Skip to main content

The decision to leave a job you enjoy

 Reeves Reflection:  The decision to leave a job you enjoy



Let’s be real.  We ALL know how easy it is to leave a job we hate.  Leaving a job that is draining us takes NO heavy lifting.  Yet, how many of us have had to grapple with making the decision to leave a job we enjoyed?  And when I mean ‘enjoy’, I’m talking about a job that provides us stability, security, and reliability and we tolerate it because it satisfies all of our needs?


In my life, I have had to make that decision a few times.   And let me be the first to tell you, the decisions were NEVER easy. 


The decision to transfer to a different job, which meant leaving the job I enjoyed, to further my education.  I LOVED my first full time job out of college.  I was working in the Headquarters office of a State Agency in Tallahassee, Florida.   I was in a college town (FAMU & FSU).  The legislature convened there.  My place was right off of the interstate.   It was perfect.   However, I had to make this decision to transfer when I decided if I wanted to pursue a graduate degree.  The decision wasn’t easy because I thoroughly enjoyed my job working in the headquarters office of the state agency I was working.  The transfer would mean I would have to work in a field office for about 2 years.   The downside was that I did not WANT to work in a field office.  And I was young so my morale dropped once I transferred out of the job I was enjoying.   In the end, I got the degree and a few months later, I would join the Navy.


The decision to leave a job, which meant leaving the job I enjoyed, to further my education.  I had to make this decision when I decided if I wanted to become a lawyer.  At the time, I was a Naval Officer.  I enjoyed being in the Military.  Joining the military resulted in a $10,000 bump in pay with free medical and dental.   The downside of going to law school was that I would have to leave the military.  In the end, I decided to go to law school and eventually became a lawyer.


The decision to leave a job, which meant leaving the job I enjoyed, to open my own firm.  At the time I was contemplating leaving my job, I was earning more than I had ever earned (or thought I would earn).   My office was across the street from my Alma Mater.  I had an office that had an awesome view.  I had been practicing a particular area of law for about 6 years so I was fairly proficient in what I was doing.  The downside of opening my law firm was starting all over again.  This decision would mark the second time in my life I was starting from ground zero.  In the end, I decided to open my own law firm and ran it for almost 10 years.


Let me clear that not every decision works out so smoothly.  With each decision I made, I made a lot of ‘dumb’ decisions and ‘foolish’ moves that could have derailed what I was doing.  Yet, the one thing I realized in each of these decisions was the reality that I grew so much more once I pushed myself out of my comfort zone.  Stepping away from a joy you enjoy is tough but sometimes, it takes that big step to walk to you becoming a better version of you and a better opportunity FOR you.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why I’m Not Trying to Make New Friends After 40 (And Why That’s Okay)

Intro: We’ve all heard someone say, “I’m not trying to make new friends.” On the surface, it can sound antisocial or dismissive. But if you’re in your 40s or beyond, that phrase starts to carry a whole new weight. It’s not about shutting people out—it’s about recognizing the power of relationships that have been built over decades. Listen to the Full Podcast Below:  Listen to "Friends After 40: Why Your Circle Shrinks But Grows Deep" on Spreaker. Friends from the Beginning of Adulthood Friendships you start in your teens or early 20s come with a different energy. These are the people who were there during your first job, first apartment, first heartbreak, first real success. They were becoming adults alongside you. By the time you reach 40, something strange and powerful happens: You’ve now known those friends longer than you haven’t. That changes everything. Why Foundational Friendships Hit Different at 40+ Friendships at this stage aren’t casual. They’ve survive...
2 comments
Read more

The Danger wasn’t always clear: Navigating Racism as Black Generation X

On July 16, 2025, I posted a video short titled “Black Generation X: The Danger Wasn’t Always Clear.” That post came from a deeply personal place. Growing up as part of Generation X meant stepping into environments where the rules around race and safety weren’t always obvious. When I was younger, my family shielded me from the harshest realities. I lived in communities where I was nurtured and protected. I was also part of the first wave of kids who went from kindergarten through high school entirely in desegregated schools. In that space, I don’t recall any overt instances of racism or bigotry. And while that was a blessing, it also left me unprepared—because I didn’t know what danger looked like when it wasn’t wearing a hood or shouting slurs. Once I left home, the uncertainty began. The Barber Who “Couldn’t” \When I arrived at the University of Tampa in the fall of 1987, I needed a haircut before starting ROTC training. I had just completed Army training that summer, so I was ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Week in Review: Black Gen X in the Shadows and the Spotlight

  Week in Review: Black Gen X in the Shadows and the Spotlight IN THE KNOW with Tony Reeves This past week, I dedicated my daily Shorts to the voices, struggles, and overlooked truths of Black Generation X. We were the first generation to grow up after the Civil Rights Act, but we still faced the burden of racism, stereotypes, and cultural tension. Sometimes, the world said the danger was gone—but we could still feel it. Here’s what this week looked like: 📆 July 11 – When a White Student Said I Was Segregating Myself Reflecting on the tension between integration and identity. 📆 July 12 – No Signs. No Warnings. Just the Same Old Danger A powerful look at the hidden threats Black Gen X still faced. 📆 July 13 – Gen X: Bridging Analog to Digital A generation of transformation—before tech ruled the world. 📆 July 14 – Raised by the Past How the warnings of our parents shaped how we saw the world. 📆 July 15 – Are We Repeating History? Hard questions from a generati...
Post a Comment
Read more