Black Men: Do You Agree “Play The Corporate Game” Or No?

[BezO]

Hard to have it both ways.

If you want to be a high paid employee in a corporate environment, you gotta play. Exceptions in certain industries.

If you want to be "you", do your time then take your skills to the entrepreneurial side. Even then, certain industries may still require a look to make deals and/or get contracted.

 

[EBK String]

Corporate culture is conformity. You are naive if you think white people don't have to conform as well. Everyone has to. Some people, however, can conform a bit easier than others.

The problem is black people undervalue many important skills that would otherwise allow them to thrive in corporate environments. Skills like small talk. Small talk will take you farther than your own technical skills. It’s probably the most important skill to have.

If you are having problems in that regard, get this book.



I’m definitely for playing the corporate game. The long run is gaining the professional skills to be able to go off and do your own thing successfully when the time comes.

you love putting all the onus at the feet of black folk and presume we dont know all this basic shyt. You are not going to small talk, network or conform yourself out of white supremacy.

 

[Mr.bocario]

At the end of the day you choose your own reality.

I was in the military then transitioned, so Ive been playing the corporate game since a youngin

but I have nothing but respect for the brehs and brehettes that nope the fukk out of that lifestyle and just do them

 

[Clay Puppington]

Corporate culture is conformity. You are naive if you think white people don't have to conform as well. Everyone has to. Some people, however, can conform a bit easier than others.

The problem is black people undervalue many important skills that would otherwise allow them to thrive in corporate environments. Skills like small talk. Small talk will take you farther than your own technical skills. It’s probably the most important skill to have.

If you are having problems in that regard, get this book.



I’m definitely for playing the corporate game. The long run is gaining the professional skills to be able to go off and do your own thing successfully when the time comes.

Breh this is dead ass one of the big skills I need to refine - salute.

 

[Ahadi]

Don’t show up to work playing a character. Be yourself, be good at small talk, ask questions more than answer. I’m in corporate & I got my curls out.

the point is to focus on your next move after. Make sure you document everything you’ve done at the company in a Microsoft word document. Use that for either a raise or ammo for your next job.

 

[invalid]

you love putting all the onus at the feet of black folk and presume we dont know all this basic shyt. You are not going to small talk, network or conform yourself out of white supremacy.

nikka you clearly ain’t know basic shyt out here rocking french braids in “elite” law school.

 

[Field Marshall Bradley]

nikka you clearly ain’t know basic shyt out here rocking french braids in “elite” law school.

LMAO!!!!!!!

 

[Barnett114]

nikka you clearly ain’t know basic shyt out here rocking french braids in “elite” law school.

I forgot you dudes know of each other off the site

 

[EBK String]

nikka you clearly ain’t know basic shyt out here rocking french braids in “elite” law school.

that's was after I stopped giving a fukk. All that small talk and networking with cacs fidnt get me shyt.

 

[Johnny Kilroy]

I played the corporate game but recently got clipped. If I can help it, I wouldn't go back. Corporate America is no place for a black man with dignity IMO.

They expect you to be docile and forever grateful and "know your place." You walk around with your head high and your chest out because you're naturally a confident, dignified man... that's a problem.

I had a lot of haters. Unfortunately from black people under me too. But it was the white boys I guess jealous of my swag that ultimately dug up some dirt on me.

I've been building my own thing the last couple months. It hasn't been easy but the rewards will make it worth it.

My advice to any black man currently in Corporate America: don't quit, but mind your own business. In other words, keep getting those checks as long as they're cuttin em but you should always be making your own moves outside of work to eventually replace that income. If you can, bring that experience back to the people and help us build our own shyt.

 

[Problematic Pat]

He kind of lost me when he said everyone has to play the game....... he didn’t elaborate on how the game is different for each player....

You have to go to the original video that sparked this discussion. He's responding to a stream he saw earlier where brothas in the chat were calling the guest on the stream a c00n and sellout because he said Black men have to cut their hair if they want to move up in the corporate world. Kevin also was catching a lot of push back from brothas when he was giving his experience working in that environment and how a lot of Black men shoot themselves in the foot trying to play the rebel and how they foolishly believe they are actually winning in the end.

 

[WesCrook]

You have to go to the original video that sparked this discussion. He's responding to a stream he saw earlier where brothas in the chat were calling the guest on the stream a c00n and sellout because he said Black men have to cut their hair if they want to move up in the corporate world. Kevin also was catching a lot of push back from brothas when he was giving his experience working in that environment and how a lot of Black men shoot themselves in the foot trying to play the rebel and how they foolishly believe they are actually winning in the end.

 

[Rell Lauren]

You have to in order to get ahead. Your work isn't good enough. I'm arguably the most reliable person on my team and people throughout the firm feel comfortable with me handling their projects for timeliness and getting it done right the first time. However it isn't a meritocracy. Promotion list went out the other day and all I could do was laugh at some of the names on the list.

I'm not getting a promotion anytime soon because of the structure. Have to network. I'm checked out because of it. I'm waiting to be fired tbh.

 

[Consigliere]

Never worked in a cubicle. Always had my own office or shared one. Half my bosses and half the companies I’ve worked at have been black owned/run.

What I’ve found is that politics exist in all Black work spaces too and they can be just as annoying if you don’t know how to move.

 

[the bossman]

Agree. Play the corporate game long enough to learn some valuable skills and cash out when the time is right

You can learn so much shyt in corporations to apply to your own investments or endeavors

This is the best strategy to keep in mind.

It's easier to have this mindset when you're young and ain't got shyt to your name so youre hungry.

But once you start getting paid well with the benefits and all that, it's extremely easy to become comfortable and complacent. You lose that hunger and that fire. Next thing you know you and the years just start flying by. Now they got you by the balls cause your skills are outdated and you stopped improving yourself

Get everything you need to get from that job and gtfo