Corporate Success is a Lie!

In high school, I was convinced college was a NASA-grade launchpad. I thought I’d board that vessel and blast off into a galaxy of hyper-competence where everyone spoke in profound metaphors and solved world hunger between classes.

Then I actually got to campus and realized the rocket was mostly a refrigerator box held together by duct tape and student loans. I would would arrive armed with hot takes on how religion and Greek life walk a fine line between community and cultish indoctrination. Instead, I found my Communications 101 class split into three distinct camps: one-third actively debating whether "there," "their," and "they’re" were distinct words or just creative spelling; one-third consisting of borderline geniuses who couldn't look another human in the eye ; and a final third who were only there because the military was the alternative.

By graduate school, I shifted my delusions. I stopped looking for a coequal and started looking for THE CARD. You know the 14-point stock, eggshell white, with gold-laminated letters so thick you can only fit a few in your empty wallet. I thought that thick piece of paper was a magical amulet. If I just had the right title, I’d finally be someone! But here’s the kicker, ambition is a hell of a drug, and a terrible meal. It keeps you running, but it doesn't actually fill your stomach!

The corporate dream is having a title that requires three lines on an envelope. The truth is many are sitting in that corner office, staring at a gold-plated nameplate, while taking out their third pension loan just to keep the lights on.A fancy title is a pretty thin blanket when your mortgage is underwater.

Turns out, you can’t pay the electric bill with an Executive Vice President electronic signature or a Master’s degree in burnout. We spend our lives trying to print our worth onto something tangible, hoping the world will finally see us. Graduate school forgot to mention that happiness is not found in a 14-point stock card. 

Stop waiting for a piece of paper to tell you that you’ve arrived. If you’re drowning, it doesn't matter if your business card is waterproof.

PIVOT!

BLOG | FEBRUARY 2026

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