Welcome to Episode 39 of Navigating the Fustercluck—a podcast full of snackable insights to help you navigate the everchanging world of creativity & marketing. That’s why this episode explores 3 distinct employer/employee relationships: Family Free agentsAlliances My name is Wegs, like eggs with a W, joining you from Deaf Mule Studios in Dallas, where we’re here to talk about something I know of firsthand:  The Workplace is Changing Once upon a time, you finished school and were on your way. And along with countless others in the same situation, you stepped onto the career escalator and took the long, steady climb up. Some got fast-tracked. And some waited their turn and got to the very top. You did your share and eventually, you called it a day and complained about how the work was way better back in your day. (It wasn’t.) The Escalator is Broken Well, today, that escalator is broken. There is no steady climb. Companies don’t always keep you. No matter how hardworking you are. How loyal you are. Not even how talented you are. And if you’re over 40, you may find yourselves among those who feel that the industry no longer wants you. It may lead you to ask… What Do You Call a Broken Escalator? So, what’s the answer? What DO you call a broken elevator? Stairs. Yes…They. Are. Stairs. They may require more work on your part, but they will work.  However, it will be more competitive. May even involve additional…ughhh…political skills.  Disappointment Plus That’s what this will be for some of you. Disappointment Plus. The realization that you may never find a place that feels like home, or people you think of as family. That “family” is no longer a concept that applies in the work world. That you may be changing jobs every 2-3 years. That things may never feel comfortable. But maybe you shouldn’t. After all… There’s No Growth in the Comfort Zone and No Comfort in the Growth Zone. Plus, think about it…Is the concept of family the best model we have? Families Are Based on Unconditional Love No matter what, your family has your back. Even when Uncle Al downs some overly fermented “cranberry sauce” at Thanksgiving and moons your neighbors’ dog, he’s still family. Unconditional love, however, doesn’t cut it at the office. Mistakes count. And sometimes the company changes and they just don’t need your skills anymore. That said, family has its advantages. You grow roots. Make friends. Climb the ladder. And fundamentally, you feel like you’re part of something bigger than yourself.  Hell High On the flipside, family-style is often a recipe for favoritism, gossiping, politics bullying and drama. It can be a helluva like high school. Hell High, where different cliques trying to stake their claim to the running the office without paying enough attention to the actual business. And the work that builds it. In fact, it’s not about the business, it’s about maintaining and controlling the bureaucracy. I’ve seen situations where people are quite willing to let things slide as long as they’re in charge. I think they believe that once they’ve eliminated their competition, that everything will be champagne & roses. Why? Because in their heads they’re the good guys. The smart ones. Amazing how many leaders get the notion that they’re the ones wearing the white hats and anyone who challenges their views wears a black hat. Check out our first 3 episodes, all focused on office politics to go more in depth on that… Obedience Is Not Loyalty I’ve also witnessed how family style agencies often confuse obedience with loyalty. Loyalty doesn’t mean that I support your every decision and move. Or that I take your side in any and all disputes. It means we share the same values and are working to uphold those ideals as we build something together. The kind of “loyalty” too many people expect is very simi...