Honest conversations about the psychology of modern work culture
Insomnia has never been convenient. At 2:13 AM in a Las Vegas hotel, it became unexpectedly enlightening. Pacing the carpeted corridor of the 23rd floor, I crossed paths with my colleague Sarah exiting our boss Davidās room. She wore yesterdayās conference attire, hair disheveled, heels in hand. Our eyes met briefly before she hurried toward …
My boss stood in my office doorway, arms crossed. āCorinne, the client presentation needs to be completely redone by tomorrow morning.ā āAbsolutely! Iād be happy to make those changes for you,ā I replied, my voice rising half an octave. āIs there anything specific youād like me to focus on?ā The words felt sticky-sweet in my …
āJust get through the day,ā I whispered, gripping the steering wheel. The first sign wasnāt the insomnia or the Sunday night dread. It was the morning I sat in my parked car outside the office, unable to open the door. Twenty minutes passed. My reflection in the rearview mirror showed dark circles under eyes that …
āDo you have children? Are you planning to have any soon?ā The interviewerās voice was casual, like she was asking about my preferred programming language. My pulse quickened. That was the third interview that week where my reproductive plans had somehow become relevant to system architecture. Each time, the question was wrapped in friendliness, tucked …
Janelle was in free fall. Her long-term boyfriend left without warning, and she unraveled fast ā panicked texts, endless loops of what-ifs, forgotten meals. I brought over tea and a notepad. We made a plan. It was less about feelings and more about function. Who to avoid. What to say. Where to put the grief …
In 17 days, Iāll turn in my badge, log out of the company network, and walk away from a long career with unfinished spreadsheets and an unfinished mortgage. People keep asking if Iāve lost my mind. I smile. They mean well. The numbers donāt impress the financial professionals. I havenāt hit their magical thresholds. I …