I was Once a Corporate Slave

For one full year in my twenty eight years of life, I was once a full time employee. Waking up at 7 am, Driving along the slow moving traffic of Edsa at 8 am. Munching on my breakfast while inside the car. And working my ass off for about eight to ten hours. In between these wroking hours, I would lock up myself in the rest room cubicle and I would literally bang my head, asking myself “Why, why am I doing this?”

Ever since I was young, I knew I was not fit for a corporate work. I cannot sit on any desk for half a day because I like to move around and shake my ass off. I don’t like the feel of the barong fabric as well as the those preppy long sleeves on my skin. And most iportantly, I have a hard time dealing with macho, egocentric bosses that are very common in the corporate world.

And then in one sudden phone call, my carefree life just changed. A former friend from television production, called me if I was interested to work full time for a media and IT company. After a series of interview with Harvard bred executives, they offered me my asking rates. And I signed the contrat. And for the first time in my life at 24 years old, I had a TIN, Social Security Number and all other required details for every employee.

And boy was it a nightmare. For someone who wakes up at ten am, getting up for work at seven everyday was hell. Being on the desk for eight hours, even if there’s no work to do, was just pushing me on the verge of insanity. And the corporate setup for all its politics and bureaucracy was like walking on a jungle in Italian leather shoes — highly inconvenient.

The transition back from being an employee to a freelancer was quite difficult — emotionally and financially. As i had to reintroduce myself back into the “freelance market”. And wait for a few months before projects became regualr, so income gets in regularly as well.

After three years, I could now say, it was well worth the risk and the effort. I’m now back as a freelance writer and yoga teacher. And I’m in my best part of my life so far…

And if you’re just like me, who can’t survive the corporate prison, go take that risk! It’s worth it.