The Corporate Dream That’s Actually a Nightmare

 

It’s funny — no, actually it’s tragic — how obsessed parents have become about which company or brand their kid should end up working for. Google. Infosys. Microsoft. Amazon. The so-called dream companies.

Some parents talk about it like their kid’s entire worth depends on which logo ends up on their office ID card.

What’s even more absurd is that many of them have close family members working in these so-called “top” companies — and yet, they conveniently ignore the pressure, the exhaustion, and the silent suffering that come with it.

They see the brand, not the burnout.

Let’s talk about the truth no one likes to admit — the dark side of the corporate world.

I’ve seen software professionals who are just… running on fumes.

Chasing deadlines that never end. Fighting office politics that drain the soul. Living on caffeine and anxiety. Smiling on Zoom calls while mentally collapsing inside.

These aren’t people chasing dreams — these are people surviving their 9-to-6 (which, let’s be honest, is actually 9-to-whenever-your-boss-sleeps).

And the irony? The bigger the brand, the heavier the chains.

It’s like these companies have mastered the art of making you feel lucky to be miserable.

Remember when the Infosys CEO said employees should work longer hours? Or when employees who gave 15, 20 years of their life to global giants like Google or Meta were suddenly laid off with a cold email?

Loyalty, experience, dedication — all replaced with a “Thank you for your service” and a cardboard box to pack their things.

So, what was all that education for?

The rat race for that one dream job? The sleepless nights studying to “get into a good company”?

When even the “best” companies can drop you overnight, where’s the security everyone’s been selling us?

Let’s be real — most people in corporate jobs aren’t happy.

They’re not “living the dream.” They’re paying EMIs.

They’re counting the days to the weekend. They’re tolerating toxic bosses and fake smiles just to survive another month.

The few who actually “love” their jobs? Either they’re the ones making others miserable, or they’ve mastered the art of pretending.

And I say this not as an outsider, but as someone who’s been there.

I’ve worked with top brand companies — the kind people kill to get into — and even with a billionaire family. I’ve seen the money, the perks, the glamour… and also the sleepless nights, the constant pressure, and the emptiness that comes with it.

At some point, I realized I didn’t want that life anymore.

So I walked away.

Today, I work independently for different clients — peacefully, on my own terms.

And no, none of them ever asked for my degree certificate.

What they value is my 14+ years of experience, my skill, my work ethic — not a framed piece of paper or a brand name on my CV.

That’s the freedom I want for my child.

I don’t want him to live a life that revolves around deadlines, appraisals, or corporate drama.

I don’t want him to trade his peace of mind for a paycheck or measure his success by how big a company’s name is on his resume.

What I want for him is freedom.

To do something he’s passionate about.

To wake up excited, not exhausted.

To build something meaningful, not just fill spreadsheets.

To earn money doing what he loves — not to survive, but to live.

Financial freedom isn’t about a salary slip.

It’s about having control over your time, your choices, and your sanity.

And if that means walking a different path — away from the brands, the hype, and the rat race — then so be it.

Because at the end of the day, I’d rather my son live a peaceful, purpose-driven life than die slowly in a cubicle wearing a company’s logo like a badge of honor