September 5, 2012
I quit my job

In what may be the single most insane (or inspired?) act of my professional career, I resigned. And I don’t have a new job lined up.

In the face of 8.5% unemployment, a lot of turmoil in my industry, a spectacular mortgage and property tax commitment, and at the withered old age of 45, I’m just walking away from two paychecks per month and (probably) a decent bonus in the spring.

I don’t really have a plan. You might say I have a plan to make a plan. We’re still working out the details of exactly when my last day will be—maybe a month from now, maybe less. After that, I will take a month or so to do some projects around the house, including building a kick-ass clubhouse for the kids. While I engage in that kind of work, I will mull over several potential startup ideas I have swimming around in my head. I find my greatest moments of clarity and creativity actually come while I’m thinking about something else, and various householdy/manual tasks seem like good fertilizer for that kind of brainwork. 

While I’d love to jump onto the “follow your bliss” train and try to forge a career in the thing I truly love (music), that’s unlikely. I’ve got a lifestyle that I’ve chosen to maintain for me and my family, and there’s just no way to sustain it with a guitar in my hands. But it’s OK. I do enjoy software development, and even the financial sector if I hold it up to the light and look at it the right way. I am pretty sure I can make my way.

It wasn’t an easy decision. There are a lot of great, great people where I work and my team has accomplished a lot, sometimes in extremely adverse conditions. That kind of bond runs deep and I’ll miss it, especially since whatever I do next will almost surely start with a team of one. The people I work with will hopefully understand that I am leaving not because I’m being pushed by something negative, but because I’m being pulled by something positive. I ran my own company for four years and I’ve been dying to get back to it for three. Now’s the time.

It was also a decision reached as a team. I couldn’t do this without Sharon’s enthusiastic support, and she gives it without hesitation. My family is 100% behind me, too, and I am sure my friends will be as the news propagates. Team Scholvin!

I hope anyone who is currently unemployed and having a hard time finding work doesn’t find this to be flip, or gloating, or anything else like that. I didn’t take this lightly and there were many, many sleepless nights leading up to it. There will be more. It’s risky. I don’t take for granted that it will be easy to just walk back into a job if my own endeavors should fail.

So, here we go, on to the next adventure. I’m relieved and scared and confident and excited and just can’t shake these butterflies. Seems likely I’ll document the journey here, so, stay tuned. 

12:42pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZEG6ZySqDPhn
(View comments) 
(Notes: 119)
  
  1. ungracefulme said: I envy your ginormous balls. I’m glad Sharon’s behind this. You’ll be fantastic at whatever you decide to do.
  2. raiselm said: You’ll be just great. Don’t yiu feel relieved?
  3. ftablog said: Congrats on pulling the trigger! It seems like you’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. And, I can’t wait to hear some of the detailed stories that you have… You’ve given us teasers in the past. Let’s have them! Again, congratulations!
  4. elizabite said: Go Team Schlovin!
  5. bananacasts said: I read this in my underwear!
  6. girl-detective said: Good on you for having the courage to quit! Good luck!
  7. rartastic said: Dude. Good luck! Have fun!
  8. ashamedtosay said: John, this job of yours was killing you and so leaving it is saving you and your family. I am happy you have the ability and support to do what you need to do to stay healthy.
  9. idsploder said: Good luck, man.
  10. do-over said: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  11. fancyglasses said: So exciting! So scary! Best of luck to you.
  12. lefauxfrog said: Good for you. I did that once myself. Best of luck with it.
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