The corporate world told me there was no place for female empowerment and thinking outside the box. Here’s how I’ve proved them wrong.
I started my career working in corporate PR and marketing. It was a whirlwind. I worked for a number of companies and moved around from Perth to London, to Sydney, and back to Perth again. That was where at the young age of 28, I landed my dream job as the head of marketing strategy. But guess what? You know that classic story where you land the ultimate job and you know you are going to feel incredible. But instead, you end up hating your life and are completely disenchanted by the corporate world? Yup, that happened to me. Despite working for a great company, the structure of the corporate world that was deeply embedded in the psyche of my clients was not for me.
When I finally reached the place I most wanted to be in my career, I found myself spending a lot of time navigating and managing clients older than me who had a very specific idea of how they wanted things done. And they were so different from the ways I envisioned my new role. I really loved marketing and I really loved mentoring my team, but I hit a bit of a quarter-life crisis. It wasn’t until I had left the corporate world to launch my own coaching business that I realized how it had held me back. There just wasn’t room for fresh ideas and female empowerment in a corporate world that had such strong roots in patriarchal conditioning, hierarchical leadership, and gunning for results to the detriment of all else.
There just wasn’t room for fresh ideas and female empowerment in a corporate world that had such strong roots in patriarchal conditioning, hierarchical leadership, and gunning for results to the detriment of all else.
Here are 5 Lies the Corporate World Told Me:
1. There’s No Room for Creativity or Innovation
When I worked for corporations, the reality I experienced was that to be successful, you needed to think in a linear way like everyone else. Praise was given when your views or opinions went along with the majority. There just wasn’t time or consideration given to creative expression or the evolution of ideas. As an entrepreneur, I’ve learned it’s the complete opposite. Now I spend my days nurturing creativity. In fact, being creative is often THE thing that makes you stand out. It’s been time spent on CREATION -through content - that enabled me to make my first $100k online within a year of leaving the corporate world.
2. There’s No Space for Individuality
My experiences in the corporate world left no space for individuality. You were expected to conform to the rest of the group. But I’ve realized that embracing your unique gifts and really using them to build your business is one of the most important advantages you have over your competitors. For example, I’ve built an entire business by creatively weaving together mindset and marketing, because I recognized that it was the combination of both that small business owners needed most to get ahead online. I spend my days supporting women to become empowered CEOs who change the world through innovation.
3. The Way We’ve Always Done Things Is “Best”
The world is constantly changing, and corporate companies that aren’t changing with it are running the risk of being left behind completely. Instead, you need to be constantly pivoting. As the world around you changes, opportunities present themselves and it gives you the power to build a thriving business because of that change, not in spite of it. My clients are all innovative leaders, and many of which are building wealth quickly because they aren’t afraid to lead, disrupt and create powerful change. Earning $10k, $50k, and $100k months don’t happen as a small business owner when you are doing what the industry has done prior to you.
4. Prioritize the Team Over the Individual
The corporate world focused on empowering leaders, but not all the members of their team. And when you don’t empower team members, they aren’t given the chance to take ownership of their work, and in turn, strive to do the best work possible. I spend my days working with clients to build teams of empowered leaders who are specialists at their craft and unique contributions. Everyone is seen, heard, and respected for their role. I know that the best teams and organizations are ones where every single human feels empowered, sovereign, and clear on their role. When that happens, the team is unbeatable.
5. Safety and Success Come Through Playing Small
There’s a belief that if we play inside the confines of the corporate world we will be safe and secure forever. But that belief is completely contrary to what we rationally know about the current state of the world. As an entrepreneur, every time I step outside the box my business grows and expands. I now earn six times what I earned in my high-paying corporate role. But even income aside, I’d rather bet on myself than an organization I don’t personally run. The corporate world fed me one message, but I know that earning more money and having more freedom are direct results of playing large OUTSIDE the box.
The corporate world fed me one message, but I know that earning more money and having more freedom are direct results of playing large OUTSIDE the box.
Don’t get me wrong, there can be advantages to working in the corporate world. There are benefits, paid time off, easy access to mentors who can help you shape your career, and a dependable steady income to name a few. There are corporations that do value innovation and creativity among their employees. And of course, not everyone dreams of entrepreneurship. I share what I learned to give you inspiration, no matter where you work. Give yourself permission to be creative, and take the initiative to innovate and think outside the box every chance you get. Dream big and live large. Don’t let anyone tell you how to think or to “play it safe.” At the end of the day, sharing your gifts and perspectives will land you in a place where you are appreciated and you can thrive.
WRITTEN BY
Ellie Swift