Ask My Sweet Dumb Brain: Am I crazy to give up a steady paycheck?
It's advice time, y'all.
Dear Sweet Dumb Brain,
I’m considering a pretty big career shift. I got into journalism to change the world, and working on the revenue side in a big company feels pretty far away from that goal. Doing the kind of job I want to do in journalism and advancing my career seems limited to New York or D.C.—cities I don’t plan to live in again. The opportunities to advance, and to feel like I’m actually making an impact, seem increasingly limited.
So now I’m considering getting into healthcare. In order to do that, I’m going to have to go back to school, and get a lot of experience working in hospitals. I’m struggling with the decision in part because I’m afraid of failure (going back to school means taking chemistry, which is the only thing in academics I’ve literally failed!), and in part because it’s a pretty big change. I’ve defined myself as a journalist since I was maybe 13 years old, which is more than half my life.
With the changes you’ve been through in the past year, and the intentionality with which you’re approaching your work, what’s your advice? Am I totally crazy to give up a steady paycheck and a job at a big company for the potential to do something more fulfilling?
Thank you for any advice or encouragement you can offer.
Sincerely,
Restless in Pageview World
Dear Restless,
Hi! Thanks for being brave enough to send the very first question to My Sweet Dumb Brain.
Your question is a good one, and your situation is relatable. I’m sure there are plenty of readers—in journalism and other fields—who have imagined making a career change and faced fears like the ones you’ve described. It’s no secret that many of us are unhappy at work. Gallup’s World Poll found that around 70 percent of American workers aren’t engaged in their jobs. The numbers are even more dismal worldwide.
Those stats make me really, really sad. We spend upwards of 40 hours a week at work, even more when you add in commuting, time spent responding to emails outside of the office, and so on. That’s why I’m so glad you’re considering making a change instead of accepting things as they are.
It’s hard to get a sense through a short letter whether you’re truly passionate about healthcare, but that’s not for me to decide anyway. Making a difference in the world is important to you, and there are plenty of opportunities to do that in healthcare. There are also plenty of healthcare jobs, I imagine, that seem far away from that world-changing spark you’re looking for. Is there anything you can learn from your current career path that can inform your future choices? Are there specific jobs that may be more fulfilling, or things to negotiate for that may lead to greater day-to-day impact? Now is a good time to reflect on what you’ve learned from your career path so far and what you’d do differently next time.
The crux of your letter is whether, as you put it, you’re “totally crazy” to give up your steady job at a big company for a more fulfilling career. Considering the fact that you’re asking a woman who quit her job for a half-baked attempt at freelancing, I think you know the answer. No! You’re the opposite of crazy! You’re smart and wise to focus on fulfillment. As Emily Esfahani Smith explains, the search for meaning in our lives is much more rewarding than the pursuit of happiness. (And don’t we all know by now that money doesn’t equal happiness?)
It’s worth acknowledging that there’s privilege in your question, just as I’m privileged to be able to freelance. It doesn’t sound like your options are limited by money woes, nor a lack of opportunity. That’s worth celebrating. Not everyone gets to consider making career changes—though I wish it was more commonplace—which is yet another reason not to squander this precious opportunity to do some soul-searching.
Lastly, you said you’ve defined yourself as a journalist for more than half your life. I bet you’ve identified yourself as plenty of other things, too. If we’re lucky, we get to live lives that are long enough to allow us to experience lots of different identities. If you do wind up changing careers, expect to grieve no longer being a journalist—and allow yourself to do just that. Giving yourself the time and space to mourn past identities helps you to welcome new identities more easily. Also, it’s worth mentioning that there are plenty of ways to stay connected to journalism. You can support your local paper, buy that digital subscription you’ve been debating, or mentor other journalists. You still have plenty to offer the industry, whether or not you’re working in it.
It’s scary to consider a big career change, of course, but try viewing that as a signal that you’re headed in the right direction. It’s scary to imagine things that we really want to happen in our lives because there’s always the chance they may not pan out. It’s better, and braver, to run towards the thing you’re scared of losing, rather than staying in a situation where you’re unhappy. In the end, staying put is the scarier and more depressing option.
Life is short. I don’t need to tell you that, but I damn sure will. It’s too short to stay stuck in jobs that we’re unhappy with, and it’s too short to let fear hold us back from the things we want to do.
Good luck, Restless. You got this.
xoxo
KHG
p.s. Speaking of scary things, my very first article I’ve published as a freelancer is out today! It’s about Facebook and grieving, and I’m really grateful to Vox for letting me write about a topic so near to my heart.
p.p.s. If you know someone who could use this advice, forward it to them (with a kind and encouraging note, of course). You can also share this issue on social media. And if you have life questions, ask me! I’ll do my best to answer them.
Good job, brain
I'm (re) reading: You Are a Badass, by Jen Sincero. I read this book years ago and enjoyed it, but I lost a lot of my badass spirit when I became a widow. It’s time to reignite that spark.
I’m currently inspired by: Tiana Clark’s response to the viral Millennial burnout article, which explores what burnout feels like when you’re Black. It’s nuanced and thought provoking, and worth reading, no matter what race you are.
I'm currently aiming to: Reduce my negative self-talk, which has been on the upswing lately. Props to my kind and patient partner, who gently calls me out when I’m being a jerk to myself.
Additional resources
I mentioned the Don’t Keep Your Day Job podcast last week, but I’m shouting it out again. It’s a little cheesy at times and I’d love to see more diversity with guests, but it’s awesomely encouraging and optimistic. I’ll be sad when I catch up on past episodes.
My friend John is reading and enjoying Your Money or Your Life, which explores our complicated relationship with money. (Pro tip: The Kindle version is currently a cheap $1.99!)
At the start of 2017, I wrote an essay about focusing on job fulfillment. (My husband died exactly one month later, which meant I didn’t get to stick with the plans I wrote about, but the advice is still solid.)
If you didn’t check it out above, Emily Esfahani Smith’s TED Talk is worth a watch or listen. She’s #goals, for sure.
My Sweet Dumb Brain is written by Katie Hawkins-Gaar. It’s edited by Rebecca Coates. Photo by Abby Anaday on Unsplash.