Quitting my job…
Steven, one of my team members on the Ladies Shoe team, came in on his day off to celebrate my birthday. He even brought me yellow tulips because they were my favorite.
Was the scariest thing I’ve ever done.
Let me backup a tad for you to understand better… To make a long story shorter, here’s what you need to know: Before Chance and I were married I worked for a major big box corporate retailer and was promoted rather quickly at a very young age. It was so exciting to be thriving at such a young age especially after we had been living together since 17 (him) and 18 (me). I was a full time student and was in survival mode. The promise of a career and a salary was absolutely what I needed at the moment. I ended up working for the company for almost four years and left in order to give our first year of marriage the time and attention it needed and deserved because retail life is all consuming, especially when you are in management.
Fast forward six years and we found ourselves in a position where I needed to make more money then the teeny paychecks teaching provided and I went back to retail. I worked for the same company for another 6 and a half years and became the sole provider for our family. The company in general and the vice president have always been wonderful to me and have provided opportunities that we desperately needed. But retail life is HARD. I worked for this company for over 10 years total and even though they were crucial to our survival, I knew I had to get out as soon as I possibly could.
Good Morning’s started as a hobby and I had no idea it would turn into what it is now. I always planned on quitting my corporate job when Chance finished his degree and was able to land his big break. We were originally planning for me to leave by the 2021 holiday season. It just got to a point where I couldn’t wait any longer, so I put in my notice on December 24th, 2020 and dove head first off the olympic high dive and crashed into shallow water. It was the biggest risk I’ve ever taken and it ended up being the best decision in the end.
After a year of working for myself, here are the PROS and CONS of quitting my job:
CONS
The Risk. I understand that for some, the risk isn’t worth quitting the only income for your family. This was huge! What if I failed? What if we lost everything… AGAIN!?
Behind the scenes of a small business. I’m just one person. And now I’m doing the job of 20. Taxes, expenses, budgets, ordering and managing supplies, shipping, customer service, SEO and analytics, keyword research, photography, social media content, designing and creating original products, engaging with customers and building a clientele, plus more. It’s SO MUCH.
Motivation/burnout. If you burnout easily or have a hard time finding motivation this is a major deal. Taking initiative and being a self starter is so so important and very much needed. Time management and proper planning is one way to combat any potential issues.
Space. Having a small business requires SO much space. To keep overhead low and to save on expenses, working from home was ideal for me. Because I currently do not have a proper studio or room for all of my supplies and tools to be accessible I have things tucked away in all corners of our home. I even store milk jugs for future headbands under our bed in the master bedroom.
Insurance. We lost our health, dental and vision insurance when I quit my job. Unfortunately many Americans are stuck in jobs they hate simply because they can’t afford to not have insurance.
Working alone. I never realized I was such an extroverted person until I quit my job. I miss my team and working with customers in person. I miss the interpersonal work relationships I cultivated and nurtured. I miss people.
Stability. The steady paycheck. I knew exactly how much money I was bringing home every week.
Vacation. The work/store/customers/associates survived without me (although it didn’t feel like it most of the time). I could walk away from work for my two weeks a year (but never allowed to take them together…?) and still have a paycheck. Now, if I take a vacation, there is no money. I needed to make double my income in November to be able to afford to take all of this December off. It was a tough month of work, but so worth it in the end.
PROS
Schedule. This is a complicated subject and will get a seperate blog post, but ultimately, I get to make my own schedule.
More fulfilled working. It was so hard to be passionate when I worked in retail. In the beginning I was confident that I was helping others and building more confident and compatible teams. But it became harder and harder to focus on meeting sales goals, recruiting the best associates, and pushing a line of credit when I knew none of us really mattered. Every person in that building was replaceable and we were treated that way. There was always going to be someone next in line to take your spot. Now, I truly feel like I’m making a difference and I’m able to do the most good. I no longer feel helpless when a customer is unsatisfied. I don’t work any less than before, but now all of my efforts are much more meaningful. I know I’m making a difference for so many. I know I’m inspiring others. I know I’m bringing joy to people who really need it. This is so much more rewarding and fulfilling.
No more missing the important moments. I no longer have to work on the first day of school, Mother’s day, Chance and Olivia’s birthday, and Christmas eve. I no longer have to miss a family dinner or go days without seeing my child because I come home at 11 pm and leave for work before 7 am the next day. When we get that call that we are needed back home for a family emergency, I can be there.
No more boss. I no longer have a boss micromanaging my decisions and undermining me to my team. I fully believe people do not quit their jobs, they quit their managers. I was good at my job and enjoyed it for several years. Sure, it had majorly sucky parts about it, but ultimately my team and previous managers made me feel appreciated and valued. This wasn’t the case with my latest manager and I no longer could handle not being valued and appreciated.
Everyday is bring-your-dog-to-work day. This may sound silly but this was a major factor for me. Rocko was sick and we knew he wasn’t going to be around for much longer and I needed to be there for him. All three of dogs, at the time, were senior dogs and spending time with them was a luxury I never got. I’m so fortunate I could spend the last 7 months of Rocko’s life by his side.
No more headaches. I’ve had headaches my entire life. But when I quit my job they reduced significantly. I used to take at least 1200 mg of ibuprofen, sometimes more, every single day. EVERY DAY! My poor liver. Between the perfumes and cosmetics, pushing fixtures and installing displays, de-escalating situations and dealing with terrible customers, managing adults who could not communicate, the pressure of making sales, the dust, lights, music and in-store announcements, non stop thieves. It just always made my head throb constantly.
Reduced stress. My stress is almost non-existent now.
Mental/Physical Health. It got to a point at the end where I would cry every single day driving into work. I would have panic attacks when I got to work and my heart would race and there’s no way my blood pressure was normal. Ultimately I told Chance a paycheck is not worth my mental health anymore. I could feel myself growing more and more bitter and angry. I hated how I had no energy or motivation to see what my daughter excitedly wanted to show me. Putting in my two weeks notice was worth all the risks to no longer feel trapped and suffocating. I now can listen to my body and not force myself to work when I know I should be resting. I can take a sick day without be shamed by my peers or given the evil side eye when I walk by. I’m allowed to take the time and space to care for myself instead of being controlled and dictated by a manager who would replace me in an instant.
Stability. I know I’m not replaceable. I no longer have to fear that my employer can just decide to close the doors and lay off hundreds of people. Sure, it was iffy in the beginning if ends would meet, but when there is no plan B, you do everything possible to make plan A work!
I hope my personal experience weighing the pros and cons of quitting my job has given you some insight to retail life in corporate America, and perhaps it gave you a new perspective if you’re debating whether to quit or not. Quitting isn’t possible for everyone, but it was definitely worth it in the end for me and my family.
Olivia and I at the Las Vegas Lights, professional soccer team, game after a shift at work.