5 Things I Learned Leaving My 6 Figure Job
Working in media and advertising in Manhattan provided the kind of cushy lifestyle that most people aspire to. Eating at highly rated restaurants, and sitting front row at shows and sporting events, with cocktails and souvenirs all comped was marvelous. It was extremely fun. However, in my experience these perks served as unforgettable distractions to a nagging sense of unease. I knew I did not want to continue with this career, yet the money and the privileges that came with it kept me going like a hamster on a wheel. Meanwhile, what started as a seed, sprouted into overwhelming anxiety as my goal to become a therapist drifted father into the distance. Growing up without money, a lucrative and somewhat predictable career like advertising felt impossible to walk away from. No, it wasn’t what I wanted to do, but did that really matter? How was I supposed to start over at 30? What about saving for a house? What about retirement? How in the world could I support a family in a career that had infamously low pay? There was no way I was going to let my wife and kids go wanting. Maybe I could myself into enjoying it!
But eventually I reached my breaking point. I was not being true to myself, and I was in a word, miserable. I pulled the trigger and quit my job with nothing lined up except a vague plan to make my way into the world of mental health. And let me tell you... Only 3 years in, it has been both the most difficult and most rewarding decision I have ever made. So here they are - the 5 most valuable lessons that I learned by ditching the practical path and following my passion. I urge you to share this with anyone considering a radical career change, regardless of the industry.
Have faith that this life is malleable. Nothing is set in stone, and once you you’re your decision, the universe will align the stars to guide you. Put differently, it is a mistake to believe you are ever stuck in life. Once the decision to make a change is made, you will start to see all sorts of possibilities that you were blind to previously.
Lead with your heart, not your head. Living your life with pragmatism as your north star puts you at risk of losing sight of your own hopes and dreams. Use your heart as a guide and your head as a tool to get you there.
In the wrong career you will worry about whether you are doing things correctly. In the right career you worry about doing well.
As a man, it is not your duty to provide for a family without regard to personal cost. It takes more of a man to take a risk and bet on yourself, than it does to shut up and do your job. Those of you who have seen Revolutionary Road, this lesson is illustrated beautifully.
Having support from the people around you is extremely important, but at the end of the day, only you can make the decision. You can read, talk, and think about it all you want, but the only person who can make the move is you. Only. you.
Irvin Yolum, one of the most reputable psychiatrists of our time, describes becoming a therapist as an answer to “a calling”. Simply put, it is not simply a career choice, and it is certainly not just another job. I believe this to be true, so for those of you who hear that calling, I urge you with all my heart to heed it.
Best of luck!
