KayBayJan 28, 2023
tricia, queen of house cyberly  

some people don’t want to climb the corporate ladder, even if they used to.

some people don’t want to go “above and beyond.”

some people want less responsibility, not more.

some people want to do the job they were hired to do and be done.

there is *nothing* wrong with this.

we need to normalize language like this. you don’t have to work 90 hours a week to be “dedicated.” you don’t have to love your job. you CAN be in it just for the paycheck. that’s literally what a job is: payment for services.

this rhetoric of “what success looks like” is a falsity we have been tricked into believing to maximize corporate profits. success looks different depending on who and when you ask… sometimes success is getting up in the morning, and sometimes it’s getting promoted. it’s all relative, and we need to remember that.

#Friday #Thoughts #Work #Life #BeKind #Success

Jan 27, 2023 at 1:14pmWeb
Show threadMorten Juhl-JohansenJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas I feel like this is such a healthy approach. For a long time, every younger colleague (and quite a few less so) have had one foot out the door on day two, looking at the next level. It is very frustrating to be in a specialist team where people do not have the patience to specialize...
But focus and appreciation of the situation is so much healthier.
Show threadtricia, queen of house cyberly  Jan 27, 2023
@mjjzf yeah.. i would have been one of those younger colleagues you mentioned, and i gotta tell ya folks, the mental and physical sacrifices you have to make are not worth the results IMO
Show threadMorten Juhl-JohansenJan 28, 2023
@triciakickssaas Oh, I am not saying I have not been there myself.
But a culture of 'fake it until you make it/break it, then move on' is not sustainable for anyone in the equation.
Show threadFuzzysteveJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas Do the job you're paid for. Do it well, because you owe that to yourself. If something interests you, feel free to do some more on your own time. But never feel you have to. Take all the time off you're entitled to. Even if you'll just be sitting at home. <3
Show threadShephallmassiveJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas yes indeed, the minimum value proposition (mvp) as quoted for should not expect to include the vulnerability, goodwill & generosity of spirit of its employees either..#SuckingTheLifeOutOfACommunity
Show threadcpsaskJan 27, 2023

@triciakickssaas Agreed. I was annoyed at the term quiet quitting being applied to workers who were resetting boundaries to work the hours they are actually paid.

Many years a co-worker who regularly worked 50 hour weeks told me he was giving himself a raise by only working the contracted 37.5 hrs. Strange thing happened…his productivity increased and he was happier!

Show threadtricia, queen of house cyberly  Jan 27, 2023
@cpsask oooooh don’t get me started on the term “quiet quitting” lol but yeah - it’s so weird how productivity and higher quality work come out of people who are rested, not as stressed, respected and happy
Show threadMeredithJan 28, 2023
@triciakickssaas @cpsask THIS! This right here is how I feel currently and my work ENCOURAGES it
Show threadMeredithJan 28, 2023
@triciakickssaas @cpsask if you do Sec/IT I would recommend coming aboard! Or don’t! 😃 Do what what you want!
Show threadSimonoidJan 28, 2023
@triciakickssaas @cpsask yes! I want to do my job well, if I work overtime too often my work quality suffers. I know it and it's not a weakness to admit.
Show threadStefwillJan 28, 2023
@triciakickssaas @cpsask I'm a vendor manager and people manager and I could do my job in 3 days a week but generally have to stretch it out to 5. My teams have heaps of autonomy and are super happy and massively productive. My job as a team leader is to mentor and stop shit from above hitting my team.
Show threadSimonoidJan 28, 2023
@cpsask @triciakickssaas exactly. Going above and beyond is not the norm. Anyone not over performing are not slacking.
Show threadEllieJan 27, 2023

@triciakickssaas I highly recommend "Rest Is Resistance" by Tricia Hersey (or her interview about it on the "We Can Do Hard Things" podcast).

My favorite quote from her book: "Grind culture is spiritual death".

Show threadtricia, queen of house cyberly  Jan 27, 2023
@nilokuma will look this up for sure. thank you for the rec 🫶
Show threadPlatypus123Jan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas I read this post repeatedly for several minutes. It’s been a while since something resonated so strongly with me.
Show threadtricia, queen of house cyberly  Jan 27, 2023

@Platypus123 oh, im so glad 💖 thank you for saying that.

it’s okay to want to do your job and go home and nothing more

Show threadSmittyHalibutJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas 100% agree. Just wish someone would have told my employer this two years ago. Oh well, I’m much happier where I am now (self employed), even if the getting here wasn’t so great.
Show threadtricia, queen of house cyberly  Jan 27, 2023
@smitty  so sorry you had to go through that, but glad you are happy where you are now ​
Show threadSmittyHalibutJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas thank you. But I’m good. Much privilege and luck, I don’t have a lot of room to complain over all. Depression and anxiety affects everyone, regardless of privilege and position, but privilege and position make it easier for some to deal with it.
Show threadAndrew JorgensenJan 27, 2023

@triciakickssaas the two megacorps I've worked for both formally have growth as an expectation for lower career levels. That means if you aren't growing, you aren't meeting expectations and should be managed either into growth or out of the company.

I agree it shouldn't be that way. If I'm good at L4 or L5 and have no ambition to reach L6, I should be able to keep being great at my job.

Show threadtricia, queen of house cyberly  Jan 27, 2023

@ajorg yeah, it's such bs. i'd like to make it more normal to not have these as formal reqs.

not because people should "remain stagnant" or whatever nonsense people want to spout. because growth looks different to different people. a megacorp's idea of growth is narrow and not necessarily what the employee views as growth. ex: going to therapy is growth for a person, but a company would probably not consider it.

There's nothing wrong with understanding that someone wants to stay at a certain level and letting them do so. Moreover, It doesn't make them less of an employee for making that decision, in fact I'd argue it makes them stronger since they're self-aware enough to admit that.

Show threadLars Marowsky-Brée 😷Jan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas Definitely. I reduced my work week to 4 days (and yes, I am aware it is an incredible privilege to be able to).
Everybody keeps asking me what I do with that additional day.
And I'm like, nothing 😊
Show threadVooduDrewJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas I agree....mostly. The trick, as I see it, is when your co-worker or workers, begin to out work or out hustle you on the job and the bosses are keen to that, you're going to either be passed up for any kind of raise/promotion or at the worst, let go because although you're "doing your job" you have now become expendable.
Show threadtricia, queen of house cyberly  Jan 27, 2023
@VooduDrew oh, i know. fully aware that there are consequences - hence the "we need to make this normal" bit... i would like to see more managers rewarding behaviour that isn't corporate slaving
Show threadTradeshowGuyJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas 💯my wife lives by these words.
Show threadMikeZilla Minus OneJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas
i was an "under the radar" guy myself
Show threadMinnesnowtaJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas Workplace PTSD is likely severely under-reported, IMHO.
Show threadDoctor LURKJan 27, 2023

@triciakickssaas
This. I came up from poverty wages to digital marketing (etc.) in my 30s. Even my busiest week is a breeze compared to my previous life of close-to-open retail shifts, scraping grease traps at 2:30 AM, almost getting fired because my old jeans ripped a seam and I couldn't afford a new pair.... These days I clock out the minute my shift ends. I use all my vacation time and take it easy whenever I can.

Never work harder than you have to unless you really want to! It's a scam.

Show threadJoyce Bell 🇺🇦🇨🇦🇲🇽🇬🇱🚫🧊Jan 29, 2023
@doctorLURK One of my student workers who also worked another job called closing at the job and then having to reopen the next day: a Clopening.
Show threadDoctor LURKFeb 2, 2023
@joycebell Ha! I love that. I mean, I hate it for your student, but a good portmanteau is always welcome in my feed.
Show threadGraham LesterJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas People who own businesses and reap all the profits demand that their employees, who neither own the business nor reap the profits, show more dedication than they themselves do!
Show threadBits&Terminal JeffJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas So true. It's hard to convince some people that I don't really have any ambition to climb that ladder - just want to do my job well and not do any work when away from it (work phone stays off).
Show threadWild Eyed Boy From FreecloudJan 27, 2023

@triciakickssaas I'll never forget hearing "This is not a 40 hr/week job." The bubble above my head: wanna bet?

I got the job. Did it well. And was as true to my bubble as possible.

Show threadKristaJan 27, 2023
@smitty This discussion of climbing the corporate ladder definitely fits our household. My husband is a smart guy. And he works 8AM-5PM for a paycheck to fund the life we want to live. He doesn't want to go to lunches, he doesn't want to go on team building enforced fun.
I, otoh, really liked my job and would do extra...before we had small people who I'd rather spend time with. Now I like my job but I prefer to maximize time with my people.
Show threadSmittyHalibutJan 27, 2023
@Knitonepugtwo you still work for ANE?
Show threadKristaJan 28, 2023
@smitty no. I with for a lighting design firm, very part time.
Show threadAndres JalintonJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas
That is me! 😆
Show threadDavisJan 27, 2023

@triciakickssaas preach it!

I also hate the mentality of “I only want people who want to commit their lives to the company” among managers and executives.

Show threadSoozcatJan 27, 2023
@carpeinferi @triciakickssaas Riiiiight. They want absolute loyalty from people they would not hesitate for a second to fire. I have two words about that, and they're not "happy birthday."
Show threadTexas Gender Reveal MassacreJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas that's right
Show threadTexas Gender Reveal MassacreJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas
Show threadtricia, queen of house cyberly  Jan 27, 2023
@snarthelg i just spat out my tea, cheers
Show threadPeter ButlerJan 27, 2023

@triciakickssaas Relevant research:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022103122001615

Show threadAlberto GMJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas some of us have our own personal, preferred ladders to climb. Just not the ones we are being given.
Show threadNathan Wrigley Jan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas I'd go as far as to say that vast majority of people do not want to be extraordinary. I include myself in that. I want to do enough to make sure that the things that I need to cover are covered. I'd have more free time over 'success' every single time. I don't want a boat, or an island!
Show threadDarlesBarkleyJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas 100% agree with this and something I tell my management all the time. I don't need all of my employees to be rockstars or pushing for that next level. It's great to have folks on my team that want to do their job and do it well
Show threadMsGrumpyGreenJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas So true, thank you.💐
Show threadRobin NealJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas it is such a nightmare job hunting atm, and people do not seem to get that I do not want to be a tech lead again! I keep ending up in tech lead roles and they're bloody exhausting.
just let me be a regular dev and make things. 😭
Show threadgrumpy chrisJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas Totally agree with this. I was working a fun, well paid team member gig as a pentester in a big4. Repeatedly told my bosses I didn’t want a promotion. I’ve managed people, not my idea of a good time. When I quit shortly after they promoted me anyway, they acted all surprised and hurt.   Like I’d thrown this great favour they’d done for me back in their face.
Show threadGay Trash™Jan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas I genuinely don't see the reason to go "above and beyond", you hired me to do specific tasks — unless you're increasing my pay, it's pretty logical to ask "why should I do this?"
Show threadGianf:) 🇮🇹Jan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas So true! Work to live, don't live to work.
Show threadJaeBeaJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas Fully agree. I feel the push to consistently do more than you are paid to do is just guilting and shaming the exploited.
Show threadCathybugJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas absolutely this
Show threadErwin Rossen 🔸Jan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas Definitely! I co-founded a company, but after a few years, I stepped out of the management team, started working 4 days a week, and now I'm happy as a "mere" developer in my company.
Show threadGeoff BeggsJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas when I used to hire people I was always wary of people who claimed to be “passionate” about the job. ‘Really?’ I would think to myself, passionate? Passionate about this job? Ok then.
Show threadSue ArcherJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas I hate it when I see job ads that say "you must be passionate about.." and it's something like customer service, or logistics. No. you need to be good at it. That's all.
Show threadHasufinJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas I love my job. Really I do. But if I weren't paid, no, I would not be doing it. And anything past my current level is managerial and I would hate it. You'd *think* companies could value a cog which works reliably and without complaint... but apparently only when that cog is miserable.
Show threadGary E. WalkerJan 27, 2023
@triciakickssaas some folk are just looking for insurance, a reasonable salary, and an employer that’s not all war-crimey.
Show threadChris (so far)Jan 27, 2023
@gewalker @triciakickssaas I mean … if it’s *good* insurance … what level of war crimes we talking?
Show threadGary E. WalkerJan 27, 2023
@perigrin i mean ideally I’d like to avoid as many sorts of “cleansing” as possible? I grew up weirdo Jesus people and as angry as I am about various things some aspects of it do stick.