Why the Hell did I Quit My Job?

"OmerCarrothers333" (omercarrothers333) 01/23/2020 at 08:13 • Filed to: None

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Hello Oppos. I’m posting about this here, because I feel like I have no where else to talk about this.

Back in October I quit my job. I had spent the better part of 25 years working in tv broadcasting. The pay sucked, but I enjoyed it. My reasons for quitting were I couldn’t handle the stress of directing tv news shows every day, my relationships with a couple co-workers had eroded to where I thought I was going to get fired, and I was tired of not seeing my kids on a regular basis.

Because I have no college degree or real job training outside of television, I was able to get a job in retail as an assistant manager at a workwear clothing store.

This has been the dumbest goddamn decision in my life. I’m more stressed out than I was at my old job, I think a couple of the other managers want me gone, I can’t get any sleep, hours are getting cut so my wife’s worried about money, and the health insurance suuuuucks. When I mentioned something to my lead manager about going back to school, I was told that corporate has to approve it. The only upside is I get to have dinner with my kids at night and help them with homework.

I’m contemplating asking my old employer if I can come back, just in another capacity.

Thanks for just letting me get this off my chest. Here’s a pic of a Triumph chopper to appease the hivemind.

Chuckles > OmerCarrothers333 01/23/2020 at 08:59

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It's worth at least trying to talk to your old employer. What do you have to lose? It's not like they can fire you. 

Tripper > OmerCarrothers333 01/23/2020 at 09:05

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That’s tough, man. I started my career in retail. While I appreciate the life lessons,  I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. No shame in going back to your old spot if you’d be happier. Even if it’s only until you find something else.

Sovande > Chuckles 01/23/2020 at 09:06

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This is the right answer.  

TheRealBicycleBuck > OmerCarrothers333 01/23/2020 at 09:11

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Well, that sucks. It hurts me to watch the people in my life make dumb decisions which I know they will regret. Right now, one of my younger cousins is in the throws of an extended, yet spectacular, train wreck and she doesn’t even know it. She’s an unwed high-school dropout who curses like a sailor, can’t keep a job, and is going to have a baby in a few months. She keeps getting into arguments with “friends” on Facebook and in the process is pissing off all of those “friends’” families. Really, one girl’s grandma tried to put my cousin into her place after one particularly nasty dust- up. The way she turned on that woman was embarrassing. She idolizes my mother and our grandmother (both have passed), yet she fails to recognize that grandma would have taken a switch to her butt if she were here to witness what she’s saying.

Wow, sorry about that. I didn’t realize I needed to vent some too.

Back to you - I’m sorry about your situation. Just know that it could be worse.

It can be really difficult to finish a degree while working full time (I learned this one the hard way), so if you do go back to school, you should know that you will be increasing the pressure on both you and your family. I always told undergrads to treat school as a full-time job and get it over with as quickly as possible. That’s a lot harder with a family, especially since you would probably have to take out loans.

Perhaps a big piece of humble pie will help you get back to work at your old company, but you should know that things there will never be the same and it may be more than a little awkward for both you and your coworkers. Even so, it may be your best option and it wouldn’t hurt to try.

My bird IS the word > OmerCarrothers333 01/23/2020 at 09:16

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Welcome to retail hell. Only the lucky few manage to leave with their souls intact.

CalzoneGolem > OmerCarrothers333 01/23/2020 at 09:28

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Sucks man but it can get better but you’ll have to work at it. You should inquire back at your old job or see if they know anyone they can recommend you to. It sounds like you may have left on good terms. 

Darkbrador > OmerCarrothers333 01/23/2020 at 09:37

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Since the fork seems to be otherwise stock, it’s a bobber, not a chopper. Semantics to appease the hivemind ...

Nothing to lose asking you former employer to get back. Retail seems to be a hard place to be, especially in time & age of m amazon taking over the world ?

But spending time with the kids is priceless. It’s really makes you appreciate the time without them ! 

OmerCarrothers333 > CalzoneGolem 01/23/2020 at 09:46

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Yeah. My old boss said it seemed like I just needed a sabbatical and he'd leave the door open. 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > OmerCarrothers333 01/23/2020 at 10:06

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I would definitely ask to see if you could go back to your old job. if you worked hard for them and we’re loyal for 25 years, I’d say that they would be open to you coming back in a different position.

I’d explain that you did love your old job but fans the position you were in was getting stressful and that you would love to come back to the company in a different capacity... No harm in being honest!

CalzoneGolem > OmerCarrothers333 01/23/2020 at 10:09

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Yeah dude. You’ve got nothing to lose then. 

Grindintosecond > OmerCarrothers333 01/23/2020 at 11:53

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Thats awesome. Use that door, maintain contact. Tv programming will never be easy nor will it be uninvolved/un stressful/personality-free. If you really want to hit up school, work that into your dialogue with your old boss.

Lee Child was a tv producer for the UK’s itv network, writing news and commercials, etc. bef ore he was ‘made redundant’ for doing union stuff, where he sat down and wrote his first Jack Reacher novel at the dining room table.

You got better things ahead, and your old boss knows that, and wants you to get there. A taste of regular retail work can reset ones perspective for  sure.