When is ok to leave your dream job?

9:44 p.m. Saturday, August 24, 2019:

“Say it ain’t so…”

 “We just heard…OMG”

“What??”

“I think I might throw up…Wait…I think I did in my mouth a little bit”

“Andrew Luck is retiring.”

“I just heard this.  Wow!” 

These are the text messages from Saturday night as rumors began to swirl that Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts Quarterback, would be announcing his retirement from the NFL at the age of 29. NFL fans, Hoosiers, and those who follow sports were surprised by the announcement over the weekend, leaving many to wonder, “How do you give up the best job in the country?”

Luck has stated that his physical health and love for the game just aren’t what they were in 2012 when he was the first-round draft pick for the Colts. A graduate of Stanford University who is known for hosting book clubs and visiting sick children without media to brag on his behavior, he made a decision to walk away from a job that the majority of people only dream of getting. A job that many before him have risked their lives to keep. How do you make a decision like that?

This question is not only common among athletes but in everyday Americans who find themselves without the passion, drive, or ability to continue their work.  Perhaps the work has taken a toll on their physical body, the atmosphere has become toxic and is impacting their mental health, or they simply don’t want to continue doing the work they thought they did when they accepted the job. The choice really becomes challenging when we pile on complications like strong salary, customers (fans) who will be angry, coworkers (teammates) we don’t want to let down, or even a fear of not knowing what to do next. We ask ourselves, who am I without this job? Will we be relevant without this title, company, or reputation? Will this change make people see us as a quitter rather than someone making a strategic move that is best for ourselves and our family? The answers can only be found in the individual considering the change. Here are a few questions to ponder when faced with a big change. 

What’s driving you to consider a change?

We all have bad days, the ones that make us think about moving to an island and slinging margaritas for the rest of our lives, but a few bad days are never the reason to make a change. Bad days are part of every job and every person’s life so it’s critical to look for the reasons you’re considering a change.  Has this been building for a while now? Have there been major changes in your lifestyle that no longer fit your current career? Have there been major changes in your career that no longer fit your current lifestyle?

 Are you celebrated at work or simply tolerated?

A colleague made a big career move that took me by surprise. When I shared my surprise (and support of her decision) she responded by saying, “When what you have to give is no longer what the organization needs or wants to accept, you know it’s time.” I’ve never forgotten her words. They beg the question, are you celebrated at work or simply tolerated? I’m not suggesting each day should come with parades or standing ovations, but we should feel valued in our work. If we’re striving to evaluate each situation without ego and still don’t feel valued at work, perhaps it’s time for a change. That change can be as simple as speaking up and articulating our needs. If you love the organization but have been unable to fulfill your passion in your current role, perhaps there are other roles within the organization to consider. If none of those options are available, perhaps it’s time to consider something new. 

Do you love what you do?

The phrase, “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life” has always bothered me. The truth is doing what we love still means we have to work hard but when we love it the work comes a little easier. Until it doesn’t that is. “Career as calling” can often lead to “career as burnout” if we’re not taking care of ourselves along the way. By admitting we don’t love what we do anymore (assuming we once did) we have the opportunity to evaluate ways to build the love back up. Is it time for a break? Maybe that break is simply a weekend without checking work emails and spending time with people who refill our tanks. Maybe it's disconnecting from the world for an hour or a weekend to simply find gratitude again. Perhaps it's finding opportunities to learn and understand our innate talents and how we can build on those to get our passion back.  Don’t be afraid to reach out for help in regaining passion. No one should go it alone on this journey. Seek out a good coach or counselor to help if it’s too much to tackle. 

Is your job impacting your mental and/or physical health?

Most of us don’t have 300-pound men running at us full speed and throwing us to the ground every day, as Luck did, but our jobs can still take a mental and physical toll on our health. Luckily today’s millennial workforce is recognizing the need to take care of their mental health as well as their physical health. This is something the rest of us could learn from. No matter the paycheck, status, or fan base, a career should never cost us our health and well-being.   Stress can take a tremendous toll on our physical health. Tied to a desk all day? Many doctors believe sitting is the new smoking. It can take a huge toll on our physical health. By making time to meet with doctors to discuss our mental and physical health, we ensure success. If we’re honest with them about what we’re feeling and don’t give up until we find a solution that works, we can guide our paths to a strong future.

Are the negative effects of this job impacting your ability to care for yourself or those you love?

Life changes quickly and our careers may not always change with it. When the negative aspects of our work (toxic co-workers, unnecessarily demanding hours, poor company reputation, etc) begin to affect our ability to care for ourselves or loved ones, it’s time to reevaluate. Seeking help and having honest conversations with those we love can help us see how we can make a change for the better. 

What happens now?

Fear of the future is certainly the biggest reason we stay in bad jobs. What will people say when we leave? What if we fail in a new role? The unknown is the scariest part of change and why so many of us avoid it. While most of us don’t have multimillion-dollar NFL contracts to keep our nest egg safe, we can begin preparing for change. By having honest conversations with those who support us and love us, we can begin to find ways to make the necessary changes. Seeking guidance from a trusted mentor or member of our network will also provide opportunities to chart a new path. 

Career changes may never be easy but by consistently evaluating our work and our passion we can build a life for ourselves and our loved ones enriched with the things that matter most.