Quote:

Until this morning I lived in a world where I imagined that one day I would not have to submit myself to the demands of a boss. I figured that I would rise in the ranks of a corporation or start a business of my own. Then the rules and demands would be mine to make. I think I owe this delusional state to my parents who provided the illusionary environment where “You can be anything you want to be if you set your mind to it.” This morning I was freed. My mind revolted against this idea when I saw a top director at my workplace being put in “his place” by a more senior top director. The revelation was elegantly simple and I have accepted it as an infallible truth. The reality of humanity in 2009 is that we all have a boss. I am sure that you disagree and can think of situations where a person has no boss. Well I did the same thing and found that with only a single exception that can never apply to me, everyone reports to someone. Case 1: Movie - Office Space While Peter in found some temporary solace in his hypnotic state, it was a short term solution and eventually he had to deal with the reality of a world with bosses in it. Case 2: Average Breakers of the Law Those who choose to break the law then must either flee or deal with the consequences. Either way, they are limited in what their choices are and are never really free. Also they will have to deal with whatever morally binding rules they believe in. If they don’t get caught it is only because they assimilate with society and live a life with bosses. Case 3: Super Drug Lords Drug Lords might just shoot anyone who they dislike, but they have to sell their product. If you sell anything you need someone else’s approval and they are your boss. Case 4: President of the US George W. sure as hell tried to do what he wanted, but he has to deal with Congress and a whole bunch of Angry Americans. Oh and Cheney. Case 5: Old Ladies Ok… they don’t have a boss. They do whatever the fuck they want and there is nothing anyone can do to stop them. What, are you going to stop an old lady from cutting you at the supermarket line? Are you going to argue with your grandma? However, like I said earlier… I can never be an old lady. Case 6: Bill Gates Mrs. Gates So, for me, I am going to accept that I will always have a boss.

Source:
http://karatekid.sydlexia.com/GPFontaine/articles/20090226_The-World-of-Bosses.php

Edit Note: I originally meant to make this an article and then had the forum window open and forgot about my initial intentions. So, it was done backwards. But it is now an article and a forum post. Redundant... yes. A deadly mistake? Nah... Sorry for the confusion though.

SoldierHawk wrote:

Well written, GP, and prescient. I think everyone has to reach the same conclusion at some point in their lives. I've kinda ceased to see it as a negative thing, just a fact of life. Still (and you probably don't need me to say this), the ambition to start your own company is a very, very worthy and realistic one. Even if you aren't entirely without a boss, the creative control you have will still let you execute you vision in the way that you want.

I used to have my own company. It was actually starting to take off. I decided to leave it and chose to follow my future wife to Boston.

It turned out to be the best decision ever. I left a company but married my best friend.

Also, if I hadn't made that choice I never would have found SydLexia.com.

SoldierHawk wrote:

GPFontaine wrote: SoldierHawk wrote: Well written, GP, and prescient. I think everyone has to reach the same conclusion at some point in their lives. I've kinda ceased to see it as a negative thing, just a fact of life. Still (and you probably don't need me to say this), the ambition to start your own company is a very, very worthy and realistic one. Even if you aren't entirely without a boss, the creative control you have will still let you execute you vision in the way that you want. I used to have my own company. It was actually starting to take off. I decided to leave it and chose to follow my future wife to Boston. It turned out to be the best decision ever. I left a company but married my best friend. Also, if I hadn't made that choice I never would have found SydLexia.com. Awww...I love happy endings. Glad things worked out in spite of everything, GP. Are you trying to get a company started again? Or are you pretty okay with where you are jobwise?

As per OCD, my life has been scheduled and deviating from that schedule would cause me great anxiety.

Age 26-28 - Saving for a House
Age 29-30 - Owning a house
Age 31-35 - Making babies
Age 36-44 - Moving up the Business ladder
Age 45 - Midlife Crisis
Age 46-50 - Survive World War 3 in a bunker with my family
Age 51-62 - Enjoy politics and a two term run as President
Age 63-74 - Enjoy touring the world via teleports.
Age 75-85 - Some passport issues left me in jail for 10 years... what the fuck... I'm old!
Age 86-99 - China became a democracy in 2053 and all rebellions have quieted down so we move there to the Ningxia valley where we are rich and eat berries all day.
Age 100-120 - The current president is being a douche, so I have to move back to the US and fix our foreign policy issues. While I am successful, the current president physically assaulted the first alien to make contact and we are in an intergalactic war.
Age 121-143 - To bring peace to all mankind I have worked with scientific geniuses to clone individuals from the past. Much to others distaste I brought the original lineup of GNR back together. The rocked out for about 5 years bringing an end to the terrible war.
Age 144-162 - The GNR thing really turned ugly after those first 5 years. Axl Jr walked off stage during a show for our Alien overlords and they took it as a terrible human gesture. They decided to plug us into their "matrix".

Wow... um... gotta get back to work so I can get to owning a house. Don't want to mess up my schedule.

Ross Rifle wrote:

GP, I better be opening for GNR 2.0.

If you live as long as I do, sure. No prob.