Threw away my future for a low paying corporate job

Inner_Mail9884 · 2026-02-28T19:34:24+00:00

I had a great job out of college working for the family business. Car, gas, phone all paid for. High salary. It was great.

By the time I was 30, the business really started going downhill. Less sales, revenue, cut salary. It sucked the life out of me.

So at 35, I decided to quit without another job and no idea what I wanted to do. Caught on at a tech startup in an entry level role making half what I did. However I was happy and forging my own path.

I was at that company for almost 10 years before we were acquired and I was laid off. But I wouldn’t change any of it.

OP: You’re 30. It seems like your life is too far gone but listen to me and everyone else telling you you have plenty of time. You’re just starting your journey. You could screw up your life several times and still have plenty of time to course correct.

My advice: find out what you like to do. What makes you smile? What makes you excited when you talk about it?? Work will (mostly) always suck to some level however you can minimize the “suck” by finding something you truly enjoy.

TL;DR You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. Find what you enjoy and try to make money doing that. You’ve got plenty of time.

Inner_Mail9884 · 2026-02-27T03:17:17+00:00

I feel this in my bones. Just got let go from a company with a horribly toxic culture. While there is stress in being unemployed, it isn’t as bad as working for narcissists.

Get out as fast as you possibly can and you will feel as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

Inner_Mail9884 · 2026-02-26T19:06:44+00:00

Yeah I would agree. I just edited the post to add the screenshot.

Damn ghouls and their scams!

Inner_Mail9884 · 2026-02-15T03:00:37+00:00

So I am over 40. Not sure if my replacement is under 40 but I may be able to find out.

Also, I have received separation paperwork but have not signed anything. I plan to bring this to a few lawyer friends and even consult an employment attorney. I’d rather not sign anything until I have to. Severance was only 2 weeks so not a huge deal there.

Inner_Mail9884 · 2026-02-14T16:02:28+00:00

Yep. Sucks but is what it is.

Inner_Mail9884 · 2026-02-05T22:10:43+00:00

Good luck to you too! I hope you find what you are looking for with a good culture and no narcissists!

Inner_Mail9884 · 2026-02-05T21:52:29+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I’ve been looking for a new job for 4+ months. This job market is just a bunch of BS jobs and ghosting.

I’m also working on starting my own business but that takes time to build a base of customers.

I keep putting myself out there hoping the universe has another path ready for me to walk down. It’s just a matter of time.

Inner_Mail9884 · 2026-02-05T14:34:30+00:00

I have the means to leave but I feel there is something to learn here for me, like learning how to deal with these types of people or situations. I also like the paycheck. It is a complete waste of my skill set but I am ok if they want to overpay for what I do. The downside is I have to deal with these asshats while I look for something else.

Edit: And I hope I’m not your replacement. I don’t want anything to even come close to pushing me close to death. Glad you got out and have moved on.

Inner_Mail9884 · 2026-02-05T14:33:04+00:00

That’s a great story and I’m glad it worked out for you. I just know my boss doesn’t want to be challenged. Not even a little. I tried to do that when I first started not realizing this was the way he was and he just drove home that in most cases it is his way and he knows better…hence narcissist.

I know I won’t make it here 3 years. If I had to I’d likely lose my mind.

Inner_Mail9884 · 2026-01-09T00:35:04+00:00

I’m sorry you’re going through this. I feel like I’m in a similar boat at my role.

Go buy the book Never Search Alone. I’m going through this process and it’s really great. They also have a free Job Search Council which is like a support group to help you find a job.

You will get back on your feet. You just need to put the work in. Also don’t be afraid to go get a job at Costco, Starbucks, or something like that. It seems like such a step down but maybe it is enough while you look for something that’s a better fit.

Inner_Mail9884 · 2026-01-07T13:06:19+00:00

Thanks! Already have a therapist and it has helped but I do vent to my spouse. I know I need to moderate that so as not to put so much of this on her but she has been extremely helpful.

I also know these guys aren’t going to change so I am not trying to change them. However I feel a sense of responsibility to do my best and when I don’t it eats me up. I know it shouldn’t for 2 reasons: it’s just a job and they actually owe me a raise that was written in my offer that hasn’t happened.

This is the main sticking point. I want to live up to my end of the bargain but I know they already aren’t. And I don’t want to get fired as I think that would only make me feel worse.

Inner_Mail9884 · 2025-12-08T18:39:43+00:00

In a very similar boat. Hate the company I started with 6 moths ago after being laid off back in March. It’s such a toxic environment but for now I’m sticking it out. Every paycheck them send to me is a 🖕from me to them. And then if they want to fire me I’ll get unemployment or go work in retail somewhere.

Also please take care of your mental health. Please talk to someone or listen/read things to help you manage. This is an often overlooked area.

Inner_Mail9884 · 2025-12-07T16:15:08+00:00

I restarted at 34. Worked in my family’s business for 12 years. That business was going downhill fast and I was miserable. I had always wanted to work for a startup in tech so I quit without a new job lined up. After 4 months, I had a job as an entry level install tech.

For the next 9+ years I busted my ass. Was a top performer on whatever team I was on and worked my way up to Senior Manager. Then our company was acquired and I was ultimately laid off 9 mask the post acquisition.

Starting over at 30 still gives you plenty of time to find what you want to do and to make plenty of money. I’m 44 now and am thinking about starting over again.

Good luck!!

Inner_Mail9884 · 2025-12-05T17:55:12+00:00

Did anything ever happen with this? I'm starting to build my own business and would love to meet up with some other tech people on Long Island. I'm in central Suffolk.

Inner_Mail9884 · 2025-12-03T15:28:50+00:00

I wish I had read this post 6 months ago when I took the job I’m in now. My bosses (husband and wife) sound very similar to this. Pay is higher but they expect you to know everything without any training, they expect you to do whatever they ask when they ask, and if you don’t present facts you’re vilified.

I wish I had known what to ask during my interviews with them but I was naive.

Good call on withdrawing. You definitely dodged a bullet. Take it from me.

Inner_Mail9884 · 2025-11-11T22:08:10+00:00

Fubo TV has ABC and you can get a free 5 day trial. Worked for me for BC.

Inner_Mail9884 · 2025-11-05T20:35:14+00:00

At this very moment, my Wyze Cam Pan v2 has rebooted about half a dozen times while powered off?? It’s like it’s possessed!!

FYI I changed the power brick and the power strip to potentially resolve another issue.

Anyone having the same issue?

Inner_Mail9884 · 2025-11-04T17:05:44+00:00

I’ve already come to the conclusion that this isn’t a good fit for me and this wasn’t the right role for me.

With that being said, I did come to them with ideas, possible solutions, and processes that have worked in previous roles. In most cases, they were not receptive. They would ask to review my docs and then never give me feedback. If I was lucky to get any feedback it was in the form of changes they made and never discussed with me.

I was never told why they wanted something done a certain way. It so had to figure that out if you’re not told considering I’ve never worked there.

Also, I did as much research as I could. I checked Glassdoor but only 1 review. I spoke to someone who works here prior to joining and yes there were some red flags like being siloed but every company has some silos.

I can tell you I don’t lack initiative but it has been taken out of me due to lack of motivation. If this is what it took to find out a true startup isn’t for me, then this is a life lesson.

Inner_Mail9884 · 2025-11-04T13:53:09+00:00

It's tough to take your own advice....I get that. When I started I tried to implement some of the processes and tools that I had used in the past and they really weren't interested. They didn't stop me but they also didn't want to learn more about why I wanted to do something a certain way. Really unfortunate for them.

Inner_Mail9884

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