You’ve Already Quit

Time to Move On With Purpose

Dear Leader,

In our last 1 on 1, you spoke of quitting. As the door clicked shut, the latest offense from the boss spilled out even before you sat. The tirade continued from one person to another in situations that can only be described as ancient. When I pressed further, you gave no indication that you had interest in mending the relationship with your co-workers or boss. It appears that you have already quit, doing the bare minimum merely to avoid a firing.

This didn't begin just last week. In the lead up to getting this job, you described a mounting financial pressure and your need to take any job you could get. Not getting what you wanted, the miss ate at you each progressing year making you sensitive to every injustice. Resentment developed in you and tainted your attitude.

But it's not them. You sacrificed the dream of working in sports to merely get anything.

The pain of that sacrifice comes back every time your extra work is not recognized or when those workmates you helped don't return the favor. You think "I don't belong here!" But the longer you endure this, the more you wonder if you are even capable of the dream. Every day adds evidence to your worst thoughts about yourself. It doesn't stop inside your head either. Your demeanor has your team referring to you as "the grumpy guy" which is a reputation that will be hard to shake. What started as a mere miss becomes an identity.

But it is not objectively true. It's in your head. What did Henry Ford say? "If you believe you can or if you believe you can't, you are right."

Before you can move toward better, you need to know what better looks like. That calls for some genuine and critical introspection. I am happy to offer you a voucher for my "Future Authoring" program to help you really narrow down what drives you.

For now, I will give you the 3 essential questions to answer for yourself.

• What does your ideal future look like in 3-5 years, including the kind of work, relationships, and impact you want to have on the world?
• What qualities do you admire in others (e.g., leaders, thinkers, or creators), and how do you want those to shape your own path?
• What future scenarios do you want to avoid at all costs, and what personal weaknesses or obstacles might lead you there?

The answers will reveal a motivational aim and from that, we can focus the search for your next gig.

When you find that job that is in alignment with your life's ambition, the payoff is purpose and fulfillment. There is real effort involved, but there will be an ease about you. No longer will those occasional injustices shake you because you'll say "it's worth it." This isn't quitting, this is a plan to move toward something meaningful. This is leading yourself.

Park Wiker

P.S. You should never sacrifice what you could be for what you are. - Jordan Peterson