When I grow up, I’m gonna be a wall-punching, micromanaging, passive-aggressive CEO — and I’ll be the GOAT — cause I got lots of fantastic examples to pull from!
Unlike the sudden woosh I sometimes get when a poem washes over me, this realization came quietly …
I no longer look to my job for fulfillment.
Liberating!!!
While I am certain I mean that, saying it out loud feels odd. I should say it out loud more often. To be clear, when I talk about fulfillment, I mean, my work no longer defines me and I don’t look to my employer for:
- Purpose & Impact:
- What I do matters and is making a positive long-term difference in the organization
- Using My Strengths:
- Exposure to work that allows me to use my best skills and talents
- Growth and Development:
- Opportunities for continuously learning, work that’s challenging and career advancement
- Alignment with Values: I’ll just choke on my values while at work
- Recognition: I can reach over and pat myself on the back, no problem
Just because I’m past that stage, it doesn’t mean my boss’ behaviour no longer affects me, but I’ve let go of the hope that it will change. And that feels fuckin’ amazing! As much as I hate the word “potential”, in this case “hope” is in the same sphere.
Hope and potential are words people impose; they reflect your expectations of a person, a thing, or even a situation. They say more about what we want than about what is.
Looking back, I’ve wasted a lot of energy hoping. Unlike fine reds, premium balsamic vinegar, or cheese, people don’t necessarily get better with age.
Acknowledging that there is always room for improvement, I wonder how people view me. It’s probably worlds away from how I see myself. 😍
It only took me fifty-two years, but this realization has shifted how I view corporate life and my role in it. I no longer rely on work:
- to serve as the primary engine of my growth
- to provide any signifiance in my life
- as a definer of my identity
It’s almost as if I’ve resigned by outgrowing that aspect of my life. For the record, I will contine to do my best work. Because integrity, responsibility and accountability is not about who I work for. It is about who I am.
When people ask me what I do, I will say,
“As part of a long-term initiative to preserve, scale and operationalize my creative autonomy, and my general refusal to be categorized, I lead the end-to-end translation of ideas and lived experiences into net-new word-based artifacts while adhering to strict governance standards.”
If they ask for clarification instead of walking away, I’ll add,
“I’m a writer!”
Even if no one is watching or praising or supporting, I still get to make shit! Fuck yea!
Alright, that’s it for today. Maybe next time I’ll hit you with more corporate satire — I got lots.
Cheers! To being grateful and living your dreamiest life right now!
Thu Feb 12
Photo by DallE
© 2026 Ociola Samantha Williams. All Rights Reserved.
