Taking A Leap

Two years ago, I found myself at a new job, working for a solo practitioner in Los Angeles. I was inspired by his seeming passion for helping people and accepted the job despite certain red flags. Needless to say, as with most new relationships, things went smoothly for the first few months. I continued to ignore the fact that promises were made and broken, that I had more clients than any one person could handle, and that my concerns seemed to go unheard. I continued to work hard and blocked out the feelings of unhappiness and dissatisfaction with my work environment.

A year went by, but the overwhelming feeling that I was in the wrong place didn't leave me. I was bogged down not only by my employer's expectations, but also by the expectations that I had created for myself. I had always been one of those people who had a plan and felt the need to persevere regardless of the circumstances, so I felt the need to see things through. Perhaps once I became a partner I would be happier.

It wasn't until I looked at friends in other industries that I realized that the culture of the workplace has changed. This isn't a generation of people who stay at the same job for forty years, waiting for their retirement. It is a new and evolving generation. It is a generation of people who change careers several times; a generation of telecommuters; a generation of people who think outside the box and take chances to nourish those ideas.

I began looking within me to find what it was that really brought me satisfaction and tried to look beyond the blueprint I had created for my life long ago. One Friday afternoon, I made my decision. I spent the weekend gathering up my things, tying up loose ends, and gave my notice on Monday morning. When I walked into John's office with a single piece of paper in my hand, he did not look up from his desk. "Is that your resignation letter?" he asked with a perceptible hostility in his voice. "Yes, it is." With a slight tremble and a smile on my face, I placed the letter on his desk and walked back to my office. I had never felt such a burden lift from my shoulders.

Since I left my firm nine months ago, I have been working as a contract attorney and freelance writer, and I have never been happier. Don't get me wrong -there are days where I stop and wonder if I'm headed down the right path or if the freedom I found was worth the pay cut. One thing I can say, however, is that I have never regretted the decision to leave. Those close to me say that I exude a confidence I never did before. I've heard countless times how brave I was to leave my job without a plan, without another job to land on. I realize now that I did have a plan, even if I didn't know the details yet. I wanted to have some autonomy over my work life. I wanted to be able to take cases that I believed in, and to turn down those I didn't. I wanted the opportunity to nourish my creative side. I have since been able to do all of that and more.

Before deciding whether it is time for you to move on from your current situation, here are a few suggestions.

1. Take stock of your situation. Note what you like and don't like about your current place of employment. If there are things that you can change to make it a better work environment, take steps to making it happen. If you have verbalized concerns and have been met with indifference, start planning for where you'd like to go next.

2. Make a list of what it is you would like to do. Even if there are ten things you are passionate about, write them down. We too often float through life in a stream of vagueness. Putting goals and aspirations down in writing helps us narrow the list down. Remember that we are our own greatest obstacle. Once we get past the fear (of change, of the unknown, of failing), we can open up ourselves to a completely new world.

3. Let go of old expectations. Like old habits, though they provide us with a sense of comfort, they often tend to hold us back. It is tempting to think about where you thought you would be at this stage in life - how much money you thought you would be making, that five-bedroom house you thought you would own by now - the list can go on. Think of what you would like now and move forward to reach those goals.

4. Devise a plan. If you've been spending most of your savings on entertainment instead of stashing it away, start building your cushion for when you leave your job. Unless you have another gig lined up, make sure you have enough to carry you over for a few months before you strut into your employer's office and give notice. If you have an important client or project that you feel obligated to complete, focus on getting it done sooner rather than later. If that's not possible, do your best to leave things ready for the next person to take over.

5. Believe in yourself. This seemingly simple suggestion is often one of the hardest ones to follow. There will be a time when you question your decision or worry about the future, but remember that you know yourself best and in the end you are the one responsible for your happiness.

The bottom line is that you don't have to settle for being unhappy in your career. It takes some courage, but it just might be the time to take a leap.

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This piece was written in 2010.