An Open Video to Those Who Don’t Like Hearing That We’re Quitting Our Jobs (& Following Our Bliss)
It’s an epidemic.
Nope – not the plague.
Nope – not Beiber Fever.
Nope – not an influx of mustaches in Brooklyn (that’s just a hipster trend).
But instead it’s the response that my clients/peers/ friends tell me they’re getting when they open up to someone and confide that what they’re doing for work isn’t what they really wanna be doing. It’s the response they get when they say that they’re about to seriously quit their job without having the next job lined up. It’s the response they get when they know they’re about to venture into the unknown, whether it be with a creative career, a self-employment opportunity, and/or a total career change.
The same responses are used over and over no matter that the people aren’t the same:
“It’s called ‘work’ because it’s not supposed to be fun – it’s work!”
“Consider yourself lucky to even have a job in this economy!”
“How the heck do you earn money doing that?”
“But what would you do?”
I had to make An Open Video to Those Who Don’t Like Hearing That We’re Quitting Our Jobs (& Following Our Bliss). Please send it along to anyone whose given you those responses, or anyone you know who has shed some tears because they’ve been brokenhearted by the pain those responses inflict (even though we know that most of the responders are saying those things to keep us safe). They need to watch it (and you might need to, too).
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tags: Hearty How Tos, Vocal Videos
June 15th, 2011 at 12:23 am
love love love!!!
June 15th, 2011 at 6:10 am
Perhaps those people don't understand that their responses are shaming – a really bad way to respond to anything! It may be hard for some to step back and look at the bigger picture in life. What are you living for after all?! Of course, following your passion doesn't mean being irresponsible though…even with risk involved. There is risk in everything – just like you said…nothing is stable. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
June 15th, 2011 at 6:15 am
This is excellent!
June 15th, 2011 at 9:14 am
I love this, and it can't have come at a better time!
June 15th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
thank you!
June 15th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
Love this! Could have used it last year, but still so relevant and amazeballs!
You rock Michelle!
June 15th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Thanks for posting this! I'm going through a bit of this right now. But what about the response of/to a significant other? Then it becomes a little more personal because the decision will affect both parties.
June 16th, 2011 at 3:05 am
Thanks for making that insightful video – I watched it for validation purposes. You're the best!
I AM following my bliss…and doors are "magically" opening. 
June 16th, 2011 at 3:48 am
This was AMAZEBALLS! I just had this conversation with my Dad yesterday. He told me I should be lucky to have a job, and that it isn't that bad, AND that he worked a job that he didn't really like for 28 years, so I should just learn to deal with it…..UGH! I have a plan, and I am working towards it…baby steps! The thing that people don't understand when I start talking about my dream is that I am not going to just make some drastic, over the top change tomorrow. I am making sure I have the ducks in a row and that it is on its feet somewhat before I take the plunge. I AM dealing with my current job, and I DO know that I am lucky to have it, BUT I am not satisfied to spend the rest of my life doing it.
Observation: When we are children we are told that we can do or be whatever we want to, but as adults we are told to suck it up and deal with it. Somehow our dreams are no longer valid when we hit a certain age. I don't know about you, but I am going to keep dreaming anyway.
June 16th, 2011 at 5:28 am
Thanks for that, Michelle!
It's surprising that even after some things really move forward, some people still look at you with some kind of doubt.
Because how the hell is it possible to work from anywhere, coffe shops, different country..
But it works. Slowly sometimes in the beginning..
Cheers!
June 16th, 2011 at 5:58 am
Really beautifully done, ladycakes. Thank you for speaking truth! =D
June 16th, 2011 at 6:08 am
AMEN AMANDA! Thanks Michelle! WOO HOO!
June 16th, 2011 at 10:09 am
Michelle, that was wonderful! Thanks for the encouragement! YOU ROCK!
June 16th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
Yayy yippety yay! Fantastic words of support…I have the perfect people in mind to send this too
ThankYOOOOU! x
June 16th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
I adore it! Very inspirational!
And Congratulations to you! Bravo {Hugs}
June 16th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Thank you so much for speaking on behalf of us who are already facing our fears by stepping out, and could live without the negative feedback. I'm so happy for your success, and appreciate the validation that I'm headed down the right path!
June 17th, 2011 at 2:10 am
Yes, that was amazeballs dear….!
June 17th, 2011 at 5:10 am
Couldn't have said it better myself! THANK YOU.
June 17th, 2011 at 5:59 am
Michelle, the world needs more of this. Thank you for putting it out there.
Oh, and ps. Love you!
June 17th, 2011 at 7:01 am
So amazing, Michelle. I'm glad you sent this out to your email list 'cause I would have missed it. I look forward to the day when it becomes 'normal' to do the work you love, 'normal' to deliver on your gifts and abnormal not to!
June 17th, 2011 at 8:52 am
So, so thrilled with all of your love, everyone! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch and comment – this was just so important to me.
@Cathy – Such a good point. I think, there, it needs to be about compromise. My husband was absolutely involved in this decision with me every step of the way, and his needs/comforts needed to taken into account, too. If your partner isn't supportive *at all*, no ifs/ands/buts….then maybe it's about reassessing the relationship or seeing how you can make it happen so that you *know* you're exactly where you are now (bringing in the same salary as your current job, etc).
@Amanda – You're *so* right that we're told to be whatever we want when we're growing up…until it's time to apply to college, if not before! GOOD FOR YOU for hanging on to those "childish" hopes
June 17th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Finally got to sit down and watch this video. Keep singing it, sister!
June 19th, 2011 at 6:34 am
[...] An Open Video to Those Who Don’t Like Hearing That We’re Quitting Our Jobs (& Following Our … by @WhenIGroUpCoach [...]
June 20th, 2011 at 9:58 am
Hi Michelle. Thanks for your response. I'm grappling with finding a new job as a stepping stone to self-employment or straight into self-employment. He's supportive of me, but stepping into the unknown is exactly that….unknown. It's uncharted territory and a little (OK, alot) scary. I'm ready to jump right in with self-employment, but he would rather have a safety net (new job). It's a matter of building or finding the right net.
I also hear from other people that family members can be a little unsupportive until there are actual results or forward progress. Since I'm still trying to figure things out (think of Sarah's letter to her parents a few weeks ago) he's not exactly sure what he's supporting. So we're definitely working on compromising on things.
June 21st, 2011 at 2:41 am
I love this video. Spot on. I've been there!!!! So thanks for this!
I'm a DREAMER. I'm a BELIEVER. I'm a DO-ER.
Best,
Li
@LaLicenciada
@HerDeepThoughts
June 23rd, 2011 at 3:21 am
@Cathy – You = smarty.
@Li – Don't I know it!
June 27th, 2011 at 2:26 pm
Thanks for making this-Now I know that I'm not alone!!!
July 15th, 2011 at 3:00 am
I pulled up this post a few days ago but hadn’t watched the video yet. Then today I had a conversation today about money issues and job searches and I was told “well that’s why it’s called work, it’s not always going to be fun.” I replied, “Then I want a job or a career, not work,” followed by a lengthier monologue on how it should be fun. Thanks for reinforcing what I feel inside.
November 14th, 2011 at 2:09 pm
thank you sooooo much for this.
November 16th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
My pleasure, Paige!
December 4th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Love it, thank you!
January 19th, 2012 at 1:48 am
[...] I’ve proven my point. Hopefully I’ve proven my point so well that you now need this. Hopefully I’ve proven my point so well that you also put the tomatoes away and, most of all, [...]