What Do You Mean, I Quit?
Are you considering making a big career decision? Have you started wondering what it would be like to work at a new company or a new industry? When you think about your next step, do you think you’ll quit or leave? What is your immediate reaction when you think about quitting versus leaving?
A few years ago, I decided to leave a company that I was with for over fifteen years and was the first company I worked with out of college. A dear friend and colleague of mine was with me during my final years with the company as I questioned if it was the right place for me to stay. She offered amazing, insightful advice and perspective as I navigated my day to day thoughts and emotions.
Months after my departure and starting my role with a new company, we were discussing a work-related challenge and when I weighed in with my thoughts, she responded, “yeah, but you quit”.
Wait…what? My immediate action in my mind was, I did not quit! My mind immediately thought of the negative associations with the word quitting. Thoughts like, I gave up, I was not resilient, I was impulsive, etc. You know…what you think of when you hear QUIT. One of my fears during my departure was that I would be labeled a ‘quitter’! This made me pause to reframe this term in the context in which I believed I ‘quit’.
Sure, I quit…if by quitting you mean that I decided to make a positive change that includes leaving an environment in which I believe my values no longer align with the organization and I am choosing to share my knowledge and experience somewhere else in this world of opportunities. Yep, I quit!
After a smile and feeling of pride, bravery, and self-confidence, I looked up the definition of quitting vs. leaving. According to the Marriam-Webster dictionary (1), quit means to 1. give up. 2. depart from or out of 3. to leave the company of. Leaving means to 1. go away from: depart, 2. terminate association with: withdraw from. Interestingly, the definitions can overlap in meaning, however we tend to focus on “giving up” when we think of quitting.
So maybe quitting and leaving are simply statement of fact. The definition of quit includes the word leave. No need to feel like I ran, gave up, or did not “power through”. This doesn’t seem so bad. In fact, I am proud that I quit, if that’s what we want to call it. These decisions are not to be taken lightly and they do not happen overnight. This was a two-year journey. Yes…I said two-year journey. This was not an easy or quick decision for me.
Throughout my journey I reflected on:
My values
How I am showing up, at work and at home
Personal growth
Interests and passions
Curiosity of other opportunities
What I really want
Being an example for others
If you feel out of alignment or unsettled and begin asking and answering these questions, and many more, you may be compelled to peek at what else is out there and make some very difficult decisions for yourself. I encourage you to explore the what ifs and unknowns. This is not an easy step to take.
As you embark on this journey, there are many emotions to digest. A decision to leave something you may have considered yourself committed to for a long time is a process. At first, I felt guilty about wanting to leave. Am I letting my colleagues and mentors down? They invested in me. What about the amazing network of colleagues who I have come to know well throughout the years? At times I felt fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of being labeled as a quitter, fear of the grass not being greener on the other side. As time went on, I began to feel excited. What will the future hold? What if this change is better than I anticipated? It is going to be fun to start something new…learning a new culture, people, the industry, and much more.
Although I cannot predict your emotions or length of your journey, I encourage you to be patient and kind to yourself.
As you work through your personal process, be open and honest with your network, family, and friends. Discuss your situation with others because they may have similar experience and can offer great feedback or may even be your connection to your next opportunity! Do you have a mentor, former colleague, or an old friend who could serve as a sounding board? Open your profile up on LinkedIn and see what opportunities are available and be open to having others contact you. At minimum, you can explore and see if something grabs your attention.
When you are nervous, remember “being nervous isn’t bad. It just means something important is happening” (Michael Jordan). Step into new territory and explore. Share your knowledge. Appreciate your situation and the opportunity to evaluate and decide your next steps. Quit, leave, or do neither as long as you stay true to yourself, your values, and be authentic. “…Cultivate the courage to be imperfect – and vulnerable”(2). Regardless of how you choose to proceed, be proud of yourself for making one of life’s difficult decisions. Don’t be afraid to ‘quit’.
1. Dictionary Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
2. How to Stay True to Yourself, According to Brené Brown (oprahdaily.com)
