Do you occasionally find yourself thinking about leaving your stressful and unfulfilling job, but then hear a voice in your head that comes up with all kinds of reasons to object?

I know I did. For years, I’d been wanting to ditch my career and start something on my own. But somehow I always managed to come up with excuses not to.

I’m sure that happens to you too.

1. This Job Pays Well. What If I’m Unable To Find Another One?

Society today puts money on a pedestal. More often than not, our  main motivation for doing a certain job is the financial reward we get afterwards, and not personal satisfaction. 

I remember sitting in a lecture in university, while the professor (teaching Software Engineering) gave us an overview of our future career.

 “Those of you”,  he said, ”who become Software Engineers  and spend a few years in the field, can expect a salary of £100 000 per year or more. But some of you, will go into Cybersecurity and will get more than £200 000 annually. “

Wow! – I thought to myself. I am at the right place then. My young, unexperienced mind started calculating. – Okay, so all I need to do is study hard and find a job as a Software Engineer. Or maybe I can even go into Cybersecurity. I’m sure it will be a bit boring, but who cares? The salary is good.

This is just one example of the way we all have been brainwashed into thinking that money is the most important factor when it comes to choosing  a vocation. And once we get it, we fear losing it.

But what if you find the majority of your job tasks boring? What if you feel stressed most of the time? What if your job is causing you anxiety and low self-esteem? What if it actually makes you physically ill?

Do you see how you undermine yourself? You give more importance to money than that of your own health and wellbeing.

2. I Like My Colleagues

It’s wonderful when you have nice and friendly colleagues. Being able to have a quick chat by the water cooler every now and then lightens even the most stressful of days.

However, are your associates really a valid reason for staying at a job that you find unfulfilling?

3. I Feel Comfortable Here

I’d say that comfort is the biggest culprit for not moving on, even though moving on is long overdue. The reason, however, for clinging into situations that are not ideal, situations that cause us stress and unhappiness, is fear. No matter how advanced we’ve become today — with breakthroughs in technology like artificial intelligence, space exploration, and medical innovations such as gene editing — our primitive brains haven’t changed much. All they care is survival. They still live in a cave and hunt rabbits for dinner.  And so the thought of letting go of something that you already have, and go on to pursuing the unknown makes you cringe.

But you have the power to override this behaviour. You know better. In today’s world changing jobs or ditching the job completely and starting a business of your own is not such a big deal. You won’t get chased by a tiger on the street, or starve to death in the winter.

4. I’m Too Old/ Young To Change Jobs Now

Okay, what does that even mean? Who set age limits for doing anything at all?

Unfortunately, we unknowingly limit ourselves. Throughout our lives we observe people around us – friends, family, teachers etc. And we assume what’s normal and what’s possible depending on the examples we see. But is that really an accurate measure for achievement?

After my second year in university, I was fortunate enough to meet Dominic McVey – a young British entrepreneur who started a successful business at the age of 13, importing micro-scooters from the United States into the United Kingdom. At the time when we met, I was an intern in a Creative Agency, and he was one of our millionaire clients. Despite of the fact that he is only 1 year older than me.

Furthermore, Colonel Sanders – an American businessman, founded KFC at the age of 73.

Now, if these two examples don’t help you see through the lie that age might be the one factor to stop you from working on and achieving your dreams, I don’t know what will.

5. This Job Provides Me With Security. I Have A Regular Income And I Know I Can Pay My Bills.

Today, job security is one of the biggest illusions we believe in. If you are employed today, what’s the guarantee that you wouldn’t be laid off tomorrow?

We all witnessed the times during COVID when 1.3 million people in the UK alone lost their jobs, along with 305 million people worldwide. What happened to job security then?

Jim Carey has a wonderful quote:

“You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”

In conclusion, I’d like to point out that life is beautiful and full of possibilities! Don’t oppress yourself at an unfurling job. Don’t ever limit yourself!