How to Thrive in Corporate Life Without Succumbing to Boredom

The times have changed, and we constantly need to find new activities.

Erik P.M. Vermeulen, PhD
4 min readSep 20, 2024

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Photo courtesy of author

Corporate life has evolved into a complex maze of digital tools and countless virtual meetings.

At first, it might seem like an exhilarating challenge, but the reality often feels more like drowning in quicksand — sucking you down into the mundane before all life is slowly squeezed out of you.

A former colleague recently said, “I can’t imagine spending my life trading thoughts with a digital tool. I want to connect with people, to create something real. I’m done with IT.”

And just like that, she walked away.

Last In, First Out

Flashback to 1989.

My early days in the corporate world were a different story altogether. I had an office with a desk and a phone that actually rang, a Rolodex filled with cards, and an electronic typewriter with a correction feature.

Heady days!

The mail trays — one for incoming, one for outgoing — were always full, and the filing cabinet stood like a sentinel next to the door. Guarding my and the firm’s professional secrets.

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