I Quit: One Year Later

“I Quit” is an ongoing series of posts where women share the reasons for leaving their jobs. The series was started in 2021 during the pandemic.

As told to SaveYourSelf.biz

“At first I was afraid, I was petrified.” –Gloria Gaynor, “I Will Survive”

This definitely was the sentiment when I left my job September 30, 2020, after more than a decade. I was toast. Burned out. Done. I had no definitive plans for what my next move would be and that was the point. I didn’t even have the space to think of what I wanted to do next, not with this big daily, nightly, weekend responsibility seeping into every crevice of my life and taking over.

So I quit. During a pandemic. And on my first day of freedom, October 1, 2020, I went to the beach to reflect. To think. To breathe.

Over the past year, I never panicked. I thought I would, but I didn’t.

I had planned to take a full year off to decompress.

I organized our house from top to bottom, confusing my family every time they came home to a new “series of systems” to help us stay on top of the chaos.

I created a home gym in our garage. I call it the “spa-rage.” It’s part gym, part escape space, a place to hide and unwind, which many of us desperately needed after being locked in for more than 18 months. 

I rebranded my business, Williams PR is now Williams Communications Marketing & Branding.

I started this site, saveyourself.biz, and this blog to follow my purpose of helping women deal with money.

I tried becoming a domestic goddess, whatever that means, driving my family crazy in the process. Some days, I would literally follow them around the house, from room to room, asking inane questions about their day, just to engage. I had a lot of free time on my hands.

I even drove our dog crazy, I’m sure, playing with her throughout the day when she had become used to having mid-day slumber sessions.

I plastered my home office with big Post-It sheets and notes of all my interests, things I might try, from screen writing to home organizing and design. It also included all the places I would like to move to, with Seattle, Portland and San Francisco topping the list.

I was pursued by some really determined headhunters who wanted to discuss an array of great opportunities in my old field where I worked as a communications and marketing strategist. I bobbed, weaved and declined. I wanted something different.

Finally, one relentless headhunter caught up with me and found me a great opportunity at a finance company where I direct a newly created department and have full autonomy on how it’s run. I get to help women in finance, aligning perfectly with my purpose.

My year off lasted three months.

Most importantly, I haven’t had any regrets about either decision.

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