I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how my experience has been different from my sons, both of whom work for larger companies. My son Brad is a manager for a national office supply retail chain, the other, Jeff, for a large locally based national carrier. My son Jeff has recently changed jobs and it has been very interesting for me to watch this process from afar. I am somewhat familiar with the circumstances surrounding the family that owns the company he recently left and the family that owns the company where he is headed.

As I watched this process unfold, I was dumbfounded at how arrogant Jeff’s former company behaved. They acted as though they were his only option. Even though he had learned quickly and progressed as far as he could within the local office (unless he was made branch manager) in just 7 ½ months, they thought no one else would have him. He was made to feel that, “Thank goodness for us (the proud and ponderous corporation) or you would be, homeless, starving in the streets!”

This company began what they called a “Boot Camp.” (more…)