The Corporate Treadmill: Running Harder, Getting Nowhere
Dr.Sasirekha Chandrasekaran
Founder & CEO of TamilLifeCoach.com | Life Coach Mentor | Psychologist | Graphologist | NLP & LOA Expert | Energy Healer | Author | Empowering Tamil Coaches Worldwide.
Picture this: you’re dressed in your sharpest formal wear, rushing to catch the local train or stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic with your laptop bag cutting into your shoulder. You finally reach the office, ready to tackle the day with determination, only to realize… it’s just another day. Same desk, same tasks, same endless Zoom calls, and—most painfully—same paycheck. Welcome to the corporate treadmill, where you’re running harder but staying in the same spot.
Let’s unpack this treadmill life. It’s like the Indian summer—it looks bright and promising at first but quickly turns into sweat and exhaustion.
The Long Hours Dilemma: When 9-to-5 Turns into 9-to-9
You walk into work thinking, "Today, I’ll leave on time." By 6 PM, your inbox is overflowing with emails titled "URGENT," which are, spoiler alert, never urgent. You cancel dinner plans, postpone family time, and instead of unwinding, you’re staring at Excel sheets until your eyes resemble the national flag—green and red.
Ever asked yourself: “Why am I doing this?” For a promotion? Recognition? Or maybe just to keep your boss happy so they don’t pile on more work? Whatever the reason, here’s the truth: long hours don’t guarantee growth. They just guarantee burnout.
Meetings That Could’ve Been Emails
Indian corporate culture takes meetings very seriously. We love to discuss, brainstorm, analyze, and re-discuss everything. It’s not uncommon to sit through two-hour-long meetings only to conclude with, “Let’s circle back on this next week.” Meanwhile, your actual work is piling up, and your brain is screaming, “Why am I here?”
Here’s a fun fact: You could be more productive if you spent that time actually working instead of nodding politely at your manager’s never-ending monologues. But alas, the treadmill demands we keep running.
The Paycheck Paradox
You’ve worked hard all year, juggled impossible deadlines, and crushed those KPIs. Finally, appraisal season arrives, and you hold your breath. The verdict? A 10% hike. Congratulations, you can now afford two extra Zomato orders a month!
Does this sound familiar? The problem isn’t just the paycheck—it’s what it represents: stagnation. You’re putting in extra effort, but the rewards barely cover inflation. It’s a harsh reminder that corporate life often values your presence more than your potential.
The Silent Scream of "What’s Next?"
Beyond the paychecks and the meetings, there’s a deeper question that haunts every Indian working professional: “Is this it?”
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The treadmill isn’t just about work; it’s about losing sight of what really matters. Your dreams, goals, and even your health take a backseat as you keep running, hoping to catch up.
Breaking Free: It’s Time to Hit Pause
The good news? You can step off the treadmill. It starts with realizing that running faster won’t change the destination. Here’s how you can take the first steps toward freedom:
A Day in the Life of Someone Who Broke Free
Imagine this: You wake up excited about your day, not dreading it. You spend your morning working on your passion project. You help people by sharing your expertise, and every rupee you earn feels like a reward for your creativity and effort. By evening, you’re free to spend time with your loved ones, guilt-free. This isn’t a dream—it’s a choice.
Your Call to Action
If you’re tired of running on the treadmill and ready to create a life of freedom, fulfillment, and financial growth, let’s make it happen. Join my FREE Masterclass, where I’ll guide you step-by-step on how to turn your expertise into a profitable coaching business.
💬 What’s one thing you’d change about your current work life? Let me know in the comments!
♻️ Repost this if you’re ready to step off the treadmill and start running your own race.
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Life Leadership following Lotus principle - Rising above, Rooted within / Author / Ancient Wisdom For Modern Leadership
4moLove this post since it resonates with my view as well. I got off the corporate treadmill in 1984 and got off from running an entrepreneurial set up in 2010. "You should know where you are going" is a famous Zen saying; since if you do not know where you are going, any road can take you there !! There is also another saying that "if you love what you are doing as work you need not work for even one day in your life." But times are changing and we are evolving. We are an evolving consciousness. Also to know that our purpose in life is dynamic. It keeps changing. There is no one purpose as of now. The ultimate purpose is to reach God, but we are not there at the moment !! To me one has to actualize their potential and realize that when you don't like the run on the treadmill it's better to shift tracks. Ultimately it is Self-actualization and fulfillment that gives meaning to our lives !!