I'm done with Corporate Colin

I’m in full on rant mode this week but before I go on…

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I’ve also had an incredible 732 subscribers join in the last 30 days alone. That’s beyond anything I ever anticipated. THANK YOU!

If you’re new here, the Wednesday rant series is where I don’t hold back, and it’s free for everyone.

Right…

I’m done with presenteeism in the workplace

There’s this guy, let’s call him Colin.

He follows me on strava.

Every now again I go for a run in the daytime.

YUP!

I run in daylight hours.

Work time.

How dare I take a break to look after my physical and mental health.

How dare I spend 45mins unlocking my creative brain or spending time to consider a work problem in the fresh air.

In work time.

Now Colin is ultimately a decent guy.

But you know that time when the ‘office banter’ has an undertone of malice?

I called it out yesterday.

The banter is too frequent.

He loves to rib me with the ‘been for a run’ jibe or the ‘oh, nice you’ve had time to get outside this afternoon’ or ‘busy today?’

I’m done with it.To be clear, the culture at my business is largely brilliant. My boss, the CFO is an absolute advocate of mental health and prioritising the right things in life.

But corporate Colin exists in every office environment.

To be honest, Corporate Colin is the reason I’ll eventually leave full time Corporate life. It’s a choice I’ll make soon enough.

Because life is too dam short!

Just imagine living in 2024 and your view of work being one of being constantly deskbound?

Just imagine having the outlook that if someone is prioritising their health over being at their computer, they are somehow slacking?

I called it out.

I gave it back big time.

Here’s my exact response:

“I’m sorry that my productivity and supreme time management causes you such distress. I’m happy to give you some tips to help you with yours if that will help?

I’m also sorry that you’ve decided prioritising being sat at a computer is more important that your mental and physical health.

And I’m truly sorry that we’re having to have the debate about presenteeism versus productivity in 2024”.

I think that closed the argument.

I’m off for a run today…

a bloody long one.

And it’s going straight onto strava.

I might even post some pics of it across social media.

I really want Corporate Colin to get a life.

But if he doesn’t,

I hope he can at least live one vicariously through the one I lead instead.