The Boiling Frog, Corporate Burnout, and Finding Myself Again

Over a year and a half ago, with the help and support of my wife, I decided to leave corporate America and begin a completely new career in Real Estate.  If you know anything about the statistics behind making such a move, lets just say that my short-term future looked anything but bright.

Fortunately we had made sound financial decisions throughout our life and as believers in Christ we had a solid foundation to take on such a risky endeavor.

There’s a lot I could share about this journey to date but I would like to focus on some of my biggest personal observations which weren’t necessarily obvious during my 37 years working in the corporate world.

I Needed To Be Re-Programmed

My corporate career was marked by growth and opportunity.  As a young man fresh out of college I was eager to prove my worth and had a willingness and desire to succeed.  That drive helped me climb the ranks but it also proved to be an obstacle upon leaving.

Over time I had become accustomed to devoting the majority of my day to the workplace and the activities required to ensure the success of my business unit.  With that gone, I became entrenched in an emotional battle over self worth that lingered for months.

Even though I was diligent in building my real estate business and began to see success, I struggled with guilt and doubt because of the sudden free time that I was unaccustomed to having.

After almost eight months in the business I realized something important:  sacrificing 60 - 75% of my time in order to succeed in corporate America was probably an unreasonable ask that I simply got used to.  It’s like the boiling frog analogy.  If you put a frog in boiling water, it will jump out but if you heat the water slowly, it adapts until it’s too late.  I think that’s exactly what happened to me.

I Gave Up A Lot

What I never realized during my corporate career was how much of ‘me’ I had sacrificed.  As a leader, I supported programs and ideas that I didn’t always agree with.  And being in middle management meant that the greater decisions of where the company was going and how it was going to get there were already made.  My job was to ensure that my team was aligned and moving in the direction they set.  As one of my former supervisors put it, “you don’t get paid to think, you get paid to execute”.  A little blunt, but true all the same.

As the years passed, I sacrificed most of my personal identity.  Throughout my career, the bulk of my time and attention was given to the workplace and the team that I lead.  I had little time to foster meaningful relationships outside of work and was only able to participate in hobbies or activities that could fit into the free time that remained after my workplace obligations.

I had, over time, become a shell of the person that I was and had sacrificed a large portion of my personal identity for the overall gain of the corporation.  I left corporate America with very few personal friends, hobbies, or ambitions.

My Needs Were Far Fewer Than My Wants

Leaving a steady paycheck to start a business from scratch was intimidating.  Not only would we need to cover our living expenses, but we would also need to invest in the marketing needed to grow the business.

This meant ‘tightening the belt’ on our personal spending.  My wife and I aren’t extravagant spenders to begin with.  We’ve always valued experiences rather than consumable goods.  But, there were some needed adjustments, such as curbing my weekly (okay, maybe bi-weekly) wing and fries takeout habit!

What I discovered was that our financial needs were not nearly as large as I had imagined.  A large portion of our spending was simply Consumerism, and my steady corporate paycheck helped keep that cycle going.

The Biggest Takeaway

The past year and a half has taught me that freedom, faith, and relationships matter far more than titles and paychecks.   My business has shifted to Real Estate, but my life is so much more. Because of my move, I have escaped the confines created by corporate America and am blessed to have something I haven't experience since adolescence, free time.

My recommendation is that if you’re feeling the “temperature rising,” don’t wait until it’s too late. Take a step back, evaluate what you’ve been sacrificing, and ask yourself if it’s worth it.  I can tell you, it’s a scary move, but it’s also one of the most rewarding decisions you could ever make. 

And if you’re facing a big change in your own life, like buying or selling your home, give me a call. I’d be glad to help you take that next step with confidence.      ClickHERE to connect!