At the verge of quitting

Is quitting your job a bad decision?

There are definitely going to be moments in our careers when we feel like giving up. We become hopeless and pessimist, and we start to lose sight on why we even started in the first place. The thought of quitting usually comes from repeated failure, rejection, fatigue, tiredness, frustration, boredom, and not getting things your way.

Growing up I was taught not to quit. I would hear things like "quitting is for losers", "finish what you started", or "don't be so weak".

It had been ingrained into my work ethic to not give up.

This mindset helped me get through school and work. I prided myself in my ability to do a lot and multitask. My downfall is when I took on too much and lost my grip and capacity to handle the demands of my responsibilities.

Saying no and quitting did not come easy to me.

From quitting a few times, I have learned that there was more at stake had I not let go and moved on from my roles.

Here are moments in career when I needed to quit my job.

3rd Year University

Situation - I was doing a full course load, was involved with student clubs, and was working a part time bookkeeping job with Bench accounting for 30 hours a week, managing a team of 4 bookkeepers. The breaking point for me was when I received a 60% grade on my Intermediate Financial Reporting midterm. Clearly, I was stretched.

Consequence - I felt like I needed to make a decision. Quit my job, or get a poor grade in this class (resulting in difficulty in finding a summer internship). I was crushed. I felt like quitting right away. I couldn't handle the pressure and the shame.

Result - I ended up leaving the job so I had time to study for finals. I knew I would not be able to succeed at everything at once.

Working during the first year of the pandemic

Situation - By July 2020, we experienced nearly half a year of lockdowns and restrictions. My dissatisfaction in my job and unhappiness was magnified when I took a few weeks off for a staycation. I did not feel empowered to return to work. I'd talk about leaving, but the thought of it scared me a lot.

Consequence - I knew if I stayed, I would not be happy. I didn't see myself progressing any further with the company or in the role I was in. I felt like my situation was holding me back from my personal and professional potential. I needed a change. If I didn't make a change, then would I ever? Is this what life is supposed to be like?

Result - I quit my job to pursue further education in coaching. I didn't have a job lined up, but I had optimism that I'd be able to pick up some work or find coaching clients to work with. By surprise, my employer listened to my needs and offered me a promotion before I had my final day. This turned into one of the best jobs that I had.

I've since left this job to start my own business.

Conclusion

I've learned to redefine quitting as growth. I had to trust myself and embrace uncertainties.

Today, I have many people ask me if they should quit their jobs. It's hard to have an answer, and frankly, I will never advise people to just leave.

I departed from my previous roles with specific intentions and thoughtfulness of the pros and cons of each decision.

Finally, I learned that these decisions didn't occur on their own. I used my communication to discuss with my team members, managers, and leaders to weigh out what is best for myself and the organizations.

If you have been thinking of a change and would like some guidance on your decision making, I'm happy to connect over a call.

You can send me a message at casey@caseychung.com.