Back in the dark ages my parents made a decision to put me in a school that was labeled as "Traditional." It was a school that provided a structured teaching curriculum and did a little more than just teach to the middle.
A lot of the smarter kids I knew when to an "Open" school. This was a school where students could pick their own classes, study at their pace, and independently drove what and how they learned.
I realize now after 4 decades that I've grown up in pretty structured environments.
So what happens when you get put in an unstructured environment?
Confusion? Loss of direction? Confusion?
Yes, yes, and yes.
When making the transition from a big firm to a local company, you try to figure out how things can be so different when you are supposed to be doing the same type of work.
You may think it's growing pains of the company.
You may think it's leadership and management.
You may think it's your fault.
But the reality is that it may be the environment just is not the right one to be in. It's the reason I went to an engineering school and not a liberal arts one. It's the reason that I have this unnatural love for office supplies. Because for some reason I think all of these office supplies will provide more structure to my life.
I think some people confuse a lack of structure with being entrepreneurial. I know that I did.
The sad part is that I think big corporations have too much structure. Or maybe that's the other end of the spectrum where I confuse bureaucracy as having too much structure.
You have to find the balance based on who you are and previous environments where you've thrived. Otherwise you end up in work purgatory trying to fight your way out.
A lot of the smarter kids I knew when to an "Open" school. This was a school where students could pick their own classes, study at their pace, and independently drove what and how they learned.
I realize now after 4 decades that I've grown up in pretty structured environments.
So what happens when you get put in an unstructured environment?
Confusion? Loss of direction? Confusion?
Yes, yes, and yes.
When making the transition from a big firm to a local company, you try to figure out how things can be so different when you are supposed to be doing the same type of work.
You may think it's growing pains of the company.
You may think it's leadership and management.
You may think it's your fault.
But the reality is that it may be the environment just is not the right one to be in. It's the reason I went to an engineering school and not a liberal arts one. It's the reason that I have this unnatural love for office supplies. Because for some reason I think all of these office supplies will provide more structure to my life.
I think some people confuse a lack of structure with being entrepreneurial. I know that I did.
The sad part is that I think big corporations have too much structure. Or maybe that's the other end of the spectrum where I confuse bureaucracy as having too much structure.
You have to find the balance based on who you are and previous environments where you've thrived. Otherwise you end up in work purgatory trying to fight your way out.
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