Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Is the current economic model of a corporation sustainable? We’re talking the old pyramid style of management here. The people at the top of the pyramid have all the power and get paid the most money. Decisions are made at “the top” and passed down thru the food chain.
The grassroots foundation, cubicle workers, doesn’t have any input into decisions about the company or it’s operations. Profit is the sole purpose of the corporaitons existence. The harder cubicle workers work, the more the boardroom wants to put profit on the spreadsheet. It’s never enough. And your soul is paying the price.
Ever heard the term “work smarter, not harder?” That’s double speak from the corporation for “We loved your last pound of flesh, but you really need to lean in and give us some more!”
I’m not making the corporation the bad guy. I’ve worked in corporations and know the environment. I’ve worked for the ultimate corporation, The United States Military. I know what it’s like to feel like a cog in the wheel. I’m not raining pity on the little guy here either. Wherever you’re working you’re doing it by choice. If it’s sucks, leave.
What I am saying is this. More and more people will eventually unplug (not necessarily by choice) from wanton consumerism in America. And they’ll be forced to wake up and realize they don’t need to work 40+ hours a week to enjoy a comfortable life. When you don’t have any debt, you don’t have to keep volunteering your soul to the corporation every day.
It all gets back to why you’re doing what you’re doing. If cubicle labor works for you, I say do it. If it doesn’t work for you, there’s another way to live. Getting out of debt is one way to live that other way. No debt, no obligation to stay and trade your life away to The Company Store.
To answer the question in the episode title “The Death of The Corporation?” I say yes. The body is dying. But it won’t go willingly and without a fight as it gasps it’s last soul sucking, profit pushing, breath. You can help hasten it’s death by not needing it to survive.
Standard of living is NOT the same as quality of life. Would you rather work 50-60 hrs. a week and have lots of stuff with no time to enjoy it or work 20-30 hrs. a week, less stuff, and more piece of mind? I’m leaning toward less hours, more sanity. Hope to see you on the sanity side.
Resources:
Book – When Corporations Rule The World by David Corten
Reading – wired.com blog post
Give us a call on our voicemail feedback hotline at 615-200-7189 or drop Greg an email
What you send may be read on the air and used as part of the show.
