Oh, Corporate America…God love ya.  I’ve been out of your clutches for some time now, but occasionally I’m pulled back into your sweaty, nervous little palms.  My last long-term relationship with you was at the almighty advertising giant, Ogilvy & Mather, where, for a number of years I saw you weave your time-consuming rules into even the most creative of environments - eventually banishing the souls of talented designers, copywriters and hard-working account executives to the halls of fear-based, timesheet obsessed, answer-only-to-stockholder hell.  I mean, let’s be honest…countless corporate revisions does not an award-winning print ad make. 

So, am I a corporate rebel?  Do I stand ready to picket their every rule and legal CYA document?  No.  I get it.  Order is necessary.  Especially in corporations the size of small cities.  Choas cannot reign.  The bottom line is, well, the bottom line.  No money, no employees.  But the same could be said for the flip side.  No employees, no money. 

The complexities, intelligence and beauty of the human brain is priceless.  Especially in industries that rely on that brilliance to ensure their very existence.  So, can an employee thrive in Corporate America?  Can a person be happy and challenged (in a good way)…inspired and appreciated.  Absolutely.  Pick up the next issue of Fortune’s “Top 100 Companies to Work For” and you’ll spot a common theme…a focus and commitment to employee satisfaction.  It’s a simple concept, really.  One that too few corporations have grasped.  And that just boggles my mind.  Because, in most cases, you will not only find these “Top 100″ companies on the “best to work for” list, you’ll also find them on the “most successful/profitable” list.  Check out Google, Starbucks and even Oklahoma City-based Devon Energy…look at their corporate facilities, the gyms, the child care, the average salaries, paid sabbaticals and generous health care plans.  And then look at the direct coorelation between those factors and low absenteeism, highly innovative products and services (generated by highly innovative minds) and extremely low turnover.  It appears that the bottom line, employee-focused costs many corporations slash and burn are the very investments that would likely result in sky-rocketing profits.  But that would mean common sense prevailed.  And then Fortune would have to create a “Top One Million Companies to Work For” list and that would just require too much paper and eventually affect their bottom line.  So, maybe this is all about keeping Fortune Magazine in business.

Heavy topic for a girl with a bright-pink blog (which I am soooo loving).  And definitely a puzzling piece for a gal with a home-based business.  How the heck does Corporate America affect me…outside of a client or two?  Well, I’ve been pondering my next career move - one that may find me once again traipsing fluorescent-lit halls and canoodling with coworkers.  But my collective career experiences have changed me.  As my experience has grown, so have my expectations.  If I’m to give up the freedom of Yoga pants, The View’s hot topics and mid-day showers (i.e. a flexible schedule), it best be for something worth the move.  Put me in a conference room with ten folks frightened to speak and you’ll see me die a slow, painful death.  Put me in an environment with bright, team-focused, creative minds and I’ll show you the money!  Finding this elusive job is a pretty straight-forward, targeted goal, with a not-so-easy path.

So, help me out cyber-world.  Is it worth a shot?  Should I give up the comfort of home for a more energetic innovative environment?  Which companies out there truly welcome a creative gal with a common-sense business approach?  And will they sponsor that dream trip to Africa?  Or at least provide free Starbucks?  My guru Oprah says to put your dreams out there.  So, here I am.  Asking for my dream job to meet me somewhere in the cyber-middle and hoping they’re located somewhere near a beach.  Ya know, it’s all about priorities.  And gorgeous men jogging shirtless.

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