You are in a cult | Daily #143

When the majority of your life is dedicated to a company (besides your own), you are in a cult.

So how does a cult work? Well, there are usually leaders that tell you how what is right and wrong. Then they tell you that your presence is what keeps them strong and productive. Then they ask you to devote your time as much as possible to the cause. Then they want you to spread the word and even protect the cause of the cult.

All of this is done very charismatically so you are being brainwashed into thinking that the actions you take will get you to enlightenment.

If this sounds very familiar? Yeah, that’s because you are working for one.

When your life is dedicated to your job or company, you are in a cult.

Real-life examples are usually from the big corporate companies that you know and have products or services from. But how do they do it?

Well first of all they start by brainwashing you. They tell that these are their values and ‘we’ should uphold and practice them. The infamous ‘CoRE ValUEs’. (First of all, it’s already dumb to hire somebody who doesn’t align with the company culture and literally ask the hire to change overnight. Guess it’s actually not about values but about competency, how weird.)

Then they organize loads of these ‘team building’ events. They will say that it is optional, but then if you miss out on one, they will slowly cast you out. Why? Cause you are not part of their world. So you probably feel incentivized to go to the next one, cause it may have an impact on your promotion or social hierarchy within the company.

Then they brainwash you that what you do has an amazing impact on the world. You are changing people their lives and improving them for the better. So you get motivated to work more hours. Before you know working overtime is the norm, and if you are unlucky you won’t get paid but they will compliment you for the good work. But you don’t care cause you think it is for the better.

Then your whole world is about the company and work, thus your supposed private time is also work-related. The only (new) people you meet are from the same company or other branches and will likely date someone in the same company or even the same profession.

Before you know it, even your kids are brainwashed thinking that it is good working for this company or similar profession, cause the parents are the same. (Yes, this may be farfetched)

If you are lucky In 10-20 years something happens to you and you realize that you were in a cult all along.

You let yourself be manipulated by others to believe that this was your cause. That everything you do should be focused on this singular thing. The cult.

How do I avoid this?

I try my hardest to keep my work out of my private time. 90% of the time, I don’t go to company outings or work social gatherings. Why? cause I don’t want my life to be 100% work-related. I already spent too much time working full-time, freelance, and indie apps. At least, give me some time to build my relation- and friendships.

I don't care about what others think of me on a personal level if they are my colleagues. They can think of me as an asshole, angel, weird, arrogant, nice, crazy, or whatever. It is about my work, so if it isn't about my competency as a worker then I don't care. I'm not here to make close friends, I'm here to practice my profession.

The nightmare for me is that the majority of my relationships are all centered around my company or profession. I wake up, work. I go to the office, work. I go home, work. I go meet friends, work. I go to read, work. I go to sleep, dream about work. Bruh get me out of this nightmare.

I don’t date people that are from the same company or industry. Never wanted, cause then it is very tempting to talk about work cause it is the easiest topic. F*cking boring.

I also never comprise on my own values unless it is literally to survive. If a decision is being made by a company that does not align with my values, I will quit. I don’t care if it is going to be bad for the company. My values are very simple and if you can’t align with them, then I’ve chosen the wrong company.

There are probably more things that I unconsciously trained myself to do to prevent myself from being in a cult, but the most important thing is to do something else when you are not contracted to do so.

Find something else to spend your time on besides work. In the long run, you will be happier and healthier.

The only exception I can think of is if it is your business.