There are 50 ways to leave your lover, but there’s really only one way to leave your job. If you’re going to travel around the world, chances are you’re going to have to resign.
For me, that’s been the scariest part of this whole venture. This is the first time in my adult life that I’ll be without a job, a 401K and an insurance package, and that’s pretty damn terrifying. And the prospect of sitting face to face with my boss, telling him about my crazy travels plans, was even more frightening.
Though I haven’t left any jobs before, I have left boyfriends. (Lots of them, actually.) So in abandoning my job, I applied the same principles of abandoning people.
How to break up with your job in five easy steps:
1. Do it in person. I once broke up with a dude over e-mail, and it’s something I still regret. Major life changes shouldn’t be made via computer or text message.
2. It doesn’t have to be dramatic. You’re all adults here. Keep the conversation calm and be open to discussion. Be direct and honest about what you want. Remember that this is difficult for both of you.
3. Not all relationships are created equal. You know how some people can remain friends after a break-up while others can’t? That’s how it is with jobs too. Maybe your boss is open to the possibility of a long-term leave of absence instead of a full-blown resignation. Maybe there’s a way you can do your job from the road. Maybe the position will be open for you when you return. Or maybe there’s a lot of anger and resentment about your departure and your boss will stab you with a pen. Every situation is different.
4. Don’t undervalue your worth. There are occasions that call for self-deprecation, but this isn’t one of them. You have every right to pursue your passion and you deserve to be living out your dreams.
5. Move on. Don’t talk smack about your company, don’t harbor any regret, don’t get sad. Appreciate what you had with this job and use it to launch you into an even bigger, better career in the future.
In my case, talking to my boss was an enormous relief. He said he understood and respected my decision to leave. I asked him if he thought I was nuts for taking on a round-the-world journey and he said, “You know, ships are safe in the harbor, but ships weren’t made for the harbor. Ships were made to sail.”
Now that’s a nice ending for a beautiful relationship!
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