When is it time to move on? (Career wise)

[iam90sbaby 2,490]

There are a lot of BS threads on here, so I am going to try to start one that isn't. I am kind of at a fork in the road in my life as far as my career goes and I just wanted an opinion from some of the older folks here.

 

I am working the best job I have ever had in my life (content marketer) and I am in a really good place. I get along with the owners and all of management, they love me. I am by far the favorite. It is great, but I am not satisfied at all.

 

Before I started my current job I worked for my dad in the roofing industry doing sales, the pay was decent, but I hated it and I was miserable. I always had prime computer skills so I found a job doing content marketing and I excelled at it in a startup company.

 

I guess my problem is I feel the owners are not letting me separate myself from the other employees. We are 90% an online business, and I am the only one who does online sales/marketing/blogging. We had our best year last year (only our second full year as a company) I single handily brought the company to page one on Google searches for all of our industry terms. I don't want a pity party, I just don't know what to do. I'm burnt out, I've been going at 150% and feel I am getting nothing in return. Should I look for work else where? Am I being a whiny millennial and should I just shut the fock up? Has anyone been through anything similar and care to share a bit of advice?

 

I kind of just threw this post together in about 5 minutes, so all the information isn't there, but if you have a question just ask I don't mind sharing more details.

[shotsup 832]

tl:dr

[iam90sbaby 2,490]

tl:dr

 

I usually don't take advice from people I wouldn't trade places with. And I'm not trying to be a raging alcoholic.

[Brad GLuckman 519]

You start by saying you are in the best job ever. Then the rest of the post is negative.

 

What are the positives, besides being the teachers pet?

[MTSkiBum 1,620]

Burnt out after 2 years?

 

It takes longer than that to move up. Keep trying to grow the company if that is what you want to do. The rewards will come in time.

[vuduchile 1,945]

Open a lingerie store that also sells grilled cheese and tomato soup.

 

Seriously though. Why are you doing what you do so someone else can reap all the rewards?

 

Start your own company.

 

You'll struggle at first, be up all hours of the night and make lots of mistakes.

 

In the beginning, you'll be wondering how the hell you're gonna survive and what you got yourself into most of the time.

 

There's a good chance you'll fail, but you might actually succeed.

 

Whatever else it might be, it will never be boring.

[iam90sbaby 2,490]

You start by saying you are in the best job ever. Then the rest of the post is negative.

 

What are the positives, besides being the teachers pet?

Best job I've ever had aka best paying.

 

Other than that? Creative freedom.

 

Burnt out after 2 years?

 

It takes longer than that to move up. Keep trying to grow the company if that is what you want to do. The rewards will come in time.

 

There are a lot of bad apples here that bring the moral down. I think that has a lot to do with me being burnt out so quickly.

 

 

Open a lingerie store that also sells grilled cheese and tomato soup.

 

Seriously though. Why are you doing what you do so someone else can reap all the rewards?

 

Start your own company.

 

You'll struggle at first, be up all hours of the night and make lots of mistakes.

 

In the beginning, you'll be wondering how the hell you're gonna survive and what you got yourself into most of the time.

 

There's a good chance you'll fail, but you might actually succeed.

 

Whatever else it might be, it will never be boring.

 

 

Did you go threw something similar?

[mobb_deep 920]

 

I usually don't take advice from people I wouldn't trade places with. And I'm not trying to be a raging alcoholic.

Be careful with that talk. Bunny might run to his defense about how they're making music and you're only making noise.

[Strike 5,204]

Open a lingerie store that also sells grilled cheese and tomato soup.

 

 

 

Big Pete the 2nd?

[edjr 6,578]

 

Big Pete the 2nd?

 

Bring back Big Pete! Make FFT great again

[MTSkiBum 1,620]

What is your long-term career goals. Do you want to work in content marketing long term or do you want to change career paths.

 

https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/content-marketing-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,25.htm

[fandandy 3,313]

I thought you were the one who was going to sponsor a NASCAR? That must have been someone else. It sounds like you are in a pretty good place for as young as you are. Kudos. Maybe take a breath and a moment to focus on what's going well and not focusing so much on your unhappiness.

[iam90sbaby 2,490]

What is your long-term career goals. Do you want to work in content marketing long term or do you want to change career paths.

 

https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/content-marketing-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,25.htm

 

 

Not sure, that is the problem I don't know what I want to do - I am already right around the average in the Orlando area.

Part of me wants to start my own marketing agency but I am scared to take the leap. Orlando is begging for it too, no one is really doing it around here yet.

[iam90sbaby 2,490]

I thought you were the one who was going to sponsor a NASCAR? That must have been someone else. It sounds like you are in a pretty good place for as young as you are. Kudos. Maybe take a breath and a moment to focus on what's going well and not focusing so much on your unhappiness.

 

That already happened, Homestead final race of the season. I got them a sweet deal on that.

[wiffleball 4,788]

Simply put: When the bad days outnumber the good.

 

But, it's a little like blackjack; you may have 10 bad days in a row, but then have 28 pretty good ones.

 

 

Now, if good/bad isn't the case, the stigma against "job hopping'

has pretty much diminished. The reality is, you're not going to make

significant salary increases in most jobs these days short of a job

hop. It's stupid, but I've seen it time and time again.

They're unwilling to give a decent raise to someone knowledgeable

and experienced, so they let him go - then pay a crapload more

for a whole lot less - and way behind the curve.

[mighty_thor 115]

I think I may know where you are coming from. I moved to a new company 4 years ago and after proving my worth to the company finally let loose in a calm manner with my boss about the things I didn't like about my situation. A couple of guys I work with are useless and they simply ride my coat tails. I wanted more vacation time. And my raise was crap (the company was going through a bad year after a bad acquisition). The bosses reaction was all positive- he is aware of the guys not pulling their weight, he gave me more vacation time, and I was one of the few employees who got a bonus last week after a negative year by the company. Things are not perfect but I do think they appreciate me.

 

Moral: the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Let the owners know that you are not satisfied and see if they can make some changes to satisfy you. If not, you need to do some deep soul searching and figure out what you want to do.

[IGotWorms 4,057]

It's time to see what else is out there, if there is a move you could make that could increase your ceiling. Sounds like you're basically maxed out where you are. You could just stay there and take incremental gains as they come but that just breeds complacency. Plus sounds like you're pretty young so this isn't the time to say well, I've hit my peak and I'll just ride it out from here.

 

Other thing is you could let your bosses know that you've got greater aspirations and you'd like to figure out some way to pursue those aspirations within the company. If phrased appropriately they cannot be angry and in fact it's very good to show some ambition.

 

I'd probably start there and see what the response is. If it isn't going to happen for you where you are then yes, start looking elsewhere. You can be very selective since you're okay with where you're at currently. That's a good thing

[iam90sbaby 2,490]

Simply put: When the bad days outnumber the good.

 

But, it's a little like blackjack; you may have 10 bad days in a row, but then have 28 pretty good ones.

 

 

Now, if good/bad isn't the case, the stigma against "job hopping'

has pretty much diminished. The reality is, you're not going to make

significant salary increases in most jobs these days short of a job

hop. It's stupid, but I've seen it time and time again.

They're unwilling to give a decent raise to someone knowledgeable

and experienced, so they let him go - then pay a crapload more

for a whole lot less - and way behind the curve.

 

I think I may know where you are coming from. I moved to a new company 4 years ago and after proving my worth to the company finally let loose in a calm manner with my boss about the things I didn't like about my situation. A couple of guys I work with are useless and they simply ride my coat tails. I wanted more vacation time. And my raise was crap (the company was going through a bad year after a bad acquisition). The bosses reaction was all positive- he is aware of the guys not pulling their weight, he gave me more vacation time, and I was one of the few employees who got a bonus last week after a negative year by the company. Things are not perfect but I do think they appreciate me.

 

Moral: the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Let the owners know that you are not satisfied and see if they can make some changes to satisfy you. If not, you need to do some deep soul searching and figure out what you want to do.

 

It's time to see what else is out there, if there is a move you could make that could increase your ceiling. Sounds like you're basically maxed out where you are. You could just stay there and take incremental gains as they come but that just breeds complacency. Plus sounds like you're pretty young so this isn't the time to say well, I've hit my peak and I'll just ride it out from here.

 

Other thing is you could let your bosses know that you've got greater aspirations and you'd like to figure out some way to pursue those aspirations within the company. If phrased appropriately they cannot be angry and in fact it's very good to show some ambition.

 

I'd probably start there and see what the response is. If it isn't going to happen for you where you are then yes, start looking elsewhere. You can be very selective since you're okay with where you're at currently. That's a good thing

 

Thanks guys. Guess I just need to do some soul searching.

[cbfalcon 825]

I've been through this in recent years. My advice (short version):

 

Step 1: Think 5 years down the road. Where do you hope to be, position wise and salary wise?

 

Step 2. For research purposes only, take a look at other jobs in your area. Look for jobs both equivalent to what you have now, and look for jobs that could open up a pathway to your 5 year goal from step 1, even if it requires a short term step back.. The only reason you are doing this is for peace of mind purposes. Sure, we all logically know the world won't end if we lose our current job, but actually knowing of other jobs out there that would work increases your confidence and peace of mind greatly during the following steps.

 

Step 3: Tell your boss you'd like to have a Job Review. Warn him that you want to talk about your short term and longterm role and salary with the company. I did this recently and framed it to my boss with something akin to the following: "I'm turning 40 soon and it's time for me to firm up a long term plan for myself. Without knowing where you see me fitting in role wise and financially two, five, and even ten years down the road, I'm trying to create that long term plan with only half of the information needed."....My boss was very receptive and even said he was glad to know I was thinking that way. And we are going to have a big sit down at the end of Q1 supposedly. Just knowing that is coming helped my peace of mind.

 

Step 4: Tell your boss where you hope to be a year from now and where you hope to be in 5 years (or whatever number you come up with). Best case scenario is he values you so much that he puts things in motion to help you. Worst case scenario is he says it'll never happen there. But even that's good info to have, as it keeps you from wasting too much time there.

 

That's my 3 cents.

[cyclone24 1,912]

When you have over 100 thousands posts on a lightly trafficked message bored that you only post from work on.

 

[Old School 360]

 

 

Not sure, that is the problem I don't know what I want to do - I am already right around the average in the Orlando area.

Part of me wants to start my own marketing agency but I am scared to take the leap. Orlando is begging for it too, no one is really doing it around here yet.

Don't be scared and don't be complacent.

Life's too short.

Don't be afraid to take a chance.

 

Don't want to be stuck in a dead end job and suddenly realize you've grow so old that soone else will take a chance on you-

You need to take a chance on yourself

[vuduchile 1,945]

 

Big Pete the 2nd?

BPIAFP

[vuduchile 1,945]

Best job I've ever had aka best paying.

 

Other than that? Creative freedom.

 

 

 

 

There are a lot of bad apples here that bring the moral down. I think that has a lot to do with me being burnt out so quickly.

 

 

 

 

Did you go threw something similar?

Yes. After surviving countless corporate restructures and job eliminations, my number finally came up in 2008. I've probably told the story before, but I had a 1 yr old and another another bun in the oven at the time.

 

I burned through my entire severance package, my 401K and almost all our savings starting a biz that was closely tied to housing starts in the middle of the Great Recession.

 

8 years and many sleepless nights later, we're beyond survival mode and are now thriving.

[patweisers44 815]

 

 

Not sure, that is the problem I don't know what I want to do - I am already right around the average in the Orlando area.

Part of me wants to start my own marketing agency but I am scared to take the leap. Orlando is begging for it too, no one is really doing it around here yet.

Theres your answer. Figuring out how to make the leap is the tough part. I will say its easier to take the leap and fail while you are young. If you don't try, you could second guess yourself forever. I took a stab at owning my own place in my late 30s/early 40s. While it failed (and cost me a ton of dough) I am thankful that I had the financial ability to even try it and that I did. I realized I am a lot better at managing things than I am at managing people.

 

Is there a gig you could take that would allow you to do the start up and still have an income? I'd imagine it would be tiresome and a PITA during the infancy, but worth it in the long run. Other things to consider: Move back home, take a roommate, etc to reduce costs.

[BLS 314]

 

 

Not sure, that is the problem I don't know what I want to do - I am already right around the average in the Orlando area.

Part of me wants to start my own marketing agency but I am scared to take the leap. Orlando is begging for it too, no one is really doing it around here yet.

 

Running your own business is the suck.

But you can make a lot of money if that's what motivates you.

 

Me, I love shooting, and never knew it/realized it, but I love to teach. I love to see people have that "lightbulb" moment, and the results show they 'get it'.

 

That's rewarding for me. I love to teach, so it's not work. It's the rest of it that sucks. Dumbass employees, bills, insurance, marketing, you name it.

 

I think you're not being challenged enough and should try something harder.

[DankNuggs 305]

Sounds like its worth a conversation with ownership. If you are bringing uncompensated expertise, or see a way to grow your area (and role) via the online avenue that is neglected by everyone else, show them a business plan of what you can achieve and differentiate yourself from the pack.

 

I'd start the conversation with where you were when you started and what you've achieved up until this point. Then get into where you can be 1,2, 5 years down the line and how you see your role in steering the company there. If the goals are lofty, maybe it involves hiring more staff, maybe you are the guy to lead the team/department.

 

The exercise is worth it by itself as you are either selling yourself to the current company, or you are making the same type of sales pitch to another company as to the value and leadership you can bring to their organization.

[penultimatestraw 473]

Agree with a lot of what has been written. Definitely take risks when you're young without a lot of other commitments/responsibilities. And being your own boss has the potential to create the most job satisfaction. But it is a sh!t ton of work, and you have to decide if the investment is worth it. Ultimately time is far more valuable than $.

 

I would itemize the things that make you happy/fulfilled, and try to maximize the time spent doing those things. If you derive a sense of purpose/identity from your job, prioritize career satisfaction. On the other hand, if you value things outside of work more, a job which pays well but isn't as fulfilling might be good enough. If you're lucky you can combine the two (BLS), but for most of us, a job is just a job.

 

Jerryskids posted a video a while ago about motivation. Autonomy, mastery and purpose were most important for job performance and satisfaction. Try to find/create a job that incorporates all three.

 

[supermike80 1,804]

 

Bring back Big Pete! Make FFT great again

BIG PETE BIG PETE!!!

[jerryskids 6,568]

Theres your answer. Figuring out how to make the leap is the tough part. I will say its easier to take the leap and fail while you are young. If you don't try, you could second guess yourself forever. I took a stab at owning my own place in my late 30s/early 40s. While it failed (and cost me a ton of dough) I am thankful that I had the financial ability to even try it and that I did. I realized I am a lot better at managing things than I am at managing people.

 

Is there a gig you could take that would allow you to do the start up and still have an income? I'd imagine it would be tiresome and a PITA during the infancy, but worth it in the long run. Other things to consider: Move back home, take a roommate, etc to reduce costs.

 

Lots of good advice in this thread, I'll copy this one to go with my story. Back in 2009 I lost my job after surviving multiple cuts. At that point I was burned out and ready to do something different. I spent several years trying multiple things and going through my savings in the process. In the end I realized that I had had it pretty good and actually liked my old career. I was fortunate to get back into it this past March and am happier than I had been in years. I don't think I made a mistake in doing what I did; sometimes you need to try things to see if the grass is really greener.

 

I'm old and married though. You are young and single with no kids (I think). I was in my mid twenties in the 90s, an engineer who had just gotten his MBA, and I thought about moving to the bay area to get involved in this kinda new high tech venture capital industry. But I had just gotten married, had a secure job at a respected tech company... my biggest regret is not giving that a shot, if for no other reason than I might have become a bazillionaire.

[Baker Boy 1,688]

 

I guess my problem is I feel the owners are not letting me separate myself from the other employees.

 

 

We no longer have an Incentive driven economy,

[TD Ryan2 316]

 

 

Not sure, that is the problem I don't know what I want to do - I am already right around the average in the Orlando area.

Part of me wants to start my own marketing agency but I am scared to take the leap. Orlando is begging for it too, no one is really doing it around here yet.

Married?

Kids?

Mortgage?

 

If not, you have to try. You know my background here and while I have few regrets, when I'm 90 it may be that I didn't know what to do until I had too much responsibility to take the risk.

So I'm paid well working for someone else... but I don't make what the owners make, and like you, I know how much I bring in for them.

When I have time to consult on the side, it's very rewarding.

 

Good luck.

[tanatastic 2,062]

When you hit 100k posts.

[TD Ryan2 316]

Seth Godin Startup School - check it out - here's the SoundCloud link but you can Google it:

https://soundcloud.com/startup-school/distinct-and-direct

[edjr 6,578]

When you hit 100k posts.

 

I had a 2nd interview last night at a bank.

 

I am hearing in IT, they make you take your 4 weeks vacation in 2, 2 week periods. can't scatter the days. something to do with being able to download a program and steal money?

 

I'm still waiting for verification.

[Big Guy 1,410]

 

When is it time to move on? (Career wise)

 

 

Are you asking for a friend? ( Tony Romo )

[DankNuggs 305]

 

I had a 2nd interview last night at a bank.

 

I am hearing in IT, they make you take your 4 weeks vacation in 2, 2 week periods. can't scatter the days. something to do with being able to download a program and steal money?

 

I'm still waiting for verification.