My 11 year work anniversary for my old job would have been on September 27, 2015. I worked at a university as a Student Services Coordinator and for the first 5 years I absolutely LOVED my job. Really. I worked with international students ages 17-65 learning English as a Second Language. I loved my wonderful colleagues, I laughed almost everyday at work, and I found the work challenging and invigorating.
Until it Wasn’t
When I began my job my division was struggling-badly. The industry had an understandably difficult time after 9-11 and many businesses that relied on foreign clientele were just trying to hold on. In fact, two of my colleagues would speculate on a daily basis about when we would close. As a new hire who had worked for more than a year at Starbucks and the mall, this was the type of speculation that I could have done without. But we survived and thrived mainly through good luck, then hard work. Good luck came in the guise of the Saudi Arabian Government starting a massive student scholarship program to educate its people abroad. We were suddenly inundated with 100’s of calls a week from potential undergrad/graduate/and research level (Ph.d) students wanting to study with us. We were saved.
2006
I felt that it was about time to go. This was a normal move for most American workers. Five years is more than enough time to learn and challenge oneself at a job. I began looking for jobs in New York City-who wouldn’t want to live there as a young professional? But I had a bad feeling. I couldn’t shake that bad feeling and even though it looked like I was going to get a job in New York…I decided to stay in Denver, buy a home and continued working my job. I’m glad I did.
2007-The Bottom Drops
The Great Recession (almost Depression) starts. I hope to never go through an experience like this one again. It was truly one of the scariest experiences of my life. People were losing their jobs everywhere, their homes, and people were frightened. With good reason. My organization, ironically, was doing incredibly well. We were overrun with students and thankful for it. So, I stayed.
One Year Becomes Five Years
A cautionary tale. I thought I would stay on for a year or two until the crisis cleaned itself up. Well, life doesn’t work that way. It took longer for the economy to stabilize and my job became harder and harder for many reasons-the main reason being that my work load had increased over 300%. I wasn’t happy.
I was still broke (I had bad money habits) I was single (eggs will only last for so long-might need in vitro) was depressed, and was having the following issues:
- Anxiety
- Clinching teeth at night so hard that that I actually ended up breaking my tooth. I had to have it replaced.
- My hair fell out. Happily, it’s growing back. Thank God there can be fun with fake hair.
- Weekly migraines.
- Depression-I would start crying at random times.
- Anger-What the F$CK was I doing with my life? Why was I doing this to myself? You guys (my clients and people in general) are driving me crazy!
A pragmatic decision is good, until it’s not. I began having some deep conversations with myself about what my next move would should be. I had an idea..but it frightened me.
Money, Money, Money
I started this blog in 2012 because I found myself overwhelmed. My life, my money, and my health were a mess. I was just trying to figure everything out. I figured out that life is short and to be unhappy is a loser’s game. That it’s smart to make pragmatic choices but that you have to figure out when the pragmatic choice no longer works for you (like staying in my job).
I stayed in my job because I had student loans, credit cards, and just couldn’t figure out how to manage it all. I started this blog to figure out my path out of this mess that I had made and it was and still is a hard road to be on.
My Money Mess
- I didn’t have a money education-so my money mistakes were EPIC.
- I had bad spending habits.
- I didn’t save-BUT, I did (and still do) have a great retirement plan that was funded and matched through my job.
There was a point though, when I decided that regardless of my money I had to make decisions for my life. I deserved happiness like everyone else and I wasn’t happy. So, I began blogging in earnest, spent time reading about money, did challenges like the No Shopping Challenge, and connected with people who wanted to succeed with money. These people were at my job, via the internet, and in my group of friends.
It took YEARS to work on myself and work on my money habits. It took time to figure out my “why?” Why was I doing the things I was doing? Why would I self-sabotage with my money decisions? There was a point where I finally feel like I had a pretty good handle on my “why” and that was the point where I decided I had to go. I had to take a leap of faith in myself and my life.
I spent years observing, learning, and connecting with people making money in ways that are considered untraditional. I felt comfortable taking the leap and working for myself. Was it the most well executed leap? No! Would I do it again? Yes.
Start Now
For those of you who are delaying the start to whatever change in life that you want to manifest-start now. Don’t wait. It takes time to learn new habits, break old ones, and learn about yourself and what motivates you. It will take time to build the cajones to take that leap of faith in yourself and what you would like to do. Start small. And keep trying over and over again until you believe in yourself. And commit.
Life Now
It is almost a year since I quit my job. I am still standing. Was it the best leap into the unknown? No. Could I have saved more money? Yes. Gone on a shorter trip to Australia? Yes. Saved more money? HECK YES! (see how I mentioned it twice?)
Would I make the same choice again to leave my job? Yes. Leaving my job wasn’t just a good choice for me-it was a good choice for the organization that I was working with. When you’re that unhappy at work and in your life you’re not doing a good job at either. Trust me-you’re not. And, you’re replaceable.
The goals that I had for my life post my 10 years job:
- Work for myself-done
- Actually live on the money that I earned. Done-still eating.
- Manage my health better-done
- Lose weight-Going well.
- Connect with friends and family in consistent and substantive ways-DONE!
- Date-It’s coming along and I’m happy with how things are going.
- Learn How To Drive-Just about to take my test in the next couple of weeks.
- Prove that I was able to do what I dreamed of for myself-DONE!
I’ve already begun focusing on my goals and dreams for myself for 2016. I’ve tweaked the Vision Board and will continue to look at it as a guide for my actions. I’ve learned the hard way that you have to work towards and fight for the life that you want because it’s a journey and doesn’t happen overnight. I am so glad that I quit my job.
Next stop. Debt freedom.
When Was The Last Time You Made A Major Life Change? Was It Scary?
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I know I always say this, but your story is so inspiring Michelle! It can be scary to make huge life decisions but you have to listen to your mind and body and trust yourself. I haven’t steered myself wrong yet and I’m working toward a lot of exciting things for 2016. Can’t wait to see what the future has in store for both of us!
Chonce, it was so awesome meeting you in real person! It was such a hard decision but besides figuring out how to budget on a variable income-it has been a no brainer decision. Am loving every minute. Can’t wait to hear about your upcoming adventures!!
This is great! You have done so incredibly well! It’s fantastic feeling when you set yourself goals and achieve them 🙂
Thanks! I’m feeling pretty good, now I just need to focus on the money. Now that I have fewer things on my mind I am better able to manage the process.