Liam, you are absolutely correct that people are people, wherever they are. However, the games are different, and have an effect on the players.

I have found, after 30 years in the corporate world (the last 26 at the same place) that I don't have the stomach anymore for the bullshit. I've been very successful for a long time, do my job well, manage to get the job done and motivate people on my team. The main person not motivated on my team nowadays is me. I sit there sometimes and wonder how the heck I've done it so long! It's not necessarily bad stuff (although some of the human sacrifices are indeed very bad stuff). I'm just burned out.

I've seen much of it go around and come around again. Many of those MBA ideas are grand, and some even work. With good ideas, and continuity and vision in upper management (the famous 'M' word), they would probably result in improvements. I'm just tired of the whole game and want to do other things while I still have the energy and health.

The other thing is, I am not comfortable saying what I really feel about the corporate world until I'm safely retired from it. That speaks volumes.