Bye-Bye Job And Hello Work
Posted on Oct 22, 2012 | 23 comments
Last Friday, after 10 years, I left my job. It wasn't how I imagined it would be. It was hard. I'm gonna miss it.
I suppose, on some level, my job has been part of the reason it has taken us so long to get this round-the-world journey underway. Despite my grumbles and rants over the years, it turns out I really did like what I was doing. I was helping people, and I was really good at it. It's not every day a person gets to leave their job escorted by the sighs and smiles of parents and kids who keep on saying, "Thanks! You changed my life." That's tough to say goodbye to.
But, I do know why I finally left. And it wasn't to travel world, or sit by the pool, or break up my morning ritual. It wasn't to spend more time with my family (although that is an amazingly, wonderful perk), or get in shape, or try something new. No, I didn't leave my job for any of these reasons.
I left my job so I could get to work.
There was nothing wrong with my job. In fact, as far as jobs go, it was quite pleasant. I worked with good people, at a good company, and was lucky enough to have a job that allowed me to help people out. But all that said, there was something very limiting about my job, and maybe all other jobs as well. One can only hold oneself back so long.
People who love their work, rarely ever want stop doing it. You don't often hear of a painter, a doctor, a chef, or a teacher who says, "Yeah, I'm pretty much tired of doing what I love, I think I'm going to quit and go see what else is out there." This doesn't happen. And yet you'll often hear of painters, doctors, chefs, and teachers who are very ready and willing to quit their jobs and look to do their work elsewhere. It's just how things are. We love the work, but we often hate the way in which we're required to do it. Something we should all consider I guess.
For me, the ultimate test question is simple:
If you weren't getting paid, would you still do your work at your job?
At one point I may have said, "Yes", but once I said "No", I knew it was time to move on. I can do more elsewhere, beyond the routines and constraints.
Now I have all day and night to create and produce what I want. No more paperwork. No more meetings. No more clutter on the brain. It is a strange feeling. It's like learning how to speak again, but in a fun way. And yes, it is a bit scary, but change is always like that.
I'm looking forward to my work more than ever before. Things just got fun again. The world just got really big. I've got a new job, and I'm going to make it into whatever I want.
Enjoy This Post? Stay Connected With Us.
Via Email: Click Here | Via RSS: Click Here
On Facebook: Click Here | On Twitter: Click Here
Welcome to freedom! I am interested to read of the next step in your adventures. Did you read this from Chris Guillabeau yesterday? Very appropriate: http://chrisguillebeau.com/3x5/what-is-freedom/
Laptop Life Lisa recently posted..Don’t Be Something For Everyone – Be Everything For Someone
Thanks, Lisa. I love the title of your post here. Gonna check it out!
Woooooooooooow! Congratulations man! Saying goodbye it's always tough. 10 years is along time. I can see how it could've been tough. Time to go get it man! Best of luck.
Baez
Eddy Baez recently posted..If you can dream it, we can draw it!
Time to go get it is right! Thanks for all the support man. I'm glad we could sort of do all this together.
Ahhh.... I know this moment! There's a word for it: bittersweet.
Yes, I remember the discussion I had with my boss when I told him I had made the decision to move on after nearly 10 years with the organization I had started with an a 19-year-old college intern. Staying in a job just for a paycheck just didn't seem right. A few months after I'd left, when the thing I had quit to pursue did not work out and they tried to get me to come back, I told them I needed to sew my wild oats-- it was that same feeling that you have -- that feeling that you have more to offer the world than you are capable of offering in your current postion.
I do not wish you success, my friend. I wish you adventure! You'll meet both success and failure on the road you've ventured down. Treat both those two impostors just the same.
Clark Vandeventer recently posted..I’m taking a break from blogging
Yeah, it didn't seem right. Even my being there was just holding others back from their own growth. In any job, there is only so much room for people to grow. Sometimes you got to get out of the way and give someone else a shot.
Clearly, we are all capable of greater things. And sometimes it takes some big changes to give yourself a chance to make these great things happen.
Thanks Again! Very jealous of your adventures in Central America. I can't wait!
Congrats! Exciting times!
When I finally got the impetus to quite my "very good" job of 6 years I went into my bosses office and burst into tears!
He was all worried that someone had died but I was just really happy, scared and sad to leave.
Anyway that was where it all began for me, so I hope your next steps as just as rewarding!
Serena Star Leonard recently posted..How to be a super cool traveling lifestyle blogger with no Wifi
Yep, I know that feeling Serena. This was hard like that.
I look forward to following in your footsteps!
Congratulations Justin!
Great post with actually a very simple question that many of us don't dare to ask. As Clark mentioned, you will encounter success and failure, but it's all because of you and you alone. It will be exciting and many will be jealous. I am so much looking forward to reading/hearing all about your next steps.
Good luck and once again congrats with this important step!
Emiel
Emiel recently posted..Japan travel: Do you really need to speak Japanese?
Thank you, Sir! You got to ask the questions, right??
I am looking forward to success and failures. This is a fun, new road.
As someone who is about to take the same step, I found this encouraging and inspiring. Best of luck with your new adventures. I look forward to following them.
Jeff Dobbins recently posted..NYC’s Haunted Theaters
Hey Jeff,
Thanks for reading! No matter who I talk to, the process always seems to be the same. We tend to think life won't go on after us, but of course it does. Make the big move. All the best!
Justin
I love to see people stray from the path of least resistance. I remember reaching a point only a few years into my career where I was so completely exhausted and overwhelmed. I felt like I was treading water in a sea of other people's needs. No matter how much I gave, they always needed/wanted more. I had taken a few moments (because that's all I ever seemed to have) to browse the book store and saw this quote stapled to a bookshelf:
" In the animal kingdom the, the rule is, eat or be eaten; in the human kingdom, define or be defined" Szasz, Thomas
I really love how you are doing just that!
I will not forget that story Kerri. Perfectly put! Thank you!
Question or at least a different perspective...If you could do your job (the job you would not do if you didn't get paid for it) and still travel and be with your family would you keep doing it or still take the plunge? This is a thought I deal with weekly. I have a very flexible job working for a major corporation but it's not my passion. But I'm good at it and I can usually do it less than 4 hours a day and from anywhere. We are currently digital nomads...just started 3 weeks ago. BUT there are limitations. I need to be available during business hours which makes traveling to places like Bali or Thailand hard. I need to work on projects according to their schedule etc...I have minor heart attacks when WIFI goes down or I need to download a 100MB file and all I have is my 3G hotspot. Sometimes I wish I had a non flexible job and had to take the plunge and pursue all the ideas in my head. Just wondering what people like you would do. Your decision to quit is so inspiring but not sure I could do it (yet).
I thought a lot about this after reading it Jen.
Honestly, I think it is the same thing. If you need the money, then keep on doing it. If there is something else you want to do, and you know this job is keeping you from doing it, than I would quit. It's a really tough decision to make. It's tough for everyone. But if you have any plans to do something else, to create your own path, than I would leave the job.
I truly believe we get ourselves entangled in the careers and businesses of others because we are scared. But look at all those people who started their own careers. They all started somewhere. It happens more than we think.
I hope this helps. It's a great question. Thanks for asking!
Yay! what are you going to work on now, besides your blog?
ps - thanks for your comment on my blog. Really helped me put everything into perspective..
nomadic translator recently posted..My student loan debt depression: Desperation, coping and solutions
I don't know yet. I saved up enough so I won't have to for a while. We will see what happens!
Sometimes moving on opens up doors we could have never imagined. The last 'job' I had was back in 2007 and when I left in September of that year, opportunities opened up to me like never before.
Keep us posted on what you end up doing! Bless you Justin!
Derek - ThePointsGuide recently posted..ThePointsGuide 25,000 Delta SkyMiles Holiday Giveaway!
No kidding! I'm sure it will. Thanks Derek for the support!
Congrats Justin... I've been following you for a while now, and I am excited for you that this moment has finally come. Onwards and upwards!
Nate recently posted..Iran : Shah Cheragh – Rare Pics Inside Shia Mosque at Peak Prayer Hour
Thanks, Nate! I can't wait to meet up down the road somewhere. Thanks for the support! Your adventures have always kept my ass moving forward!
Congrats! Your post is incredibly inspiring. I have 26 months until I do the same thing. Love your blog. I am excited to hear about your future adventures. Best of luck!