My career was never a straight line. There were lots of zig-zags before I founded a multimillion-dollar leadership communications firm, The Humphrey Group. I never had a detailed plan for my future. What guided me was a willingness to quit jobs where I didn’t think I would succeed, where the people I worked with were not supportive, or I where felt there was a poor fit between my talents and ambitions and my current role.
If you’re thinking of switching your present role, you’re not alone. Nearly half of all professionals (46%) surveyed by Microsoft and LinkedIn say they are considering such a move. But according to The Wall Street Journal, fewer employees are actually quitting than in previous years.
There are understandable reasons why people stay in a job. They may crave security. They fear the poor job market. (I generally looked for a secure landing place before jumping.) And often, as a Harvard Business Review article explains, their desire to stay put is shaped by “inertia.”
My advice: If you are thinking of making a big leap to the next stage in your career, go for it. Sure, weigh the risks and rewards. Make a plan. But you won’t get ahead without a bit of daring. It worked for me. Here are the leaps I made and the positions I abandoned in my career:
1. Music
My first career goal was to become a concert violinist. I began playing at age 12 and performed—to much applause—for local audiences.
Eventually I enrolled in Indiana University’s widely acclaimed music conservatory. Surrounded by extraordinarily talented musicians, I realized I was far from the top of the class. My fate, I saw, would be playing in a lesser-known orchestra and earning very little. So, I shut my violin case, and exited that career.
2. University Teaching
I switched my major to English literature and set my sights on becoming a professor and teaching in a university. I received a fellowship from the University of Rochester and entered their PhD program. After completing my coursework and a draft of my doctoral thesis, I accepted a job teaching English and Humanities at York University in Toronto.
For a while, I thrived in the university. I developed a Woman’s Studies program, one of the first in Canada. I also created a writing program for first-year students—an initiative that hinted at my later entrepreneurial activities. About 3,000 students were able to improve their writing thanks to this program.
Alas, I got caught up in departmental politics. Once my program succeeded, other faculty members with far more seniority decided to take it over—and consign me to a minor role. I could have stayed and fought to retain my directorship, but I decided to exit this academic warfare, which was taking a toll on my well-being.
3. Speech Writing
Still eager to build my career, I decided to jump into the business world, which opened the door to still bigger opportunities.
I made a cold call to the head of HR for Northern Telecom, one of Canada’s biggest technology companies. I had no business experience, but emphasized my abilities as a communicator.
Corporate Communications hired me with a salary that was four times what I’d been making at the university. My interviewer and future boss said: “I don’t know what we’re going to do with you, but I want you in our company.”
This executive mentored me in speech writing, which proved a good fit for me with my literary and writing background. I wrote speeches for the CEO and other C-level leaders.
During my eight years in the corporate world, I worked for four companies: Northern Telecom (later named Nortel), two banks, and a resource company. In those days that was a lot of movement, although it’s more typical of career patterns today.
During my last years in the corporate world, I discovered an entrepreneurial opportunity. Executives who didn’t have their own speechwriters would come to me and say “Can you help me wordsmith this speech?” Or “I need guidance in delivering this presentation.” I saw the great need for a company that would train executives to be strong communicators and help them with scripts when needed.
4. Entrepreneurship
Inspired by this vision, I made my final career move. I created my own company, The Humphrey Group. It built upon everything I had learned in my career, even back, perhaps, to the moments when I “took the stage” with my violin.
Today The Humphrey Group is over 35 years old and is still going strong globally. I am so proud of the success it has had and continues to enjoy today. And I couldn’t have had a more fulfilling tenure with the company. The privilege of working with so many wonderful clients is something that still inspires me, even though I no longer head the firm.
Did I plan this career? Absolutely not. What made it work was my willingness to quit jobs where I felt squelched and look for opportunities that would allow me to thrive. Success involves the courage to leave certain situations and find better turf where you can build your career.