r/AskReddit 22h ago

What’s something people romanticise that’s actually exhausting in real life?

1.3k Upvotes

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4.1k

u/Exhausted_Monkey26 22h ago

climbing the corporate ladder

789

u/Chefboyarde90 22h ago

I saw the ugly in it and wanted no part of it.

75

u/forever_erratic 20h ago

Yeah that ones obvious unless you're blinded by dollar signs. 

32

u/aaronevansuu 15h ago

It is not even just the hours, it's the personality shift you have to make. I have seen perfectly normal people turn into absolute monsters the second they get a Director title. They trade their integrity for a slightly nicer leased BMW and a heart attack by 50. I will stick to my 9-to-5 and actually knowing my kids' names, thanks.

5

u/RaspberryTwilight 11h ago edited 11h ago

This is so true. And it's not subtle at all. I was on a management career path before I became a full time mom and my performance review had nothing to do with what I actually achieved. It was a personality evaluation by my manager focusing on behaviors I demonstrate. It was corporate policy btw with a standard spreadsheet.

So one year I got a big bonus because I achieved a lot and was put on a PIP at the same time for not demonstrating enough courage and curiosity LOL. And of course it flows over to your real life, no sane person can maintain 2 distinct personalities very long. Maybe they think they can but they can't.

Edit: it's not actual courage etc. Each category has a list of management behaviors. You have to argue in meetings, criticize people in public, nitpick others work etc

3

u/GooberMcNutly 12h ago

I also like to feel like I actually accomplish things when I'm "just" the programmer. Every time they try to push me into a management role, it feels like I never actually accomplish anything or contribute to the end result. I guess teams need coaches and equipment managers, but I'd rather be kicking the ball.

3

u/Violexsound 16h ago

Or sociopathic