Feeling Like A Fish Out of Water? STOP Trying To Be A Fish.

I start to panic on Sunday evening when I think about going to work on Monday. I stay up as late as possible to postpone the inevitable.

I feel like a fish out of water at my job.

I have been getting sick frequently, gained weight, and have skin problems because of the stress.

I stopped caring about the things I used to enjoy. I truly don’t want to do anything in the evenings or weekends because I’m just so exhausted from my job.

~Worker Living in OHIO

After we make our list of why we think we need to “Just Quit” then we need to counterbalance it and ask ourselves: “Is it possible that things could get BETTER on this job? Is there anything that might happen on this job, in this place that would make me want to stay?” 

Listen for the answers.  

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

P.S.

Half the time the problem we have is that we try to be like everyone else.  Or we do what other people think we should do.

Until you have the courage to be YOU and do what YOU are meant to do…you’ll always feel like a fish out of water… even if you SHOULD be happy (because you have a job or you’re making decent money). 

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR LIFE?

Three Magic Words

Why Are You Here? What Are You Suppose To Be Doing With Your Life?

I don’t enjoy what I do and need the time and stress-free experience to find out what I truly want to do.

The enjoyment of the job is no longer there and there is no motivation to try and excel at what I’m doing.

It has crept over into my personal life, making me less happy as a person overall. 

~Worker Living in VIRGINIA

We need to find our authentic selves.

Sometimes in order to do that we need to eliminate all of the noise and static of our current job so we can find out what we really want.  That is what “Just Quit” is  about:  letting go of what we know is not working (and will not work) EVEN if we don’t have something to replace it with right away.

We can make preparations to have some time to find our authentic selves (and still be able to eat of course)… that’s why planning is so important.  

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

Feeling Demoted Is A Wake-up Call

Because of organizational changes it has resulted in my being pushed into a lesser role than I had previously.

~Worker Living in COLORADO

Some of us have been here:  we still have our jobs, same title even, but our role has changed.

Our role is diminished.

We feel like we have been demoted.

We can’t see a way forward, only a way out.

Sometimes things happen to cause use to wake up and to act…to do something…to make a change.

It’s a wake-up call.

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

Stop Crawling. Stop Cocooning. Start Flying.

I am tired of getting up at 5:15 every weekday. I spend two hours a day on the road.

I do not have support of administration in trying to do my best to educate students.

I have been moved three times in two years.

I find myself unable to do anything at the end of the day other than come home, eat, watch TV and go to bed; no energy left over. 

I am ready for a change. 

~Worker Living in TENNESSEE

Today, we are ready for a change.

We will not be afraid of a change.

We are ready and we can handle it.

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

Having A Strategy

I’m not inspired by what I’m doing.

I’m working very hard and achieving nothing. 

I don’t agree with the strategy or lack of strategy of the work and how it has been put together.  The company has no strong work ethic ethos, and lots of people doing the bare minimum. 

There is no transparency in pay and often projects are under resourced meaning that we fail to deliver quality work on time.

~Worker Living in the UNITED KINGDOM

How many of the places where we work have well-thought out AND COMMUNICATED strategies?   Not Many. We all know this, and we also know when there really isn’t a cogent strategy AT ALL…communicated or not.

We know when everybody is just showing up, but not working towards the same thing.  Sometimes all we can do is know this, and maybe do the bare minimum (if you can) while you reserve your mental energy to pursue your own interests, develop your own personal life strategy and work it…sometimes that is all we can do.

P.S.

If you find yourself in this situation today; continue to work hard EVEN if there is no strong work ethics in the organization. Just stay focused and develop a clear strategy for your job.  There is something powerful about doing the right thing even when you don’t see the point.

Just pretend like you are the owner/president/executive director/in the corner office.  This is your organization. Now ask yourself what would YOU (as the owner) want YOU (current job holder) to do? Just pretend…who knows…maybe one day YOU may be the owner…have employees…need a clear and communicated vision..need a strategy to reach the vision…and…change your corner of the world…or the world.

I always go back to Microsoft’s vision that they basically achieved inside of  20 years…it happpened…A desktop computer in every home running Microsoft Office.  

NOW what is the vision for YOUR life in the next 20 years?

What is it????  

There is NO NEED for a strategy if you don’t have a vision.

WHAT IS YOUR VISION? 

It is not a mistake that you are in this situation…maybe it is to wake you up…have a vision and strategy and stop just going through the motions.

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

Hold On Tight To Your Dream. Move Towards It. Focus On It. Do It.

The working conditions are unbearable and making me sick.

I also feel like I am being deterred from following my dreams. I can’t afford to waste another minute that can be used to pursue my dream.

There is something out there better for me than the present; a more promising future.

~Worker Living in the BAHAMAS

Today, I will know that only I can do the thing I am meant to do and no one else.

I can either pursue my dream or it can go to the grave with me.

That is the choice.

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

The type of work that I do, I am not happy with. At the end of the day I do not have a sense of satisfaction or gratification that I did something meaningful or worthwhile.

I am in a position where I scam customers for their money in return for very little to them. I do not “help” people in a way that I want to. I wear a suit and tie and I clean cars in 100+degree heat. I did not go to college to do this and I deserve so much better.

I work 50 hours a week and I am physically and mentally drained from work. I do not spend time with family or friends like I used to and I have a very bad attitude because all week I take nothing but bullsh*t from customers complaining over nothing. I bend over backwards to make them happy and make my managers richer while my pay check stays the same.

I need to do work where I am helping others in a positive fashion and where I can make a difference. My efforts need to be a part of the “bigger picture”.

Working at this company is horrible, the working conditions, the business practices they teach us, and the terrible management invasion of privacy is something I absolutely hate. I need to find something else!

~Worker Living in WEST VIRGINIA

Today, step back from your life and look at the “bigger picture”.

Put your life into perspective.

What is the big picture you ask:  one day like everyone else we will no longer exist.  None of us know the day it will happen. All we know is that it is an appointment for everyone.

Are you doing something with your life that matters, that is meaningful and worthwhile?

Are you helping or are you hurting others?

Really take a look at the bigger picture and put this one job into perspective.

You are reading from the book “Just Quit” & Live

P.S.

Today is Grandparents Day.  If you are a grandparent think about the legacy you want to leave your grandchildren. Don’t ask what can I do? Say yes I will do something and then start doing it.

If you still have a grandparent living…call them…or go see them and listen to them. Yes, they will ask about your life but try to turn the tables and ask about them, their stories, and just listen.