In I'd say the first 10 years in my adult career, I definitely hated that. At about the 10 year mark I changed my entire perspective on things. I just changed to the mindset that employment is a two way business decision. I knew that I could leave at any time and I know they can make me leave at any time. So, I became much more independent. I make my own meetings with others when I feel I need to. I only attend meetings I feel like matter, which cuts a lot of them out. I do great work and I specifically build relationships with everyone I interact with. In all of my positions at all of the companies and projects I've worked on, I basically cut my manager out of everything. I set my own boundaries and make my own decisions. I will not do something that I don't want to do. I will not work hours that I don't see as reasonable for whatever I'm doing and I will have a good work-life balance.
My job has been threatened from time to time but I just shrug and say "that's your decision but it doesn't change mine" but I usually have a great reputation everywhere for being the guy that can 'do anything' and 'get it done'. I've had directors and once a VP force a rewrite of my manager's performance of me because I basically tell them I'll just leave if my performance rating isn't what I expect it should be from what I produce. It takes about 6 months, sometimes a little longer at a new place to get that sort of political capital for me.
Basically, taking control of my own work-life has made me a lot more money, given me a much better work-life balance (I rarely work over 40 hours a week) and has made my actual time at work much more productive and enjoyable. I've empowered myself and it is fucking great.
Most of your direct managers aren't really going to let you go (except perhaps mandatory lay-offs) if you're very productive because you're effectively making them look good and advancing their career. If they do, then fuck'em, you shouldn't be there anyway because you'll always be held back and treated poorly for your efforts. You don't have to actively search for jobs always but shooting your resume out to places from time to time, especially as you build your professional network can be very beneficial. If you have a good offer, demand they match it somehow -- either in money or benefits of some type. If they don't then just take the offer.
When management knows that you can and will leave and you're productive, it changes the whole dynamic for you at work.
I know some people take the opposite path and do the bare minimum they have to in order to keep the job but I think having control over what you are doing, when you are doing it and having actual leverage in negotiating your pay whenever is much better for you. When they know you don't need them, they'll pay you better and just let you do your thing. The 80/20 || 90/10 (depending on how mismanaged your org actually is) rule is real. Be one of the 10 || 20 and show them you know it.
