It's been three years since I quit my job. I have never come close to regretting that decision, but I also can’t explain why it was a good decision. Was it because I left finance or because I changed as a person? It’s impossible to quantify the change, I can’t say my happiness has moved from five to eight. But I’m less cynical, judgemental, and critical. I’m more open to new experiences. More appreciative and patient. There’s less tension in my body.
YAS! Great perspective! I turned in my resignation a week ago, and it's wild the perspective shift that's happened as well as what's being mirrored on the outside. I keep reminding myself by reading other people's work that it's GOING TO BE OK!
While I appreciate the sentiment (I have been working for myself for over five years), isn't it possible that you were simply in the wrong career before you quit your job? Perhaps I am taking the term "Paycheck Person" too literally.
I agree that there is a certain kind of mindset that isn't helpful (doing things primarily for status and money, for instance), but an effective person can absolutely be a Courageous Thinker inside of a company or organization that they themselves don't own or run as an executive. Being proactive will always be beneficial (for oneself and for others) whether done as a solo operator, entrepreneur, or employee. And these kinds of employees are the ones that put themselves in position to generate considerable wealth in time.
One can argue that these sorts of folks aren't as free...but the opposite could be argued just as well. That they are in fact more free because they get to be proactive and effective without also having the burden of business ownership on their shoulders.
I deeply value working for myself, but absolutely see how it isn't for everyone and how many, many people will do much better financially and otherwise working inside of a larger organization.
Hmm, yeah, imho this piece is as much about *why* we do what we do, as *what* we do. And why such decisions are always personal and require introspection
Yes, "what" we do is inconsequential compared to understanding of why we do it. And being honest with ourselves. And changing what we do if we don't like those answers.
Hmmm... This is just my story of moving from a Paycheck Person toward a Courageous Thinker. I don't think becoming a Courageous Thinker necessitates leaving your job.
But I think at least 90% of people in corporate jobs haven't considered the distinction between a Paycheck Person and a Courageous Thinker, and Courageous Thinker is not even on their radar.
In the same vein as the Nat Eliason essay I linked to, I think Paycheck People need to see the value of doing hard things for yourself.
The other thing, which I don't think I conveyed well, was when I was in my job, I wasn't quietly quitting. I acted as if I was an owner and tried to improve the company as much as I could. But my subconscious mentality was that I owed the company for employing me.
Courageous Thinkers know that they are valuable, they respect themselves that they can create value outside of a corporate job.
"these kinds of employees are the ones that put themselves in position to generate considerable wealth in time" - I don't doubt this, and I made a lot of money and I was in the position to make considerably more in the future. But the question that never got answered or considered as a Paycheck Person was, "Do you value what you do?"
And not for the downstream effects, but "do you value the actions that you are taking every day?"
And that is a question that I feel most people don't ask or avoid answering.
"I can’t say my happiness has moved from five to eight." - it is..."unfortunate/sad" that is not the case...but not surprising either. Perhaps the logic that I (and many) would expect happiness moved to eight is https://everythingisbullshit.substack.com/p/happiness-is-bullshit. I found that author pretty convincing.
“Paycheck People are risk-averse people who take no agency in their lives. They have "failures of nerve" - an obsession with rationalization to justify events rather than taking action.
Courageous Thinkers not only have agency, but adapt to uncertainty to push through on their objectives. They know their interests and shape their identities and narratives to find meaning.”
YAS! Great perspective! I turned in my resignation a week ago, and it's wild the perspective shift that's happened as well as what's being mirrored on the outside. I keep reminding myself by reading other people's work that it's GOING TO BE OK!
Cheering you onwards as you take your own path, Maymie!
We can't see things when we're in the middle of it. You ever read "This is Water" by David Foster Wallace?
That is definitely one reason I have you fellow writers and other people in my life keeping me honest. Thanks for the rec, sounds right up my alley.
While I appreciate the sentiment (I have been working for myself for over five years), isn't it possible that you were simply in the wrong career before you quit your job? Perhaps I am taking the term "Paycheck Person" too literally.
I agree that there is a certain kind of mindset that isn't helpful (doing things primarily for status and money, for instance), but an effective person can absolutely be a Courageous Thinker inside of a company or organization that they themselves don't own or run as an executive. Being proactive will always be beneficial (for oneself and for others) whether done as a solo operator, entrepreneur, or employee. And these kinds of employees are the ones that put themselves in position to generate considerable wealth in time.
One can argue that these sorts of folks aren't as free...but the opposite could be argued just as well. That they are in fact more free because they get to be proactive and effective without also having the burden of business ownership on their shoulders.
I deeply value working for myself, but absolutely see how it isn't for everyone and how many, many people will do much better financially and otherwise working inside of a larger organization.
Hmm, yeah, imho this piece is as much about *why* we do what we do, as *what* we do. And why such decisions are always personal and require introspection
Yes, "what" we do is inconsequential compared to understanding of why we do it. And being honest with ourselves. And changing what we do if we don't like those answers.
Hmmm... This is just my story of moving from a Paycheck Person toward a Courageous Thinker. I don't think becoming a Courageous Thinker necessitates leaving your job.
But I think at least 90% of people in corporate jobs haven't considered the distinction between a Paycheck Person and a Courageous Thinker, and Courageous Thinker is not even on their radar.
In the same vein as the Nat Eliason essay I linked to, I think Paycheck People need to see the value of doing hard things for yourself.
The other thing, which I don't think I conveyed well, was when I was in my job, I wasn't quietly quitting. I acted as if I was an owner and tried to improve the company as much as I could. But my subconscious mentality was that I owed the company for employing me.
Courageous Thinkers know that they are valuable, they respect themselves that they can create value outside of a corporate job.
"these kinds of employees are the ones that put themselves in position to generate considerable wealth in time" - I don't doubt this, and I made a lot of money and I was in the position to make considerably more in the future. But the question that never got answered or considered as a Paycheck Person was, "Do you value what you do?"
And not for the downstream effects, but "do you value the actions that you are taking every day?"
And that is a question that I feel most people don't ask or avoid answering.
Gotcha - yes I would agree that many people just go through the motions of whatever they are doing. Thanks for the reply.
Glad you were featured on OSV.
"I can’t say my happiness has moved from five to eight." - it is..."unfortunate/sad" that is not the case...but not surprising either. Perhaps the logic that I (and many) would expect happiness moved to eight is https://everythingisbullshit.substack.com/p/happiness-is-bullshit. I found that author pretty convincing.
Love this contrast:
“Paycheck People are risk-averse people who take no agency in their lives. They have "failures of nerve" - an obsession with rationalization to justify events rather than taking action.
Courageous Thinkers not only have agency, but adapt to uncertainty to push through on their objectives. They know their interests and shape their identities and narratives to find meaning.”