Practicing what I preach
There has been a sufficient gap in blog activity that I believe I owe readers an explanation. Work/life balance went haywire in September and as a result I re-evaluated everything. I took some of the advice I give to clients and re-prioritized based on where I want to be in five to ten years. I am happier now than I have been in a long time with respect to my career.
Leaving a job/career/position/company can often be a soul paralyzing question to pose to oneself. For some, people stay in jobs because that is their identity and they cannot fathom what life would be like without that particular title after their name. For others, their career was one that fit a set of parameters like close to home, good hours for school-age children, and sufficient benefits. Whatever the reason, switching jobs or careers is one of the biggest questions clients typically come in with due to the ripple effect the change will have. A job change could mean different hours of sleeping, eating, commuting, and trying to figure out child-care. Many people are opting for part-time rather than full-time work as they explore other passions or finish school. I have met people who try to do it all and are enrolled full-time in college courses, work full-time, and are raising children.
If you have been considering a job change, this is your invitation to mull it over somewhere quiet and consider how the following questions strike you.
If I change jobs, will a change bring me closer to my long-term goals/dreams/passions?
Is now a reasonable time to change jobs or is some anniversary or vesting date looming in the not-so-distant future?
Does it make sense in terms of pay and benefits? Great benefits and slightly lower pay may be better than amazing pay and no benefits at all.
Are you ready for a change?
Does the idea of getting up and doing your job even one more day tomorrow fill you with soul-crushing dread or anger?
Do I feel like my current job is unethical or immoral? Does it cause you to lose sleep at night?
Do you envision yourself doing your current job this time next year?
Hopefully, these questions will help you move around some of the ideas that have been floating around in your mind. Some people are fans of pro/con lists. That is up to you if you want to do a list or brainstorm or journal it out. At the very least, find a trusted friend to talk things over. I prayed for about a month and decided I needed to find a way out. Thankfully I have trimmed back my job titles and now have more time to devote to my passions.
