{"id":84,"date":"2025-01-26T23:14:20","date_gmt":"2025-01-26T23:14:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unsisterlyrelations.com\/?p=84"},"modified":"2025-01-26T23:14:20","modified_gmt":"2025-01-26T23:14:20","slug":"corporate-baddie-or-corporate-corpse-how-to-reclaim-your-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unsisterlyrelations.com\/?p=84","title":{"rendered":"Corporate Baddie or Corporate Corpse?: How to Reclaim Your Purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Every morning, when my alarm goes off, I wake up punching the air. There\u2019s something about being suddenly woken from a dream to reality that takes my annoyance to a new level. Like, babe, I was chilling by a pool, and now I have to clock into work. I mean, who dreams of labor? Okay, delusions aside, I am literally living an answered prayer, so I shake off the irritation and log in. It\u2019s a perpetual cycle of self-loathing mixed with appreciation and gratitude, and I\u2019ve been wondering how to break this endless loop. In this life, it seems you\u2019re either a Corporate Baddie or a Boss Babe entrepreneur. But what if you don\u2019t fit into either of these categories? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the oldest sister, I felt it was my responsibility to immediately secure the bag. Hell, I started working two jobs in high school\u2014shout out to Target and Regal! Although no one told me I was responsible for breaking generational curses, I have always felt pressure to show my mom that her sacrifices were not in vain and to be a role model for my brother. So, I pushed aside my dreams and forced myself to think more practically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After graduating from college and law school, I wanted to work for a Fortune 500 company and quickly climb the corporate ladder. However, once I was in this position, I realized that the corporate world is less glamorous than I had imagined. Think more corporate jargon and less Barbie power suits. Like, why do we always circle back after running it up the flagpole? I\u2019m good at my job, but I feel like a zombie most days, sleepwalking through work and doing just enough to satisfy my manager\u2014but realizing I\u2019m not.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breaking Free from the Corporate Norm<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have shut down any ideas of working for myself for so long. I would tell people that I like the idea of clocking in and clocking out and never worrying about whether I would get paid.  Growing up, I watched my mom worry about making ends meet, and that was one thing I wanted to avoid. Ironically, I still found myself there, but that\u2019s a story for another day.  I would tell myself entrepreneurship is way too risky, and the thought of not being able to pay my bills would trigger physical manifestations of anxiety. I even took an archetype quiz that labeled me a Corporate Baddie, so I\u2019m where I\u2019m meant to be, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WRONG!<\/strong> I\u2019ll let you in on a little secret: I either intentionally or subconsciously chose my answers based on the outcome I wanted. See what lying to yourself gets you? Being a \u201cCorporate Baddie\u201d shouldn\u2019t be a cop-out because you\u2019re scared to live in your purpose. Quite frankly, jobs, corporate setting or not, can be graveyards for your own dreams and passions. Think about it: employees are hired to fulfill someone else\u2019s wants and desires. We spend all day making the CEO\u2019s dreams a reality that by the time we clock out, we\u2019re too tired to chase a dream, let alone dream about one. It’s like we’re burying our aspirations in the service of others and it is imperative that you (and me) don\u2019t let someone else\u2019s dreams stop you from living yours. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking the Leap: Audit Your Career and Find Your Passion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s be clear: I\u2019m not attempting to start the next \u201cGreat Resignation\u201d because God didn\u2019t say be a fool and the bills still have to be paid. Plus who knows what could happen over the next four years with this current administration? However, I am asking that you take an audit of your life. Reflect on whether you genuinely enjoy your career or are you doing it to check a box or because you believe it\u2019s what you should be doing. Your job should reflect your true passions, not just a societal or familial expectation placed upon you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overcoming Regret: Is it  Too Late for a Career Change?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ll be the first to say that it\u2019s hard to wake up and realize that you\u2019ve put in all this time to accomplish a goal only to discover that it\u2019s not what you want. Hello 4 years of undergrad and 3 years of law school! It\u2019s like where the F is the big ABORT button you see in movies, or at least can I have a redo? I\u2019ll do better, I promise. Alright, maybe it\u2019s too late for me to get a refund on my law degree, but it\u2019s not too late for me, and YOU, to start a new life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okay, babe, you\u2019re preaching to the choir, but how do I figure out what\u2019s next for me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Steps to Discover Your Career Path<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Stop Caring What Others Think<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, and believe me, it\u2019s easier said than done, stop giving a F about what other people think about you. Do you think Kris Jenner sat around and said oh, maybe I shouldn\u2019t show the world my daughter\u2019s private bits? Absolutely not – the devil works hard, but Kris Jenner works harder. However, to do this, you have to dig deep to determine why the opinions of others matter to you so much. I am not 100% cured of needing external validation, but once I realized that the views of others were holding me back, I stopped caring as much. At the end of the day, people do not think about you as much as you think they do, and if they do, you may want to call the cops because you may have bigger problems on your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Take a Career Assessment <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next, try taking a career assessment. I tried Career Explorer\u2019s Assessment. It said it takes 30 minutes to complete,  but it felt like way more. I liked that it asked me questions about my personality and what I liked doing, but it could be overwhelming for those who get overstimulated with too many options. My results revealed that I was a visionary, gregarious, fantasy-oriented, positive-emotioned, and candid. Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprising, I got blogger, writer, and journalist – and I swear I was honest taking the test this time. One interesting option was librettist – a new one for me, but I guess it\u2019s a person who writes operas. Hmmm, maybe I should give it a shot\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I also tried ONET, an assessment sponsored by the Department of Labor, which had 60 questions. After completing the test, it breaks down your answers by interest to help identify careers that may be a good fit for you. My test results revealed that I would flourish in a job that involved artistic, social, and enterprising activities.\u00a0 This assessment is cool because it\u2019s simple and breaks down your career results by the amount of experience needed for the job. However, you may not like it if you prefer a dynamic interface with interactive options. I\u2019ll post both links below if you want to try either of them.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Start Journaling Your Thoughts<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, it\u2019s time to pull out the journal that has been sitting on your bedside table since the beginning of the year. To be fair, journaling is hard, especially when you don\u2019t know where to start, but don\u2019t worry, I got you, sis! Turn to a blank page or, for some of you, the first page, and use these prompts to help you remember your joy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n