Tolerating People: The Secret Cost of Modern Work

Inside stopped working in any kind of Inside stopped working in any kind of conventional 9-5 sense with an office, a conventional 9-5 sense with an office, a conventional 9-5 sense with an office, a boss. A huge percentage of modern boss. A huge percentage of modern boss. A huge percentage of modern professional life is basically just professional life is basically just professional life is basically just built around you tolerating people. Um, built around you tolerating people. Um, built around you tolerating people. Um, I don't mean that in like a hating or I don't mean that in like a hating or I don't mean that in like a hating or misanthropic way. I mean it very misanthropic way. I mean it very misanthropic way. I mean it very literally, right? People who gossip, who literally, right? People who gossip, who literally, right? People who gossip, who compete for status, people who take compete for status, people who take compete for status, people who take credit for other people's work, people credit for other people's work, people credit for other people's work, people who drain your energy first thing in the who drain your energy first thing in the who drain your energy first thing in the morning at the water cooler or [ __ ] morning at the water cooler or [ __ ] morning at the water cooler or [ __ ] coffee pot, people who call meetings to coffee pot, people who call meetings to coffee pot, people who call meetings to discuss things that could have been done discuss things that could have been done discuss things that could have been done in an email that aren't being done at in an email that aren't being done at in an email that aren't being done at all, people who make noise simply all, people who make noise simply all, people who make noise simply because silence is terrifying to them. because silence is terrifying to them. because silence is terrifying to them. And you sit there, you smile, you And you sit there, you smile, you And you sit there, you smile, you contribute, you be a team player, you contribute, you be a team player, you contribute, you be a team player, you attend those team building exercises, attend those team building exercises, attend those team building exercises, you go to the retirement party for some you go to the retirement party for some you go to the retirement party for some guy who just got a watch. You know, you guy who just got a watch. You know, you guy who just got a watch. You know, you clap, you eat the grocery store cake, clap, you eat the grocery store cake, clap, you eat the grocery store cake, you say something nice, drink the you say something nice, drink the you say something nice, drink the Starbucks, uh, cuz that's what you're Starbucks, uh, cuz that's what you're Starbucks, uh, cuz that's what you're supposed to do. Cuz you need the job, supposed to do. Cuz you need the job, supposed to do. Cuz you need the job, right? You need the wage, you need the right? You need the wage, you need the right? You need the wage, you need the benefits, you need the mortgage payment, benefits, you need the mortgage payment, benefits, you need the mortgage payment, you need your car insurance, you need a you need your car insurance, you need a you need your car insurance, you need a subscription, you need to send your kids subscription, you need to send your kids subscription, you need to send your kids to this school, you have to live in this to this school, you have to live in this to this school, you have to live in this house, you have to [ __ ] pay the house, you have to [ __ ] pay the house, you have to [ __ ] pay the bills. So, you compromise everything. bills. So, you compromise everything. bills. So, you compromise everything. You literally compromise your entire You literally compromise your entire You literally compromise your entire life, and you call that responsible.

life, and you call that responsible. life, and you call that responsible. Uh, this is the run-of-the-mill Uh, this is the run-of-the-mill Uh, this is the run-of-the-mill adulthood, right? And I'm not even adulthood, right? And I'm not even adulthood, right? And I'm not even judging it, I've been there. I think a judging it, I've been there. I think a judging it, I've been there. I think a lot of people have been living in a lot of people have been living in a lot of people have been living in a compromised position for so long, they compromised position for so long, they compromised position for so long, they don't even realize it anymore, right? don't even realize it anymore, right? don't even realize it anymore, right? They've started to think this is life, They've started to think this is life, They've started to think this is life, this is normal, this works. It's a this is normal, this works. It's a this is normal, this works. It's a particular version of life, but particular version of life, but particular version of life, but ultimately I'm trying to say you're ultimately I'm trying to say you're ultimately I'm trying to say you're choosing it.