QUIT

1) to stop, cease, or discontinue
2) to depart from; leave (a place or person)
3) to give up or resign; let go; relinquish

Yep, I bet you are just as surprised as I am to see this verb. This is definitely not one of the words I figured would wiggle its way into my mental queue -- mostly because "quitting" doesn't really exist in my vocabulary. I am not a quitter -- I have never been and I never will be. But when I realized I was starting to make a "workaholic schedule" my lifestyle at age 23, I knew something had to give. 

I started working two jobs by a mere accident. After graduation, I moved home and spent the following months searching for a career job. After three months, I couldn't take being unemployed any longer (patience is still a virtue, not a reality). This prompted me to apply at a North Seattle Starbucks near the house I was planning on moving into once I found a job. The idea was that being a barista at Starbucks would give me something to do as I continued my job search. After some solid advice from a good friend's mom, I took a leap of faith -- and moved out on my own while I waited to hear back from Starbucks (and continued to interview for career jobs). I received a call from Starbucks a few days after I had settled into my new home, alerting me that I was in! I was relieved knowing I had something in the form of work -- let the two weeks of training begin! 

Just three days into my training, Hunt Marketing Group called to tell me they would like to hire me on for a contract position. Can you believe it? Of all serendipitous events! I was THRILLED -- but I couldn't just jump ship on Starbucks. It costs time, money, and resources to hire a new partner so I was going to do whatever it took to make both work (temporarily). Who knew? Perhaps my contract with HMG would end after two months and I would be back with only Starbucks on my plate. I spoke to my Starbucks manager about the situation and he was more than happy to accommodate my schedule, as I made a verbal commitment to stay for a year. This put me at 8:30am - 5pm M-F at HMG, 7:30pm - 10:45pm at Starbucks (on whatever evenings I was scheduled) and weekends at Starbucks: net-net, I was working about 85 hours a week. 

Two weeks into my contract position, HMG decided I was a great fit for the team. YES! And they offered me a position as an Assistant Account Executive. Dreams come true! This was exactly what I had been working toward and exactly what I wanted. Now I just needed to continue to prove my worth... 

As more weeks passed, I was slowing watching myself turn into a zombie. I was not my perky, proactive, outgoing self. I hesitantly spoke to my manager at Starbucks (as I had already asked him to work around my schedule once) and he, thankfully, was able to only schedule me on weekends. I cannot tell you how amazing it felt to only work weekends! Truly a breeze! 56 hours of work a week feels so much more "do-able" when you are comparing it to 85 hours. Yes -- I was still a little tired, yes -- I was still ignoring my social life but I was still fitting in short visits with friends, multiple gym days a week, and 40 minutes of reading a day. People can get used to anything right?

This August brought the wonderful surprise of a promotion and new business cards that read: Account Executive. It was time for me to re-evaluate my work situation. I loved working at Starbucks, I loved the extra income, and I was completely used to my "7-days-a-week" work schedule, but that did not mean it was the best situation for me. How can I focus on my career with a second job in tow? How will I have any time to enjoy things I want to do? I weighed the pro's and con's for all of August and September, and finally gave my notice in October (yes -- gave a month's notice...that's EXTRA polite right?)

Last Sunday, November 19th was the last day I clocked in as a barista for Starbucks. It was much more bittersweet than I imagined it would be. I knew I was choosing to leave for the right reasons, but that didn't make it any easier. I learned so much from working at Starbucks and although it seemed like an accident that both jobs came to me at the same time -- I know it was meant to challenge me and help me grow in the "real-world classroom". I did cry bitter sweet tears (twice), as I left my store that day. After some reflection, I think that they were truly tears of relief. I made it: I have a solid job, I met (and surpassed) my commitment of being at Starbucks for a year, and now I have time for my self. Despite the fact that free time scares me a little, I am POSITIVE I will find ways to busy myself. Similar to how I became immune to the stress of working two jobs, I will eventually get used to having time for myself. 

When I told my family about leaving Starbucks, my oldest sister wisely proclaimed "quitting is for winners". And although I know she was being playful -- she is right. A winner understands strategy and entails knowing when to push themselves, when to hold back, when to jump in, and when to through in the towel. I have reached a point where it was time for me to do what is best for myself, and move on. I am still surprising myself as I type this, but I am finding that in some instances you may actually be doing the right thing if you...

QUIT!

 Photos (clockwise L to R) — 1: Goodbye message on my iced ,triple, grande, non-fat, caramel macchiato 2: my first day of work at Starbucks 3: My last day of work at Starbucks 4: 1 of 3 "MUG" awards I received while working at Starbucks ("Moments of Uncommon Greatness") 5: My view from the break room of 120th and Lake City Way