Bold Moves Are the Best Moves

About this time last year, a dear friend and previous co-worker sent me a NY Times article, “Should You Quit Your Job?”  There was a section about extreme burn out that immediately resonated with me, “. . . I have nothing left to give, and if there’s one more thing, I’m just going to scream or cry.”  I could have written that sentence myself, repeatedly. I sat at my desk doing both daily for the prior 6 months.

I’d talked about quitting many times, but there was always a glimmer of hope that kept me fighting through it – I had a long vacation coming up, people had left or been forced out, so things should get better, or it was too close to the year-end bonus payout.  My friend sharing this with me in black and white was her nudging me out of my comfort zone of misery.

A few weeks later, I decided my birthday gift to myself was going to be my resignation. I discussed it in-depth with my family first as it would impact them greatly.  We would lose our insurance benefits, the steady income that supported us, one of our modes of transportation, and the additional perks that come with working for a Fortune 100 company.  It was both terrifying and liberating.

Four days into my new-found freedom, I received a call about another opportunity.  One that could immediately replace the income and benefits and would allow me to work on a relevant brand that felt socially responsible and saved lives.  It was a blessing, and I jumped at the offer.

The first couple of months were refreshing.  I was challenged by the new role, learning so much, and enjoying the new people.  Then it all started to feel much like the job I’d left just six months earlier.  In my 30-year professional career, I’d only left jobs for promotions and one enticing, voluntary severance package before the big resignation in January.  Could I really resign twice in the same year?

I could, and I did, and I haven’t looked back.  I still haven’t shared the second resignation with many friends or my professional network until now.  I think I was just trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up before I did.

I’ve been reminded of many successful people who changed careers in their 40s, but I’m still searching for those that did so in their 50s.  I’ll let you know when I find one.