The Corporate Conundrum: Why Do People Gravitate Toward Big Organizations?

As I transition from a small business environment to the vast world of corporate structures, I find myself grappling with a perplexing question: why are so many people drawn to large corporations and the corporate workplace? My own experience has been far from positive, leading me to wonder if there’s something I’m missing.

Throughout my first eight years in a small company, where the team size rarely exceeded 200 employees, I was part of a flat organizational structure. The hierarchy was straightforward—typically just three levels: CEO, manager, and junior staff. This arrangement fostered close collaboration and a sense of belonging, allowing us to support one another and contribute meaningfully to the company’s goals.

However, after recently joining a Fortune 500 company, I encountered a reality that felt almost alien. My experience included a baffling amount of office politics, a disheartening lack of teamwork, and what appeared to be sabotaging behaviors among colleagues. The workplace atmosphere was laden with toxicity, starkly contrasting with my values and work ethic. In the end, I opted to leave that environment behind and pursue my entrepreneurial ambitions instead.

For nearly a decade, I believed in the simple and straightforward ethos of showing up to work, performing my duties, supporting my team, and ultimately contributing to the company’s success before heading home. Yet, the corporate world often felt mired in negativity—filled with gossip, power plays, and the art of making others look bad. My time seemed to be consumed not by meaningful work but by maneuvering within a toxic culture that prioritized personal agendas over collective success.

After sharing my sentiments on platforms like Reddit, I discovered that my experiences resonated with many. It left me pondering a significant question: why do countless individuals willingly choose this contentious path? Do they genuinely wake up each day, excited to invest 20 to 30 years in environments characterized by backroom dealings and relentless competition?

My shift from a small company to a large, corporate entity felt like an abrupt plunge into an entirely foreign realm. While I acknowledge my novice status in corporate settings, I find it hard to believe that this approach—marked by negativity and subversion—could be considered productive or beneficial to a company’s success.

There must be a reason why these dynamics persist, but I struggle to comprehend it. Was I simply not attuned to the unspoken rules of corporate culture? Or perhaps, is there an overarching rationale that explains why