When Evan Tepper took a sabbatical from a cushy job at an international mass media and information firm, he began 15-month journey, trekking across the world bringing with him just a few items, including a notebook and camera.
“While I was meandering through different countries, I saw life at its most simplistic level,” he says. “I lived by a few simple principles. I slowed down. I became more aware. And, I became more conscious of the food I was eating.”
He learned more about clean eating and what that really meant. When he returned home to Minneapolis in 2015, he decided to follow this passion and open a food truck. A year later, he opened a brick and mortar cafe, Whole Sum Kitchen.
In the past, quitting a job was fine — as long as you had another job lined up. But now that the gig economy is in full swing and side hustles are on the rise, there’s less emphasis on your resume and more on finding that sweet spot in work and life.
If you’re miserable in your career, starting making changes…today. We can help. Here’s what to do first:
Give yourself a break
It’s hard to figure out what the next step should be when your brain is cluttered with to-do lists and expectations — both at work and at home. So, give yourself a break. Allow some time to get clear on your next move.
“Clarity follows chaos,” Greta Solomon, journalist turned writing coach and author, writes. “Carve out pockets of alone time so that you can listen to your intuition and get clear on your best next move. Do you need a side hustle? Do you need to hire a coach? Give yourself the gift of a little peace and quiet to process things.”
Look at your environment
A job is made up of more than just the tasks you perform. It’s shaped by factors like your boss and colleagues, the company’s values, and the growth you can achieve in your current role.
Alison Doyle, job search expert for The Balance Careers, tells job seekers not to waste time in a position that doesn’t offer opportunities for growth.
“Committing your time and energy to a company that won’t support the process of your career, or grow with you, will end up hindering the development of your career in the long run.”
Review your job and all the aspects of it holistically. You’ll start to see if you’re in the right role or if you’d thrive in another work experience.
Examine your company’s culture
Kathy Caprino, career success coach, author and speaker, helps professional women discover their right work. She says there are six action styles that shape what we want, need and dream of in our work and personal lives.
“If our dominant action styles aren’t respected, appreciated or allowed to be exercised fully in our work and personal lives, we often feel misunderstood, undervalued, thwarted, disconnected, and unfulfilled.”
Doyle echoes this, encouraging employees to examine their company culture closely. “If you crave a flexible, work-from-home environment, but you’re stuck at a traditional nine-to-five job, you will probably never be satisfied no matter how much you like other aspects of your position.”
She suggests negotiating a schedule that works for you — or improvising other circumstances that could create a more fulfilling life, both professional and personal.
Write your own job description
Surprisingly, we dream in images and visions, not words or lists. So, take some time to envision your dream job. Notice the specific details. Where are you? Are you working from home? Are you working at an office in the city? Caprino suggests putting words to your visions and writing your dream job description.
“Flesh it out completely with qualifications, experiences, and outcomes you want to support,” she writes. “Then, start sharing that with everyone you know, verbally and in writing.”
She also advises connecting with people you admire and respect — both in person and online. We tout the same practice. Each month, reach out to a corporate or community leader you admire and invite them to coffee. Spend an hour picking their brain; how did they build their business? How did they find success and fulfillment in their company?
Trust your gut
Do you feel like you’re meant for something else — something that doesn’t include your toxic coworkers or soul-crushing cubicle? Trust that — those thoughts and feelings are telling you that there’s another direction, there’s something else waiting for you.
Caprino is familiar with this, having struggled with it herself.
“Many people, particularly women, feel ashamed and embarrassed to admit that, deep down, they feel they are made for better things than their current role,” she says. “If you feel you’re made for more exciting things, then you are. Don’t be ashamed of it or hide from it.”
After you’ve taken these steps and you feel like you’re ready for a change, we can help. At Ambrion, we work hard to get to know both our clients and our candidates so the match is a good fit, holistically.