I Quit
September 23rd, 2005In the tradition of the Armstrong family, I’ve up and gone done it the hard way, once again. I submitted my resignation yesterday and walked out the door of my day job. I did it before I got to the point where it turned really ugly and one starts dropping f-bombs with clenched fists, both arms skyward and calling people cunts. I’ve never felt a more urgent need to leave anything or get away than I have this job.
While Heather and I had discussed me leaving the job after we had amassed some savings to cover us in case of emergency, I ultimately had to escape. I was getting to an unfamiliar, hazy place where I didn’t know which way was up. I told Heather I would try to suck it up until we had some breathing room, much like I had for the past year. I was going to quit last August, right as Heather reached her breaking point with post partum depression and I wanted to be home for her. I decided to stay after her meds started working and the work environment changed ever so slightly for the better. But in the end, you can’t change people who don’t want to change or see the need or value of changing. And who wants to die trying?
I liked most of the people I worked with, and enjoyed what I was doing, even if it was client-side boring stuff and the majority of the job tended to the production side of things. I did do an intranet design that I thought was good and was supposed to launch soon, but for the life of me, I was headed into a very dark place. VERY DARK. So I decided to cut and run before one of the best projects I worked on while at the company came to completion.
Think of the worst kind of corporate culture and that was where I was employed. Political, ruthless, uninspiring and despite all of that, still managed to produce a great set of products. I’ve told HR and anybody who would listen that good people would continue to leave until the culture issues were addressed and resolved. It didn’t help that most of my skills were underused by managers who didn’t know what to do with me except berate me behind my back and speak with utter disrespect about their colleagues and with utter disrespect to nearly everyone they spoke to. Add to that being threatened by the brilliance of others (not just mine [insert emotional icon smile here]) and you have a recipe for a clusterfuck that any MBA school would study as an example of how not to run a company or a department.
One example of the hell, which I’ll share because I’ve never seen anything like it in my life: During a very intense period both at home and at work when Leta was a couple of months old, I stayed up very late and worked at home on a project. Since our brand was very much in flux, I had seen some of the early agency work and decided to be inspired by their work branch out a bit. I stress “a bit,” as this was corporate work for a very conservative company. The next morning I brought in my work files, printed them up and brought them to my boss. She looked at them, asked, “where did you get this from?” paused about .8 seconds to flip through the sheets and say “we’re having the agency work on this project” then throw the printed sheets to the floor, turn away from me and start talking to someone else. I’ve had all kinds of client interactions over the years, but never anything like I experienced that day and on the many days to follow.
Sure, every job has things about it that suck. But this one was starting to affect my health physically and mentally. So. Time to go. Sure, not having a steady paycheck is stressful. But that’s my stress. I can control it and manage it.
I can’t tell you what all of the positive email has done for me. I can’t begin to thank you all enough. Heather has received hundreds of messages of encouragement and she’s shared a bunch of them with me. Thank you all so very much. It’s Heather and her brilliance that’s enabled me to wake up for the first time in a month without a migraine. She’s fought ads (I’ve been suggesting them for about 2 years) on her site, and I can’t thank her enough for being willing to make a go of it.
There will be much to do in the coming weeks, but we have some great things in store and I can’t wait to get going on all the fun stuff.
September 24th, 2005 at 2:37 am
Hi Jon,
I’m so glad that you have made this decision before the job has more devistating affects.
Hopefully more people will start to re-evaluate their lives (and perhaps some consultant types will take note as well).
I’m sure that Heather and Leta will provide hours of entertainment to replace the nastiness that you’ve left behind! The RO and I are rooting for you all the way!!
Alley
September 24th, 2005 at 3:23 am
Yippee! Now, let the joy take over. Best to all 3 of you.
September 24th, 2005 at 3:38 am
Congrats Jon, on doing the best thing for yourself and your family.
September 24th, 2005 at 5:45 am
Wow - congrats on making the big step, good luck on your future, and thanks for being an inspiration.
September 24th, 2005 at 7:51 am
Karma….she will like you for going forth into what is right for you, your family and collective happiness will rain down now. Best wishes!!!
September 24th, 2005 at 8:16 am
Best of luck to both of you to make a go of it! As you say, you’ll be stressed at times, but it will be your OWN stress! I enjoy both of your sites and look forward to reading more about your “adventures”! ;->
Virtual hugs,
Judie Ashford
September 24th, 2005 at 8:55 am
Excellent, well done!
September 24th, 2005 at 10:09 am
I have been reading your websites for almost a year now, and have really enjoyed them. I wish you good luck in finding the job that will make you happy. I try to live by the saying: we work so that we can live, not live so that we can work. Life is to short to have a shitty job you hate. Good luck. We will pray that you find your new path soon and that it makes you both happy.
September 24th, 2005 at 10:21 am
Huge pat on the back for taking such a big step. I am wishing for you guys all the things you wish for yourself. Maybe you and Heather can finally write a book, or have a documentary made about this crazy and exciting life you’ve had… It is evident that people would be interested in it.
September 24th, 2005 at 12:10 pm
Wow. Preach it, brother. I’m a month removed from the same thing. I got tired of being used and abused by idiots in management and quit my job to jump into the uncertain, yet exciting world of freelance work. Sure, you might not make as much money and that’s stressful, but it beats working for The Man any day. I know you’ll prevail- you’ve got a ton of mad skillz. Go get ‘em!
September 24th, 2005 at 12:13 pm
If the job was as big a hellhole as you’ve described, good riddance!!
As for now, let loose, breathe and have fun with Heather, Leta and Chuck! You definitely deserve it.
September 24th, 2005 at 12:19 pm
sounds like the cellular industry, too - i was sick from stress. i work for a university now & i’m much happier. it’s not perfect, and there’s political stuff, but at least it’s not as cutthroat.
you’ll figure it out. and you’ll like yourself better in the meantime. best of luck.
September 24th, 2005 at 1:28 pm
do we work at the same place?!i deal with that crap all day long, too. i’m working on getting out of here after my wedding next month. new name, noew husband, new life. that means new job, too.
you and heather will be fine. the most important thing is quality of life. if you don’t have that, you’ve got nothing. you made the right choice.
September 24th, 2005 at 2:27 pm
Been there. Done that. Go for it! You won’t regret it one bit. Love your family… they’re gonna be there for you all the way. Many happy days ahead for you, Jon. I applaud you. Now get busy…
September 24th, 2005 at 2:56 pm
It’s about time. Maybe you’ll get back to what you do best…politics! DeLay and Frist and all the rest of those fffers have gotten away with so much and you haven’t mentioned it.
Good for you. You’ll never look back on life and wish you had worked more (and spent less time with the fam).
Who cares about “stuff”. Money accumulates eventually. Leta doesn’t care about what kind of car you drive. Yet.
Enjoy yourself for a couple weeks, then get back to work.
September 24th, 2005 at 3:38 pm
You just can’t put a dollar value on your peace of mind. Here’s to a clear head and heart as you look forward.
September 24th, 2005 at 3:50 pm
A few years ago, I left a corporate whore job with an advertising agency for a low-pay creative job with a small company. It wasn’t easy, and I accumulated some debt that took a while to pay off. But it was SO WORTH IT.
What I couldn’t see (until I stepped away from it) was my soul was being poisoned by the stressful and oppressive environment. I would question the good intentions of people even outside of work, and when my life was going well, I was always waiting for the other shoe to drop. That’s no way to live, paycheck or no paycheck.
I commend your strength and ability to leave while you could still do so in an amicable manner. Now I am going to go get all click-happy on the ads on Blurbomat and Dooce to try and keep you guys afloat.
Namaste’
September 24th, 2005 at 4:28 pm
You and your dooce and your Leta - one hell of a bunch o’wonderous freaks. I am impressed by the life that I get to glimpse through your words and images, and am thankful that you have the willingness to share of yourselves with the rest of us.
I never knew how good change could be until I lost everything at the age of 33, and had to start all over again. I am now happier than most people will ever get to experience. Job, love, living - change is good, even though it sometimes feels like it tears us apart.
Good luck, Mr. Armstrong - you and your gorgeious family will stay in my good thoughts…
September 24th, 2005 at 5:15 pm
She threw the papers on the floor??? On the floor?? Threw them??? On teh FLOOR?
How has she survived to rise to such a level of uncivility? How did you restrain yourself?? UNBELIEVABLE!
September 24th, 2005 at 6:14 pm
Way to go! You shouldn’t have to put up with that kind of crap (Seriously, where does that woman get off tossing your hard work on the flippin’ FLOOR?) because it just wears you down and takes the enjoyment out of everything else. Good luck in your search to find somewhere that will value your skills for what they are.
September 24th, 2005 at 7:39 pm
Congratulations to you on escaping such a soul sucking environment. I too am in a corporate hell hole which I hope to leave very soon. Best wishes to you. You made the right decision.
September 24th, 2005 at 8:16 pm
I’m so impressed that you were able to put up with such a nasty, hostile work environment to make sure that your family had some savings. You seem like such a great dad and husband and I’m happy that you were finally able to quit that job. You and Heather have a relationship to envy! Leta is so lucky to have you two!
September 24th, 2005 at 8:26 pm
brilliant! good on you, Jon … i’m tempted to think we’re working for the same company … i’m about at that point too, hopefully things will change for me in the next week or two, or i’m going to have to do something drastic as well … all power to you, heather and leta :>
September 24th, 2005 at 8:59 pm
Good for you, Jon! I’ve jumped off the “I QUIT!” cliff several times as well, and it has never turned out as badly as I imagined it. Opportunities are everywhere.
I’ll make sure to click on all of Heather’s ads if it will help any. :o)
September 24th, 2005 at 9:25 pm
Kudos.. great move! I’m a career up-and-walk-outer… and eventually gave up trying to walk back into anything that wasn’t all mine. It worked. Bet it will for you both, too.