quitting job Archives – Leap of Faye

7 MORE Learnings Since Quitting My Job One Year Ago

I can hardly believe it’s been a year.

Well, almost a year. Technically the end of August will be a year since I resigned, although my last day on the job (before being taken out on medical leave) was in June 2015.

So over 12 months since I’ve worked for Corporate America. That went fast.

Most days it still feels fresh. Like I’m on a temporary break, scheduled to go back at any moment. But then I remember that this is not a break, and that each day is up to me. And then the excitement bubbles up again, even now, as I consider each week, each project, each new opportunity.

And after one year, a milestone I wasn’t sure I would achieve, it feels like a good time to reflect on what I’ve learned through my leap of faith.

Related Articles:

Time goes quickly.

Okay, so this may not directly correlate with my career, but it is something that has been cemented into my psyche since my transition to self-employment. I think about the years I hesitated to resign and try something new, and I now realize that I could have started long ago.

This past year went fast. Incredibly fast. And having the opportunity to spend that time on pursuits that are more fulfilling to me has allowed me to see just how much time I squandered while trying to deny what my heart was telling me. It’s given me the resolve to pay much more attention to how I’m spending my time going forward, understanding that it is in finite supply and every moment really does count.

The money works itself out.

This had always been one of the primary reasons I feared resigning. Finances. What if? What if we no longer had enough? What if we went broke? What if we could never afford to travel or do anything fun again? Yet interestingly, over the past year, money has fallen close to the bottom of the list of concerns – even though we have less of it. With a bit of planning, I’ve realized that it really does work itself out.

We made sure we were “financially fit” before I resigned, and we continue to track our budget. And that has been enough. We still travel, do fun things, and purchase what we need (and sometimes want). I liken it to having a child – you never think you have enough financially, but somehow it all adjusts.

Find out what I've learned in the year since I #quit my Corporate American job! #career #freelance Share on X

I am more purposeful in my work.

When working in a corporate environment, I did pretty much whatever was “needed” – whether or not I agreed. After all, my time wasn’t really my own. I was required to maintain a presence 8-10 hours a day, so what did I really care if I was asked to do time-sucking tasks that didn’t matter over the long term?

Now, that’s all changed. I am in complete control of my time and therefore every second counts. All of it is a means to an end and if I can’t see a concrete reason for doing something, I simply don’t do it. There is no superior telling me I have to do it anyway. I am able to make those decisions, for better or worse. And it has resulted in me becoming much more deliberate about how and why I do things.

There are more opportunities than I ever dreamed possible.

Outside of money, one of my biggest hesitations in resigning was the fear of never working again. What if I couldn’t find anything? What if I became a financial drain on society?

Well – I need not have worried. I’ve learned over this past year that there is an over-abundance of opportunity available to anyone wanting it. I am not exaggerating when I say that I take on approximately 20% of work that is offered to me. 20%! That means that I’m turning down more work than I can accept.

Now don’t get me wrong – it’s not that I don’t want nor appreciate these offers – I DO! It’s simply that between the clients and projects I already have, not to mention the responsibility of raising three children under the age of 5, I just don’t have the time. Truly a good problem to have.

The work you do speaks for itself.

Perhaps the most exciting thing about working for myself is that I can take on new projects and clients of interest. I can learn about completely different industries and businesses while developing a variety of skills outside of a single competency. And no more office politics! No longer is it all about who knows who and who has the better officer title. Now it’s just about the work.

Even more amazing to me is how the work leads to residual opportunities. Case in point: I’ve been very lucky to have had some articles published in popular online magazines. I was thrilled by this in and of itself, but what I didn’t expect is all the opportunities that grew out of it. The large majority of my current ongoing clients are business owners who found me through my writings on these outlets (that are, interestingly, about topics that their businesses do not relate to). This has been a huge learning for me – the power of marketing by my work alone.

Some people are still not supportive.

I had been shocked by how vocal the non-supporters were when I initially resigned. Over the course of a year, most of them have come around, but there remain a few sticklers who cannot/will not accept the choice I’ve made.

And I’m okay with that.

I understand and respect that it is definitely not the right choice for everybody, and that it may not even be permanent for me. But at this point in my life, it is right.

I have noticed lately that the holdouts have largely dropped the topic (a welcome relief). Whether that’s because they see that I’m okay/not starving/still working or are simply too tired to bring it up anymore, I’ll take it.

My priorities have changed.

I knew they were changing even before I took the leap, but this past year has solidified it. I’m no longer the same person I once was. Whereas before I prioritized climbing the corporate ladder, earning additional raises/bonuses, and acquiring more respected titles, now I’m focused on producing quality work, building meaningful partnerships, continuously learning, and dedicating time to my family and close friends.

I would take more time with my children in a heartbeat over a significant financial increase – and I don’t know that I would have always felt this way. I’ve realized that, for me, time is a commodity of the highest value. I can’t get it back, and I am much more careful now about who I give it to. Meaning, growth, and family now top my list of priorities, and I work harder to align my lifestyle around those.

Related Articles:

Most of all, I’ve realized that the changes I’ve made this past year have made me happier. This is despite it being a stressful year, with adding a new baby, resigning from a 20+ year career, and starting a small business. I’m happier because I’m in control of my own destiny. I have the freedom to work when and on what I want. I am able to spend more time with my children and better understand what I have missed in the past. I can realistically entertain opportunities that come my way. And I’ve learned that titles and money are not the only ingredients for success.

So as I wrap up Year 1, I am buckled in and holding on tight – even more excited about where this ride will take me.

Guest Interview – Resigning With No Backup Plan

One of the primary reasons I decided to start a new blog was to chronicle my experiences in leaving Corporate America to dedicate more time to other pursuits. This decision was not one I took lightly, and in making it I read other blogs, consulted with others, and talked to friends who had made similar leaps of faith. Without the encouragement and support of my family and close friends, I don’t know that I ever would have actually done it.

One of the friends who inspired me is Hideki (we call him H). He is much more than a friend – we consider him family. We met at the ripe old age of 21 during a boozy weekend in Las Vegas, of all places, and discovered that our places of employment were adjacent. This led to lunches, co-mingling of groups of friends, and a friendship that has lasted through partying, traveling (including a tour of China and an amazing volunteer trip to Ghana), countless jobs, roommating, heated arguments, untimely deaths of loved ones, times of pain, spiritual upheavals, and much more. He is one of the few people I can be completely and brutally honest with – secure in the knowledge that our friendship will last until the end (even though he and I may disagree about what happens after “the end”). 🙂

So when H decided to suddenly quit his job to travel, I took notice. I had never considered him “that type” – he always had seemed like the type of guy to do things the right way. The good education, the college degree, the stable job, the home. But something changed after his sister passed away. He explained it (much more eloquently) as a change in life priorities. And he followed his heart without seemingly any of the fear or worry that I would later experience when I took my own leap. I did and still do admire it – and things have worked out well for him, even without the anxiety!

I asked H if I could interview him for this blog, so that he could share a bit of his experiences and thought processes with others. He was happy to participate.

Thank you for meeting with me today, H. Can you tell us what your professional role was in your former (pre-discovery) phase of Corporate American life?

I was a Product Development Engineer, responsible for researching market needs, developing products, taking products to market, and then analyzing quality trends and implementing countermeasures to improve products throughout their respective life cycles.

Did you like your job? What specifically did you like and dislike?

I did – I enjoyed my job. I worked for an automotive tire manufacturer, which meant a lot of time at race tracks. Who wouldn’t want to spend time at a race track? Also I liked that in Product Development we were inventing new products to fit niche segments or to bring something new to market. Bringing a product to life was a great feeling. When I started developing racing products, to see that product win or change the industry brought validation to our hard work. I also really enjoyed working with my counterparts and departmental VP – we were like a close knit family. And as I said, I loved spending time at race tracks and driving on race tracks. As far as dislikes go, I didn’t enjoy all the traveling. The destinations were usually okay, but waking up early and getting on planes became a pain the ass. I didn’t care for ineffective coworkers and management in other departments. And I despised people who had their own agenda.

When did you begin feeling that you might want a change?

When my sister unexpectedly passed away in 2006 I realized that frustration born from work wasn’t good for the soul – and that life was short. But I didn’t feel like I actually needed a change until maybe 2008 or 2009 (I quit in May 2010).

Did you know what kind of a change you would be looking for?

I wanted to change my employment status with the company.

What prompted you to quit your job?

My VP quit a few months prior to me quitting, so that probably accelerated the urgency. The final straw was when HR and upper management decided to “red circle” our department [this typically means that salary ranges are adjusted and employees with salaries over the new maximum amounts have their salaries frozen at current levels]. They could not explain their methodology or exactly how this new policy was implemented – or even how it worked. They weren’t transparent. The company was struggling at the time so maybe they wanted people to quit.

How did you prepare to quit – mentally, financially, etc?

After my VP quit, I spoke to him a few times about my feelings around not wanting to work there much longer. Financially I knew I was secure for a long time and I knew my skills would allow me to land a job quickly even if the economy was still struggling. I don’t think I prepared much – I might have quickly calculated what my expenses were for a month.

What were your fears or concerns about quitting? How did you overcome these?

I didn’t have any fears about it. It felt right to do it. It was time, and I was at peace.

What was the reaction of others around you when you quit?

I think my dad and my old VP were concerned a bit, probably a “fatherly” concern. Some friends thought I was crazy to leave a job which seemed enjoyable from the outside. Coworkers in my department were sad. The new Director (who replaced the VP) didn’t know what to do or say – even HR people didn’t really know how to handle it. Why do they give exit interviews anyway? Some of those questions should have been asked when people are still employed, not on their way out. A few other coworkers quit shortly after me, so I like to say that I showed them the light. Faye, how did you feel when I quit?

I was surprised. Probably a bit concerned as well – my hope was that you were not making a rash decision and that you would be okay financially and in other aspects. And you were. I think it changed you for the better.

Got it.

Did you have any doubts? What were they?

No. No doubts.

What was your plan for after you quit?

Hang out and not worry about work. Clear my mind. Take a road trip.

Did you follow through on this plan? What changes did you make?

I mainly followed through. I wish I would have traveled more, a lot more, and out of the country.

What did you do during your period of unemployment?

I cycled and took a 5,000 mile road trip throughout the western United States and into Canada. I hung out with my sister in Denver and babysat for my couple-months-old niece when my sister had to go back to work and my brother-in-law’s schedule was still being worked out. I traveled up to San Francisco with a buddy. Mainly, I just relaxed and turned off my mind. I was okay with waking up and not worrying.

How would you characterize this experience?

I just think of it as turning off the mind. It was refreshing and relaxing. Literally not even having to think at all about what to do during the day. It was pretty amazing.

How did this experience change you?

I don’t know if the time off changed me.

How and when did you decide to go back to a traditional job?

I had a plan to start looking after the New Year (I had quit in May 2010). I don’t know why exactly that time frame – I guess some type of responsibility to make a plan is a part of my make-up. So I knew I had to work again. I ended up going back to work in November or December 2010 because my friend had an easy contract job for me that was only 32 hours a week. Three day weekends were perfect. Unfortunately after a short stint the contractor had “better” ideas for me and placed me at my current company.

Did your experience of not working change the way you went about looking for a job, and the type of job you sought out?

I had thought about changing industries and making a life change, but ultimately I enjoy the industry I am in. It is something I have wanted to do since high school. I had always been lucky in the past finding jobs – almost always through someone I knew – so I didn’t think I would have to do much in finding the next job, and I was right.

What type of professional role did you ultimately end up in?

Similar role as previous, but more on the quality side instead of development – although I do get to help develop the products in my specific area.

How does this role compare to your previous Corporate American role?

It is very similar since that is where my experience is, but I can do it with little thought. It is mindless work. A lot less frustration.

What do you like or dislike about this new role?

I like that I mainly just work within my group and that it is mindless – it takes little thought. As far as dislikes, it is still work, and I still have to be there for at least eight hours a day. I also dislike ineffective management.

Do you see yourself taking time off work again? If so, when and for how long?

Quitting has started to cross my mind again. I have some frustrations with coworkers within and outside of the department, and a Senior Group Manager’s ego and management style bother me. Professionally I have accomplished the primary goals I had since high school, so if I quit now I might be able to take on a new challenge. If I quit, though, I worry about they type of work I could find. My network and experience are strong, but I feel it would be difficult to explain quitting twice. If I quit, I hope it is for my retirement – hopefully an early one.

How have your experiences changed you and your philosophies?

From my sister’s death until now, I think it is all about having fun. What happens – happens. I try not to worry too much or at all about work – I want to leave it at my desk. Life is too short.

What would you say to your former Corporate American self now in terms of advice?

I am not sure. I think that everything happened the way it would have. I guess I could have quit sooner, but I’m not sure that I would have been as at ease because of the passion I had with developing a certain product. But I do think that quitting earlier and letting go sooner would have been the right thing to do. I would advise my younger self to do things less “responsibly” during school or after graduating. Not focusing only on work and then buying a house as the next steps. Instead, focusing on traveling, having fun. Being a kid.

What advice would you give others dreaming of taking a leap of faith?

Do it! You only have one life to live. Nobody on their deathbed says, “I wish I worked more.” I am sure that it’s always, “Why didn’t I….” I assume that anyone even thinking or dreaming of taking a leap of faith is probably more financially well off or has the support structure needed. So don’t hesitate. If you need to work, I am assuming that work or a job will be easy to find.

Any other words of wisdom to share?

Take happiness over money. Don’t let money be your drive. Even after four years at my current company, I still make 10% or so less than when I quit – but I have been 100% more happy from Day 1. Don’t take work so seriously. Ultimately you have to think of yourself because the company won’t. Life is too short to live in misery.

Thank you, H. I appreciate you taking the time to talk with me – and am excited for all the adventures ahead of you!

Guest Interview – The Woman Who Left Corporate America Behind

One of the best things about my experiences in Corporate America is the people I had the opportunity to work and interact with. Several of these colleagues have turned into lifelong friends who have long surpassed various jobs, different companies, and corporate paychecks. Interestingly, several of my closest former-colleague-friends have also recently taken leaps of faith to pursue their own passions – and this has only further cemented our relationships as we navigate these new experiences together.

One of these dear friends is Dana. I met her what seems like a lifetime ago (okay, maybe it was around 15 years ago) when we both worked for a Japanese captive finance company. I remember the day we met. We were having a team meeting and she was the newest member, joining us for the first time. She was pregnant with her first child and bravely starting a brand new job. She looked at me and I looked at her and for some inexplicable reason we both instantly decided that we didn’t like each other. This is comical now, as she is one of my closest friends and confidantes. Neither one of us can even clearly explain the reason for the premature “dislike” – aside from thinking that the other looked bitchy. Just goes to show – first impressions and all that.

Dana and I worked together quite a bit, helping to implement one of the biggest and longest-running (years long) projects in the company’s history. It was a fast-paced, demanding, and stressful time. We bonded over the strain. And relieved tension with (too many) practical jokes. Well, maybe I was more of the practical jokester – but who’s keeping count? Dana was someone I could count on, who had integrity, and who was invested in all that she did. Our friendship grew as we worked together, played together, and even traveled together with other girlfriends to blow off steam. We joke that she is my Hawaiian sister from another mister.

I have to admit that I wasn’t overly surprised when Dana confided to me over dinner one day that she was planning on leaving her corporate job. I knew that she hadn’t been happy, and that she had been taking on an ever-increasing workload. She had shared many times that she missed her family, her children. In her quest to be everything to everyone, she was burning out from trying to juggle it all.

So she and her family made the decision to take the leap – and now she is a fully Licensed Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant! I am so proud of her. She has been an inspiration to me as she invests time in work she loves, is passionate about, and on her own terms.

I asked if she would mind answering some questions to share her experiences and hopefully inspire others in the same way that she has inspired me – and she was more than happy to oblige.

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today. To begin, what inspired you to quit your job? Was there a specific tipping point?

It was really just me being at a place in my life where I was not completely satisfied with what I was doing at work. The specific tipping point was when I was asked to cover for a colleague who was out on maternity leave, as well as for another colleague who transferred out of our department. This was in addition to continuing to manage my own job. When, after doing all of this, I received a performance review rating of “Meets Expectations” at the end of the year, I knew it was time to make a change.

Why did you decide to go into the field you chose?

It was important to me to do something of service to the community.

What did you do to prepare before quitting?

I had a lot of discussions with my husband to prepare myself. I knew that I needed his full support, and I got it. Without it, I don’t think I could have ever done it.

Did you have any fears or concerns about quitting? Is so, what were they?

My fears were more or less about finances because I knew that a big chunk of our income would instantly disappear. But we made it work.

How did people react to your decision to quit and start a new career?

Most of my friends, family, and coworkers were supportive. There were only a few who questioned my decision. They were pretty blunt. One coworker outright told me that I was making a mistake and that I should reconsider my decision. Another friend asked, “can’t you just transfer to a different department?”

Did you ever have any doubts about “starting over”?

I never had any doubts around my decision to start over. I was excited by the newness of going back to school, studying, the challenge of striving for good grades, the new training, etc. Just about everything along the way reassured me that I was doing the right thing.

Tell us a bit about your journey since you’ve resigned – what have you done?

Since I resigned I completed an Occupational Therapist Assistant program and interned for four months at a skilled nursing facility and a school district. I passed the boards and am currently working per diem at a skilled nursing facility in Orange County. The biggest perk of my new career is that the hours I work are totally flexible, which allows me to be there for the kids. I love picking them up from school, making them a snack, helping them with their homework, and cooking dinner for them. If I had continued working at my previous job, none of these things would have been possible.

How did it feel to be back in school?

I loved being back in school. I met a great group of peers who went through this two year journey with me, until the very end. We keep in touch and encourage each other, giving each other tips on testing for the boards and applying for our licenses.

How does it feel to now be licensed?

I’m relieved that I am finally licensed. Reality has settled in and I am happy to say that I am not disappointed.

Would you ever consider going back to Corporate America? Under what circumstances?

No, I don’t think so. I gave up 15 years of my life to a big corporation and I don’t care to revisit it. I can’t say that the whole time I worked there was unpleasant because it wasn’t. I met some amazing people that I am still friends with even now. The regret I have in working there is that I can never get the time back. The time that I missed tucking my kids into bed at night or saying Good Morning because I would have to leave for the office before they woke up. I missed family trips because the deadlines for programs or testing had to be met. It’s silly now to think that I ever put all those things before my family.

How has taking this leap of faith changed you?

It changed me in a way that is difficult to explain, but I will try. I feel freer than I have ever felt. I feel lighter, happier, more at peace, calm, and less anxious. I worry less because my family and I made it through a rough two years and in those two years we laughed a lot more and smiled a lot more and talked a lot more than any of the years I worked at my corporate job.

Has it changed any of your relationships – with your family, friends, others? In what ways?

I think it has made my relationships stronger. I’m still busy and I get too busy to see my friends and family all the time, but the split is now leaning more towards family time and less towards work. My priorities have changed drastically and I love it. I have more time to care. Before I was so distracted by deadlines or presentations or training. Now I go to work and totally enjoy it, but I leave my work at work and get to mentally and physically enjoy my personal life.

What hardships or difficulties have you experienced along the way? How did you overcome these?

Financial, but we made it work. We just had to cut back and adjust, then we had to make more adjustments. Someone else’s plans to do what I did may not always go as planned, but you adjust and then maybe have to adjust again.

If you could look back and give your former Corporate American self advice now, what would it be?

Life in Corporate America is not the only way to live. I would remind myself that it is just a job. Make family your priority. They will not be there when you finally retire. The kids will graduate and go to college and you will miss out on those opportunities to have those meaningful talks and be there for the events that all kids go through. You only have one life. What do you want to remember when it’s time to say Good Bye? I hope it’s not work!

If you could give advice to someone else dreaming of quitting Corporate America, what would it be?

Do it! Don’t think too hard. Somehow things work out. We are creatures of habit, but because we are intelligent we can create new habits. If we are not changing, then we are not living.

Any other words of wisdom to share with our readers?

Life is beautiful, but only if you stop to enjoy it. That’s what I feel I did.

Thank you, Dana. I’m so proud of you and your accomplishments, and can’t wait to see everything else that the future has in store for you.