I’m at a corporate retreat in Cancun. As with any corporate retreat, the conference center ballroom is air conditioned to just above freezing. Today, a coworker named Raechel kicks things off by leading us in a meditative breathing exercise.
“Breathe in…” She speaks very closely into the mic so we can hear the thumping of her breath. “Imagine meeting your goals with focus and determination…. Now breath out. Imagine a light shining down from above, shining through you… Breathe in. Imagine converting that light into success on your quarterly OKRs…. OK now breathe out!”
That night, Raechel got extremely drunk at the hotel bar and had a meltdown where she went on a crazed rant about how much she hates her boss and this company. The next day she checked out of the resort and took a taxi to another resort down the road. Then she emailed the head of HR her letter of resignation.