We often imagine our careers as a journey or a ladder, moving onwards and upwards.
But there are times our plans get derailed. Our timelines get shortened. Our next moves feel, on our good days, like a leap of faith - on our bad days, a free fall - not knowing when or where we will land.
Two years ago, my employer abruptly announced a return-to-office mandate. Five days a week. My commute was 3-4 hours a day. After several grueling months, I made the difficult choice to leave.
I recently shared this story in the Washington Post. Here I'll walk you through my decision:
First, I considered my priorities. I asked myself: Is this the life I want? At the least, is it a situation I can adapt to and live with? I tried to make it work. I looked into nearby apartments. For a time, I entertained the idea of moving there despite the high rents. I could come home on the weekends.
But as I reflected, that sounded miserable. I had no friends or community in the area. I'd be moving just to work. What good was making money if I couldn't enjoy it? That was not what I wanted in life.
Second, I counted the costs. Not merely of what I was giving up, but how much I needed to live on. My personal expenses were fairly low. I had no wife or kids. The cost-benefit analysis would've been different if I had dependents. I minimized my discretionary spending and saved up for months.
When I resigned, I had not yet secured a new position. Many people say don't quit without a new job lined up. That intuitively makes sense, so you don't run out of money. But if you've saved up enough, it doesn't really matter. I knew my runway. I was confident that I'd land a new role before then.
Third, I checked out my options. My main hesitation was whether I could make a comparable salary elsewhere. You see, the compensation was a substantial increase over my prior job - granted, that was at a nonprofit paying below-market rates. For the first year, I didn't know if I deserved it.
As I interviewed for jobs, I found that I was a finalist for roles paying similar ranges, even some the next tier or two higher. I was reassured. No guarantees, of course. But it was only a matter of time.
Many people face a similar dilemma today - a return-to-office mandate or other unwelcome change at work. They are asking themselves: Should I stay, or should I go? Perhaps this is you.
There's not one right answer. Your choice may not be like mine. This is a deeply personal decision - one that depends on your needs, finances, responsibilities, risk tolerance, and more. It demands honest reflection and thoughtful debate, careful planning and deliberate action.
I hope that my story offers you the comfort or courage you need in your decision.