Why “Just quit!” is terrible advice

You’ve probably seen it.

Another big-name entrepreneur, podcaster or influencer telling people to “just quit your job.”

Quit your 9–5! Follow your passion! Start your dream business! Live a life of freedom (just like I am)!

Sounds amazing, doesn’t it?

The problem is that most of these people are giving advice from a very specific, and often very privileged, point of view. They've made it to the other side. They quit, launched something successful and now they're living proof that it can work.

And because it worked for them (and maybe a few of their friends), they assume it can work for everyone….including YOU!

This is classic survivorship bias: we only hear the stories of the people who made it. We rarely hear from the ones who quit and…well…didn’t.

That doesn’t mean “just quitting” is always the wrong move. Sometimes it’s absolutely the right thing to do.

But it’s not something to do just because a stranger on the internet told you to.

And definitely not without considering your own reality.

I apologise for pointing out the obvious, but just because it worked for “Bob”, won’t necessarily mean it'll work for you. You’re two very different people, with different backgrounds, experiences, strengths, levels of confidence, appetite for risk, bank balances, networks…to name but a few glaringly obvious differences. 

What worked brilliantly for Bob might be a total disaster for you.

That doesn’t mean you should stay in a job that’s draining you. But it also doesn’t mean that jumping ship without a plan is automatically brave or clever. 

Quitting your job is likely to affect every area of your life.

Your finances. Your relationship with loved ones. Your status. Your immediate environment. Your motivation (can go both ways!). Your social life. 

Sometimes the most courageous thing you can do is pause. Not quit. Not jump. Just stop for long enough to ask yourself powerful questions like:

• What do I actually want?

• What’s important to me NOW (not 5 years ago)?

• What would I need in place to make a big change feel not just exciting, but sustainable?

• Am I moving towards something, or just running away from what I don’t want?

There’s nothing wrong with dreaming big. There’s everything right about wanting more. 

More meaning, more freedom, more creativity, more flexibility, more impact….more money!

But there’s a world of difference between a dream and a knee-jerk reaction to a bad day in the office.

Your career deserves more thought than a #justquit hashtag. Big changes are possible, but they’re even better when they’re made consciously. Your next step doesn't have to be dramatic to be meaningful. Clarity often comes not from rushing, but from reflection, and then taking smart actions.

You don’t need a million-pound idea by Monday. You just need to start asking yourself (or be asked) better questions.

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I’m Yeşim Nicholson, and I help people make the decision of whether to quit their jobs much easier…and sometimes even fun!