Fed Up With Your Job? Time To Leave
Posted in Personal Development on December 14th, 2011 by admin – Comments Off“Some think it’s holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it’s letting go” – Unknown
I have to tell you, used to love my job. Sure, there were some really bad days, stress, and everything else that goes along with having a job, but there were good things too. I like the people I work with, my management supported me, my hours were flexible, the office was close to home, and I made a decent wage. Over the last few years the good things have slowly eroded away leaving me with more bad than good.
First it was the location, the company moved from a five minute commute from home to a 45 minute to 1 hour plus drive. That is a lot of extra time out of my day, gas expenses went up, as well as wear and tear on my vehicle. Sure, people do that kind of commute every day, but when you had a 5 minute trip for 4 years losing 2 more hours from your day really sucks.
Second, the company started laying off people, cutting costs, and changing the culture to work more with less. It’s great for the companies bottom line, they are still very profitable. It’s horrible for employee moral. It burns people out and pisses them off. Companies abuse employees in this manner because they know they can get away with it.
Third, I still love the people I work with, but due to the culture change and added stress they are unhappy. When everyone is unhappy it is not a fun place to work. People are short with others for no apparent reason because they are stressed and they really don’t give it their all like they used to. Douchbag bosses take note, the once overly productive employees that you used to have will not work as hard when you fire their friends and expect them to pick up their work for the same pay and longer hours. So good people are leaving the company for elsewhere.
This lead us to number four, management. A friend of mine used to say that you are one management change away from unemployment. I got a new Vice President that hasn’t liked me from the start. I’m not sure why as I’ve always gotten accolades, but this guy is a complete dick. I did find out he is friends with a director at our company who I’ve had many disagreements with. Maybe he’s finally able to enact his revenge.
Whatever the reason my day is now one of displeasure. I hate going into the office, and avoid walking by his office at all times. Feeling like you have a target on your back is not a good feeling.
The bottom line is I’m not happy and it is taking a hold on my health. I have chronic insomnia, heart palpitations, gained 30 pounds yet lost my appetite, I drink a lot, and have trouble getting out of bed in the morning. Stress and depression. It’s a killer.
Letting Go
“A weak man has doubts before a decision. A strong man has them afterwards.” Carl Kraus
I’ve had enough. I can be irrational at times which doesn’t always work out in my best interest. But I decided I have to leave this job before it killed me. And besides, life is too short not to be happy. I’d been saving money for a few months, but figured I need till at least June of this year before I would be ready to leave. Then the new V.P. came on board and I new I had to kick things in high gear.
I spent a week or two feeling sorry for myself. Then I decided – I’m out. I made it a reality. I booked a 2 week trip to Thailand at the middle of February. Marked two weeks before on my calander as “independence day” and wrote my resignation letter. I won’t turn the letter in for another month, but it felt good to right and made things real.
I don’t have another job to go to. I’m taking a huge risk in the worst economy since the Great Depression. I have my doubts, but I’ve made the decision and I’m not turning back now. I need a better life.
Some people that have depression say that they want their life back. I don’t. I want a better life than what I had, the one I had was why I was depressed in the first place.
Now you maybe wondering why I decided to book a two week trip to Thailand when I don’t have a job and limited savings. I need to get away, do some soul searching, and come back with a game plan. Plus, I may not get another chance to travel for quite some time, better have a great memory to get me through the stormy waters ahead.
I though I was being the strong person by persevering through the difficulties, dealing with the stress, and hating my life for a steady paycheck. But I realized sometime it takes a stronger person to let go, especially in times of adversity and risk.