Earlier this week I wrote about not abandoning your goals. But there are times when you need to hang it up and move on. For many people, quitting carries a lot of psychological baggage. It can be hard to trust yourself when you feel doubt, fear and uncertainty. I know because I’ve been there.

My Story

When I first moved to Chicago I found a job with a company I’d wanted to work with for some time. The position was one they’d never tried before: although I would be employed by one company, I’d actually be working onsite for one of their clients and would have to abide by the client’s “rules.” I was cautiously optimistic, but it seemed like a good opportunity so I went ahead. Unfortunately, the culture at the client company was a terrible fit. They weren’t bad people, they just had a very corporate style and restrictive atmosphere. I ended up dreading the days I had to go there, ultimately developing some physical illness as a result of the stress. Looking back, I knew it was wrong the first week on the job. But I doubted my gut. I was afraid to let go of what I thought I needed. Continue Reading →