Stream on:
Reflections on Leaving Corporate: 5 Years Later
This week on Working Towards Our Purpose, I hit a milestone. Five years since I left my corporate job in mechanical engineering. It’s been a ride of self-discovery, freedom, and hard work. I wanted to share my biggest takeaways, for anyone out there who’s trying to decide if breaking out of their 9to5 is right for them.
The Hard Parts About Leaving Corporate
-
No Steady Paycheck: Learning to value myself beyond a salary took real effort. Money anxieties don’t disappear overnight!
-
You Still Work Hard: It’s not about working less, it’s about working hard for something that matters to you.
-
Managing Your Own Benefits: Handling health insurance and other benefits is annoying and sometimes expensive, but manageable.
Four Ways Corporate Life Can Hold You Back
1. Authenticity Gets Buried
I found it almost impossible to be my real, authentic self in a corporate setting. Groupthink and a lack of encouragement for independent thought had me always questioning my own voice.
2. Living in Fear and Anxiety
The constant pressure of hierarchy made me anxious and always worried about pleasing a boss. That fear closed me off from opportunities and possibilities.
3. Stolen Creativity
My creativity suffered. There wasn’t much room for new ideas or approaches, and I didn’t invest in my own creative passions the way I wanted to until after I left.
4. Corporate Steals Your Time
The most valuable thing we have is time. I spent years sitting at a desk, postponing things that mattered. Now, I cherish flexibility and being there for the people that matter most to me. It’s something you can’t put a price on.
If You’re Thinking About Leaving…
The hardest part is making the decision. Once you’re out, you start seeing possibilities you didn’t believe in before. There will be tough moments, but they’re outweighed by the joy of working on your terms and discovering who you really are and who you can become.
Want to dig deeper on self-worth and silencing your inner critic?
Download “Softening Your Inner Critic in 7 Days: A Guide to Stop Getting In Your Own Way“