It is a rare yet inspiring story to meet a janitor who worked their way up to company CEO. Nigel Willingdon’s story truly is remarkable. For 14 years Willingdon has worked at the Moaning Pixel Corporation, each year progressing a step closer to his current position as CEO. Pixelfucked sat down with Nigel to talk about his career success.
PF: When you joined MPC 14 years ago, did you ever imagine that you would one day become CEO?
NW: Honestly, no. I just needed a job and this one came up. At the time I was sleeping on the couch in my parents cramped apartment, had no qualifications and just needed a break. The Moaning Pixel Corporation gave me that break.
PF: What do you think is the secret to your success?
NW: I just keep cleaning up people’s shit every day.
PF: Haha, that’s a great analogy. At first you were literally cleaning peoples shit when they made a mess in the toilets, now that you are CEO you figuratively clean up their shit, right?
NW: No. I just clean their shit. I start at the ground floor toilets and work my way up. When I get to the top of the building I go back down and start over, cleaning their shit.
PF: Same thing for 14 years?
NW: Yup.
PF: Has your life changed in other ways?
NW: Yes, now I have a wife and 3 kids, but we all still live on my parents livingroom couch. We can’t afford anything else.
PF: But you’re now CEO. Before that you had worked your way up to Senior Producer, and then Head of Finance. How did you get those positions?
NW: Every year I ask for more money, but they say they never have any to give me. So instead they offer me a new job title. Something that will look really impressive on a CV and help me get a much better job when I leave here.
PF: So do you think you will ever leave?
NW: Hell no. They told me if I work enough overtime for free, next year they’ll make me President!
Due to successful policy of job title inflation as a substitute for wage inflation, MPC currently has over 300 CEOs world-wide. 12 of these CEOs are janitors. In a statement Mark Stone, one of 27 Global Heads of HR, stated that “Nigel’s success is a testament to the way the Moaning Pixel Corporation rewards the hard work and dedication of our most valued employees”.