Rest is Productive
After working with Adam for about seven years, I decided to leave the company. Well, that lasted only about 30 days before I was back in the office with Adam discussing what the next best career move would be for me.
So, why did I leave?
Well, I was burned out and had been operating like that for so long, I didn’t know any other way to “escape” from it other than to cut ties completely. However, hindsight is 20/20. I didn’t actually need to leave the company. What I really needed was a sabbatical or extended vacation. Lesson learned!
There are no mistakes in life. I needed that time to reset, recharge, and get clear on my priorities. The biggest shift was my conscious decision to put myself (which included my personal relationships) before work and let go of the outcome or consequences of doing so.
I had to break a seven-year-long habit of saying “yes” to work first. I had been holding on so tightly to my career and identity as Adam’s Chief of Staff, that it left little to no room for anything else. I had become one-dimensional, uninspired (and uninspiring), and ultimately, unfulfilled. I had to let go and allow other aspects of me to shine through.
In doing so, I had the best year of my life. Not only was I holding myself back from living a full life and realizing my potential, but I was also holding the company back (which was exactly the opposite of what I wanted to do)! By not taking care of myself, by not having a clear mind, by operating at maximum [self-imposed] stress, and by not leveraging, I was not being the best leader I could be.
Since that time about three years ago, I have strengthened relationships, my career has progressed substantially (while working less), I’ve become a better leader, and I am more present in my every day life.
