Would you leave a high paying job if you're unhappy

NeilCartwright

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If you're making 6 figures? Just graduated last year, Im a military officer, and the pay is decent. Right now its around 50k but in about 4 years it'll go up to around 6 figures. While i was in school getting this military gig was my #1 priority, and now im in it its not what i thought it would be.

Just the culture of the organization is suspect, and my command is giving me some issues as well.

If i got out i would hop into buying/managing rental properties full time. I see alot of brehs making bread out here and i feel like that would be something i enjoy better than this military shii im in now.

On the other hand i dont wanna throw away a good opportunity to make decent money at a 9-5
 

Czerka

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Depends on what is making me unhappy and my ability to counter it. Just think of the job as a means to an end and dial back your mental investment in it and focus on putting the money towards your real goals.
This is easier said than done. If it’s a job involving long houra. Even if hours are normal you are spending more time unhappy than happy over a given week. At some point you have to live your life and not treat things as a means to an end. This matters more the older,you get
 

Ghostface Trillah

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This is easier said than done. If it’s a job involving long houra. Even if hours are normal you are spending more time unhappy than happy over a given week. At some point you have to live your life and not treat things as a means to an end. This matters more the older,you get

People are only miserable at work when they have no outlets and feel like the walls are closing in. When you start working for the weekend or payday you start selling yourself short.

I used to work 14 hour days on salary and hated it. I could have took a job working a straight 40 but making 30k less but before I did I figured out how to make that 30k work for me and built up outside interest and work became more bareable because it wasn't the only thing I was invested in even though I was there 14 hours a day
 

Czerka

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People are only miserable at work when they have no outlets and feel like the walls are closing in. When you start working for the weekend or payday you start selling yourself short.

I used to work 14 hour days on salary and hated it. I could have took a job working a straight 40 but making 30k less but before I did I figured out how to make that 30k work for me and built up outside interest and work became more bareable because it wasn't the only thing I was invested in even though I was there 14 hours a day
I think this works in the beginning, but after awhile it wears off and it sucks that you spend the majority of your waking hours working and not doing shyt you would rather be doing. Just my experience
 

Ghostface Trillah

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I think this works in the beginning, but after awhile it wears off and it sucks that you spend the majority of your waking hours working and not doing shyt you would rather be doing. Just my experience

That's the thing, if you're using a high paying job that you hate to bankroll something that you really like then eventually you should be financially set to move on to doing what you like full time. It's a temporary fix. It's a means to an end.
 

Nasty_Nate

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I was enlisted, E-6, and I walked away after ten years. I took a $25,000 cut in annual salary when I ETS’d, but four years later I’m almost earning the same annually as I was when I was on active duty. I’m much happier now, have a better quality of life, and I’m a different person altogether. My marriage also improved, because of my change of lifestyle and not being “on” 24/7.

Though the military pays a lot better than most people think it does, and it has great benefits, the sacrifice is not always worth it. Good thing about you being an officer is that there are many search firms and companies looking for people like you for management positions. I tried to use some of those firms, because I have a bachelor’s degree and a clearance. My thought process was, “what’s the difference between me and some young O-2 or O-3?”. All of those firms basically politely told me to kick rocks, they were looking for junior officers.

Also, if you’d like to keep some aspects of the military in your life, but don’t want it to consume it, you can transfer to the Reserves after you get off active duty.
 

Kenyan West

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Depends. Do you have kids? Do you have savings? I quit a high paying job before, with no backup job because I don't have kids and I have alot stashed away.

But, to me.. Mental health is everything, especially if you're black. Our predecessors don't have this mindset though, they're of the belief that if you have a "good job" you better stay there regardless of how you feel and it gets instilled in us at a young age. Their belief is easy to have when you have something like a manual labor or retail gig when you can "turn your mind off", but once you get to the higher level corporate gigs, you cant do that. Constant usage of your mental energy -- that shyt can get toxic and effect your health and personal relationships REAL quick.

I had this high paying gig in corporate, making [a shyt load more] than my monthly expenses a month. I was in the meetings with the upper level cacs, building shyt for the company's website at my desk all day, choppin up game, but then that racism and disrespect started rearing it's ugly head. I started taking work home sadly cutting into my own freetime, because working at work was too distracting. I had to water down my personality heavily, we had mandatory happy hours weekly (because they let us out an hour early) which you had to fake camaraderie with racists which i fukkin despised.

I hated my life and the ability to buy trinkets, clothes, electronics, pay for shyt with my bytch at the drop of a hat did NOT make it worth it.

Everyone always clamors about "climbing the ranks" at jobs, but little is every spoken about the mental boundary that gets crossed when you get a certain salary.

Some people can shuck and jive, code switch, and do everything possible to "fit in" forever for a great paycheck. If you can do that, kudos to you. No hate.

But there are some of us out here who lie to ourselves about the importance of our respective happiness levels, and water down our truth nature as creatives/entrepreneurs, and its sad..

I digress.

TL:DR : Here's my advice : You already know what you want to do. You're just wanting confirmation from us before you do so. You already know the price of going to six figs as an employee and deep down you know you're not willing to pay it. Introduce a little anarchy.

Tough the gig out a bit, stack your change, and once you're all good, bounce, be free, work hard and never look back.
 

Jimmy Two-Times™

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It can't be that bad. I just think you need to discover your passion for the trade again.

For me and I know it's vain but money is a motivating factor for me. Not just making and working for money but helping my immediate family members that are not as well off as I am.

I haven't achieved this goal yet but in 5-10 years from now I plan to help my family elevate where I see fit from the changes that I could make.

I think you need to not only stop thinking about yourself and your career but helping those around you.

Imagine guiding your niece or nephew on in life to achieve what you've done already.:wow:

In the UK at least we are afforded more holidays and sick days than the US so maybe take advantage of that aspect as that is what most in the UK do.

It isn't unheard of to call in sick for 1-5 days (anything past 7 in the UK permits a medical note) every few months or so.

You need to start playing their game. You know they don't give a fukk about you so just milk any and all opportunities that you can afford without losing your job. :ufdup:

Plan ahead and spend those "sick days" on planned mini 1-3 day vacations
 

Azul

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If you're making 6 figures? Just graduated last year, Im a military officer, and the pay is decent. Right now its around 50k but in about 4 years it'll go up to around 6 figures. While i was in school getting this military gig was my #1 priority, and now im in it its not what i thought it would be.

Just the culture of the organization is suspect, and my command is giving me some issues as well.

If i got out i would hop into buying/managing rental properties full time. I see alot of brehs making bread out here and i feel like that would be something i enjoy better than this military shii im in now.

On the other hand i dont wanna throw away a good opportunity to make decent money at a 9-5

You already know the answer as someone said.

Working in education for over a decade, I clear a couple of g's NET each paycheck....but I don't enjoy it all anymore. I get along well with 97% of the kids and most of my colleagues but that shyt is a chore. It is a chore to get up in the morning. I look forward to the end of the day. I love Real Estate even though its a pain in the ass too :wow:

Have a plan, be smart...but nothing wrong with following what makes you feel good.
 

DrBanneker

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You should devise an exit plan but I must emphasize PLAN. Don't just bail out of anger or frustration, get your real estate gig on part time, learn the ropes, and figure out if the market is really that good (I think it is at the top) and if you like it while you still have your main income. If you can buy a property before quitting and learn how to manage/flip it you can save yourself a lot of risk.
 

Azul

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The Comfort Zone
You should devise an exit plan but I must emphasize PLAN. Don't just bail out of anger or frustration, get your real estate gig on part time, learn the ropes, and figure out if the market is really that good (I think it is at the top) and if you like it while you still have your main income. If you can buy a property before quitting and learn how to manage/flip it you can save yourself a lot of risk.

All this.

Fair warning though real estate and your regular job will zap your energy. I had to take a day off today because I literally had ZERO energy. Zero. I woke up and my eyes were swollen from fatigue. Still, I know my goals and I know it will be worth it in the end.
 
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