A Perspective on Corporate America: Politics, Pitfalls, and Downfalls

This book is intended for a wide variety of readers, especially for individuals preparing to enter the workplace in corporate America. To the rest of the readers, my intention is to depict vividly and accurately what goes on in corporate America. This text draws on facts, experiences, and interviews which contain detailed descriptions of the politics, pitfalls, and downfalls lurking in every corporate setting. More importantly, it offers a seven-point recommended guideline for improving communication and professional interactions, and it demonstrates an ideal working environment for the year 2000 and beyond. The summary provides highlights from each chapter and will be beneficial as a periodic review for management and staff alike.

The book begins with a look at the fantasy of graduates whose sole purpose is to complete their college requirements in order to enter corporate America. They often have expectations not only of success, but also of a six-digit-plus salary and of living the American Dream. Having been naively optimistic myself, I will correct this misconception and give a real perspective on what is going on in the corporate environment. This book deals with the internal workings and operations of corporate America and explains organizational myopia as it relates to people. Corporate politics is an area examined in-depth, to give full understanding to the system of operation.

This book describes how people play the corporate game, its consequences, and the protective seal around the people and the game. Several examples show how pitfalls result in downfalls in the corporate arena.

As you read, you will find information which will be useful and helpful in preparing you for your career, or if you are currently in the workplace, this information will help you develop a personal philosophy to enable you to live a reasonably happy life under adverse working conditions. You will learn about the philosophy accepted over the years: The reality is you are just a player in the game of life, and someone else makes the rules. This text will provide you with the tools to make the most of those things you can control.

Worry about the things you can control and do not worry about the things you cannot control.

Finally, by reading actual experiences, you will see some of the horrors outsiders — those without influence or power — go through because they are not part of the good ol' boys' network. Their experiences cover a broad spectrum of professional and personal problems employees confront daily. Many of these confrontations create a multitude of physical problems ranging from daily headaches to life-threatening heart attacks.

To avoid these deadly problems, employees will need to learn how to cope with the treatment they may be subjected to in the workplace. This book explains several techniques and tips for coping with stressful situations. Organizations conduct seminars on multicultural diversity, avoiding conflict, and adapting and adjusting to changes. While these may have some benefit, this book presents how the benefits of the mentoring system guarantees improvement in interprofessional relationships in corporate America and alleviates the physical and mental stress brought on by political games in the workplace.

Unrealistic behavior by employees and inhumane treatment by management will ultimately lead to the downfall of corporate America. The time will come when the working environment will need to be 'ideal' for a business to survive. In this book, an ideal work environment in the year 2000 and beyond is described. It will be based on a mentoring system that creates a high-spirited environment where everyone actively participates, proud of their involvement and input.