This is my 1st installment of my Work Series Wednesday. Every Wednesday I will be sharing stories from my work journey and another work lesson I learned. This series is called WhitXWorkSeries!
THOUGHTS ON LEAVING THE CORPORATE WORLD: THE WHY?
I left the corporate world in May of 2017. Initially, when I left I did not have a plan (which I do not recommend). All I knew was that my life was moving in a direction I did not want and I was unhappy. I needed to hit reboot. It was now or never!
It was rather ironic – I had moved up the corporate ladder quite quickly in my career. I was a Director for a global media agency running multiple teams all by the time I was 30, but I was miserable.
Let me give a bit of background to what I did in the corporate world…
I spent almost a decade working in the corporate marketing world. My job was to create advertising campaigns for some of the biggest brands in the world. Previous clients included: Pottery Barn, Williams-Sonoma, Avon, Sprint, Intuit etc. I organized National and International programs including TV, radio, search and digital ad campaigns.
My job required very long hours. There were technical meetings, supervising & training teams, and a bevy of clients to keep happy. I spent years working my way up at different agencies. I learned so much along the way. But the long hours and grueling pace caught up with me. My typical hours ran 7am to 10pm daily and often on weekends. I traveled a lot for work: New York, Kansas, Texas, Singapore, London etc. It may sound glamorous but it was stressful. Rushing off a 17-hour flight to make a presentation than to turn around and head back home again was exhausting.
As my 30th birthday approached I took a step back and examined my quality of life. After a deep and honest look I realized:
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- I was unhappy
- I was in a toxic work environment
- I was burnout
- I was not valued
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Initially, I struggled with the idea of leaving the corporate world. Would I be abandoning my teams? Am I ready to walk away from it all? Could I be doing more? I dug in and work harder, tried to be more committed. It only made things worse. I was feeling depressed.
So I focused on building up my savings. And with no concrete plan, I finally made that drastic change: I quit!
I had to save myself.
I need to go find the better version of myself and grab the life I really wanted!
BUSINESS CASUAL OUTFIT DETAILS:
Blazer from Banana Republic (old), Blouse from Nordstrom, Citizen of Humanity Jeans, Sam Edelman heels
Starting over is painful. I had lived in the same city, worked in the same field for almost 10 years. Where would I go next? How would I find my way? I would like to give you a few suggestions I learned along my journey:
1. Make sure you have adequate savings – It is a luxury to walk away. Try to have at least 6 months of salary tucked away.
2. You do not have to have a specific plan. But be prepared. You are in transition. It is painful and frightening. But be patient as your new journey unfolds.
3. Start Building Your Network – Prioritize relationships in your industry. Reach out to others in your field.
4. Work on your Resume – You might not be ready to walk away but be prepared. Update and polish your Resume. Have ideas where you might want to send it.
Unfortunately, I quit after a nasty showdown with my VP. I should have left sooner. I will cover that experience next. Appropriately titled: Rage quitting my job.
Do you work in an unhealthy environment? Are you also thinking about leaving the Corporate World? What do you struggle with in your job? Share it with me online with the hashtag: #WHITxWORKSERIES
I would love to hear about your work experiences! Email me!
SHOP MY BUSINESS CASUAL LOOK:
Sounds like you made the right decision by quitting. Sometimes, we all need to hit the reset button, myself included. I may not be where I expected to be by now but I am much, much happier.
I couldnt agree more! So happy a hit reboot – it maybe not be where I thought I would be but my quality of life is SO MUCH BETTER!
Thanks for sharing your experiences and tough choices you had to make! It is very inspiration to hear for those that are unhappy in the current situations. I look forward to reading more:)
ahh thanks so much! I am excited to share more with you!
I had a lot of my friends put years into their corporate careers and they were so unhappy. Happiness is so important. Change can be scary but you look like you are killin it! Love your outfit with the pop of pink!
http://www.withlovefromkimberly.com
Thanks babe! The change was a hard one but SO WORTH IT!
I love your style, Whitney!
Thank you so much!
I really related to your experience- my journey is somewhat different in that I am sticking it out (for now) while I start to build my side business. All your advice is spot on – thank you!
Ahh thanks babe! Really appreciate the message! Good luck on your side business!
You go girl!! So awesome that you followed your heart and took this leap. Loved the suggestions too, so inspiring!
Kileen
cute & little
Making sure your savings are in order is a huge part of it I’m sure! I can see why it isn’t for everyone – it definitely isn’t for me – so I get that 100%! Love your outfit, too!
Good for you! Do the things that make you happy!
Briana
https://beyoutifulbrunette.com/
This was such an inspiring post to read! Good for you girl for knowing your worth and knowing when it was time to move on! And look at you now! Can’t wait to read next week’s post!
Are you doing full time blogging now?
This is such an inspirational post! Good for you to know when to say you have had enough. Cute pics too. #inspo
I admire you! Your post was really inspiring as I’m in a similar situation.
I love your honesty here! While I still work for a large corporation I work remotely so thankfully i don’t have to deal with office drama. I’m glad you found your peace! Oh and I LOVE these photos xo
I think it’s really emotionally mature to be able to take a step back and realize when things just aren’t working. Good for you!
Such an interesting read! 2 years ago, I left my teaching job FOR a corporate job and I’m surprisingly in such a better head space.
xx, Danielle | http://www.pineappleandprosecco.com
Wow! I had no idea that’s what you did! Also, I love your blazer!
Whitney this is genuinely inspiring to read, it sounds like you had/have a solid track record and putting your happiness first and walking away is a brave thing to do! I applaud you and low-key hope I have the courage to do the same if I am every in the same position.
PS. Love your outfit!
No job is worth being unhappy/miserable! Good for you girl
I have been in the corporate world for over ten years now and I am feeling the same things that were feeling — I am unhappy, burnt out, and I don’t make enough money. My dad frequently helps me with simple things like paying rent and bills. I want to leave and work for myself as well, but –as you mentioned– it can be quite intimidating.
Great post! x
Michelle
dressingwithstyle-s.com
kudos to you for leaving the corporate world girl! i can totally relate to a lot of the points you’ve made and i myself am really proud to be a self-made entrepreneur where i can make sure my work is valued.
I’ve been there – I used to work somewhere that was eating away at my mental health and I had to leave fast!
I love your outfit here – the mix of casual and formal creates a great juxtaposition!
Thanks so much for sharing your story! It sucks that you were in a toxic environment and I’m sure it’s so tough to start from scratch but I’m glad you’re happier now! Great tips!
With love, Jenn
https://jubilantdose.com
Kudos to you for realizing your situation was toxic and then doing something about it! I, too, quit the corporate world a little over a year ago and I agree with everything you have said! Sometimes it’s absolutely necessary, especially when your happiness & sanity is at stake! xo
That must have been a tough decision and bet on your future but it looks like you are so much happier now!
I left my 9-5 career in 2016 and can relate to the burnout! While I was happy with my job and really loved my team and boss, who was super supportive when I took my blog full time, but I knew in my heart of hearts that I wasn’t fulfilled and needed to make a change. After a year of planning I took the plunge and have never looked back! I’m sorry your ten year career ended on a sour note with your VP but am so happy you are on a much happier path!
xo, Sara
Do you have any regrets about leaving your full time gig to go work for yourself? Is your blog able to sustain you now?
It was definitely a hard choice and I did not set out to establish my own business – it just kind of happened that way. But I am 100% happier on this side than I was in the corporate world. I will be sharing more about where I am now soon in the Work Series!
xo, Whitney