Three Kinds of Crazy in Corporate America

@mikemyers614
Three kinds of crazy
in Corporate America
Who to avoid
(and what to do if you can’t)

@mikemyers614
I’ll admit it, I work for an insurance company.
(This is not me. This guy looks more professional, so he got the part.)

@mikemyers614
And it’s a great place to work, generally.

@mikemyers614
But working as a creative person in corporate
America does come with some baggage, as
some may know.

@mikemyers614
One advantage of working
in corporate America for
many years (other than
being old) is that I can offer
you some advice on how
to avoid some of the kinds
of people who can bring
you down.

@mikemyers614
You know they’re out there, but how can you
spot them? And what to do when you do?

@mikemyers614
Not to worry, the experienced guy will now
dispense with the knowledge you need.

@mikemyers614
There are three kinds of people who can and
will drive you crazy in corporate America and
you should avoid them at all costs:

@mikemyers614
There are people who want your job, but aren’t
qualified for it. These people are known as
Wannabes.
1

@mikemyers614
There are people who know they don’t qualify
to do what you do, yet still tell you what to do.
These people are known as Managers.
2

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And there are people who are trying to do your
job, but really can’t.
These folks are known as Hacks.
3

@mikemyers614
Let’s break each of these types of people down
so you will recognize them and know what to do
when you see them in the wild.

@mikemyers614
Wannabes are relatively harmless people who
really just want to do the fun stuff.

@mikemyers614
They may want to write or design or make video
or be a photographer. Problem is, they aren’t
any good at it.

@mikemyers614
This may be because they are just too young or
because they should be doing something else. It
doesn’t matter to them, they just want to play.

@mikemyers614
What you don’t want to do is spend too much
time around a wannabe.

@mikemyers614
Sure, we all want to help people (and we
should…to a point), but wannabes can be a big
time and energy drain if you let them.

@mikemyers614
Some of the worst of this variety may even try to
claim your work as their own — be careful of
this bunch. They can drag you down with them.

@mikemyers614
What to do: Just smile and wave…and, whatever
you do, keep moving.

@mikemyers614
The second group is known as Managers.

@mikemyers614
We’ve all seen this type and have learned that
we can co-exist with them. But they can be
especially dangerous in the wild spaces of the
creative world.

@mikemyers614
Creative Managers (like their oxymoron cousins
Jumbo Shrimp and Military Intelligence) can’t
really occur in nature. Yet, there they are.

@mikemyers614
Typically, they are from
one branch of the
creative tree (writing or
design) but try to cross
over into the other —
unsuccessfully.
Usually because their
boss, also a Manager,
told them to do it.

@mikemyers614
You may even work directly for someone like
this. It’s okay, we all have at one point.

@mikemyers614
The key thing to know
here is, while they’ll never
admit it, they know you’re
good at what you do.
Use that to your
advantage (you know, kind
of like never showing fear
to a dog, except different).

@mikemyers614
What to do: Do what they ask, but also do what
you know is right. They will usually pick the
latter because it makes them look good, too.

@mikemyers614
Finally, there are the hacks.

@mikemyers614
These people mean well, really they do, but they
weren’t invited to the party. They are crashers.
And no one likes a party crasher.

@mikemyers614
Typically, this is the owner’s son (or uncle, or
daughter) who can have any job in the place and
decided to bless your area with their presence.

@mikemyers614
Get along with them, but certainly don’t heed
their advice.

@mikemyers614
And, whatever you do, DON’T encourage them.
Do not tell them they have good ideas if they
don’t, this will only embolden them to do it
again. And again.

@mikemyers614
What to do: Ride it out, they will get bored and
move on.

@mikemyers614
Despite all of this, working in Corporate America
isn’t as scary as you might think…

@mikemyers614
You get to go home every night, usually in time
for dinner. And you get to see the kids.
(sorry, kids)

@mikemyers614
And who knows, if you keep your wits
about you and watch out for the three
groups mentioned above, you may just
make this thing into a career.

Three Kinds of Crazy in Corporate America

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