The Company

The Company is a strange thing. It is strange because it operates outside the bounds of decency and respect and does so without remorse, no in fact it does so with a smile. Its very existence is reliant on a carefully constructed web of trust and promise yet it neglects both of these systematically. It segregates people into two distinct categories; the people it can take from and the people who can facilitate the taking. The former is privately regarded with contempt yet publicly behaved towards with respect whilst the opposite is true of the latter.

The Company is also strange because of its duality. At once it is concerned with its primary matter; that of securing an ever more prominent seat at the corporate table, which it endeavours to achieve aggressively, its every operation geared towards productivity, its every movement engineered to maximise growth, whilst it simultaneously fights a secret battle against its employees. It is strange because it is too blinkered to see that its preoccupation with defeating the powerless individual is in fact detrimental to its main cause. This seemingly schizophrenic pattern is wherein this baffling dualism lies.

The Company says to a disillusioned employee who seeks a change of direction, “I will find you another role within these walls so that you may further your skills and flourish under our caring gaze,” before changing his job title and demoting him for his impetuous outburst of discontentment.

The Company says to a batch of fresh employees, “We will reward you for all your hard work in the form of commission,” before declining to pay any commission and decreeing that their roles do not come with a commission structure, after numerous sales have been posted.

The Company says to a sick employee who seeks to resume his work, “Continue your work from the comfort of your home today as we have your best interests at heart,” before informing him that he won’t be paid for his labours at the conclusion of the day.

The Company says to a prospective employee who seeks to follow his ambition in business, “Come into our family where we will afford you every opportunity to fulfil your commercial potential,” before placing him behind reception and telling him to pick up the laundry.

The Company says to a concerned employee, “Your opinion is always welcome, we cannot expect to grow as a company without listening to the feedback of you; our respected work force,” before condeming the views of said employee as folly and claiming that outside the office walls violent conduct would be a more appropriate way to greet such a view.

The Company says to a former employee who seeks his final pay, “We will respectfully pay you what you are owed and extend earnest thanks to you for your service,” before removing a third of the rightful amount and hoping the former employee fails to notice.

The Company is indeed a strange thing.

‘Death of a Salesman’ – Resigned to winning

I quit my day job this morning. I was a salesman, yep; suit and tie and everything. I have been planning this for a good couple of months now, which landed me with the unenviable task of appearing engaged in an activity I was anything but; not easy let me tell you. Feigning interest in a dullard at a party for a few minutes is an inconvenience, feigning interest in clients and prospects over the telephone for 8 hours a day is an unrelenting nightmare.

I must make it abundantly clear that my disdain was never aimed at nor intended for any of my colleagues at the company, there are some great people there and I have made some friends for life. This post is not meant as a slight upon the sales industry either; indeed after spending over a year inside it I have gained an insight that will ensure my unwavering empathy for anyone earning their living from it. Indeed, the very best salespeople are highly skilled communicators with a real flair for problem solving and improvisation. I’m not talking about the ‘salespeople’ who cold call you in the middle of a Champions League match, I’m talking about the real salespeople forging links between serious companies. Commerce relies on these guys and the majority of them are not the arrogant, obnoxious sods they are misrepresented as – those people all work in banking or used car showrooms.

My disenchantment simply stemmed from my perception that the role of a salesman is ultimatelty a futile one. A salesman’s role can pretty much be defined by my former boss, “Persuading one person to transfer money into my bank account.” I couldn’t shake the feeling that I should be doing something altogether more constructive with my talents. I have friends who are doctors and teachers, people actually passing something on to other people. As far as I could see, my role didn’t amount to anything more than filling the coffers of one man.

Whilst I concede that my worldview may very well be romantic, I do not accept that its a sheltered one; I’m fully aware of the integral role money plays in the successful funtioning of society. I’m also under no illusions over the importance of money on a personal level but this alone is not motivation enough for me to covet financial success above all else. I would even go so far as to say that I find the the concept of valuing wealth so highly quite vulgar; something seemingly not aligned with my role as a salesman, hence my decision to tender my resignation this morning.

After being instructed to give back my security pass and “leave the premises”, I walked the short walk to the small lift lobby beyond the electronically locked doors one last time and shook the hand of my thoroughly decent sales director. “Thanks for everything” I said genuinely. On my 28-storey journey back to earth, I turned to face the mirrored panel inside the lift and inspected my face for traces of doubt or uncertainty; I found none.