Quit Without Regret: Surprising Secrets of the Scenic Route
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You say you want to quit your job, but are you sure?
Six years ago, I was running a billion-dollar media account with three children under three years old, and life was moving way too fast.
I was the primary breadwinner, my husband was a stay-at-home dad, and I thought we made our choices and had to live with them. But when I saw an opportunity to raise my hand for a package, I ended up in unfamiliar territory.
Since then, I have learned surprising lessons about life and business, found unexpected treasures, and never looked back.
If you dream of leaving corporate life behind but wish you could see into the future first, this is what it looks like after the excitement wears off.
ONE
I’m as ambitious as ever, but it feels good to have a broader definition of success.
The things I love — quality time with my family and friends, travel, cooking, homemaking, gardening, wine, good books, walking my dog, and being outdoors — are all a part of my day-to-day life. I think of this as diversification.
Despite society’s emphasis on salary, income, and multiple revenue streams, most of us dream of measuring our lives beyond finances. My new definition of success includes happiness, well-being, fulfillment, travel, family time, passion projects, and business.
When I stopped comparing myself to others or where I would have been if I had stayed the course, I felt free to love the journey I was on.
It turns out that when you love your days, it’s pretty easy to love your life. Give yourself permission to evaluate life on your terms.
TWO
I’m getting paid to study the topics I find endlessly fascinating (and truth be told, I’d do it anyway).
I started a folder in high school with a collection of quotes, ideas, and people I was genuinely interested in, and it grew throughout college and early in my career.
