5 Lessons I Learned From Quitting a Good Job- The Muse

5 Lessons I Learned From Quitting a Good Job- The Muse5 Lessons I Learned From Quitting a Good Job- The MuseWhen it comes to your career, theres no foolproof, success-guaranteed option. The smart choices can prove to be dead ends, and supposedly safe jobs can disappear in an economic crisis. Choices that appear risky to friends and make parents worry can prove to be winners, but the only way to know for sure is to take a chance. I made my own stupid career decision and heard these worried reactions a decade ago. The result I now have my dream position.Looking back, heres what I wish Id known before I just up and quit my job with no solid plan 1. Everyone Will Have an OpinionYour parents will try to find a diplomatic way to ask if youve lost your mind- followed by inquiring just how youre going to pay your bills. You could hear questions like, Dont you think its 15 years early for a mid-life crisis? (I know, I did.) Co-workers might say how they admire your courage to your face, but w hisper to each other that its a seriously foolish move.The LessonListen to everyone, but remember that you own your career. If you wake up in several years, wondering What if? you are the only person youll be able to hold accountable for the decisions you did- or didnt- make. Fear of judgment is real, but that doesnt mean you should let it hold you back.2. Job Security Is an IllusionTwo years after I left a job at a top-20 bank, Lehman went bankrupt (followed by General Motors). Remember, theres no such thing as a permanent job and no such thing as a safe company. Working for a reputable organization is one factor to weigh into your decision- notlage the only factor.The LessonJob security doesnt come from a performance rating or the size and past history of an organization. Security comes from continuous efforts to develop your marketable skills and your passion to deliver results. A strong skill set will help you land on your feet- wherever you are.3. Job Satisfaction Hinges on Mak ing a DifferenceIts a clich, but its also true. In a New York Times article entitled Rethinking Work, professor Barry Schwartz cites numerous examples of people finding fulfillment because of what theyre doing each day- not how much theyre getting paid. And this applies to everyone. Schwartz explains that its not just lawyers who leave white-shoe firms to work with the underclass and underserved. A study following hospital janitors showed that they identified the small things they do to make a patient feel better as the best part of their jobs (even if these werent tasks theyd be paid for). No matter the other perks of your job, if you crave responsibilities that will have a broader or different outcome, you wont be happy until you find a way to make a difference.The LessonSure, you can see just how long you can wait it out at a job where youre not doing meaningful work. However, its not sustainable in the long run. Moreover, its not worth it. By comparison, I love my current positi on because Im set up for success and supported by my colleagues every day. When youre debating whether to say yes to a new opportunity, dont just look at title and compensation- consider impact, too. 4. Be Open to the UnexpectedMy breakthrough came 11 months after I left my job, in the form of an email from a former co-worker, who reached out completely out of the blue. (OK, technically, he was my boss boss boss at my previous employer.) He sent me a note after hearing I was on the market. One conversation led to another, leading to a freelance consulting project and then an unexpected dream job in venture capital.The LessonYou might think, Ill make a change when something better comes along. But playing it safe can also hold you back. If you stay in a job that makes you unhappy- and keep your desire to make a change to yourself- you may be passed over for potential opportunities because no one knows youre looking. Sometimes you have to leap first. If thats impossible, at the very l east, be open to people you trust about your hope to make a change.5. Careers Are Like a Road TripIts great to have a specific destination in mind (e.g., Seattle,) or maybe just a direction, (think Northwest). However, you dont need every road, intersection, and traffic light mapped out in advance. Stopping at roadside attractions is part of the fun- and part of your purpose. By banishing the notion of a wrong turn, you open yourself up to more experiences than if everything had to follow a specific plan.The LessonAlmost everyone likes to have his or her career mapped out (Five-year plan, anyone?). But if you go into a change with an inflexible idea of what youre going to achieve, youll miss opportunities to learn along the way, and you may skip over something that would be an even better fit. Be open to the journey, and you may find something you hadnt anticipated.The bottom line is this Your life and your career is likely to be a winding road with switchbacks and blind turns that other people- a.k.a., sensible people- might choose to avoid. But sticking with a soul-sucking job will be like driving circles in a cul-de-sac It leads nowhere and youll eventually run out of gas. So, if youre feeling stuck in an unhappy job, be daring and take a risk. Its not about whether other people will get it. Its about all the great things that lie ahead.