I left tech because I couldn't keep contorting into someone else's version of success.

This essay isn't a takedown. It's definitely not a triumph story. It's about carrying the heavy weight of performative professionalism when your very self feels like a liability.

If you've ever dulled your edges to survive a job, I'd appreciate hearing how you found your way back to authenticity.

I Thought Tech Would Let Me Be Myself. I Was Wrong.
https://medium.com/@thepettyprofessional/i-thought-tech-would-let-me-be-myself-i-was-wrong-2a92dc80b574

#LeavingTech #AuthenticityAtWork

✨I Thought Tech Would Let Me Be Myself. I Was Wrong.

Part Two of my essay series on emotional labor + performance vs. personhood is live.

It's petty, pointed, and probably gonna get me blocked by a few former coworkers.

👉 Read now on Medium: https://medium.com/@thepettyprofessional/i-thought-tech-would-let-me-be-myself-i-was-wrong-2a92dc80b574

#WorkCulture #EmotionalLabor #TechLife #corporateburnout #antiwork #pettyprofessional

I spent 25 years faking it at work—smiling, agreeing, and showing up like everything was fine.
It wasn’t.
This piece is about what changed when I finally stopped performing—and what emotional labor really costs us.

✍️ I Faked It At Work For 25 Years. Now I’m Done.
🔗 https://medium.com/@thepettyprofessional/i-faked-it-at-work-for-25-years-now-im-done-b2753aa3aa34

#EmotionalLabor #WorkCulture #QuietQuitting #MentalHealthAtWork #BurnoutRecovery #ThePettyProfessional