75 Reasons to Hate the Rat Race

Author Matt Wilson is co-founder of Under30CEO, challenging people to defy the 9-5, stop doing stuff you hate and get innovative. Wilson graduated from Bryant University with a clear goal of starting his own business and while there, led Bryant University to becoming the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization of the year and became National Student Leader of the Year.

Rat Race–as defined by Wikipedia:

A rat race is a term used for an endless, self-defeating or pointless pursuit. It conjures up the image of the futile efforts of a lab rat trying to escape whilst running around a maze or in a wheel…

The increased image of work as a “rat race” in modern times has led many to question their own attitudes to work and seek a better alternative; a more harmonious Work-life balance. Many believe that long work hours, unpaid overtime, stressful jobs, time spent commuting, less time for family life and/or friends life, has led to a generally unhappier workforce/population unable to enjoy the benefits of increased economic prosperity and a higher standard of living.

Without further a due, here are 75 Reasons to Hate the Rat Race. Start sweating this one out now…

1. Watercooler talk–yes, I do come here often
2. Schmoozing–no, I don’t enjoy seeing you here everyday
3. Commuting–it really does feel like a rat race down the interstate
4. Traffic–why should I have to leave my house at the same time all these other idiots
5. Lunch Break–shouldn’t we all have the right to consume food when we want?
6. Break Room–sweet, a room to waste time in
7. Cubicles–my very own cage
8. Company Policy–all of them
9. Company Dresscode–leaves little room for the imagination
10. Desks–I work better from the couch
11. Gossip–who cares how much the guy in the cube next to me is getting paid
12. Politics–can’t we all just be friends?
13. 5 day work weeks–what if I want to work 14 straight and take a week off?
14. Asking permission–to do anything–how old are we?
15. Bureaucracies–they make everything more difficult, no matter how simple
16. Office memos–nobody cares
17. I’m Not Doing What I Love–then what are you doing?
18. My Childhood Dreams are Spoiled–did you say you wanted to crunch numbers all day as a kid?
19. Making Someone Else Rich–someone is capitalizing off of YOU
20. Your Boss–mainly just the fact that you have one
21. Being on the Slow Train to nowhere–and the expression “keep on chugging”
22. The expression–”Same Shit, Different Day”– really?
23. Wasting Time–time is never wasted, when you’re always wasted…wait, that was college
24. Rules–they aren’t meant to be broken
25. Florescent lighting–hard on the eyes
26. We are viewed as Human Capital–sad but true
27. We are the laborers–I want laborers of my own
28. Firewalls–no Twitter and YouTube at work?! What the hell am I going to do all day?
29. Raises–or lack there of
30. Saving–you could be investing in yourself and your business and watch your money multiply
31. You probably aren’t using your talent to it’s fullest
32. Lack of fulfillment–does doing your job make you smile?
33. Feeling like you’ve been hearded like cattle
34. Living life on someone else’s terms
35. People saying “well at least I have a job right now”–at least means worse case scenario
36. Someone else is control of your destiny.
37. Bordem–the rat race isn’t very stimulating
38. Lifelessness–the same thing day in and day out?
39. Entrapment–let me out of here.
40. Being defined by Job Title–I’m a person not a software engineer
41. The question: “What do you do”– oh, hello, yes, I sit in a cube all day, wishing I was elsewhere
42. Wishing you were elsewhere
43. Lack of choices.
44. Lack of fun.
45. Lack of mobility.
46. Lack of contribution.
47. Lack of passion.
48. Lack of creativity.
49. Unnecessary meetings–life is too short to waste time
50. 9-5–who decided these were my most productive hours?
51. 8 hour days–why should you be told what to do with a 1/3 of your life?
52. Thoughts of Slavery–I was 1/3 slave once
53. Being Told What to Do– ugh.
54. Stolen Staplers–and even worse…
55. Stolen Stapler Jokes
56. Boss’ Bad Jokes–please tell me you don’t laugh anyway
57. Feeling like you are on the Slow Train to Nowhere
58. Working this hard to Retire–then what? Sit around?
59. Working for money, instead of money working for you
60. Fearing for your Job
61. Layoffs.
62. What’s a pension?
63. Job=Just Over Broke
64. Get a Raise, better go get a bigger house/car
65. The more you make, the more you leverage yourself
66. Productivity doesn’t lead to more vacation, just more work
67. Keeping up with the Jones
68. Gripping the steering wheel like it did something to you
69. Road Rage–take it easy, it’s no way to live your life.
70. Low Standard of Living–sure it’s better than it could be, but it could be a hell of a lot better!
71. You Can’t Have it All–if that’s the mindset you’re in.
72. Saving Fun for Later–it seems like tomorrow will never come
73. Rushing everywhere–hurry up so you can relax!
74. The fact that we know we can “do anything we put our mind to”, but we don’t.
75. Settling.

Tags: corporate life, corporate world, entrepreneur, matt wilson, rat race, work life balance

Category: Under30CEO Lists