midlife crisis - realizing my lobbying job is bullshit?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone wants to hate Rockefellers and Carnegies, etc., but they sure don't mind going to their beautiful libraries or universities or Colonial Williamsburg, etc., or applying for grants from their foundations for do-gooder-ism.

If you want to be pure as the driven snow, wean yourself off their money.

For more information on how the titans of industry like the companies OP works for, particularly private equity, are actually sucking the life of the American economy like a tick sucking blood, read Bad Company by Megan Greenwell

You need to cleanse your youtube algorithm. "Private equity is the boogeyman" is tired already. "Private equity" just means not publicly listed. So what. Now you're saying that the publicly listed corporations are actually better, come to think of it? No. Of course not.

And to be clear, I'm no apologist for all these corporate ticks and the income inequality that means my kids won't be able to buy a house, etc.

My point is, until the rules of the game are changed, you might as well play to win. Earn what you can to take care of your family and give to charity. Many good examples of this in The Life You Can Save by Peter Singer. He is awful on a lot of topics, but he is right on target with wealth transfer in this book.

Your argument for “playing the game” is not compelling for me. I have the education to work to change the game and that’s what I’m doing with my life. It’s more satisfying than accumulating money.

You are deluded. Especially if you think you are going to change the game by virtue of some education that you received.

You are where OP was 10 years ago. You'll catch up.

I didn’t just “receive” education, my career and life are aligned with my values and leaving the world better than how I came into it. If we all did that, the world would look so different. You don’t have to be Bill Gates to make a real difference. Those are the values I’m teaching my children.

[Anonymous]

DH and I have had this conversation - he’s also a lobbyist and I’m in media. It’s all made up. What’s Billy Crystals line from City Slickers, as a media sales guy? “I’m selling air”. That’s always stuck with me because I’m creating the air he’s selling.

But we both like how we spend our days and make decent money. We work hard to raise good kids and volunteer when we can.

DH went out in his own so at least the money he’s making is for himself and not some organization. But most jobs are just made up ways of making money.

[Anonymous]

I did a job that was lobbying adjacent for a year. I quit for a lower paying job with longer hours where l feel like I’m doing something good. I still make a decent living.

Totally worth it to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone wants to hate Rockefellers and Carnegies, etc., but they sure don't mind going to their beautiful libraries or universities or Colonial Williamsburg, etc., or applying for grants from their foundations for do-gooder-ism.

If you want to be pure as the driven snow, wean yourself off their money.

For more information on how the titans of industry like the companies OP works for, particularly private equity, are actually sucking the life of the American economy like a tick sucking blood, read Bad Company by Megan Greenwell

You need to cleanse your youtube algorithm. "Private equity is the boogeyman" is tired already. "Private equity" just means not publicly listed. So what. Now you're saying that the publicly listed corporations are actually better, come to think of it? No. Of course not.

And to be clear, I'm no apologist for all these corporate ticks and the income inequality that means my kids won't be able to buy a house, etc.

My point is, until the rules of the game are changed, you might as well play to win. Earn what you can to take care of your family and give to charity. Many good examples of this in The Life You Can Save by Peter Singer. He is awful on a lot of topics, but he is right on target with wealth transfer in this book.

Private equity does not mean privately held.

The irony that you are confused about that after accusing PP of ignorance is rich.

[Anonymous]

Try to work for clients that aren’t destroying the country, donate $$ to charity, and see if you can use your powers for good by doing some pro bono for progressive causes on the side.
Inspiration: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/08/nyregion/eugene-lang-dead-harlem-college.html supposedly as a young man Eugene Lang decided to go into business in order to make as much money as possible for social change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Better to realize it’s all bullcrap while getting a big paycheck than to realize it’s all bullcrap while getting a tiny paycheck.

Exactly this! I've spent two decades in non-profits making very little money...and it's mostly just BS.

[Anonymous]

Are you one of those lobbyists who have sold your soul to the devil and have lobbied against the best interests of the US citizens?

[Anonymous]

Of course its bullshit.

Read "Bullshit Jobs," which is a truly mind-opening book. He also makes a point of getting people to self-identify -- its the JOBS that are bullshit, not the people.

You will probably relate to a many of the testimonies in the book.

And he offers some solutions (to our society), but they are radical.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everyone wants to hate Rockefellers and Carnegies, etc., but they sure don't mind going to their beautiful libraries or universities or Colonial Williamsburg, etc., or applying for grants from their foundations for do-gooder-ism.

If you want to be pure as the driven snow, wean yourself off their money.

For more information on how the titans of industry like the companies OP works for, particularly private equity, are actually sucking the life of the American economy like a tick sucking blood, read Bad Company by Megan Greenwell

You need to cleanse your youtube algorithm. "Private equity is the boogeyman" is tired already. "Private equity" just means not publicly listed. So what. Now you're saying that the publicly listed corporations are actually better, come to think of it? No. Of course not.

And to be clear, I'm no apologist for all these corporate ticks and the income inequality that means my kids won't be able to buy a house, etc.

My point is, until the rules of the game are changed, you might as well play to win. Earn what you can to take care of your family and give to charity. Many good examples of this in The Life You Can Save by Peter Singer. He is awful on a lot of topics, but he is right on target with wealth transfer in this book.

Private equity does not mean privately held.

The irony that you are confused about that after accusing PP of ignorance is rich.

Private equity definitely means what I said. I stoop now to wikipedia so it's at a level you can understand: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_equity

[Anonymous]

I wrecked my car listening to this podcast with the author of "Bull$hit jobs". And I quit it about 2 years later. Now I have an un-BS job and earn more. Good luck OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better to realize it’s all bullcrap while getting a big paycheck than to realize it’s all bullcrap while getting a tiny paycheck.

Exactly this! I've spent two decades in non-profits making very little money...and it's mostly just BS.

I've spent nearly two decades in non-profits and don't think it is at all bs. Does that come when I hit 20 years or do you think some jobs do have impact?

[Anonymous]

Can you sleep at night? There’s your answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone wants to hate Rockefellers and Carnegies, etc., but they sure don't mind going to their beautiful libraries or universities or Colonial Williamsburg, etc., or applying for grants from their foundations for do-gooder-ism.

If you want to be pure as the driven snow, wean yourself off their money.

Rich people don’t do that anymore. Sadly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you sleep at night? There’s your answer.

"I have a nice comforter, a few cozy pillows, I usually read a chapter of a book, and it's lights out by 8:30, and *that's* how I sleep at night."