Are you in a stressful “Dog eat Dog” work environment? How to deal with it?

September 11, 2016July 31, 2021 Rolf Suey

I received
a comment in my earlier blog post Happiness Vs True Happiness, from a reader. Below is the comment, which inspired me for writing this post.

Hi Rolf, always enjoyed your enlightening posts. This post is something
I have been struggling with as well. I work in the banking industry and it is a
very dog eat dog* world.

I have been backstabbed many times until I have learnt to guard against
others. And have become sceptical, selfish and hostile to some people. To be
honest I feel that even if I am nice to these people they will not reciprocate
the same way too. So I have no choice but to guard myself against them.

Recently I have fallen ill and it is a longterm illness. I also think
that it is partly due to my inability to let go off work stress, money stress
and stock stress..

Now I try to relax more, but still being in this industry it doesn’t
help. And it is not easy to change industry or down size my salary Coz I feel
that I am still young and can earn more……but still I am good to people who
I think are good or people whom are good to me..

* “Dog eat Dog” – if a situation is
dog eat dog, people will do anything to be successful, even if what they do
harms other people. In this case, the reader is referring to office politics
where people step on each other’s back in order to climb the corporate
ladder. Also known as “Dog bite Dog” in mandarin direct translation.

Not just in banking, it is
everywhere

I am
deeply saddened by the reader’s comments that he/she had fallen ill due to the
burdens of work, money and stock stress! I sincerely hope that he/she will be
able to recover in due course. My sincere blessings for him/her.

I am a
victim myself many years ago and fallen ill due to work. Read here. The culture of “Dog
eat Dog” in work is quite a common phenomenon today. It is not just in the
banking industry. It is almost everywhere, although I admit that I heard more
of this loathsome culture in the banking sector.

The stages….

The stages
of evolvement in a person climbing for success are almost rhythmic. It is
depicted as follows.

Unblemished

You started
young and innocent, almost unblemished! You are kind and always trying to
extend helping hands to others. The kindness is not reciprocated and often
taken for a ride. The environment is rife with backstabbing, just like the
reader mentioned earlier. You feel disgusted but helpless. Soon you become sceptical
and weary in helping and learn to safeguard yourself more. In the process,
you are no longer as “caring and charitable” as you use to be! You are
more seasoned and sometimes can even become hostile and selfish.

The desire

Then you
begin to see what money and power can bring. You envy the special treatment
received from colleagues when they are on top of the hierarchy. Next it is the material
enthralments…the cars, the clothes, the watches, the house, and even the
attraction from opposite sex with the allure of wealth. Your material
desire grew and you work hard to attain it.

Conceit and jealousy

There is
absolutely nothing wrong, for you reap what you sow with conscience clear. Having said that, it will probably goes amiss when our humility recedes and arrogance grow in an insuppressible manner. We become oblivious of how others feel and it’s everything for ourselves, everytimes even
outside the “working system”. We are blinded by conceit and wealth.
We are jealous about other’s material success because, we feel that if
he/she can do it, so can we. We yearn for more and more. Character and behaviour
changed. You are almost a different person you fail to notice, but people
around you feel it. The group of friends you use to mingle is
replaced by new friends who are very attached to the topics of luxury.

The thin line between arrogance and ignorance

You feel
on top of the world thinking so highly about yourself. The goals are set higher
and higher. When the pursuit of greed, fame and power peaked, so is the
ignorance. Just one misstep, moral values will be compromised too.

Iniquity translates to calamity

As iniquities
continue, darkness ahead is imminent. No matter how we comfort ourselves by
lips that we will not blinded when pursuing affluence, the truth is you can
never realize it when you are enjoying it so much the pleasures where wealth
brings. Soon many bad habits will develop. This will lead to deterioration
of health. Likewise, the evilness in one’s heart will result in wrath
which will lead to sore or broken relationships with your close ones. The
worst calamity is when evil deeds will be handed down cursing generations
after generations.

Repent and seek for forgiveness

Of course
there will be many who realize early along the way, seeking for forgiveness and
repentance. Normally it is when they are apparently humbled along the way either by huge
relationship or health failure. Then they decided to change path for the good. For
those who continue their stupidity, the bigger misfortune will befall one day.

Be reborned as a new creation

Nonetheless it is never too late to repent and be a “new creation” to see the
light ahead.

The possibilities and how to deal with it

We cannot
change the rules of the game in the system we live today. Similarly, in our
workplace, there is no use crying over it. Tellingly, there exist several
possibilities resulting from the encapsulation of the current “wicked system”.

Scenario 1 – Become the devil

Collude
and become devilish as well. Short term happiness but long term tragedy!

Scenario 2 – Stay weak and be crushed

Weakness
or ignorance is equally sinful. You will soon be the unhappiest person on
earth. Illness and depression fill your lives. Fears and worries at franked your bedside every night. Suicide is contemplated or will be resulted.

Scenario 3 – Give up for good

I have
many friends who gave up the “deemed-evil” work environment during their late
20s / early 30s. This is when switching industry is still considered
easier. One of them is my current stock broker who left the banking
industry and he told me it is one of the best career decisions. Sometimes
we need to learn how to give up and forsake to gain more.

Scenario 4 – Hang on, but have a plan date to leave

Most will
prefer to have this possibility. This is feasible only if you are discipline on
the plan date. However the more we delay in getting out, the less likelihood we
are able to do so because of “more” (higher income and position) we have to give
up.

Scenario 5 – Stronger than the devil and beat him in his/her own games

This is
the most difficult but most effective. I will spend more time sharing
because this sounds very similar to my own testimony.

To
overcome the evil minds, first you have to understand the system. Then see from
outside the system even if you are inside the system! Sounds a bit complicated?
Maybe just like NEO, Trinity, Morpheus etc in the movie Matrix.

Read my
various series of Matrix posts.

Are we living in a Matrix? (Part 1)

Finding the source of the Matrix –
The true purpose of life (Part 2)

Matrix Revolution – Seeking
Enlightenment! (Part 3 – Final)

Once you are
able to comprehend the rules of the game and see through the devil’s minds so
clearly, you will then need to speak the TRUTH to ward off the devil in his/her
own game.

The WORDS of
truth are so important. It has to be cleverly crafted too to be
effective.

However
there must be no hatred or personal agenda that prevails over the overall benefit
in a bigger picture. Otherwise you will be no different from the devil.

Then, continue
to shower with the right mixture of love and the truth, and righteousness will ultimately
prevail. If it is defeated, do not be disappointed for it is likely that either
you cannot be strong enough or it is pre-destined that you will be better off
leaving the “system” and seeking a much better life elsewhere.

The faith
must be strong. On the contrary worries and fears weaken!

You can only
be fearless when you are clear conscience and the faith is so strong that you
know you will be protected. And not just that. Somehow you will be blessed to comprehend
and see “darkness” coming earlier than the rest and will already prepared way
in advance for the worst. And when the worst come, you are not frightened
or troubled, for this somehow must take place and it definitely does not spell
the end of world, but perhaps only the end of era.

Focus on the goodness outside the system

Do not bring
work stress back home. Admittedly, it is sometimes easier said than
done. Do not mock me for saying this if you yourself are feeling the work
stress.

This is a
difficult time in the economy.

I know the
stress because I am personally experience the most difficult time in my career being
in the O&G sector. Many of my friends in the industry are already feeling
so stress on the brim of breakdown. Even the veterans in the industry for
decades are not spared.

Therefore, if
we are unable to let go the troubles in work, what we can do is to focus/create more goodness outside
work. Your parents, your loving wife, your children, your friends, your hobbies… You can also take up new interest, get to know new friends
outside work. Develop spiritual well-being too. More importantly, strengthened
relationships with people around you, whom you cared, through love and concern.
Even if it may not eradicate our work stress entirely, it should help to relieve
tensions. And at the very least it will not lead to health and relationship
problems.

Rolf’s thoughts

Sadly, it
is almost inevitable when we are entrapped in today’s “system”
climbing higher due to allure of wealth, power and status. Neither can we change
this fact nor change the system we are living in today. BUT do not be
frightened or troubled.

Yet,
we can definitely OVERCOME EVIL with more faith, patience, perseverance, wit
and more wisdom in life and remember to turn away from sins. Equally important is to speak the TRUTH with the showers of LOVE and the BELIEFS that we will be PROTECTED by DOING GOOD from the greater power beyond us.