Anonymous wrote:I am a couple of years into my corporate career after time in non-profits (also not a great fit). I am ALL about consistent improvements and making things work, making people happier, and making money. Where do I go? I am annoyed with executives slapping each other on the back for…what exactly? Nothing gets done. I want to get things done. What should I be doing?

I hear ya. Nothing. Gets. Done. I was at a leaner company for a few years and LOVED it. Unfortunately they were sold

Anonymous wrote:Government

Government

Impatient... as in impulsive, can't wait? That's just ADHD. Not a wholly positive trait.

You can definitely start your own business or go work in a start-up, which is where you'll need all that drive and ambition. But if the rest of your skills aren't well-honed (attention to detail, ability to follow up, troubleshooting, etc)... you're just going to be the annoying blow-hard who can't get things done.

It's easy to criticize what others are doing. It's sometimes hard to do better than them.

Go to a startup

I’m not sure why everyone is negging OP. I’ve had a handful of truly visionary bosses in my life and they’ve all had OP’s drive. Most workplaces are indeed full of a LOT of bullsh*t and dysfunction, which may have a socialogical function, but isn’t for everyone.

OP I’d suggest looking at smaller companies where there are fewer layers of bullsh*t. My least bullsh*t job was at a small company that by necessity had to do everything in a very leanly staffed and efficient way.

Starting your own business is the obvious answer since you admit your personality does not fit well with others. Be your own boss and you can do whatever you like, reaping the consequences whatever they may be. Keep in mind, though, that you still have to satisfy customers, suppliers, and others with whom you'll need to interact, so consider the extent to which you can tamp down those aspects of your personality which might be barriers to positive interactions.

A startup?

Ok cannot be an entrepreneur with that attitude of grandeur

Entrepreneur. Academic and corporate life were not for me. I'm thriving as an entrepreneur!

You'll have to work for a smaller employer to make things like that happen. A corporation has a ton of bureaucracy, so it can be really hard to make meaningful changes within that structure.

You seem like you aren’t understanding the roles in your place of business. You say that you want to get things done, but don’t understand what others are doing that gets them accolades (back slapping). The answer is almost certainly that they are actually getting things done.

Also the idea that all non profits, and all “corporate” jobs have similar work cultures is wildly inaccurate.

The previous poster’s suggestion to start your own business is a decent suggestion because it would just be you and you can’t blame executives backslapping or others not wanting to get things done. But the details of running a business from registration, payroll, taxes, etc make me think that your business will fail and in a year or two you will be talking about how all that is standing in the way of you just getting things done.

Start your own business. I hate having coworkers like you.

I am a couple of years into my corporate career after time in non-profits (also not a great fit). I am ALL about consistent improvements and making things work, making people happier, and making money. Where do I go? I am annoyed with executives slapping each other on the back for…what exactly? Nothing gets done. I want to get things done. What should I be doing?