Ex-Company

Lone Wolf or Alienated Dog?

Hazel was socially awkward. She didn't have many colleagues she could call friends, but it didn't matter -- she wasn't there to make friends. Besides, being a loner was nothing new to her: the only friends she had growing up were the action figures she gave names to.

Back at Stripe...

During team dinners, meetings, and even at the heart of incident response, Hazel would always draw attention to how Stripe used to do it: how accessible the CEO was—'you could just walk into his office'—and how Stripe's tech stack and work culture were superior to anything the current employer had to offer.

Gone but Not Forgotten

It had been three years since Hazel left Stripe for a crypto firm, which now has to be constantly reminded of how much better Stripe is.
It makes you wonder what's keeping her from leaving, or even what the incentive was for joining Crypto Pump & Dump Inc. A betting man would probably say it is the first reason anyone leaves anywhere for: a better remuneration package and, of course, the "experience."

Here to Stay

Years went by. By now, all lingering loyalty to Stripe should have been in Hazel's memory attic. But, you know, lifestyle creep turns what was once considered a valid reason to change companies (the extra income) into the daily grind of sustenance: the salary increment goes where it now needs to go, while corporate nostalgia remains unapologetically unwavering in the face of forgettance.

Dusty Accolades

It's not a good look when you have to look back for accomplishments and flexes. They say some peaked in high school, while others peaked at Stripe. Put your head in the game, Hazel. This rug is not going to pull itself. With any luck, the next crypto hoax may be brag material next time your loyalty shifts.