Often when you’re ready to make the leap to working from home, but have to keep your day job, little things really start to get to you. The absurdity that is Corporate America begins to grate on you, more that it did before. So I began to develop what I call “Pre-Liberation Survival Tools” for those waiting out their sentences, and counting the days to freedom.
What Sadist Invented Staff Meetings…?
“People who enjoy meetings should not be in charge of anything.” – Thomas Sowell
I joke with clients that I’d rather have a staph infection than a staff meeting. Much has been written about this bane of business life. So how do you make them tolerable? Consider these 3 Pre-Liberation Survival Tools for meetings:
1 – Play a drinking game (coffee that is). Every time someone uses a jargony buzzword take a drink. You’ll be flying high on caffeine well before it finally comes to an end.
2 – Play corporate Mad-Libs. Replace buzzwords with other, funnier words – “synergies” becomes “bananas,” “leverage” becomes “back-flip,” “core competency” becomes “hairy wart,” etc.
3 – Make a mind-map, but not of what’s being talked about. Mind-maps really make it appear that you’re interested and actively listening, but chances are what’s being discussed is not too fun. So instead, make mind-maps of things like – how Simpsons characters are associated, the people you dated (or would like to have dated) in high school, your gardening plan, or the various scenarios required for your team to make it into the playoffs.
Sometimes the smell of freedom can accentuate the stench of captivity. So have some fun as you diligently do what must be done. Those lame duck days will be over before you know it.
Tony – those Lame Duck Days can really seem like they are NEVER going to end…. (ask me how I know:)…
I love the idea of having some fun, and making the journey from corporate drone to self-employed much more bearable – especially as it gets harder and harder to bear the work when you’ve got your escape all planned…
(I have always hated staff meetings, so when I started having meetings with my staff – we’d go out for coffee and cake and make the whole thing sooo much more civilised! Shhh, don’t tell the boss.)
It seems that these days humor is banned word in a corporate world.
Tony, thanks for reminding us that we can still find some fun.
But you have to be careful with #1, even if you drink only water. 😉
Karen – Great idea on going out for coffee and cake. That, I might could do 😉
Grigor – You’re right. If you drink enough water, you might be able to excuse yourself for a break 🙂
Funny post. I’ll be putting some of those to work. I really can’t wait to take the plunge and get out on my own.