The Corporate Myth

The Corporate Delusion: Lies You Were Told About Success, Work, and Loyalty is a sharp and uncompromising guide to the myths that shape modern professional life. It argues that much of the advice given to young people—work hard, be loyal, network endlessly, chase promotions, and trust in company culture—is misleading at best and destructive at worst. The book dismantles these illusions one by one, showing that competence alone rarely guarantees advancement, promotions often serve the company more than the individual, and “teamwork” is often a euphemism for conformity.

It challenges the belief that being exceptional or contrarian ensures success, revealing instead how visibility, political savvy, and alignment with organizational narratives matter more than raw talent. Likewise, it critiques corporate fads around innovation and loyalty, demonstrating that companies frequently prioritize short-term optics over genuine growth and discard employees the moment they become inconvenient.

Rather than offering hollow optimism, the book equips readers with realism. It explains how to interpret the hidden rules of the workplace, recognize when initiative backfires.