On Knowing When to Leave
The manager called me in. I already knew. I'd known for weeks, in the way you know something before you're willing to say it out loud. The conversation was ten minutes. The decision had already been made, by both of us, long before that. I've left three jobs carrying the same feeling: that I'd failed at something, and that leaving had confirmed it. Three times, same shape, same emotional…
The article discusses the patterns and psychology behind quitting jobs, drawing from the insights of Steven Bartlett, Seth Godin, and Stewart Butterfield. It explains that quitting is often seen as a sign of weakness, but the author argues that it is a skill for winners. The narrative suggests that staying in a job that is a Cul-de-sac, where progress is not visible and the cost compounds, can be detrimental.
The article also highlights the importance of recognizing when to leave, using the taxonomy of The Dip, the Cul-de-sac, and the Cliff, but emphasizes that these frameworks are useful for hindsight rather than guiding decision-making in the moment. The author shares personal experiences of three jobs that felt similar, with the same emotional aftertaste, suggesting a pattern that understanding could have saved time and effort.
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