The email says "all employees are expected to attend," and I'm sure they mean it. They think we'll be inspired, that our sales numbers and go-to-market strategy will energise us and bring forth a burst of productivity.

It won't, of course. When I went to these meetings in the past I've been put off by the "AI" , boostering, bored by revenue graphs, or something hit me in the gut. It is not just that I have better use of my time, it's actively detrimental to my productivity to go.

And the thing was, it wasn't always like this. My last job I joined because it had a mission I was proud of. It wasn't a tech company, per se, and I thought things would be different. I was promoted, respected, and well-liked. Then we went public, it was a disaster, and they laid me off.

I just today remembered how excited I was about my next planned project there.

Today, I briefly locked myself out of my work email. I got it back, but not before giving myself a heart attack about being laid off again. And here's the thing: no amount of believing in the company or working hard would save me. It didn't last time.

So no, I'm not going to listen to our CEO, who makes a dollar while I make a cent, tell me about the business opportunities. I am going not even going to put it on in the background while I do on something more interesting. I have work to do.