White-Collar Workers - Not as Many Working as There Used to Be

Police call an arrest a collar. Being arrested limits your options, affects the way you think – particularly if you’re innocent. Or if you had no idea that your behavior was in any way destructive or self-destructive. What if the workplace “collar” we identify with has been arresting our development all these years?

The collar you’ve been wearing and identifying with can, metaphorically, arrest you. It can limit your options, affect the way you think (in ways you never thought of). Your collar can choke you … with the very tie or necklace that was part of your work uniform if you identify yourself as a white-collar professional.

Feeling a tad insecure? Survived several rounds of layoffs? Been ripped by a RIF (reduction in force) and restructured your career and your life? Tried viewing yourself as “Me, Inc.” in the workplace – marketing yourself to outshine the competition of your professional brethren? Tried literally forming your own company or sole proprietorship as some kind of freelance service provider, expert consultant, contract knowledge-worker? Worked one shift four days a week at WalMart and another shift three days a week at Seven-Eleven?

Shed that collar, yet? Who are you now?

No need, really. You can keep the collar. All you really want to shed are all the lies you’ve been brainwashed into believing that collar represents. Eventually, you may even earn enough again to get those collars dry-cleaned every week. Meanwhile, break out the iron and the Magic Sizing. Your collar is entirely in your hands.

What does it mean to be a white-collar, exempt, professional in today’s corporation? It no longer means you are a valued employee, part of the family. It means you work a 60-hour week with no overtime wages. You’re a college-educated salaried professional. Your employer is entitled to your intellect and intellectual property developed on its time. But it’s sucking up more of your time and leaving you less energy to be so smart for yourself.