[CyberFonic]

Based on your recounting of events I see four companies and you having "problems" at three of them. Working for a big tech company and the getting your side-job acquihired also raises some concerns.

You write that you got a "top management position" - at how many years out of university? I am guessing less than 10 based on your summary. That also rings some alarm bells.

Granted there always will be people who are difficult to get along with. A situation that unfortunately goes with the territory in any corporate environment. There are many articles that suggest that many people in management positions are sociopaths.

In any confrontation there are two parties involved. You might need professional help, i.e. a therapist or career coach, to identify how you may be able to alter your behaviours to attain better outcomes for yourself and, ideally, for others.

[frustratedmngr]

I spent 5 years at the big tech company and I was respected and had good relationships over there. I am pretty sure most my co-workers would hire me if they had open positions (granted, over there my work was purely technical). During 3 of those years I was also doing my business on the side.

I started my own business because I felt like the work at the big tech company wasn't challenging enough. I could have gotten my boss to make it more challenging, but starting my own business was a conscious decision, since I would have the opportunity to learn new skills and work with different technologies.

I was 9 years out of university when I got the top management position.

Fun fact: the startup I left wants to hire me back.