Why Corporate Jobs Make Us Wait While Life Runs Out

Don’t you think corporate jobs nowadays feel like modern slavery??

For example, in my position. To have time of my own, to enjoy life of my own, I need to check my calendar. I need to check how much annual leave I have. I need to coordinate with company schedules. You understand where this stands, right? As if I do not own my very own life. As if my life belongs to someone else. As if I’m letting others control my life! As if I have no say in my very own life. As if I belong to them and not to myself.

And it’s funny when society says this type of life is a successful life. Where is the success? I don’t see it. By selling or renting your own life to another person? That is called success? By trading your very limited time to do work for others, which does not benefit your own self? Where is that success?

I mean, if you do work where the place gives so much impact to another human being, good. That is successful. In fact, that is an honourable sacrifice. For example, doctors, teachers, engineers and so on. But if we look broadly at the titles of most corporate jobs—human resources, client services, executive assistant—where does it benefit except the company itself?

And I also see a lot of people desiring to go out, to find their passion. But society really traps them down. Being scared of money. I know money is essential. But personally, I believe our own self and our own life are way more essential. Money can come in so many ways. Money is not rigid. Money is fluid. Money can be found, money can be searched. Losing money does not mean it won’t come back. But losing the essence and purpose of life might be hard to get back—before it’s too late.

Don’t make money your pillar in life. Don’t sacrifice years and years of your own life just to hold a bit of money in your hand, when in fact life is running out from you. And to realise at a very late time that life happens just once—that would be so sad. Imagine trading your one and only life for fluids and fluids of money. Does it make sense?

I don’t understand when people say wait. Wait for the right time. Wait for a few years. Wait until you have enough money. Wait until you reach a certain age. And imagine—what if we don’t reach there? While waiting, life stops. How? How? And at the end of your precious life, you realise you have done nothing for your own self. You wasted it for someone else. How? Would you still wait? I just couldn’t comprehend people who feel like life is like air. Always there. Always existing. Because personally, I see my life as a counting journey. Where each day that passes is an opportunity. No way to turn back. Either I walk to the front or I rest before I continue. Either I make it into a very memorable journey, or I trade it with people who don’t care. And I very much prefer the first one.

And I must say, being 27 years old this year, I feel like I have wasted 3–4 years of my life being stuck in corporate. I wish I could get those years back. Although there are some pros from those years, still, I could have done way better than what I already did. That is me being 27 years old. How about those who have this realisation in their 30s? 40s? 50s? I don’t say it’s bad. It’s a journey, yes. But don’t be ignorant. Don’t purposely blind your own eyes. And the most cruel thing you could do to your very own self is wait.

And I didn’t say corporate is bad. No. Because I believe and I have met people who enjoy it. Thrive in it. Feel satisfied with their life and their needs. Which is very empowering. But I’m saying all this for those who, deep down in their hearts, know that there is something else out there for them. Those who dread Monday mornings. Those who can’t wait for Friday evenings. Those who keep checking their calendar for the next annual leave. Those who are always waiting for the next adventure. And those who wish there was no return flight ticket—just so they didn’t have to sit again at the tiny grey cubicle.

Life is too short to wait, and sometimes it helps to be reminded. I write a quiet letter where I send small notes, fragments, and questions that don’t always make it here. You can subscribe if you wish to walk alongside me.