Comments on: If you are stuck in a cube and dying to get out, what does it specifically feel like? http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/18/if-you-are-stuck-in-a-cube-and-dying-to-get-out-what-does-it-specifically-feel-like/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:48:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Karen http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/18/if-you-are-stuck-in-a-cube-and-dying-to-get-out-what-does-it-specifically-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-18829 Karen Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:54:30 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=204#comment-18829 I totally hear everyword you are saying.... I totally hear everyword you are saying….

]]> By: Rob http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/18/if-you-are-stuck-in-a-cube-and-dying-to-get-out-what-does-it-specifically-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-2149 Rob Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:09:22 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=204#comment-2149 I know this is very late and the book is out but here is exactly how I feel (from the movie Con Air): "What if I told you insane was working fifty hours a week in some office for fifty years at the end of which they tell you to piss off; ending up in some retirement village hoping to die before suffering the indignity of trying to make it to the toilet on time? Wouldn't you consider that to be insane?" --- Not too late Rob: and my book is not out yet! Could be confusion with the "other Pam's" book on escaping. Thanks for the comment! -Pam I know this is very late and the book is out but here is exactly how I feel (from the movie Con Air):

“What if I told you insane was working fifty hours a week in some office for fifty years at the end of which they tell you to piss off; ending up in some retirement village hoping to die before suffering the indignity of trying to make it to the toilet on time? Wouldn’t you consider that to be insane?”

—

Not too late Rob: and my book is not out yet! Could be confusion with the “other Pam’s” book on escaping.

Thanks for the comment!

-Pam

]]> By: Corporate Drone http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/18/if-you-are-stuck-in-a-cube-and-dying-to-get-out-what-does-it-specifically-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-2150 Corporate Drone Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:31:24 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=204#comment-2150 I knew that I hated my job in Corporate America the day that I had a daydream about falling down my stairs and breaking my leg rather than facing another day at work. Pretty sick thought, but at least I wouldn't have had to see my stupid jerk of a boss that day. I knew that I hated my job in Corporate America the day that I had a daydream about falling down my stairs and breaking my leg rather than facing another day at work. Pretty sick thought, but at least I wouldn’t have had to see my stupid jerk of a boss that day.

]]> By: Justin http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/18/if-you-are-stuck-in-a-cube-and-dying-to-get-out-what-does-it-specifically-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-2151 Justin Wed, 05 Sep 2007 07:30:48 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=204#comment-2151 Working in a call center/cube farm for a huge credit card company, my first thought as I started to post was this: This is probably just some way to get me to give out my email so this person can spam/sell it around. That is the worst thing. I automatically distrust everything because of what I see go on at work. I have become jaded. Nothing my company does surprises me anymore. We should have a series of signs at the entrances that say things like: 'abandon all logic at the door', or 'please check your soul at the security desk', or 'warning inhuman levels of greed ahead'...It is the most soul sucking thing ever and human beings were not meant to live this way. I'm so emotionally drained when I get home that I don't feel like doing anything. I drive home in what I can best describe as shell shock, feeling half comatose. Everything that takes place there is done with utter and complete disregard for morality and decency. It's all based on legally can we get away with it. They even have a slush fund to pay fines when it is more profitable to break the law and pay the fine. Then they make the workers take all these training classes on how to become a better company. We just enforce the policies set by the higher ups in the company. They are the ones who need shaping up. My job disgusts me. I will never recommend anyone to work there even though it would earn me a bonus, I wouldn't want to make anyone else go through what I do. I don't ever recommend anyone to have one of our credit cards either. To some it up, I feel like a slave, tied to a cubicle by a hated headset through which I am forced to listen and respond to endless whining, complaining, screaming, yelling, angry people. All the while they are shipping jobs in droves to India and Manila to people who can't even communicate beyond poorly reading scripted responses in English, all for less than $3000 a year per worker. It makes it tough to ask for a raise. Working in a call center/cube farm for a huge credit card company, my first thought as I started to post was this: This is probably just some way to get me to give out my email so this person can spam/sell it around. That is the worst thing. I automatically distrust everything because of what I see go on at work. I have become jaded. Nothing my company does surprises me anymore. We should have a series of signs at the entrances that say things like: ‘abandon all logic at the door’, or ‘please check your soul at the security desk’, or ‘warning inhuman levels of greed ahead’…It is the most soul sucking thing ever and human beings were not meant to live this way. I’m so emotionally drained when I get home that I don’t feel like doing anything. I drive home in what I can best describe as shell shock, feeling half comatose. Everything that takes place there is done with utter and complete disregard for morality and decency. It’s all based on legally can we get away with it. They even have a slush fund to pay fines when it is more profitable to break the law and pay the fine. Then they make the workers take all these training classes on how to become a better company. We just enforce the policies set by the higher ups in the company. They are the ones who need shaping up. My job disgusts me. I will never recommend anyone to work there even though it would earn me a bonus, I wouldn’t want to make anyone else go through what I do. I don’t ever recommend anyone to have one of our credit cards either. To some it up, I feel like a slave, tied to a cubicle by a hated headset through which I am forced to listen and respond to endless whining, complaining, screaming, yelling, angry people. All the while they are shipping jobs in droves to India and Manila to people who can’t even communicate beyond poorly reading scripted responses in English, all for less than $3000 a year per worker. It makes it tough to ask for a raise.

]]> By: Diana http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/18/if-you-are-stuck-in-a-cube-and-dying-to-get-out-what-does-it-specifically-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-2152 Diana Sat, 11 Aug 2007 15:15:18 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=204#comment-2152 Once upon a time I was selling posters for a political cause on the streets of San Francisco for $1 each. A homeless guy wanted one for free, as he had no money. I said no. A few minutes later he came back, and bought 5 with $5. He said as long as he had to panhandle/beg to get the money, there was no point in asking for just $1... A few years back I was miserable in my cubicle-job. I finally took six months off, fully intending to quit. But I didn't have another job so came back. However, when I returned, I realized I wasn't the only one that wasn't happy and wanted out, and that if I was going to try to get out or change things for myself, I might as well try to change things for everyone else while I was at it. That shift in perspective has done wonders. I became much more engaged in everything, and though not a manager, I kept thinking about how to make things really work better for all of us, and not just me. Writing a book about the human experience of working in cubicles seems extremely important... It is like the echo/reverberation back of what its like. What everyone has written here is the reality that has been going unnoticed. I believe this feedback needs to be heard. When will your book be out? I'll bet one-size-fits-all is the problem. Some people like cubicles... Once upon a time I was selling posters for a political cause on the streets of San Francisco for $1 each. A homeless guy wanted one for free, as he had no money. I said no. A few minutes later he came back, and bought 5 with $5. He said as long as he had to panhandle/beg to get the money, there was no point in asking for just $1…

A few years back I was miserable in my cubicle-job. I finally took six months off, fully intending to quit. But I didn’t have another job so came back. However, when I returned, I realized I wasn’t the only one that wasn’t happy and wanted out, and that if I was going to try to get out or change things for myself, I might as well try to change things for everyone else while I was at it.

That shift in perspective has done wonders. I became much more engaged in everything, and though not a manager, I kept thinking about how to make things really work better for all of us, and not just me.

Writing a book about the human experience of working in cubicles seems extremely important… It is like the echo/reverberation back of what its like. What everyone has written here is the reality that has been going unnoticed. I believe this feedback needs to be heard.

When will your book be out? I’ll bet one-size-fits-all is the problem. Some people like cubicles…

]]> By: sarah http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/18/if-you-are-stuck-in-a-cube-and-dying-to-get-out-what-does-it-specifically-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-2153 sarah Fri, 10 Aug 2007 10:57:31 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=204#comment-2153 Warning: this is quite a rant! Working in a cube... where do I start?! Having only been a member of the glorious cube farm lifestyle for roughly the last 2 and a bit years, I seriously cannot fathom how soul-destroying it would be to spend the next 40 years of my professional life sitting in one! I hate it with a passion so strong it is actually quite scary. I've started building my business on the side, so at least I feel like I'm making some progress on Mission Escape. But for the eight hours per day that I'm stuck in my cube, I can actually feel my skin crawling. Lately I have caught myself spending 20 minutes just sitting in the toilet with my head in my hands, wondering how to fill the rest of the day. (Unfortunately I'm also quite underworked, so I know a lot about boredom and clock-watching. I am also an expert on how to look like you're working when actually you're just trying to kill time.) I hate this ridiculous corporate culture of 'face time', and I hate being forced to work between 8.30am and 5.30pm when naturally I'm not the sort of person who works well like that. I feel like the life gets sucked out of me every time I walk through the doors. There is zero creativity or reason to feel positive or energetic. I basically feel like I'm wasting my life and doing something that is completely out of whack with my personality, values and interests. Did I mention it is also unbelievably boring? On my frequent walks to the kitchenette I often look over at the hundred heads hunched in their cubicles, and I really can't believe that anyone can honestly enjoy working in this environment. My hatred of corporate bullshit speak is at an all time high, and if I hear one more person say "moving forward", "synergy" or "can we have a conference call about it?" I will scream! Sometimes I literally have to fight the urge not to jump up on my desk and yell "This SUCKS!". So yes, I guess you could say I hate my job! :) The good thing is that once you admit that to yourself, you have to do something about it! I am, and if all goes well (I am going to MAKE it go well!) in a year from now, I will be singing a different tune. Warning: this is quite a rant!

Working in a cube… where do I start?! Having only been a member of the glorious cube farm lifestyle for roughly the last 2 and a bit years, I seriously cannot fathom how soul-destroying it would be to spend the next 40 years of my professional life sitting in one!

I hate it with a passion so strong it is actually quite scary. I’ve started building my business on the side, so at least I feel like I’m making some progress on Mission Escape. But for the eight hours per day that I’m stuck in my cube, I can actually feel my skin crawling. Lately I have caught myself spending 20 minutes just sitting in the toilet with my head in my hands, wondering how to fill the rest of the day. (Unfortunately I’m also quite underworked, so I know a lot about boredom and clock-watching. I am also an expert on how to look like you’re working when actually you’re just trying to kill time.)

I hate this ridiculous corporate culture of ‘face time’, and I hate being forced to work between 8.30am and 5.30pm when naturally I’m not the sort of person who works well like that.

I feel like the life gets sucked out of me every time I walk through the doors. There is zero creativity or reason to feel positive or energetic. I basically feel like I’m wasting my life and doing something that is completely out of whack with my personality, values and interests. Did I mention it is also unbelievably boring? On my frequent walks to the kitchenette I often look over at the hundred heads hunched in their cubicles, and I really can’t believe that anyone can honestly enjoy working in this environment. My hatred of corporate bullshit speak is at an all time high, and if I hear one more person say “moving forward”, “synergy” or “can we have a conference call about it?” I will scream! Sometimes I literally have to fight the urge not to jump up on my desk and yell “This SUCKS!”.

So yes, I guess you could say I hate my job! :) The good thing is that once you admit that to yourself, you have to do something about it! I am, and if all goes well (I am going to MAKE it go well!) in a year from now, I will be singing a different tune.

]]> By: Kristi http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/18/if-you-are-stuck-in-a-cube-and-dying-to-get-out-what-does-it-specifically-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-2154 Kristi Sat, 04 Aug 2007 02:58:42 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=204#comment-2154 The challenges of my job, unfortunately, match the skills I had in 1998, so I find my work within a cube mentally infuriating and spend much of my time literally fighting to remain somewhat on task. Despite this, I'm able to maintain my tradition of working rings around my cube-mates. The problem with this, and how it relates to cube-drain for me, is that when I come home, even if I intend to work at home, I turn on the tv and mentally have to veg out for several hours to quiet the frustration raging through my thought processes. I should probably mention that I've been efficiency-ized and find myself working in a cube for the first time, after previously having Real Offices with Walls that go All the Way to the Ceiling, and Windows, and best of all, Doors!! Oh, how I miss the doors. I don't remember keeping mine closed much, if at all, but the comination of Real Walls and Doors seemed to have reduced significantly the amount of white noise that currently proliferates what I experience in cube-life: the radios (I've even bought people headphones, to no avail), the corporate web broadcasts, the web-based training, and the uber-enemy: teleconferences. I just cannot understand why multiple people - sitting mere inches away from eachother - would not want to meet in a conference room to discuss their work rather than disrupt everyone within a six-cube area in order to discuss their projects. The challenges of my job, unfortunately, match the skills I had in 1998, so I find my work within a cube mentally infuriating and spend much of my time literally fighting to remain somewhat on task. Despite this, I’m able to maintain my tradition of working rings around my cube-mates. The problem with this, and how it relates to cube-drain for me, is that when I come home, even if I intend to work at home, I turn on the tv and mentally have to veg out for several hours to quiet the frustration raging through my thought processes. I should probably mention that I’ve been efficiency-ized and find myself working in a cube for the first time, after previously having Real Offices with Walls that go All the Way to the Ceiling, and Windows, and best of all, Doors!! Oh, how I miss the doors. I don’t remember keeping mine closed much, if at all, but the comination of Real Walls and Doors seemed to have reduced significantly the amount of white noise that currently proliferates what I experience in cube-life: the radios (I’ve even bought people headphones, to no avail), the corporate web broadcasts, the web-based training, and the uber-enemy: teleconferences. I just cannot understand why multiple people – sitting mere inches away from eachother – would not want to meet in a conference room to discuss their work rather than disrupt everyone within a six-cube area in order to discuss their projects.

]]> By: Josephan http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/18/if-you-are-stuck-in-a-cube-and-dying-to-get-out-what-does-it-specifically-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-2155 Josephan Wed, 01 Aug 2007 09:12:21 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=204#comment-2155 By: Maria Marsala, Business Strategist http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/18/if-you-are-stuck-in-a-cube-and-dying-to-get-out-what-does-it-specifically-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-2156 Maria Marsala, Business Strategist Tue, 31 Jul 2007 06:42:57 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=204#comment-2156 I knew something was wrong. I kept looking for something to read that would help me feel more comfortable in my business "garb". Then I attended an all day image class where I learned that even my body says that I'm more comfortable in dresses then skirt suits. But I couldn't wear dresses to my current job. It was then I started the process to find a job where I could! It felt good, but not any where as good as making the shift to owning my own company and wearing dresses ... or PJ's! I knew something was wrong. I kept looking for something to read that would help me feel more comfortable in my business “garb”. Then I attended an all day image class where I learned that even my body says that I’m more comfortable in dresses then skirt suits. But I couldn’t wear dresses to my current job. It was then I started the process to find a job where I could! It felt good, but not any where as good as making the shift to owning my own company and wearing dresses … or PJ’s!

]]> By: Jay Stone http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/2007/07/18/if-you-are-stuck-in-a-cube-and-dying-to-get-out-what-does-it-specifically-feel-like/comment-page-1/#comment-2157 Jay Stone Thu, 26 Jul 2007 02:15:37 +0000 http://www.escapefromcubiclenation.com/?p=204#comment-2157 I guess I am in the minority. Working in the cubes at Hewitt Associates gives me a feeling of protection and security. I don't have to work out in the harsh elements, I have the benefit of air-conditioning & heat. We have it better than 2/3's of the rest of Planet Earth's working class. Think before you gripe so much. I guess I am in the minority. Working in the cubes at Hewitt Associates gives me a feeling of protection and security. I don’t have to work out in the harsh elements, I have the benefit of air-conditioning & heat. We have it better than 2/3′s of the rest of Planet Earth’s working class. Think before you gripe so much.

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