I've quit my job - kind of. I informed my current employer that I will only be part of the team until spring 2024. Before making this decision, I asked some friends about it and often encountered misunderstanding. They believe one should look out for oneself and ensure they have a clear path forward or a new job lined up. Well, I don't quite agree.
Making Passion Your Profession
When I entered the motorcycle industry in 2018, it was like a dream come true. I wanted to experience what it's like to turn passion into a profession. And for several years, it mostly worked out the way I imagined. I was highly motivated, rarely having a day when I wasn't excited about my job. But, as life goes, things change, and I began questioning and reorienting myself over the past months (Work in Progress). Suddenly, my world looked very different.
Steve Jobs once said, "For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something." (Zitate zum Nachdenken, 2023)
Currently, I can't answer that question with a "yes." And I've learned that making your passion your profession may not be enough, especially if the passion has its limits. I feel like I'm going in circles. To gain a new perspective, I believe it's time for a change.
I don't blame my employer. Multiple factors make me feel less comfortable than I'd wish. And I know it's my responsibility to change something.
Hygiene or Motivation?
Like probably every business economist, I learned about Frederick Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory during my studies (bwl-lexikon.de, 2023). This theory helps me understand my recent feelings. Although it's not exhaustive, it'll do for now.
Motivators are positive incentives that cause satisfaction and maintain or increase motivation. Examples include appreciation by superiors, responsibilities, promotion opportunities, personal growth, or job content. How these factors are weighed varies individually and changes over time.
In contrast, hygiene factors can cause dissatisfaction or a decrease in work motivation if they are missing. These are also individual and might include job security, relationships with superiors, pleasant working atmosphere, internal organization, work-life balance, company policies, status, compensation, privacy, or social benefits.
For me, the change was gradual. After being motivated for a long time, one day, I wasn't. My job content remained mostly the same, but the workload increased. I couldn't focus on improving my tasks; I just had more to do. Additionally, personal reasons made me identify less with the subject matter. The only way to really progress internally was to be aggressive – not my style.
With plans to move closer to friends and family, my commute would triple, making a proper work-life balance challenging. Efforts to reduce my working hours to 80% to invest more time in my band and myself were futile. And the fact that working from home wasn't appreciated didn't help.
These issues led to "insurmountable differences." It was time to take action.
Leaving on good terms
That doesn't mean I've lost respect for my colleagues. I've always felt valued. I've been treated fairly, supported, and have cherished memories.
Partly for these reasons, I believe I should show some appreciation in return and end this chapter on a positive note. My role isn't rocket science, but as a webmaster, digital marketing coordinator, event all-rounder, and motorcycle press contact, it requires a diverse skill set. I want to ensure my successor is well-prepared.
Next Horizon
In a recent podcast, Jimmy Carr discussed the importance of a long-term perspective for a fulfilling life with Steven Barlett in "Diary of a CEO" (Barlett, 2021). He emphasized the significance of understanding one's purpose. That conversation reaffirmed my need to rediscover my drive.
I now have a few months to figure out my next career move. It helps to deconstruct one's life and ponder the journey ahead. Thankfully, resources like "What Color Is Your Parachute" and concepts like "Ikigai" are there to assist. More on that in a later blog.
What do you think? Do you find my approach reasonable, or would you have acted differently in my shoes?
Literature:
Barlett Steven, E106: Jimmy Carr: The Easiest Way To Live A Happier Life, The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Barlett, 11.2021, https://open.spotify.com/episode/3XmIGt0AH0YRukAblcW78b?si=BI-CpFkcS_So1B8oCxcauQ
BWL-LEXIKON.DE, Zwei-Faktoren-Theorie, www.bwl-lexikon.de, https://www.bwl-lexikon.de/wiki/zwei-faktoren-theorie/, 13.09.2023.
Zitate zum Nachdenken, Steve Jobs, 5357, In den letzten 33 Jahren habe ich jeden Morgen in den Spiegel... (zitatezumnachdenken.com), 14.09.2023.
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