CORPORATE LIFE
I Learned How to Play Politics the Hard Way
You need more than a work ethic to be successful
I was putting the finishing touches on a report when the phone rang. One of my focus group participants had to cancel last minute. I sighed and checked the time. Another hour before people would start arriving. Maybe I could squeeze in a walk before the 6:30 pm session. It was going to be a late night, which was nothing new.
I loved my first year as a market research consultant. It was all about psychology and personal motivation, so I got to dig into why people do what they do. I heard about the job from a friend and inadvertently stumbled into something perfect for me.
My boss, Ward, was effusive with his praise, once declaring me “his best employee.” I had an unquenchable need to be seen and validated, so I worked longer and longer hours to meet his ever-increasing demands.
At first, I didn’t notice how much of my outside life I gave up for the affirmation. I canceled so many get-togethers people started leaving me off the roster. We were a small company, so every project was make or break. We worked late figuring out scrappy ways to impress clients on a budget. I felt like an integral part of the team building something of tremendous value. What could be more…
