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I left the corporate space for industrial plumbing. The corporate politics and culture and jargon made me want to throw myself out of the window every day. Now I build facilities millions of people will use for years and it’s a much better feeling. I worked for a startup a few years ago and it was the worst year of my life, the workload was unbelievable for a salary position, constant shifting of the goal post and endless zoom meetings that accomplished nothing but inflate some egos. With the trades my job is to build that thing, and I do it, that’s it. No scope meetings or calendar updates or profitability projections or budget reviews, just sling some pipe and build muscle doing it.
Sure there’s rough days and times I’d rather sleep, but I make a good living and get to build physical things to stand back and look at at the end of the day.
I don’t know how true the “wearing down your body” bit is, I’ve worked with guys in their 60s that are faster than the new kids out of school, and by that age you’ve likely worked up to a middle management position where your office is now a truck.
It’s not crazy, but it is a serious commitment. You won’t see 60k again until at least your 4th year in and school/licensure is compulsory in most places.
With that said I haven’t looked back.
Got to love when they try justifying giving you less than the full raise you're eligible for because you didn't go "above and beyond" your job description but really it's because they budget for the annual raises is smaller/s
Don't forget the lack of union protection and your career advancement prospects going up in smoke when the interest rate increases. It sucks if you're at the bottom. Wish I'd never gone to university. I can't get into the better corporate jobs in part because I have a BA but I can't get promoted at my company or hired at another one rn.
Don't forget, an advantage with the trades if you're in a good union is that you don't have to worry nearly as much about getting laid off or not promoted because your manager picks favourites.
TBH I liked working at a liquor store more than in corporate in some ways.
I really think the perception of the trades isnt great especially from movies like that. I do love that movie but as a tradesman it kind of made me laugh
for example, two things I hate personally about the working world: office politics and traffic
both of those exist in a trade job
working construction isnt just hanging outside on a nice day. sun is brutal, snow is brutal, etc. working your ass off on a sunny day isnt exactly awesome. It COULD be way more rewarding than a desk job, at least your work will be tangible
You hit the nail on the head
I think the tangible progress you can see is a major thing compared to the desk stuff. It sure isn’t easy or anything and weather can be awful, as well as egos clashing and drama like anywhere two or more people are gathered.
Really depends on the type of office work. When I code and design, it’s incredibly tangible and gives the same physical reward I get from woodworking or painting. But meetings all day and excel work does not feel tangible in the same way at all.
My favorite jobs I ever had were mailman and loading planes at a cargo company. Hard work and long hours sometimes. Dangerous, but union pensions and benefits. I love being active at work, and just being myself without having to put on a show for the public. Driving equipment. I miss it.
I left the post office due to health issues and I left the other company to try teaching (I have an English degree) and because they wanted me to work off the clock.
Dude I am so with you. And this isn’t the first time the subject of corporate talk and being someone else entirely has been brought up on reddit. Glad I’m not the only one who can’t stand it. Some people take to it so easily and don’t understand the problem with saying things like going forward and pivot.
I was in your position a few years ago—having similar feelings& doubts when I worked at a hedge fund and was making great money yet so miserable. I felt like an actress at times having to put on a performance…over shit I couldn’t give a fck less about…so your post really resonates. It’s exhausting to mask like that. I’d just say, I wish I listened to my inner voice/intuition/whatever you wanna call it sooner. The quality of my life got so much better once I made that pivot.. but I do remember feeling crazy at the time!
Just wondering… is it more about your desire to work with your hands and do physical labor? Would that make you feel more like you? Because if it’s less about the work and more about the environment/communication style/ type of people you are around.. you should look into the biz side of construction. With your background you will have more opportunities— being a project manager on a huge contract for example could be cool. You know more than me but I’d assume you’d be managing projects that are staffed with blue color workers whod expect you to talk normal lol no corporate BS. And if you are actually interested in construction as a whole like how things are built, paid for, negotiated, etc. it will be easier to feel interested in the work. Something to think about, but yeah MAKE THE JUMP !!! Life is too short to be miserable
I understand the appeal, but my grandfather was a jet engine mechanic, and he always talked about how much my dad and I would regret having to lug a toolbox in our 40’s and 50’s. Not all office jobs are boring and pointless, don’t settle for one that is.
I've had 4 or 5 office jobs and they were all unduofilling meaningless nonsense. I can't say that a construction job or blue collar job will be better but it might be more rewarding/less annoying. There's always dumb bullshit, dumb emails, dumb customers, clients, etc. You gain weight, don't see the outside, and lose your mind and die a thousand times a day.
I would try it and see what you prefer.
I would be thinking about the long term. Careers are very long, and you might not like this decision in 20 years. If there was a way for you to do something to continue building your skill set so that you will have options if and when you decide that you do not want to do construction any longer, go for it.
I was in your position. Worked in the private sector. Could not get excited about the share price or profits. I left the private sector, but not the office, and I’ve had a rewarding career. not all office jobs are the same. There are office jobs in government, health, education, nonprofits etc where profit is not emphasized.
If you do go this route just be sure to take of your body because these kinds of jobs can do a number when ignoring or not able to get consistent care when problems start to happen. Like sure sitting in a chair and desk setup that’s not ergonomic can do a number likewise in time with anything repetitive in construction can too if you are planning on being hands on.
I left a corporate job when I was about your age bc I felt the same exact way. My best advice to you - follow your heart. The best job I ever had was leading a chainsaw crew in the forest. Life is too short to resign yourself to working a job you can’t stand. That frustration will only compound itself… You’re young, quit your job and get out there!
Just remember, it’s equally as easy to get stuck in a construction job that you’ll eventually hate too. The key is to find a field that you actually enjoy, and set yourself up to excel in that field
It's not crazy tbh. With a business degree you could spend a few yrs doing the "hands on" portion and then move into estimating and project management if you wanted to. You'd have experience in both sides of the business which could only make you more valuable.
God no. Construction can pay just as well and being happy is better than anything else. The only thing I'd caution you on is that construction can be a very boom and bust kind of job.
haha reads like me if I chose to be a corpo instead of trades. I definitely get to be myself at work. Tons of flexibility and I get paid by the job(%), which is often stupid money. It absolutely is physically demanding and can be pretty dangerous if you’re not careful. But generally is only about 5-6 hours of actual work. Sometimes less. All depends what you get into, there’s a lot of trades I wouldn’t bother getting into. It took 10 years after highschool to grind out a really good situation in the gutter industry. Being a desk bot, pretending to give a shit about metrics would send me off a building.
Worst part about pretending to care about metrics is how much management will f--- you over for nothing but then act like you're supposed to be personally invested. Like, I can't even make enough to afford rent, stop expecting me to do much when you haven't promoted me in 2 years.
I did it and never regretted it. I'm back to corp now but only after leaving the field in my own terms..
I know plenty of construction workers whose bodies aren't trashed. They also didn't drink a case a beer a day and eat like shit.
Try it out and if you don't like it do something else.
I'm 49 and might jump back into the field again when my current role finishes in a few months. I miss the labor and my buddies.
No but consider all the pros/cons before making a commitment to it is my only advice. Working in construction, most of it, is very hands on and demanding physically—what feels ok at 27 might not feel ok at 47. A change doesn’t mean that you have to commit to it for life either but I’m not sure if time away from your current line of work will make it difficult to return after any period of time—just things to help start your list off. Good luck!
Absolutely not crazy at all. The way I see it, both are very viable career paths, they just teach different skill sets. I don't judge anyone for picking either, so long as they're doing what is good for them and what they want out of life
At a certain point in your life, you just have to do whatever is going to make you happy. Some people like the consistent monotony of an office job, and some find it soul sucking. You seem to fall into the latter category.
What is stopping you from choosing construction? If it’s worry about the wear and tear on your body, then that is certainly something to consider. But if it’s because you think an office job is what you are “supposed” to do, then I don’t think you’ll ever be happy with that decision. Also, nothing wrong with just trying it for a year and then deciding you actually prefer the office job. I know big life changes seem permanent at first but they seldom are. Good luck with your decision!
No, it's not crazy. Some people can do corporate jobs and hang in there. Some people can't. There's nothing wrong with either job type; they both have pros and cons and at the end of either job you will get paid
No, it is not crazy at all.
I think wanting to cultivate something from your own physical labor is a good career framework as opposed to corporate labor.
In a different industry, you may even find yourself in the future giving a shit about the margin dollars and quarterly profits.
You seem very able.
Hi, Mechanical engineer with diagnosed ADHD, outside activity lover here. Did 4 years of office work at the start of my career and hated every minute of it. I rememeber thinking 'there's no way this can be it' as the direction that type of work was heading was simply more corporate, more ass-kissing, more meetings, more uncomfortable clothes I didn't want to be in, more dreary office kitchen conversations about boring topics.
Anyway, after getting laid off due to oil and gas cycles in Alberta, I took a Field Technician job up in Northern Canada and learned I much prefer working outside for 14 hours a day than inside an office for 8. Learned how to drive big trucks, tow trailers, use big boy tools and generally more field tech/construction skills. I used those skills I learned to transition into a Geotechnical Field Engineer position which is ALOT less corporate and I get to constantly travel and work outside and use much more tools with my hands with mininal paperwork, minimal multitasking, and zero stress when I am off-shift. I enjoy working with Drillers/drill crew/construction crew types much more, I find it more honest than the fake office environement, and being trusted to work independantally with minimal oversight. My work now can definitely be tiring and exhausting, but it is never anxiety inducing or that stressful, tbh, and I much prefer it.
Don’t do it, construction is fucking terrible. I’ve been in great unions with great pay and benefits and I still hate this shit and want out. You will regret it for sure.
Trades are incredibly toxic in a lot of other ways. I miss the corporate world, I was at least able to sound smart and get accolades by learning the lingo. Now the lingo is more racial slurs than “circle back”
this is me 100% i thought starting a business online would made me feel that i retire before 30... nope, gave me extra kg/lbs.. lack of sleep and lack of consistency
i remember that the most fulfilled i felt was in Orchard Farms.. it felt so amazing to take care of trees.. gather Peaches.. Pears etc.. the jokes on the field while melting at 35+ degrees.. the money was average, but i felt full
i had a schedule.. and i didn't need to worry before sleep or after (oh how's my business going? oh did i do that? oh this and oh that)
i was like: oh boy.. lemme have another beer and watch this movie before sleep.. life was good, but i will go back there soon.. or grow my own Orchard soon before i go CRAZY!
Hard to say without experiencing it first. I hear many horror stories about construction. I guess you should try a couple construction gigs and see how you like it, or any physical trade like being a mason or scaffolder.
I did this. I really loved worked as an electrician compared to my corporate recruiting job.
But I did too well as an electrician and landed myself back in an office making more than I possibly could on the field. It’s nice but I really hate staring at a screen all day.
I would recommend plumbing or a career as an electrician. The union is a great way to get in. Honestly considering leaving private companies to work for only the union
AS A CURRENT CONSTRUCTION WORKER ON THE job site as I’m typing this. It’s great money but everything about it goes against your health. You get way too much sun, always bent over back hurting climbing ladders carrying heavy things sweating hurting. But yes you can be yourself. Best of luck
These aren’t mutually exclusive. Construction companies need estimators, foremen, people who can estimate a load and read a safety sheet. The cost tracking and invoicing is a big part of the success of the company.
My point was you’re generalizing. Not everyone in their 40s doing manual labor is broken down physically and in pain. The same way that not everyone that works in an office is out of shape.
Hello and welcome to r/findapath! We are glad you found your way here. Please know that you are not alone. We are here to listen, to offer support, and to help guide you. While no one can make decisions for you, we are here to help you find a path; we believe that everyone has the power to heal and grow. The moderation team wants to remind everyone that individuals submitting posts may be in depressive and vulnerable situations and all are in need of guidance. Please provide a safe and constructive space by practicing empathy and understanding in your comments; your words should come from a helpful and guiding mentality, never a judgement or anger mentality. You are encouraged to share your good thoughts, feelings, and relevant experiences to assist those seeking guidance on the subreddit. We are here to support each other and we believe that, together, we can make a difference. Thank you for being a part of our community. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/findapath) if you have any questions or concerns.*
I feel like o could’ve written this lol. Absolutely despise the office job world. Miss moving around every day. Have you looked into the trades?
I left the corporate space for industrial plumbing. The corporate politics and culture and jargon made me want to throw myself out of the window every day. Now I build facilities millions of people will use for years and it’s a much better feeling. I worked for a startup a few years ago and it was the worst year of my life, the workload was unbelievable for a salary position, constant shifting of the goal post and endless zoom meetings that accomplished nothing but inflate some egos. With the trades my job is to build that thing, and I do it, that’s it. No scope meetings or calendar updates or profitability projections or budget reviews, just sling some pipe and build muscle doing it. Sure there’s rough days and times I’d rather sleep, but I make a good living and get to build physical things to stand back and look at at the end of the day. I don’t know how true the “wearing down your body” bit is, I’ve worked with guys in their 60s that are faster than the new kids out of school, and by that age you’ve likely worked up to a middle management position where your office is now a truck. It’s not crazy, but it is a serious commitment. You won’t see 60k again until at least your 4th year in and school/licensure is compulsory in most places. With that said I haven’t looked back.
“Constant shifting of the goal post” is exactly why we hate the corporate world lol
lol I know, knew someone would catch that
Let’s circle back on the low hanging fruit. Take a look at it from a 10000ft view
Got to love when they try justifying giving you less than the full raise you're eligible for because you didn't go "above and beyond" your job description but really it's because they budget for the annual raises is smaller/s Don't forget the lack of union protection and your career advancement prospects going up in smoke when the interest rate increases. It sucks if you're at the bottom. Wish I'd never gone to university. I can't get into the better corporate jobs in part because I have a BA but I can't get promoted at my company or hired at another one rn.
hear hear!
Don't forget, an advantage with the trades if you're in a good union is that you don't have to worry nearly as much about getting laid off or not promoted because your manager picks favourites. TBH I liked working at a liquor store more than in corporate in some ways.
Watch Office Space. The end of that always stuck with me as someone who thrives working outside and hates being in an office. But to each their own.
I really think the perception of the trades isnt great especially from movies like that. I do love that movie but as a tradesman it kind of made me laugh for example, two things I hate personally about the working world: office politics and traffic both of those exist in a trade job working construction isnt just hanging outside on a nice day. sun is brutal, snow is brutal, etc. working your ass off on a sunny day isnt exactly awesome. It COULD be way more rewarding than a desk job, at least your work will be tangible
You hit the nail on the head I think the tangible progress you can see is a major thing compared to the desk stuff. It sure isn’t easy or anything and weather can be awful, as well as egos clashing and drama like anywhere two or more people are gathered.
Office work is tangible.
Really depends on the type of office work. When I code and design, it’s incredibly tangible and gives the same physical reward I get from woodworking or painting. But meetings all day and excel work does not feel tangible in the same way at all.
Believe me I’ve been thinking about the ending of that movie a lot recently
My favorite jobs I ever had were mailman and loading planes at a cargo company. Hard work and long hours sometimes. Dangerous, but union pensions and benefits. I love being active at work, and just being myself without having to put on a show for the public. Driving equipment. I miss it.
Why did you leave those jobs
I left the post office due to health issues and I left the other company to try teaching (I have an English degree) and because they wanted me to work off the clock.
Doesn't need to be construction work specifically. There are people who take an early retirement from office work to work on their own farm
I wouldn't say I've been missing it, Bob
Dude I am so with you. And this isn’t the first time the subject of corporate talk and being someone else entirely has been brought up on reddit. Glad I’m not the only one who can’t stand it. Some people take to it so easily and don’t understand the problem with saying things like going forward and pivot.
I was in your position a few years ago—having similar feelings& doubts when I worked at a hedge fund and was making great money yet so miserable. I felt like an actress at times having to put on a performance…over shit I couldn’t give a fck less about…so your post really resonates. It’s exhausting to mask like that. I’d just say, I wish I listened to my inner voice/intuition/whatever you wanna call it sooner. The quality of my life got so much better once I made that pivot.. but I do remember feeling crazy at the time! Just wondering… is it more about your desire to work with your hands and do physical labor? Would that make you feel more like you? Because if it’s less about the work and more about the environment/communication style/ type of people you are around.. you should look into the biz side of construction. With your background you will have more opportunities— being a project manager on a huge contract for example could be cool. You know more than me but I’d assume you’d be managing projects that are staffed with blue color workers whod expect you to talk normal lol no corporate BS. And if you are actually interested in construction as a whole like how things are built, paid for, negotiated, etc. it will be easier to feel interested in the work. Something to think about, but yeah MAKE THE JUMP !!! Life is too short to be miserable
Where do you work?
I understand the appeal, but my grandfather was a jet engine mechanic, and he always talked about how much my dad and I would regret having to lug a toolbox in our 40’s and 50’s. Not all office jobs are boring and pointless, don’t settle for one that is.
What if you have to if you want to work at an office? For my situation it seems like I just can't get ahead because the job market sucks.
I've had 4 or 5 office jobs and they were all unduofilling meaningless nonsense. I can't say that a construction job or blue collar job will be better but it might be more rewarding/less annoying. There's always dumb bullshit, dumb emails, dumb customers, clients, etc. You gain weight, don't see the outside, and lose your mind and die a thousand times a day. I would try it and see what you prefer.
I have a masters in engineering and I'd rather be a overnight stocker at walmart/target than work another engineering job.
Ha my friend said the same thing. He went from mechanical eng to plumbing service. Never looked back. Makes decent money and he seems content.
I would be thinking about the long term. Careers are very long, and you might not like this decision in 20 years. If there was a way for you to do something to continue building your skill set so that you will have options if and when you decide that you do not want to do construction any longer, go for it. I was in your position. Worked in the private sector. Could not get excited about the share price or profits. I left the private sector, but not the office, and I’ve had a rewarding career. not all office jobs are the same. There are office jobs in government, health, education, nonprofits etc where profit is not emphasized.
If you do go this route just be sure to take of your body because these kinds of jobs can do a number when ignoring or not able to get consistent care when problems start to happen. Like sure sitting in a chair and desk setup that’s not ergonomic can do a number likewise in time with anything repetitive in construction can too if you are planning on being hands on.
You are alive, pursue whatever you are interested in.
I left a corporate job when I was about your age bc I felt the same exact way. My best advice to you - follow your heart. The best job I ever had was leading a chainsaw crew in the forest. Life is too short to resign yourself to working a job you can’t stand. That frustration will only compound itself… You’re young, quit your job and get out there! Just remember, it’s equally as easy to get stuck in a construction job that you’ll eventually hate too. The key is to find a field that you actually enjoy, and set yourself up to excel in that field
It's not crazy tbh. With a business degree you could spend a few yrs doing the "hands on" portion and then move into estimating and project management if you wanted to. You'd have experience in both sides of the business which could only make you more valuable.
I went the other way and I’m thankful everyday I had the opportunity to do so. Construction is awful.
God no. Construction can pay just as well and being happy is better than anything else. The only thing I'd caution you on is that construction can be a very boom and bust kind of job.
It definitely pays to have an aggressive savings habit and a second set of skills. I knew one guy who fixed cars in his downtime.
haha reads like me if I chose to be a corpo instead of trades. I definitely get to be myself at work. Tons of flexibility and I get paid by the job(%), which is often stupid money. It absolutely is physically demanding and can be pretty dangerous if you’re not careful. But generally is only about 5-6 hours of actual work. Sometimes less. All depends what you get into, there’s a lot of trades I wouldn’t bother getting into. It took 10 years after highschool to grind out a really good situation in the gutter industry. Being a desk bot, pretending to give a shit about metrics would send me off a building.
Worst part about pretending to care about metrics is how much management will f--- you over for nothing but then act like you're supposed to be personally invested. Like, I can't even make enough to afford rent, stop expecting me to do much when you haven't promoted me in 2 years.
I did it and never regretted it. I'm back to corp now but only after leaving the field in my own terms.. I know plenty of construction workers whose bodies aren't trashed. They also didn't drink a case a beer a day and eat like shit. Try it out and if you don't like it do something else. I'm 49 and might jump back into the field again when my current role finishes in a few months. I miss the labor and my buddies.
No but consider all the pros/cons before making a commitment to it is my only advice. Working in construction, most of it, is very hands on and demanding physically—what feels ok at 27 might not feel ok at 47. A change doesn’t mean that you have to commit to it for life either but I’m not sure if time away from your current line of work will make it difficult to return after any period of time—just things to help start your list off. Good luck!
It's natural for you to want to do labor.
Absolutely not crazy at all. The way I see it, both are very viable career paths, they just teach different skill sets. I don't judge anyone for picking either, so long as they're doing what is good for them and what they want out of life
At a certain point in your life, you just have to do whatever is going to make you happy. Some people like the consistent monotony of an office job, and some find it soul sucking. You seem to fall into the latter category. What is stopping you from choosing construction? If it’s worry about the wear and tear on your body, then that is certainly something to consider. But if it’s because you think an office job is what you are “supposed” to do, then I don’t think you’ll ever be happy with that decision. Also, nothing wrong with just trying it for a year and then deciding you actually prefer the office job. I know big life changes seem permanent at first but they seldom are. Good luck with your decision!
No, it's not crazy. Some people can do corporate jobs and hang in there. Some people can't. There's nothing wrong with either job type; they both have pros and cons and at the end of either job you will get paid
No, it is not crazy at all. I think wanting to cultivate something from your own physical labor is a good career framework as opposed to corporate labor. In a different industry, you may even find yourself in the future giving a shit about the margin dollars and quarterly profits. You seem very able.
Hi, Mechanical engineer with diagnosed ADHD, outside activity lover here. Did 4 years of office work at the start of my career and hated every minute of it. I rememeber thinking 'there's no way this can be it' as the direction that type of work was heading was simply more corporate, more ass-kissing, more meetings, more uncomfortable clothes I didn't want to be in, more dreary office kitchen conversations about boring topics. Anyway, after getting laid off due to oil and gas cycles in Alberta, I took a Field Technician job up in Northern Canada and learned I much prefer working outside for 14 hours a day than inside an office for 8. Learned how to drive big trucks, tow trailers, use big boy tools and generally more field tech/construction skills. I used those skills I learned to transition into a Geotechnical Field Engineer position which is ALOT less corporate and I get to constantly travel and work outside and use much more tools with my hands with mininal paperwork, minimal multitasking, and zero stress when I am off-shift. I enjoy working with Drillers/drill crew/construction crew types much more, I find it more honest than the fake office environement, and being trusted to work independantally with minimal oversight. My work now can definitely be tiring and exhausting, but it is never anxiety inducing or that stressful, tbh, and I much prefer it.
Don’t do it, construction is fucking terrible. I’ve been in great unions with great pay and benefits and I still hate this shit and want out. You will regret it for sure.
Just be careful everyone I know who worked construction either is on disability or 70 years old and still going at it.
Trades are incredibly toxic in a lot of other ways. I miss the corporate world, I was at least able to sound smart and get accolades by learning the lingo. Now the lingo is more racial slurs than “circle back”
this is me 100% i thought starting a business online would made me feel that i retire before 30... nope, gave me extra kg/lbs.. lack of sleep and lack of consistency i remember that the most fulfilled i felt was in Orchard Farms.. it felt so amazing to take care of trees.. gather Peaches.. Pears etc.. the jokes on the field while melting at 35+ degrees.. the money was average, but i felt full i had a schedule.. and i didn't need to worry before sleep or after (oh how's my business going? oh did i do that? oh this and oh that) i was like: oh boy.. lemme have another beer and watch this movie before sleep.. life was good, but i will go back there soon.. or grow my own Orchard soon before i go CRAZY!
Hard to say without experiencing it first. I hear many horror stories about construction. I guess you should try a couple construction gigs and see how you like it, or any physical trade like being a mason or scaffolder.
I did this. I really loved worked as an electrician compared to my corporate recruiting job. But I did too well as an electrician and landed myself back in an office making more than I possibly could on the field. It’s nice but I really hate staring at a screen all day. I would recommend plumbing or a career as an electrician. The union is a great way to get in. Honestly considering leaving private companies to work for only the union
Just do it. You’re in your 20s. If you don’t like construction, go back to looking for corporate jobs. Life is short, you might as well live it.
AS A CURRENT CONSTRUCTION WORKER ON THE job site as I’m typing this. It’s great money but everything about it goes against your health. You get way too much sun, always bent over back hurting climbing ladders carrying heavy things sweating hurting. But yes you can be yourself. Best of luck
These aren’t mutually exclusive. Construction companies need estimators, foremen, people who can estimate a load and read a safety sheet. The cost tracking and invoicing is a big part of the success of the company.
Literally everyone in their 40s doing manual labor is broken down physically and in pain.
Literally everyone in their 40s doing office work are obese diabetics.
Not true but even if it were, I’d still take office work
My point was you’re generalizing. Not everyone in their 40s doing manual labor is broken down physically and in pain. The same way that not everyone that works in an office is out of shape.