When I left my last corporate job, I deep dived into uncertainty. I didn’t have a clear plan of what I was going to do next. The horizon was open and the possibilities endless. Thankfully, I could afford myself a sabbatical to give myself the time and space to figure it out.
Making the decision to leave a professional position can be a tough one, but very often it happens once the calling to leave is stronger than the stability of the job. There are different reasons people choose to quit and it often boils down to one of the following:
Someone may be looking to reach greater heights in their career, more responsibilities, and a greater professional impact that aligns better with their career aspirations.
Another might choose to work with a different organization as a result of dissatisfaction with how they’re being compensated for their input in terms of pay, location, or perks.
One might have an entrepreneurial itch, a burning desire to have more creative liberty over their work and therefore choose to pursue their own passion and start their own business.
Another might feel the need to leave their job as a result of personal circumstance, a life event that makes it necessary to relocate or simply feeling like they want to take on a role that’s closer to their heart. Very often a decision made once having children, mid-career or with elderly parents. After all, our goals and what gives us joy and meaning is likely to change as we grow older and advance our careers.
Again others might need a break from work due to emotional and physical exhaustion, whether it’s because of high stress levels, an unhealthy work environment, or an incapacity to handle the workload. This person will often seek a different, less demanding job or, if finances allow, take leave from work entirely for an undetermined period of time, until they feel fit enough to re-enter the workforce.
Oftentimes, a toxic or unsupportive work environment will make some employees choose to leave the organization due to feeling rightfully worthy of more. Not feeling aligned with the values of the organization or behaviors of fellow employees and higher-ups will cause some people to make the decision to leave their workplace, rather than try to fit the mold at the expense of their own well-being.
In my case, after a year of not working for an organization, but rather working only on myself, gaining clarity on how I would like to fill in my life, and be of service to others, I realized I was ready to be my own boss. To have autonomy over the way I could be of support to other people. And that’s how Shift was born, and what an exciting journey it has been, and continues to be. As a Transition Coach, I partner with executives to navigate major career transitions, by supporting them in taking stock of where they are in their lives, in redefining who they want to become and what they want to do, and guiding them in making this a reality.
