You see, several months ago, I started having a crisis of conscience about where my life was headed -- and how I've come to realize that success is not the same as money. I had no idea what kind of Pandora's box that opened.
Several weeks later, I had what can be described as a moment of lucidity -- or maybe even an epiphany. Hipster Dork had written about having second thoughts about leaving his job when they offered him more money to stay. After reading his post, I commented:
"Wow. I can't imagine turning down a 25% raise. Then again, I have already sold my soul to the devil for a higher paycheck.
All the CD's and shoes I can now buy don't make up for the fact that most days, I loathe what I'm doing.
It's never worth it."
So, in the words of Peter Gibbons, "I don't like my job, and, uh, I don't think I'm gonna go anymore."
Most of you would probably think I'm crazy if you knew how much money I was giving up. And yeah, you'd probably have a point. Still, as I just wrote to Nicole, right now, I am a miserable little square peg that simply does not fit into the fancy round hole.
And apparently, I'm not the only one having the same type of revelation: The New York Post just ran an interesting article about how, this time of year, mid-level associates quit their big law firm jobs in droves. So, it seems that I'm not the only person who hates being leashed to a BlackBerry.
But don't fear: There is a plan for what I'm doing next. Still, even if there wasn't, I'd probably be doing this anyway. You see, I'm hoping to reclaim my life.
24 comments:
Peter: But wait, didn't you know already?
I don't think you're crazy for doing it... I pretty much figured this would happen when you took the job in the first place.
Peter: Thanks. But really, it's "Congratulations on acting on your frustration. And, does this mean that you're not moving back to Miami?"
Jutsin: At a 50% salary cut, I'm questioning my own sanity. Still, I am very much looking forward to the time when I will again be communicating with my friends in person, and not via e-mail and blog.
And everyone says they knew. But did they really know? I mean, I didn't think I'd be here permanently, but I thought I'd at least last for somewhere between 2 and 5 years.
You were miserable. People could tell. As long as you can live comfortably, it's better to be happy. And having a life is good too. :-)
Ditto what Debby says. And you're not exactly gonna go broke.
Peter: As of this minute, I am not planning on moving to Miami.
Debby: Wow, that noticeable? I thought I concealed it well. Otherwise, I would have spent the last fourteen months drinking and swearing more -- and internalizing it less.
Justin: I just need to put myself on a shoe budget, that's all.
Wouldn't life be perfect w/o a conscience?
Good luck with everything. If your hands become too idle, you can guest blog for The Few. All you need is a Star Trek name . . .
Go Dara!!! I quit a job once..and it was the best thing I have ever done. Good luck!! I will be excited to see what new experiences you(we?haha) get to enjoy...
Evil Spock: I shouldn't be idle for too long. Right now, if everything goes according to plan -- and the pencil-pushers who really don't care actually do things quickly and correctly -- I should be working again on January 22. But that's a pretty big if.
Ryane: Thanks for the supportive words.
Congrats!! Back in the day I took a leave of absence from my law firm gig so that I could figure out what I wanted to do next. I thought my misery so clouded my thinking that I needed some distance to make a good decision about my real exit strategy. Best decision I ever made, and I landed in a good place, albeit one that welcomed me with a 50% salary reduction. I can surmise what you're giving up, but I think you have to view it in terms of what you're making...no non-firm job was going to come close to matching my salary at the time I left. I really only miss the big bucks when I'm wandering among the purses at Neiman Marcus. Sigh.
HOW BOUT THEM GATORS! Good to know we have a good 2nd team to root for (though you have a good 1st team to root for). Has nothing to do with this post, but I am on a high right now.
Tingb: Exactly. I tried it, and it made me miserable -- but at least there are plenty of other things I can do, as long as I keep myself on a budget.
Bo: Who'd have thunk it? Go Gators!
(And I really didn't have much to root for this season with my college alma mater, but at least they won their bowl game. At least they had a bowl game. Heck, at least they beat Miami.)
Dara, even I could see that you were miserable in your job. :-)
Congratulations to your Gators. Honestly, I thought OSU would win, but I wasn't ready to count out the Gators. I'm glad they did it. (I never thought I'd root for Florida, but I was last night.)
Justin, Aaron, and I were this close to getting a free dinner at Ray's the Steaks. Okay maybe not that close but I would have given anything to see Dan try to get out of that. ;-)
RJ: I didn't think the Gators had deep enough talent. At least that's what I told my boss on the way to lunch yesterday at 12:24. I guess I was WAY off. I will never count the Gators out of the championship in a year that ends in 6.
Debby: What was the bet?
Awesome! Good for you and best of luck. Also, I find Egypt to be difficult to spell, hahahaha. My sister always makes fun of me for it;)
Congratulations! It's hard to make that kind of decision, so you should feel extra proud for following your heart and not your wallet. :) How nice not to be chained to a Blackberry.
I would complain about the Gators winning, but I actually kind of like Urban Meyer, and at least the Gators beat one of my divsion rivals. Now I really wish Wisconsin had a chance to play Ohio State this year, because the Gators proved they are beatable. The Gators deserve props for winning national championships in basketball and football in the same year, and the scary thing is they could easily win another basketball championship this year.
Although Wisconsin has a definite shot too. Maybe Wisconsin vs. Florida in the basketball championship game?
Scarlet: Thanks. And I've been having trouble with Morocco, since I've been having to type it all the time. I keep wanting to give it a second "r".
Mysterygirl: Oh, I'll still have a BlackBerry, it's the nature of my profession. The difference is that in my (still contingent) new job, I'll be able to go home at a reasonable time, and ignore the BlackBerry (or -- gulp! -- turn it off!) when necessary.
Justin: Thanks to you, Bo, and RJ, I just devoted an entire post to the subject. And, for the record, Florida played its most impressive game of the season last night.
I think I should get an honerary award for making a comment about a football game. Especially since it's only college football. :-p
Debby: I am proud. But I still don't know what the potential steak dinner bet was about.
Something like that Florida was going to be up by 30 at the time that we left Wil's thing.
Good call. Be happy.
Chris! It's been so long! (And it's nice to know that you're still somewhere out in the meatspace, if not in the blogosphere.)
Thanks for the support.
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