If you have planned to EXIT Your JOB but hesitated, Here's a PLAN to Consider

The approach beyond a binary problem

“I don’t want to leave the job yet.” 

You are not happy. You know you should consider leaving. You have been thinking about it, but you haven’t taken action.

The UNCERTAINTY of what's next wins over the certainty of your current familiar job, even if that familiarity comes with more and more discomfort. 

Are you in this position?

You have been in this company for years. 

You have achieved massive success that made you proud and got you to where you are now. 

You have been enjoying the job until somewhere down the line, the nature of the job has changed, and you also evolved to take on more senior roles.

The focus shifted from doing great work to primarily playing number games and navigating office politics. Something you were not asked to do so much before.

It can feel meaningless and a waste of time and energy. 

You've got a plan...waiting to be executed

You are clear that it's not a good place to be anymore.

You have already considered what would happen, both practically and financially, if you quit.

You have also thought about how much you can get if you stay longer for a certain period, to gauge the right moment.

Yet, you may choose to cope with the situation for now and postpone action because of the sense of certainty and predictability from receiving stable income for so many years.

Or if you do not have the same financial pressure, you haven't executed the plan because you have genuinely enjoyed your job: the team, the environment, the sense of purpose it gave you in the early years.

Even though the situation has changed, as humans, we all like to hold on to good experiences and memories as if they are the same even after a long time.

In either case, you continue to delay executing your plan since you are too busy to think through it anyway. 

I know because I did it too and learnt it’s not helpful because I was unhappy.

What a good plan could look like…for the better and the worse

What if you can approach the issue differently? And not as a binary problem: STAY or QUIT? 

What if you can see the big picture with a fresh perspective to assess the greatest possibilities and risks?

You can start by EXPECTING THE BEST with  these two questions:

• Based on what you know, where you are, and how you feel now, what kind of work do you really want to do? 

• If you can choose any work, what would you feel excited to do for a few years or more?

When you have some direction, you can plant the seeds for NEW OPPORTUNITIES:

• Pay attention to relevant opportunities around you through daily life

• Invest time to learn more about them through reading books, listening to podcasts, and talking to people

• Equip your skills and expand the network to let the new opportunities find you 

You might be surprised by what you find and how the magic works when you prepare in advance.

To build a solid plan, as you know, we cannot only expect the best but also need to prepare for the worst.

What is the WORST if you quit your job?

If the most common financial concern is your biggest worry, here is what to review:

• Review your current financial situation and find out how long you can survive if you quit a job before finding a new one. 

• Consider all the expenses you and your dependents need (include any extra benefits like housing and medical expenses)

• Ask around how long, roughly, people in a similar situation find a job recently. 

Then you can decide whether you are financially strong enough to move even without a job or not. Or, how much time you need to wait.

The greatest benefit of this exercise: if you find out you don't have enough, it is a great reminder to review how you can

• Save more 

• Invest to grow your money

• Start a side hustle

Your action will help you build a stronger financial foundation faster, giving you more options.

Everyone’s situation is different and you do want to be a responsible person. I have only covered some common items. Do consider yours thoroughly.

If your worry is about the impact to your team, here is what to consider:

• If you are unhappy, how can you lead with your best?

• If you land on another good opportunity, would you be better to bring them over?

• If you exit for your own good, you are showing them a role model and permission to do the same to follow their bliss. Ain't you behaving like a good leader?

Whatever your wishes and worries are, the moment you get yourself better prepared, you are actively addressing the problem and you will be happier naturally.

The question worth sitting with

How long can you stand with the pain of a job that no longer aligns? Is that worth it?

Do you absolutely HAVE TO cope with it, or do you have other options? 

You have the best answer when you choose to think with an open heart IN THE PRESENT, and NOT from the past.

If this is not where you are

You can check out the article where I wrote about the four career positions to find out where you are. Whichever position you are in, you can make better decisions with more awareness.

Hope this article inspires you. If it does, do share with others because

~ WE RISE BY LIFTING OTHERS ~