My Roommate Quit His Job Today
June 14, 2007 | by brett | Permalink
My roommate Zach accepted a job to accept a job out of school. As an accounting major, the natural next step for him was to take an accounting position. He reassured himself that the work would be temporary before he would move on to the next step.
I have been fortunate enough to observe his behavior as he continued to work as an auditor. I watched him flirt with career changes like becoming a coast guard, or a pilot, or a ski bum. I witnessed him get accustomed to a new city. I saw his long distance relationship fizzle, and stood silent as he spent money on things like a new car and expensive vacations. I also noticed that he constantly made himself busy by working out, going out, watching TV, and reading to take his mind off addressing the issue at hand- the question of how to get out of auditing, and find a job he could be passionate about.
Zach is the subject of today’s post because he is the stereotypical recent college grad trying to figure out what to do with his life. He is also the subject of today’s post because he broke out of the stereotype Monday, when he put in his two weeks to officially quit the job he never intended to stay in after starting eleven months ago.
Zach left his job because I offered him the opportunity to travel the country and meet hundreds of new people on the 2007 Pursue the Passion tour. It was just the opportunity that he had been looking for, but he was still hesitant at making the leap.
Three hours after breaking the news to him, he still had the same puppy dog, dumbfounded look on his face he had when I told him of the opportunity. I asked Zach what was stopping him from coming on the tour. It turned out to be a great question.
1) Money. Money was on his mind. Zach worried that he wouldn’t have enough. After doing some budgeting, we found that he would in fact be about a thousand dollars in debt at the conclusion of the trip. He also would not have any guaranteed income after we got back to Phoenix.
2) Fear. Zach was scared that if he stayed in his current job, he wouldn’t grow as much as if he traveled with us.
3) Uncertainty. Zach was uncertain on what he would do with his life after he got back from the trip. He started to make life backup plans right then, exclaiming that if PTP didn’t take off then he would move to Colorado, or New York, or wherever and get a new job. I told him to relax and see where the next thee months take us.
These monumental concerns haunt all of us in our decisions. They prevent a lot of us from doing the things we really want to do. But Zach refused to let these things stand in his way. He quit his job on Monday. He took a risk. He seized an opportunity. He recognized he was not growing, and he decided to make a change.
You’ve got to give it up for that. That is something to be proud of.
Cheers to his journey that will undoubtedly run its own course.
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THERE ARE 6 RESPONSES TO THIS INTERVIEW
Steve Says:
June 14th, 2007
Success is not an accident. It is not luck or by chance. Zack has taken the first step. For people to admit that success is both a methodical process and the outcome of a conscious choice would be admitting that if they did not achieve it, they actually failed themselves. It’s easier to simply hide behind the theory that success is luck. Zack made a choice, as did Brett. You have to maintain focus on your goals even through the ups and downs of your journey. Success doesn’t happen by chance. Find your passion and stay focused. Mediocrity sucks.
brett Says:
June 14th, 2007
Mediocrity does suck.
Danielle Says:
June 14th, 2007
Congratulations to Zach. See you all in Boston!
Kelly G Says:
June 14th, 2007
That’s great! At least I can count on Zach to join me at the gym when the PTP crew crusies through to Couch Crash at our place! Congratulations Zach. I have no doubt that this will be an experience of a lifetime and will bring great opportunities and insight for your future!
Pursue the Passion: The Journey » Blog Archive » 5 Things I’m Excited About on a Friday 6-15-07 Says:
June 15th, 2007
[…] 2) I’m also excited to welcome another new member to the team, a former auditor and newly turned maverick Zach Hubbell. Zach has been my roommate for the last eleven months, and put in his two weeks on Monday to come on the 2007 PTP tour. (See yesterday’s post for more info). […]
Katie Cordova Says:
June 21st, 2007
Glad to hear Zach has joined the team! I continue to enjoy watching this venture develop and grow! Look forward to hearing more!
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