The Runaway Employee: It's an "I quit the job!" post...

Why must quitting have such a negative connotation alongside it? Is it always such a bad thing? Hey, I quit smoking, good for you! people would say. Or what about, hey I stopped shooting heroine! Again, I would get some pats on the back. So why then, is it such a poorly regarded thing to say, hey I quit my job. What if I told you that today I revamped my job? What would you think? Or if I said, I revamped my job after only seven days! You'd think, wow, now that's a go-getter, she knows what she wants in life and she's gonna get it somehow. Well then I'd say you're right, because that's what I did. I made a decision today to revamp my job. I should say I made a decision 20 minutes ago to revamp my job, actually. I'm now sitting at the El stop waiting for my train thinking about that decision I just made. But I feel good about it. There comes a time in every person's career when they have to shit or get off the pot. I'm not one to shit around new coworkers, so yeah, I got off the pot. But right about now I could go for some pot...



You might notice that it’s technically not the end of the work day yet. Well see I’ve got this problem, remember I call it the sand itch, that when I know something isn’t right I suddenly have to get the hell out of there right at that moment or I start to get super high strung and anxiety ridden. It’s similar to the condition Julia Roberts felt in that lovable romantic comedy “Runaway Bride.” I guess I’m kind of a runaway employee. But at least I don’t make that awful platypus face she makes in an attempt to be silly yet cute all at the same time. So right after lunch, before I could say my I do’s with Richard Gere, I was overcome with the urge to flee and so I took off down the fire escape stairs. Luckily, there was a horse conveniently waiting just outside to take me off into the horizon, wedding dress and all. It was pretty dramatic. In reality, I faked a headache and got the hell out. But I’ve got a good feeling the coworkers were already taking bets on whether I’d be back tomorrow...



So what’s the next card, dealer? Well, I’ve already thought about that, because I’d just like to reiterate that this is not a rash decision. I’ve put at least three days of thought into this, which is about 50% of my work career thus far. I’ve spoke with my loan officer (my dad) and we’ve come to a business agreement. It’s a very rigid plan, but I think it might just work. I’m calling it the 30 Day Challenge. Obviously that’s a working title because it is clearly lacking any and all creativity and I don’t really want people to think I am on one of those weird 30 day diet or workout things. My challenge is much more difficult. So here it goes:



I have thirty days to write a novel, sell a novel, sell a screenplay, become a director and or producer, or get a job that won’t cause the runaway employee disorder to kick in. And after those thirty days I have to start paying back the small loan I am about to borrow. Like I said, it’s not going to be easy. But I am approaching this very professionally and treating it like an actual job. I will work very hard from 8-12, lunch break at noon duh, then it’s back to it from 1-5. I might even work til 6 since I can cut out transportation time given that I will have the luxury of working from my home. It’s going to be a tough month, but I can do it.



The challenge isn’t going to start until Monday though because I really need a five day weekend right now. Those seven days of work really took it out of me. And plus my parents are coming to town tomorrow so I need to make sure I am at their disposal to really be able to show them the city.



Cheers to new opportunities. And taking risks. And being scared shitless.