When it comes to my career, I typically end up with some sort of label along the lines of "bitter middle-aged guy who doesn't socialize with anyone". It suits me. I do get my work done and I know what I'm talking about and can speak confidently about anything that is my responsibility or if I'm asked if some future project is feasible. Most guys in upper management tend to listen to me. I can't say the same about a lot of these non-stop talking idiots who think that any sort of momentary silence in any meeting or conversation is absolute death. Most of these people, both 'men' and women, are vapid yammering fools.
I'll share a quick story about this actually. One guy I know who works in my division, well, we have some history together from several years back and we got along well. Had each others' backs, good repoire, etc. This is how good networking is done to build upon your successes and if one of you moves pretty high up in management anywhere, you like to have people you know and trust come with you. He supervises a small team, but one guy on his team left for a better opportunity about a month ago and that guy was the real core of his whole group. So he needs to fill the spot. Oh boy, did the circus kick into overdrive about a week after that guy's last day. All sorts of people came to him asking about the position. He stopped by my office about 2 weeks ago just to rant and blow off some steam from all of it. All sorts of people coming out of the woodwork trying to suck his d*ck at every opportunity because he had an opening on his team. It really surprised me when he named off a few people I know...why in the world would they want to move to his team after I heard they were doing a great job on this other team and liked what they were doing? Well I chalk it up to my buddy being a pretty personable guy with everyone. He's friendly, always works to keep the conversation light-hearted if possible, people tend to naturally enjoy being around him. I think it's because of this that people believe working for him will be a cakewalk job, and I know for a fact it won't be. The worst part was 2 different women on another team were trying to get him to hire one dude from their same team. They were really talking him up. We both know for a fact that dude has medical problems out the a$$, always taking time off, depressed about generally everything in life...they just want to offload their problem onto my buddy's team.
So pretty much all of the people internally who have expressed interest are either people trying to dump their problem employees on him, or the rest think it's a cakewalk job to just come in to work, take a long nap, then head out for the day. I just told him to tell everyone of those idiots to fvck off and hire someone from the outside.
Anyway, I think a lot of guys are in the situation you describe, but I realize I work because I have goals in mind that I want to accomplish in my life. I need money to do that, so by becoming an employee, I have to check my attitude, my ego and some other stuff at the door every day in exchange for that paycheck. Once I clock out, I'm back to my normal self. A lot of people however tend to make workplace drama their life's goals because they literally have nothing else going for them...never have, never will.
