This article might resonate with you if you're constantly at war with yourself about your job. You dream of quitting, of leaving everything behind. The very phrase 'give meaning to your work' sits bookmarked in your favorites, a constant reminder of your yearning. Your days are an emotional rollercoaster. One moment you're declaring, 'That's it! I'm leaving it all – the job, the country, maybe even the hamster! Time for adventure!' The next, reality sets in, whispering, 'Calm down, you can't just up and vanish.' We hear you. These 'fake good excuses' (and the battle between your impulsive and rational selves) can be tormenting.
That's why we've compiled a (not-so-exhaustive) list of the most common culprits, because chances are, you've faced them all at some point!
#1 “I have restaurant tickets and they support my Navigo pass, I have RTT. And then, if I stay another 4 months, my boss has promised me a company car! »
"Sure, those perks might sound tempting – who wouldn't salivate over a free beer at 7:30 pm? But the real question is: do these benefits truly fulfill you? Do they make you feel like you're truly thriving in your role? If your first instinct when discussing your job is to brag about the paycheck, there might be a deeper issue at play. Is the work itself actually meaningful to you?
#2 “I still make a really good living. In addition, they (parents, relatives, society) only tell me that if I choose an impact job, I will earn less than a minimum wage. And I still did 5 years of studies, so you have to make a profit from all that!”
Listen, we all know money makes the world go round. Nobody's expecting you to live on sunshine and rainbows. We gotta pay rent and enjoy life – aperitifs included! But here's the thing: money can become this overwhelming monster, tricking us into thinking we need more and more stuff. The truth? It's all about getting smart with what you have. Ask yourself: what are my real needs? Where can I cut back without sacrificing what truly matters?
#3 “I am not legitimate to leave and consider changing lanes!”
Early on in your career, you might feel stuck needing 'valuable' experience for your resume. Later, years in, the fear might shift to being 'too old to change.' But what if age doesn't matter? What if it's never too late to pursue meaningful work? Here's a powerful tip: talk to others questioning their careers, regardless of age. You'll be surprised! Younger folks might envy your experience, while those with years under their belt might wish they'd started asking these questions sooner. So, let's ditch the imposter syndrome and take action!
#4 “Olala, what will my parents think? And my friends? And society as a whole?
You are afraid of having to justify yourself, of being a disappointment, of being considered as an outsider. And then, you don't want to make a stir and instead wisely follow the path that was assigned to you. That's the good student syndrome. Spoiler alert #2: you can never please everyone. And frankly, the most important thing is to please yourself, right? As Steve Jobs said in his brilliant opening speech at Stanford University; “your time is limited. Don’t waste it living someone else’s life”. Of course you will face dumbfounded looks, sometimes misplaced questions. You have to know how to take a step back, because many of these reactions are only the projection of the anxieties (or even the desires!) of people who do not dare to take action.
#5 “Frankly, it’s not reasonable.”
Oh, do you think so? When the moralizing mini-you comes to give you a hard time, regain control by asking yourself a single question: If I were on my deathbed, what is the assessment that I would like to be able to make of my life? Being reasonable means staying in your comfort zone. And you know what? Not much is happening in our comfort zone. Besides, Anthony Robbins says it: “If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always had”. So, maybe it's time to leave the comfort zone?
#6 "I'm waiting for THE click."
It is not uncommon to hear about THE click through podcasts or articles. But don't take it literally! The people who had this famous trigger did not wait for it in front of their computer, from Monday to Friday. You have to get moving, explore, and try new things. It is through experimentation that we move forward. Like a baby learning to walk: he tries, falls, tries again, improves, clicks, and walks! And why wouldn't quitting your job couldn't be your first click?
#7 “What if I leave and regret?”
Let's be honest, there are days when visiting the unemployment office feels like the only option. We trudge through Monday mornings, hoping no one notices we're not where we should be. But leaving a job is a lot like a breakup – you know what you're giving up, but the future remains a mystery. The hardest part is that first step. But once you take it, it's like stepping into a vast ocean of possibilities! You become curious again, exploring and experimenting with new things, unsure how it will all come together. You rediscover hidden potential you never knew you had. And then, one day, it clicks. Just like Steve Jobs said, 'you can't connect the dots looking forward, only looking back.' So trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. If your gut tells you something isn't right, it probably isn't. You won't regret taking a leap of faith.
#8 “But you have to be super brave to quit your job, I'm not”.
Damn! Get rid of this demeaning mini-me! If you're looking for courage, we'll let you read (and re-re-read) Cyril Dion's words: "We're on this planet to find out who we are, to ensure that all the talents we discover can put them at the service of others but also of our own development, so that every day we can feel deeply alive. We are here to create. Imagine if the energy of all the people who are stuck doing a nutty job were suddenly released and if all these people started investing it to transform society. " So you muster up your courage!
#9 “It’s not the right time.”
Spoiler alert #3: It's never going to be the right time. A big personal project (purchase of a goods, having a baby, going on a trip), a big project at work (development of big KPIs of death that kills, a hyper mega giga important project, an email from the Management). If you're waiting for the perfect circumstances to come together, you're not done waiting... What if we promised to stop procrastinating on a subject as important as professional well-being? (Reminder: you spend about 80,000 hours working in your lifetime).
#10 “It must be a whim, it will pass me, and I will fit into the mould”…
Don't settle for unhappiness! You have incredible potential waiting to be unleashed. Imagine yourself thriving, not just surviving. Your inner voice is whispering – it's time to find your zone of genius! Are you ready to listen?
Take action! It might be scary, but remember, the hardest part is starting. Once you do, amazing things can happen, unfolding a path you never even knew existed. As Goethe said, 'the moment we commit ourselves fully, providence moves too.' It's your time to shine!
Excuses are over! Find a jobs_that_makesense.