass. However, if your passion consists of having a camera phone and uploading hundreds of gratuitous pictures to Facebook each week, then I am sorry, but I might just stand up and point at you while exclaiming “BULLSHIT!”
TL;DR don’t worry about growing up, because adults are just children with more expensive toys and bigger shoes; learn to bullshit before you graduate; disregard the aspirations that society tells you will make you happy and do more of what you know will make you happy; and don’t use the word “passion” on your CV unless it is legitimate.
ITT: observations and first world problems from my experiences of life in the real world after graduating from Smogon University.
-----
Adults are big kids
The people that I work with on a day to day basis represent a cross section of the modern middle class; cosmopolitan, educated, and respectable. Yet behind the veneer of professionalism, they have their petty squabbles and power struggles, bitch about each other, are easily influenced by peer pressure, and worry about trivial things.
We still play with toys, only the toys are different and usually more expensive, and the opposite sex remains a conundrum to many. Bodily fluids, vulgarity, and flatulence are still amusing to most, while alcohol might just be the elixir that allows people to act their true mental age.
Everything is bullshit
Increasingly, I am lead to believe that the only thing separating adults from say... a teenager is the ability to switch on the bullshit machine. Accordingly, the more senior the colleague or client employee, the better honed their bullshit ability appears to be. This is a necessity because the corporate world is drowning in bullshit. Doing anything nowadays involves compliance with excessive red tape and regulation that keep people like me employed at great opportunity cost to the wider economy. As my line manager succinctly (and ironically) puts it, “business is a massive arse covering exercise”.
”Is this it?”
I imagine most people will have an “is this it?” moment early into their adulthood. At some juncture, you will likely step on to the metaphorical treadmill and begin the 40+ year run towards nowhere in particular, or if you are a protein bore, this may prove literal. If by sheer good fortune, you find stimulating employment that you genuinely love; congratulations, you are the 1% and I envy you. The reality is that almost nobody is satisfied with their job. The particulars will vary between individuals, but there exists infinity and one reasons why this is the case.
What to do then? A friend once asked me “what was the last thing to make you smile?” She then told me to do more of it. Ultimately, this is it. I reject popular notions of what happiness looks like and I know not what I want out of life, nor do I know where I am going, but I do know the little things that will make my journey tolerable and often times enjoyable. Obviously, this is no ground-breaking insight, but it is something that is easily forgotten. Simple pleasures keep me gently ticking over; for example, it is a good day if I hear one memorable anecdote.
"Passion"
We all recognise as nonsense the vacuous spiel that professionals spout from shows like the Apprentice (how do I become “dynamic”?). However, the trivialisation of legitimately meaningful words deserves more coverage. The most obvious example is the commercialisation and dilution of whatever “love” is supposed to mean. But it is the word “passion” that has been getting on my tits. Apparently, it is no longer adequate to simply “like” something. No, you are required to be passionate about it.
I remember when I was looking for jobs in 2009 and a relatively common question during preliminary interviews and on application forms was “what are you passionate about?” Umm… nothing really… I mean I enjoy cricket, I play Pokemon… a lot, and I eat at too many fancy restaurants, but none of this constitutes a passion.
The flippant throwaway usage of “passion” is most evident on CVs (resumes). If and when I become an employer, I am going to highlight the word and ask the candidate to explain during the interview what makes their interest a passion. If you own a high spec digital camera and can talk enthusiastically about the intricacies of taking the perfect photograph, you get a pass. However, if your passion consists of having a camera phone and uploading hundreds of gratuitous pictures to Facebook each week, then I am sorry, but I might just stand up and point at you while exclaiming “BULLSHIT!”
TL;DR don’t worry about growing up, because adults are just children with more expensive toys and bigger shoes; learn to bullshit before you graduate; disregard the aspirations that society tells you will make you happy and do more of what you know will make you happy; and don’t use the word “passion” on your CV unless it is legitimate.
