Head of Commercial

The most ridiculous reason I've seen a colleague get fired

So I joined a team at a tech company a few years ago. Initially, they had promised a great culture during interviews and later showed their true toxic colors citing management policies. We had this senior engineer who was brilliant. Now with appraisal season approaching, the management decided to collect a huge mandatory contribution for the big boss's birthday gift. My colleague politely declined because of personal finances. To this, the manager denied at first. Then he said he could skip it but his appraisal would get impacted. After further persuasion, he said, he would have not be given his bonus and he would have to pay the team for ruining the morale. The HR was no good either - toxic companies! They tried to break him every way possible when he was completely devastated by the constant harassment. He somehow held himself together and kept working after which he was abruptly terminated for a fake "culture fit" reason. Fast forward to yesterday on Monday, I found out he had applied for a small startup - they had a promising product. The manager from our old job and the founder were batchmates apparently. The manager reached out to the founder for his review (without telling him). And the manager, as expected, gave a very negative review. Thankfully, the startup looked forward to hire him given his expertise in the field. But how low do you have to stoop to ruin someone's career and be so insensitive all along just over a birthday gift. I am pretty sure, he did the same with another startup who was keen on hiring, asked for his documents and later ghosted. The VP there was a friend of the manager. It's been worrying me for a while, so wanted this out once and for all. Now that I am a manager, I give balanced feedback because i have learnt that people who probably do not thrive in one environment might do brilliantly in other setup. Who are we to judge? P.S. If you are ever in position of power, be neutral and empathetic to your juniors. Kindness goes a long way!

“Lost in Thoughts, Trapped in Time: My Mistakes and Battle with Productivity”

Hi, I’m just an ordinary person with extraordinary dreams — someone who wants to achieve things that are possible for me. But here’s the catch: I’ve spent too much time dreaming and too little time doing. I often find myself stuck in a cycle. I have so many things running through my mind — not physically, but mentally. Sounds familiar, right? We all experience this to some extent. But here’s the real problem: I waste a lot of time just dreaming, without taking action. It’s almost like the changing seasons — just as days turn into months and months into years, my thoughts keep shifting. I move from one idea to another, endlessly observing and consuming. You’ve probably seen that viral phrase: “Men scroll, men see, men happy.” That resonates with me on a deeper level. Sometimes, I feel like it was written for people like me — those who get lost in consuming instead of creating. I believe no one faces unique challenges in life; we all experience similar struggles. But am I wrong? Let me know your thoughts in the reply section because sometimes I feel like I’m stuck in a loop that only a few can truly understand. Self-improvement, productivity, consistency — these words inspire everyone, including me. I dive deep into new topics with passion, learning everything I can. I’ll research, analyze, and absorb information until I feel like an expert. But here’s the thing — I never implement it. It’s a strange feeling to be knowledgeable but inactive. I enjoy the process of learning, but when it comes to applying that knowledge in real life, I hesitate. Why? Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe it’s fear, maybe it’s comfort, or maybe it’s the illusion of progress without real results. Yet, despite all of this, I take comfort in knowing that I’ve learned something new. Looking back, I can see my personal growth, but it often feels like a meaningless loop without tangible achievements. Learning feels good, but achieving feels better — yet I struggle to make that transition. In moments of doubt, I remind myself: It’s all God’s plan. I believe my intentions are good, and I have faith that one day, everything will fall into place. Each day is a blessing, and I’ve learned to be grateful for it. Gratitude keeps me grounded, even when my ambitions seem out of reach. One of the biggest hurdles I face is managing my time. While everyone around me seems to have mastered it, I feel like I’m still figuring it out. Right now, as I write this article on my bus ride, I’ve realized something — I can make use of my daily commute. Three hours of travel every day can either be wasted in mindless scrolling or utilized for something meaningful, like writing. I’m choosing to write because expressing my thoughts might help me break free from this cycle of endless thinking. I don’t know if you’ll enjoy this article, but I hope you’ll appreciate the way I’ve expressed my thoughts. If you’ve ever felt the same — stuck between learning and doing — know that you’re not alone. We’re all figuring things out, one step at a time. What’s one thing you’ve learned but haven’t implemented yet? Let me know in the comments — I’d love to hear your thoughts.

I've seen LinkedIn posts of one year internships

for example at housing.com they are looking for one year interns. is it really worth it?