Propaganda I’m Not Falling For

Corporate Edition

A whole lot goes on in the corporate world, and there are so many truths and myths out there that we don’t always know which one to digest fully or which one to filter.

In my short but full time in the corporate space, there are some things I’ve fallen for that I’m definitely not falling for again, and I’m going to share them with you today.

I’ll start with my recent favourite, maybe because I’ve fallen victim to this one before so it hits home.

Follow your passion.

Right. How many of us started somewhere because of passion and ended up pivoting to something else?

We have them everywhere. Lawyers turned finance moguls. Microbiologists turned Bankers. Biochemists turned Comms practitioners (that’s me).

That is the thing about passion, it is always changing. What you are passionate about now might not be what you are passionate about tomorrow. What happens then?

Will you switch gears each time you switch passions? Haba.

Passions change. What you are passionate about now might not be what you’ll be passionate about tomorrow.

The better you are at something, the more likely you are to start thinking you are passionate about that thing. If you work at something long enough, get better at it and start doing well, you tend to feel better and more fulfilled while doing that thing; and then we start to say we are passionate about it.

So what if the thing we are calling passion is really just because we enjoy what we do?

Build a skill. Learn. The better you are, the more passionate you become.

Next, let’s talk about entrepreneurship.

First, I think entrepreneurship has been grossly misrepresented by many to mean buying and selling, as opposed to what it really is: providing solutions to basic human needs.

Think about it that way and you’ll realize something; you are not an entrepreneur because you buy and sell or because you own a one-man business.

Not everyone will branch into doing business, and that is totally fine. If we all decide to leave everything to focus on building businesses, well, who is going to be left to actually build the business? One man? Definitely not.

If you think about it well enough, we’re all entrepreneurs. Artisan? Corporate mogul? Freelancer? Market trader?

We’re all doing one thing - providing solutions to basic human needs.

So go entrepreneur? Yay!

Don’t make friends at work. Trust nobody.

I’ve seen my fair share of workplace drama and corporate shenanigans so I understand where this is coming from, but I’m not falling for it. (Shoutout to my work bestie!)

Yes, there is the tendency that making friends at work can open you up to gossip, betrayal, or being used for competition. Trust me, I know.

However, you might as well not make any friends at all - because it’s not a work thing, it is a people thing. Whether you meet them at work, at home, at the gym or even at a place of worship, people will be people.

Healthy workplace friendships can be powerful for your morale, collaboration, and mental health.

We spend about two-thirds of our lives working, and some people spend more time in the office than they do at home, so why do all of that alone?

I agree that we need a balance, and it is the same standard for choosing friends anywhere else.

You don’t have to be friends with everyone, and you should guard the access to your private life.

Study people and be sure they align with your values before making your choices. Take a chance on having a work bestie today.

Last one: talking about your achievements might make others uncomfortable.

Okay, and so? Then what?

Many of us have been taught that humility means silence, and that speaking about what you’ve accomplished is “showing off” or being inconsiderate of others.

I wrote about this before and you can read it here:

Speak Up!

Talking about your achievements is not just something you do, it is now necessary. Visibility is essential for growth and you cannot be seen if you are always hiding.

If you don’t communicate your value, how will people know?

Here’s what I say: You can be both confident and considerate.

And that’s on career propaganda we’re not falling for anymore (for now).

I want to hear from you. What are you not falling for?

Yours Corporately,

Eniola Orisadare