You know the clock's ticking when...

I was at a company social event last night where I got to catch up with a bunch of folks who started my year. The conversations revolved around three things:

1. When we were planning on leaving the company. Whether it was to business school, to other companies, or to do something totally different, almost everyone was planning on leaving. Folks were even making bets on who would leave first - yikes.
2. What moonlighting projects we were working on. Most of the folks had something going on the side, whether it was a startup, recruiting, or just spending a lot more time on their hobby. Some of the projects were pretty interesting, and I hope they come to fruition so at least I can say I've known some successes.
3. What people who've gone are doing now, and who else not present was leaving. Gossip gossip gossip...

It's sad to see how far we've come. Back in those early days of leadership training, we would clamour for hours about how exciting and important our jobs were, and even after a night of socializing, many would retreat back to the office to work some more. Strangely, I miss those days.