This is the point where you shake your head. The point you realize taking a fake sick day *cue the Ferris Bueller music until the record skips* is not going to cut it any longer.
This is the point where you should look deep inside. In the unfortunate event you discover you are a quitstay — a human resources term for someone who has mentally quit their job but keeps turning up for work anyway — do not panic. Instead, you should accept the primary truth of the quitstay: It's way too late to panic now. Only clever planning will get you out of this mess.
Of course, if you are unsure of what your quitstay status really is, it is important for you to determine it immediately. Yes, put down the breakfast burrito and get a hold of yourself.
If you're reading this while you're at work, guess what — you're a quitstay! People who love their job wouldn't be spending company time surfing the Internet. Sorry. But please continue reading, we're here to help.
If you are in the 2% of the population who actually love every aspect of their work, congratulations — it must be really exciting to be a porn star, hitman, or a CEO!
Now some of you out there may be saying, "But I love my job and I'm not in the adult film industry, mafia, or executive level." Yes, I know you said it, but do you really believe it? No, really — because your fellow quitstays know better. We know all about your little denial. It usually stems from one of three things:
- Money - You make a certain level of income at your job, so you deem it worthy of doing something you've grown to hate, simply because you can afford to have a Hummer. Hello, quitstay!
- Status - You talk about your job at parties like so: "Well, yes, I'm the [meaningless job title] at [corporate juggernaut with memorable slogan], it's really a great atmosphere." So you're saying that shoveling manure for Google is that much better than doing it for Sal's Electronics Shop? Riiiiiiiight. Hola, parar estancia!
- Power - You define your purpose by commanding corporate drones to do your bidding around the office. Yet you somehow believe your company could not replace you next month? Uh huh. Bonjour, stoppez le séjour!
Look, let's be clear — nobody faults you for any of these three things. We know you were only trying to find the positive in an otherwise depressing situation. As young adults, we are thrust into the work world and search for any type of redeeming factor in a dead end career we can find. As life unfolds with more responsibility over the years, we often sink into a default setting. However, if you don't like when you boot your computer in Safe Mode, then why do so with your life?
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
ah, now there's a label for my lack of career exit!
p.s. springwise link also goes to monster.com
2 - Mark Sahm
Thanks Saleski. Glad to hear you're part of "the club"... now does that mean that you'll be sending some of your 'best-of' writing samples to a few music mags? I hope so.
3 - Mark Saleski
sigh...yea, one single Guster feature is not a career.
4 - Mark Sahm
One publish credit beats us losers with none, man! But you got a lot of indy music background you should be expanding on, IMO. You owe to yourself to keep putting it out there.
5 - Mark Saleski
thanks man. i'll get to it.
6 - DJRadiohead
Sir Saleski has been doing a little market research on a project of epic proportions. OK, so it means he asked some of us Mondo people about how to structure the project, but still. He's got his eyes on a prize.
I, on the other hand... I need some imagination and drive. I know I love doing the do... I haven't put a lot of time or energy into finding a way for it to become an actual career.
7 - Phillip Winn
This is a fantastic and amusing article, Mark! Thanks.
8 - Mark Sahm
Phillip: Much appreciated.
DJR: None of us would be here writing in the first place if we weren't driving towards something bigger mentally. Desire is always the first step.
9 - Mark Saleski
not true! i'm thoroughly enjoying the meeting that i'm in the middle of.
;-)
10 - S.Rod
Mr. Sahm: Stop writing about my work life...someone might actually read this!
11 - Mark Sahm
All references of quitstay examples are purely coincidental. :o)
12 - S.Rod
Mark, This article depresses me every time I read it. Yes, I laugh at first but then I reflect on our respective situations. What happens if the entrepreneur route fails us? Do you think we can make it as porn stars? ;)
13 - Mark Sahm
Your comments frighten me. And I love it.