Have you ever walked into
a crowded cafeteria only for it to grow silent because everyone was staring at
you? Or almost everyone? I have. It's weird.
Before I could bask in the
undivided attention, I had to take care of one quick thing first.
I walked over to one of
the plastic tables I would share with co-workers as we caught up on company
gossip. He's
having an affair with someone on the third floor. She's applying to a job in
Beijing.
The salacious stories
would bounce back and forth until we knew we had been away from our desks too
long.
But I wasn't heading to
those plastic tables to share one of those stories, I was heading there to
become one of them.
My boss glided into the
cafeteria and slumped into the seat across from me.
We looked at each other's
faces for 10 years. I studied the freckles near his temple, the squareness of
his nose and the subtle lines branching from the corners of his eyes.
I directed my glare to the
table but not before catching a glimpse of that damned eyebrow he'd raise when
he was about to say something mischievous or condescending.
I knew this was the last
time I'd be sitting across from him for a long time.
When the staring contest
was over, he delicately placed a contract in front of me. The word
"resignation" was printed all over the pristine white paper.
My eyes welled up with
tears. I was free.
Hours before this meeting,
I was pivoting back and forth in my apartment – a tiny studio in the heart of
Taipei constructed for a minuscule Asian lady named Sue. I hadn't slept in
days. My body was shaking with adrenaline from an unbelievable stressful week
culminating in my decision to quit. I finished pivoting and sat down in front
of my computer. The screen teased me: You
can't quit, you dweeb. I pulled up the YouTube video I'd posted strictly for
the eyes of friends and family and made it public. I shut my computer and
stared at the wall. I had just quit my job via YouTube.
Yes, hi! It’s me, the “I
quit girl.” On September 28, 2013, I posted a funny video of myself dancing
around my empty office and at the end I tell my boss, “I quit. I’m gone.”
It's over a year and 19
million views later and I am still getting emails asking for advice on
quitting.
Although I don’t advise
that anyone reach out to a 20-something for any kind of advice, especially one
they've never met, I’ll still give you mine as part of this LinkedIn series on
quitting.
Below I've compiled some
common questions I've received and answered them based on what I think is the
right thing to say.
I really hate my boss, and I
want to quit in an epic way. How should I do it?
My answer is: Don’t do it. Don’t quit
in an epic way. Work at your job as long possible, save up as much money as
possible, and apply to as many jobs as possible. Then, when you find a better
gig, write a really nice resignation letter and give the appropriate amount of
notice.
One thing many people
don’t know from watching my video is that I called my boss’ boss and gave him
one month’s notice before posting the resignation. I chose to tell my direct
boss via YouTube because I worked for a company that edited together
controversial content to grab the attention of the Internet via YouTube –
another fact that many people overlook in this story.
The way I resigned was a
snarky and twisted nod to the snarky and twisted company at which I worked.
I got an email from the
Commercial Director, my boss' boss, after the video went viral and it said, the
move was “brilliant” among some other kind words. I doubt any other company on
this planet would have responded in that manner. But mine did. Because they are
creative, progressive and also understand how the media can twist a simple
story for the sake of page views.
So don’t quit in an epic
way unless you work for an epic Taiwanese animation company that can turn a
profit out of the viral attention.
I really want to quit my job to
become a(n) ______________, but I am scared to quit in this economy.
I’d never advise someone to
leave a job without having another one lined up. In fact, before you line up a job,
line up a career — it'll be easier to figure out where to start when you
know where you want to go.
Before I quit, I lined up
my career: Comedy. Stable? No, not really. But I was in a "do or die"
mindset, "do" being the more appetizing choice.
I figured out what I
needed to do and made a plan: write every day, move to Hollywood and get a
manager.
Four months later I got a
manager, moved to Hollywood and began to write every day.
All this to say, you will
not get your dream career by using the economy as an excuse for why you haven't
made moves yet.
You get your dream career
by working harder than the people to the left and right of you.
You get your dream career
by being talented and audacious — not by coming
up with creative excuses.
Finally, I get asked if I have any regrets leaving the way I did.
The short answer is no.
Leaving my job was a meticulously calculated career choice that opened
metaphorical doors, windows, and garages for me.
It was a big risk that
paid off in management, development opportunities, and creative job offers.
I knew if I were able to
pull off such a big prank on the internet, I'd be rewarded (in the comedy
world). I was ready for it. I’d been quietly working on my writing, stand up,
and confidence until I got to a place where I knew I didn’t have to settle in
my professional career.
So, in a sense, I’d been
planning to quit before I even started working at that Taiwanese company.
Whenever someone writes to
me saying they want to quit. I always tell them: Don’t do it. Don’t quit your job. It’s scary
and it’s difficult.
You’ll wake up in the
middle of the night, soaked in pools of your own self-doubt.
You’ll wonder where your
next paycheck is going to come from, or if you’ll ever be able to afford
insurance
But if you've been
spending every free moment practicing, studying and getting ready for the
career you really want, then there is a very small chance your passion may lead
to success in that field.
So if you decide to ignore my
warnings and quit anyway because you have a desire so strong you're ready to
turn your life upside for it, then let me be the first to congratulate you.
Let me also welcome you to
the crazy club of dreamers, thinkers, movers, and shakers who refuse to accept
life at face value and who end up more fulfilled because of it.
Response Magic 
