Why I reassessed my career instead of joining The Great Resignation

The Great Resignation gives me hope.

Not because companies – mine included – are losing talent, but because it’s forced business leaders to recognise that the status quo isn’t working. It gives me hope that, when I start looking for my next move, it will be in a much more employee-centric environment.

For far too long, employers held the power. It didn’t matter if the workplace culture was toxic or if “flexibility” was just another buzzword thrown into job descriptions without any basis in reality.

But now that’s changing.

The pandemic has forced this change. For the first time in forever, we’ve began reassessing what it is we want out of life, and how our career plays a role in our vision of our future.

Admittedly, this type of introspection is a privilege. Not everyone can work remotely. And among those that can, it’s not always the preferred option.

But for those who could work from another country to be closer to family, work around childcare needs, and save money on the commute, shedding the culture of presenteeism and demonstrating that we’re just as productive, if not more so, from home – was a relief.

Of course, people switch jobs for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes, it’s not about the company at all. The difference is that now, we can clearly see whether companies live up to the values they promote.

I left my previous job in April 2020, so I was actually ahead of the curve. I realised that, if I wanted to progress in my career, learn new skills, and yes, increase my salary – I had to move. It wasn’t that my previous company was stifling growth, it was just not enabling the kind of growth I needed to flourish.

Of course, no company is perfect. Even in a single workplace, experiences will differ across teams. But in my present position, I’ve been lucky enough to have managers who encourage personal development. And that environment emboldens you to seek new opportunities, confident that you’ll be supported.

That’s exactly the kind of atmosphere I hope The Great Resignation unlocks for everyone.

Your success is always the sum of many different parts. Though I was working as a marketing project manager, I was happiest when working on product-related challenges. My former manager spoke to my current manager and product tasks began to filter through. I enjoyed the work, so I moved to the product team.

Now, there’s still so much I don’t know, but I’m learning more each day. Communicating my concerns to my manager has resulted in more tasks to stretch my abilities, and my confidence is growing.

The point is, if  you’re in a position to reassess your career trajectory, maybe the change you’re looking for isn’t as dramatic as a resignation – maybe it’s a lateral move instead. But whatever the case, and whatever the reasons, the Great Resignation offers genuine hope that change is coming.

Book(s) of the Year: 18 More Books in 2021

When I set myself the task of reading 20 books in 2021, I didn’t realise reading regularly would become an embedded habit, but I’m thrilled that it has. I’ve always loved to read, but it was hard to find the time. Now, I make time.

And while I can’t say everything I read is quality literature, it (usually) teaches me something. At the very least, it offers a new perspective.

So in addition to the 20 books I reviewed in September, here’s everything else I’ve read so far this year (currently reading Anna Karenina, but there’s no guarantee I’ll finish it before 2022):

How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith

There was something about the language used in this book that prevented me from buying into it wholeheartedly. Perhaps it’s the underlying notion that we’re living in a man’s world, and women must again adjust their behaviour if they wish to succeed. That said, it was an accurate depiction of the challenges women face in the workplace, many of which resonated with my own experience. 3/5

The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

There are some books which offer a window into a different world, and others that transport you into the action itself. This book did both. I was gripped from the beginning. Having had some time to reflect on what I’d read, however, I noticed there were a number of plot holes – or if not plot holes, then awfully convenient literally devices. Still, it was a page turner. 4/5

Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah

I’ve never read an autobiography I didn’t want to end – except maybe Lost in Translation by Eva Hoffman, though for different reasons. Trevor Noah’s retelling of his life taught me so much – about history, about injustice, and about strength. It serves as an important reminder that it’s far too easy to dehumanise people when the system is rigged against them. 5/5

It’s Hard to be a God by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky

I’m not usually a big fan of science fiction – or retro futurism, in this case – but I loved this book. I loved it so much that I can’t stop thinking or talking about it. I chose it for its name, which essentially summarises the conundrum it poses – does power necessitate you to act? And whether you do act or don’t, what is your level of responsibility to those affected? 5/5

The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley

I liked the premise – searching for authenticity and connection in a superficial, fast-paced world – though it’s something that’s coming up more frequently now that social media has become ubiquitous. The characters and the plot twists were enjoyable, but I felt that the love story was boring – in my view, the book would’ve been more valuable as a portrait of strangers forging community in a big city. 3/5

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

When I first started reading this book, I hated it. I hated the tone. I hated the character descriptions. I thought it was trying too hard to be funny and failing miserably. Towards the end, however, I think I understood the author’s intention – by making the characters ridiculous caricatures, he stripped away their humanity, and only brought it back as the story unfolded. 3/5

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

The premise was fairly intriguing, so I decided to try yet another romance. But, as we have now established, it’s not my genre. And this book, though initially promising, quickly deteriorated. It had several popular tropes, including the child who behaves more rationally than the parent. And the smut was absolutely cringeworthy. 2/5

Quit Like a Millionaire by Bryce Leung and Kristy Shen

I’ve had passing interest in the FIRE (financial independence, retire early) community prior to reading this book, but I didn’t actually know any investment strategies or think about how to build a portfolio to enable early retirement. This book has a strong North American focus, but it still served as a great introduction to taking control of your finances. 3/5

Hana Khan Carries On by Uzma Jalaluddin

It would appear that the author’s strategy is to rewrite classic romances to feature South Asian Canadians. In this case, a South Asian You’ve Got Mail, set in Toronto. The characters were believable enough, but I couldn’t get over the lack of originality. While I did appreciate the point that immense bigotry can permeate even the most liberal of societies, I wasn’t sold on the romance. 2/5

Monday Begins on Saturday by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky

After reading and falling in love with It’s Hard to be a God, I decided to read another work by the brothers Strugatsky. This one was completely different, interweaving folklore, magic realism, and science fiction. While the book was enjoyable and entertaining, I didn’t find it to be as thought provoking, which ultimately affects its rating. 4/5

The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae

Perhaps the target audience is fans of the author’s other work, but I really didn’t see the point of this book. While certain anecdotes were interesting, she didn’t offer any insight or analysis. Without any self-awareness, the author didn’t come across as particularly likeable, and the book felt self-indulgent and immature. 1/5

Fake History: Ten Great Lies and How They Shaped the World by Otto English

This was a very Anglocentric book with a clear political bias. As someone living in the UK and sharing many of the same beliefs as the author, it didn’t grate me as much as it could’ve if I had disagreed with him. Overall, it was an enjoyable read. Though I was familiar with many of the “lies” referenced, others were interesting to discover. 3/5

Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

While I appreciated the book’s discussion of intersectionality, I take issue with the fact that it doesn’t allow for open dialogue among people with varying degrees of privilege. Though our backgrounds differ, a lot of the injustice the author described resonated with me. How can we move forward if we stop sharing our stories and searching for our shared humanity? 3/5

One Night Only by Catherine Walsh

Why, oh why, do I never learn? This novel not only didn’t give its characters any consistent personality, but didn’t even manage to convince me that they’re genuinely interested in each other. I couldn’t understand what there was to like about either one – the lead was probably a self-insert and the love interest a disappointing cliché. 1/5

How Stella Learned to Talk by Christina Hunger

As a dog owner, I do my best to decipher my dog’s attempts to communicate with me, but I can’t say it’s always a success. I was therefore fascinated by the way speech therapist Christina Hunger applied her professional skills to enable her dog to use a communication device to express its feelings, desires, and observations. 3/5

Rescue Me by Sarra Manning

I know, I know, another romance. But hear me out, this one was actually decent – or, at the very least, the best of the lot. I found the characters a bit baffling and the smut both unnecessary and cringeworthy, but with a dog as the main catalyst, you can’t really go wrong. Not a must-read, but good for a lazy afternoon. 3/5

Coasting by Elise Downing

I mostly enjoyed this book. I say mostly, because I couldn’t be more different from the author, and I didn’t really understand her drinking and partying and poor choices regarding men, but running – that I understood. And the more she focused on what running meant to her, and her commitment to completing her goal of running Britain’s coast, the more it resonated. 3/5

Pants of Perspective by Anna McNuff

Here it’s probably worth mentioning the book’s tagline, which is A 3,000 kilometre running adventure through the wilds of New Zealand. Yes, another adventure – found a taste for it, it seems. And, just like Coasting, I absolutely loved it. While I’m not sure I’ll ever do something similar, it’s inspired me to, at the very least, buy trail shoes and begin adventuring in local parks with my dog. 4/5