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    Employee overhears millionaire bosses dreaming about becoming vegetable vendors, giving up their lifestyles: 'I think the “Corporate Dream” is a scam'

    Is the grass always greener on the other side? Even if you're a millionaire?

    It might be hard to think of someone in your life who is totally satisfied. Most of us are always yearning for something more, no matter how much we have. If you don't have a job, you probably want one. If you have a job, you might want a better one, or one that pays more. If you have a job that pays a lot, you might want more free time. If you have more free time, you might want a purpose. It goes on and on in this beautiful cycle that we call humanity. It's endless. But it's hard work to keep yourself interested in your own life as it is and not constantly yearn for more. We always think that if we have more money, all of our problems would go away. 

    This might be true to some extent. But when was the last time that you met a happy millionaire? How many HBO shows do they have to make about the ennui of the wealthy before we listen? It's hard to be a human at all income levels, but not all struggles are created equal. Maybe at work, you're jealous of those who are above you. You imagine what your life would be like at their salary level, and you imagine all the ways your day-to-day would improve. You wouldn't check the prices at the grocery store. You would take expensive vacations. You would indulge your hobbies more often. But is this even true?

    Author image for JR Atkinson JR Atkinson
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    • A group of business people sit around a table at lunch.
      via Unsplash+ (Curated Lifestyle)

      The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    • One employee encountered this quandary the hard way when sitting in with a group of higher-ups at work. This was a group of people he had been taught to look up to his whole life. He wanted their lifestyle, and assumed that that's what he was working for. But when he finally got to their table, he was shocked at their attitudes. In a way, it reaffirmed something he already knew. But in another, very real way, it was a slap in the face to all the work he had been doing. Scroll on to read the story and see what commenters had to say.

    • My bosses earn millions and their literal dream is to become vegetable vendors. I think the "Corporate Dream" is a scam.

      So, I'm 36, grew up middle class, and spent my entire life being told the same thing: Study hard → get a "prestige" job → make bank → be happy. Standard DLC for the human experience, right?
      via u/piyushc29
    • Well, I've officially reached a level where I'm "successful" enough to sit at the big kids' table during lunch. I was eavesdropping on my bosses and their peers (all 40s, all making absolute bank-like, millions) and I expected them to be talking about stocks, yachts, or whatever rich people do. Instead, it was a support group.
      via u/piyushc29
    • These guys were dead serious about how badly they want to quit everything and become vegetable vendors, fast food sellers, or tea stall owners. Like, they were genuinely romanticizing the "peace" of selling tomatoes on a street corner. Imagine being at the top of the food chain and looking at the guy selling tea and thinking, "God, I wish that were me."
      via u/piyushc29
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    • It really hit me. I've spent 30 years grinding for the exact life these guys are trying to escape. If the people who actually won the game are trying to find the "Exit" button, why am I still trying to level up? I'm starting to feel that same itch. It's like that Sadhguru quote:
      via u/piyushc29
    • "May your dreams not come true, but something larger that you couldn't dream of happen to you." Because honestly, if my "dream" of success just leads to me crying over a spreadsheet and wishing I was selling street corn, I think I want a refund on the dream. Is this just a mid-life crisis or is the corporate ladder actually just a staircase to a dumpster fire?
      via u/piyushc29
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    • TL;DR: Eavesdropped on my millionaire bosses. They're miserable and want to sell tea for a living. Currently questioning every life choice I've made since kindergarten.
      via u/piyushc29
    • A group of white collar workers sit around a table conducting business
      via Unsplash+ (Curated Lifestyle)

      The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    • Commenters gave their opinions on this very human problem.

      13NeverEnough F em. I grow several vegetables and fruits in the spring, summer & fall. Self-sustained is quite freeing as far as food goes. We freeze & dehydrate a lot as well so we are good to go. Next season, I'm going to try grinding some veggies into powder for seasoning. They should be more worried about that stuff
      via u/13NeverEnough
    • SnooFloofs2956 They want the poor lifestyle but the rich money
      via u/SnooFloofs2956
    • whocaresano I worked in tech for 15 years. Now I'm a gardener. It's great.
      via u/whocaresano
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    • GREENLEAF2020 I heard a great quote the other day " all you get from keeping your head down and working hard is a good view of the ground
      via u/GREENLEAF2020
    • GREENLEAF2020 Also. Let them give up the business and all the money and go sell tomatoes. They will turn back to that millionaire life pretty fuckin fast →
      via u/GREENLEAF2020
    • GJMOH This means money is not longer a constraint so they are talking about how they will fill early retirement time. I worked with a guy whose dream was to give pontoon tours to tourists.
      via u/GJMOH
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    • SeoulGalmegi It's just human nature. The vegetable seller sees the wealth of these guys, and wants that. The CEOs see the 'simplicity' of the vegetables seller's life and wants that. People get immune to the good things they have and then envious of what others seemingly have that they don't. If you have lots of time, you want more money. If you have lots of money, you want more time. If your job is stable, you want a bit more excitement and variety. If you're a freelancer, you yearn for the sta
      via u/SeoulGalmegi
    • LifeofTino If all jobs paid equally, people would choose meaningful things that help their loved ones/ provide value to the community, or they would choose peaceful jobs that allow them to spend lots of time with family and friends and hobbies Its almost like capitalism making sure these jobs are only available to those who have amassed huge amounts of capital and can quit, or those happy to live in poverty, is a deliberate decision
      via u/LifeofTino
    • frostychocolatemint Siddharta Gautama was a noble prince who wandered the world to teach about wanting nothing and how desire leads to suffering and misery. He sold this minimalist aesthetic to millions (billions) of followers
      via u/frostychocolatemint

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