The mindset shift after working at a startup for 6 months totally changed how I look at corporate jobs

I joined a small tech startup last January after 8 years at a big company with layers of management. At first I hated the chaos, no clear rules, no one telling me what to do. But around month 4 something clicked. I started seeing how decisions actually get made and how much wasted time happens in big meetings. Now I'm back at a corporate place and I can't stop noticing all the dead air and politics. Has anyone else had a hard time adjusting back after a leaner environment?

3 comments

3 Comments

jake_owens1mo ago

Yo same thing happened to me after 3 months at a 10 person startup. I spent my first week back at a normal job just staring at people in meetings talking about planning more meetings and wanted to scream. The worst part is the fake urgency about stuff that literally doesn't matter.

norag6611d ago

There's something to be said for structure and planning when you're juggling more than ten things at once.

eva9081mo ago

Totally get where you're coming from now, even though I used to be one of those corporate people defending the big meetings. @jake_owens your story about the planning meetings honestly made me laugh but also hurt a little because I remember being on the other side and thinking I was being productive. The whole fake urgency thing is real, like people acting like a tiny spreadsheet update is life or death when it's just busywork. Seeing it from this side makes me realize how much time we waste just filling space instead of actually getting stuff done.