I copied Dude's post to my frustrated IT husband. He has been consistently recognized as one of the top professionals in his technology in the world for the past 6 years and has a thriving consulting business on the side that keeps him sane but his full-time job is a regular knife in the soul....I keep wondering when he is going to walk out of there permanently. It's difficult always being the brightest person in the room and being treated like you can't possibly know what you are talking about. The benefits package and flex scheduling is what keeps him coming back for more. I'm thankful I got to opt out of that world for the harrowing world of full-time mother to a super intense kid.