I've been away from Nike for six weeks and despite starting new work pretty much the first day I left I keep feeling like I'm on a long vacation. I didn't even realize how stressed out I really was, how much I dreaded going into work every day until I was out. It literally feels like a huge burden has been lifted off my chest and I can breathe again. Nobody should have to work in conditions that would merit such a response after leaving...
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Great post, @1tmzo, please don't mind that I will copy it to a new thread.
I spent 25 years at the swoosh before being caught up in the job eliminations in 2018. My first 10 - 12 years were absolutely the best! Challenging work, GREAT PEOPLE to work with, a culture that was vibrant and positive for the most part. When things changed they REALLY CHANGED. The common denominator was clearly a shift to outside talent, setting aside the experience we already had for those shiny new objects with MBA's and big house consulting pedigrees. When that trend started nothing was ever the same again. Focus seemed to shift overnight from solving problems once and for all to whitewashing issues in order to make a big splash, get noticed, get rewarded. Since leaving I have never been as happy as I am right now. For me, the grass has been WAY GREENER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FENCE! Felt good to buy a pair of adidas, New Balance and a few things from Under Armour.
Been gone for 3 years and ALL of my memories are of the politics & decks & buzzwords. At other jobs before and after I stayed up at night mulling over actual business problems. At Nike it was all interpersonal high school drama. So much energy wasted on theater to look busy or innovative or aligned. So little time spent on solving problems for customers and athletes.
Almost 10 months now. I never realized the fear culture until I left. You couldn’t have convinced me it was a bad place. That it was hurting my marriage. 10 months on the other side and I’ve never been happier.
I know, it's weird working with people who actually function like a team and not a bunch of catty kids on a playground. I have more accomplishments to show for myself in the year or so that I've been away from Nike than the few years I worked there. And, not just "How I finally got a director to respond to my email." accomplishments.
Congratulations, you have taken the first step to recovery from Nike. My career and personal life took off AFTER being there for a decade. You dont realize how bad it is and how miserable you are until you get your life back. Never a balance at Nike and constantly having to keep from getting stabbed in the back by some pretty toxic people.