Below is an essay that I asked one of my favorite guy friends to write upon hearing that he up and quit his job two weeks ago.
Some context: this friend is a hard-working go-getter who has worked non-stop since we graduated from college. He is self-made (read: sans trust fund) and knows the importance of paying one’s dues (read: not an entitled jerk).
But for all the reasons you’ll read below, he decided he was done with working inside corporate American for the time being. Here is his story. If you have a similar story of your own, I’d love to hear it for a series I’m doing on “checking out.” Send them my way! [email protected]
Thanks to this friend for this very honest and interesting first story.
Note: my query to him had a bunch of questions. He answered with the below.
When did you leave your job?
I had my “day of clarity” on two Sundays ago, and I quit two days later. It’s been two weeks, then.
What reasons did you site for leaving?
There are multiple levels to the decision – and seeing the questions below I’ll just knock this out all in one. For me, it’s probably best for people to first understand what I was going through. I spent six years in the post-college world having success. Working for several agencies I was going to places and attending events that people would kill for. I was setting up meetings with some of the world’s biggest bands, entertainment companies, and brands. Ultimately, though, something was missing. It was missing at the first job (5 years). It was missing at the second job (1 year). I’d constantly obsess over what that thing was. Looking for an answer. Worrying about my “path” in life and my career.
For me – as wild as it is to admit it – I think I lost some of my confidence. I’ve always been a confident person, but there’s something about the corporate world and certain working environments that can bring people down. There are so many people in leadership positions that shouldn’t be there. There are so many situations in which common sense is ignored. There are so many people that are happy just floating through the system.
I’m tired of giving way to others. I’m tired of being held back. Whether it’s not being able to contribute across all facets of a company, having people around me that aren’t that smart, not having proper resources – I refuse to let my happiness and success be in the hands of others. I’m taking control and I’m going to be damn proud of the things I help create from here on out.
When I had this “day of clarity” – I realized something that I’ve never been able to fully admit to myself. Even if I said I admitted it, I didn’t. I was scared.
While up until this point I had never seriously considered leaving my job – it entered into the equation and I looked at it point blank and began to think about it. Not worry about it. What would I do for insurance? I called a couple people who had done this before and I did some research. While not ideal, the options really didn’t seem that bad. The big bad scary insurance thing that I had thought about forever now was one less excuse.
Well, what would I do? Can I go without pay for very long? I thought about it. I focused. I thought of a few things I might be able to do to at least make some cash and prevent me from crushing ramen for the rest of my life. I made a budget – a budget, for god’s sake. I’m the least financial dude I know, but it turns out when I think about it I can figure it out. Similar to the insurance thing, the scariness was abstract. I had to be careful, but I didn’t have to be afraid – especially if it felt right.
I talked to my parents and told them what I was going to do. I didn’t ask what I should do – which is what normally would have happened. I knew what I wanted to do and needed to do, and I walked into work the next day and handed in my letter of resignation.
Despite not having a plan, I’ve had the busiest two weeks of my life. I’m learning about the startup world. I’m bringing to the surface skills that I have that haven’t been utilized in quite some time. I’ve barely slept due to all of the ideas that are swarming through my head – ideas for businesses, ideas for potential career paths, etc.
I have no clue what is next – or if it will be the “right” thing – but I know when I look back in 20 years I’ll be calling this the best decision I’ve ever made in my life (that is, after the decision to marry the woman whom I have yet to meet). I’m in control for the first time in a while, and as scary as the uncertainty is I know myself too well to think for more than a second that the things that I end up doing will be anything less than great.
Below is an essay that I asked one of my favorite guy friends to write upon hearing that he up and quit his job two weeks ago.
Awesome! I fully support dropping out, and it’s true that for a large chunk of the population, the corporate experience is demeaning and soul-depleting. Wishing this friend of you’d nothing but the best!
I haven’t quit myself… Or at least yet. But, I’m pretty unhappy in my current job. I’ve been here for a year (first job post MBA) but I knew from the first day it was a bad fit. It wasn’t until this week however, that I first contemplated leaving without a next step in mind. I’ve set a personal deadline of two weeks to make the go, no-go decision. I consider this job like a bad relationship. You know it’s not right but you are just *waiting* for the right time to rip off the bandaid.
You’d be hard pressed to find ANY 20-something who’s content in their job (content, not happy — they’re different). The reality is that most of the time, that no man’s land we inhabit in between college and being content will rarely makes us feel happy and fulfilled o a consistent basis (especially in Hollywood, or other “artistic” endeavors that require dues-paying. I’m also an LA-based aspiring writer who works a menial day job, so I know). Your friend is lucky that he has the luxury of being able to leave his job simply because he’s not happy (what’s the national unemployment rate at now? 11%?), and I hope he’s right in that the job was the root of his unhappiness and thus will solve his present struggles, but I think the real reason he left was that he decided the endgame wasn’t worth it. It’s all about the endgame — why else would we put ourselves through it?
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I am so sick of hearing people of our generation complain about not being “happy” or “fulfilled” in their jobs. Reality check, working for six years is not impressive! What happened to the concept of paying your dues, putting in your time, etc… before you got to a place in your career that you enjoy. Furthermore, what happened to the older generations idea of work being WORK and life outside of work being what brings you joy. I’m saddened that so many of our generation feel that quitting your job and going to strike it out on your own is necessary step in their career path.
In no way am I trying to insult you or your friend, I have many friends who have quit their jobs because they weren’t happy as well. I just can’t get behind this mode of thinking especially with the economy the way it is.
A big congrats to your friend! I know how it feels to unhappy in a position and wanting to do better. Quiting however is scary and he should be comended for stepping out and trying to do something different rather than suffering in misery. Eff the economy! There are lots of people who are starting up businesses right now and are very succesful. This story was inspirational and I hope he is able to pursue what ever his heart desires!!!!
-Nicole Alicia
http://nicolealiciaonline.blogspot.com
I think Erin makes some very valid points, and I think a lot of people our age are unrealistic about what they expect to get out of an entry-level to mid-level job. But I think this story illustrates a different problem, which is where does the dues-paying lead? Is the payoff worth it? And your personal life goals can and should play a role in answering those questions because ultimately it’s not good for the employee or the employer if the employee is miserable with work, life or both.
I think large corporations are going to have an issue with most people of our generation, because their structure is geared toward our parents’ desire for security/stability over our desire for fast growth. It seems most people of our generation (for better or worse) have grand ambitions that can’t be satisfied by slow corporate career paths. Especially when small business, politics and even the arts can offer some of the excitement/growth that our generation seems to value so highly(though those fields offer much less stability/security).
Anyway, that’s my two cents as someone who has spent the last 2 years working in a large corporation and wondering if it’s the right place to be.