Work as we know it to be is over, and as a collective, we are saying no we don’t do this anymore.

Like a lot of people on the planet this weekend, I was in a deep dive of listening to 1989 Taylor’s Version on repeat which was released this past Friday. That was the bright spot in a weekend of letting go of things that no longer serve me during the full moon and lunar eclipse on Saturday. It has been a season of making conscious choices to release what no longer serves – be it relationships, routines, or what I’m still holding on to from my “before times”.

What does Taylor Swift have to do with the workplace? It’s the bad blood.

One of the major things I’m releasing is work. Work in the way I defined it and understood it before.

Work as we know it to be is over. We are saying no we don’t do this anymore.

I know I’m not alone because I read comments and posts across social platforms.

I know because I have talked to former colleagues and friends.

I know because I can see what is going on around the world.

I know because I see workers strikes and protests happening globally.

I know because I can deeply feel what is going on in my own psyche and consciousness.

I know because I’ve been in severe burnout and unmasking for almost a year.

As a collective, the vibe has been:

“Why? What is the point anymore?”

“I am doing the bare minimum because I do not matter to my company anymore.”

“Because… end-stage capitalism.”

“Because…this brilliant organization no longer cares about the human side of things.”

“Because…I can’t afford to live and eat even on my salary, and I’m making more money than ever before.”

“Because…I can’t get behind what any of this stands for anymore.”

“Why am I giving all of myself when the world is on fire and pushing xyz product seems pretty lame right now?”

It isn’t because no one wants to contribute and do good work in the world. It is because we are completely DONE with the old paradigm.

Baby, now we got bad blood.

So back to 1989 Taylor’s Version – I got to one of my favorites, Bad Blood ft. Kendrick Lamar, and the lyrics washed over me and then it hit. The phrase that helped me finally let go and release this “trying to re-engage in work” thing I have been struggling with for months.

Band-aids don’t fix bullet holes. ~ Taylor Swift

I have been spending a lot of mental energy looking for how to use my skills and deeply applied learning to lean back into strategic consulting work. Frankly, I don’t want to be a part of putting band-aids on company culture and organizational frameworks anymore.

I have advanced answers and solutions while being asked for a box of band-aids.

What we have isn’t fixable. No amount of great tech can fix the bleeding out of workers. No amount of virtue signaling will heal these wounds. Regurgitating the same messages we have for the last decade won’t help either – it is just a distraction to keep the “hamsters running on the wheel”.

We need something brand new. It is a new slate, new ways, and it needs to be led by the people and emerging leaders from within the people. We need human-centric systems that are inclusive, and equitable and foster trust through authenticity and transparency. We need conscious leadership, cultural frameworks, and communities that will spearhead authentic transformation that actually makes a difference not a dollar.

In June, I posted that work was another abusive husband. And, “The way “work-life” is and the systems for it are narcissistic, patriarchal, and misogynistic. They hurt everyone but those in control of the system.”

Now we’ve got problems. And I don’t think we can solve ’em ~ Taylor Swift

I invested 30 years of myself into the system. I have mad skills and deep knowledge. And, I am happy to transfer that knowledge to emerging leaders who are creating real change to disrupt the system. I’m more excited to work 1:1 with individuals who are deconstructing their own belief systems right now.

Today though, I blast 1989 TV and settle into being okay with letting go and asking myself when I’ll be Out of the Woods.

I write from my point of awareness today, from my own lived experience and the environment I live in [which is American culture]. This article may not resonate with you and that’s okay too.