
When I was 7 years old, I wanted to become a doctor.
At the time, I had spent time in hospitals and interacted with a lot of doctors who were committed to seeing me get well. This dream remained with me for the next decade, until I realised that being a doctor would mean working with needles and blood.
So, I had to go back to the proverbial drawing board. With the guidance of my dad, I decided to study law, which gave me an avenue to help people without dealing with bodily fluids.
I became a corporate lawyer working with one of the best law firms in my city.
A few years into my career, some things changed.
While working on a pro bono project on violence against women, I was deeply affected by the materials I researched.
This experience led me to ask myself some hard questions about the path I had chosen.
It felt like I had forgotten my desire to help people who didn’t have the means or access to law.
I was about 27 at this time, 2 decades since my first career decision and over a decade since I chose law. I realised I would soon be 30 and didn’t want to be at a job where I wasn’t making a real difference.
Maybe you can relate to this too.
So, I quit a few months later.
It was a shock to many of my colleagues, but I knew it was the right thing to do. However, things didn’t quite go as I had imagined.
Here are three mistakes I made when I quit my job, the first time and how to avoid them.

THREE CAREER MISTAKES YOU SHOULD AVOID
- I TOLD THE WRONG PEOPLE.
Leaving a job is not an easy decision and how it’s handled can impact the things you do going forward.
The actual resignation process was seamless (I only needed a month’s notice) but some things that transpired afterward were not.
When I first mentioned that I was leaving, some of my family members and friends were elated. They felt I barely had a life outside of work, which was kind of true.
My decision was to work with an NGO or legal clinic for vulnerable people groups.
When I left, I started volunteering with an NGO that helped victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. It was a part time (unpaid) role.
During this period, the same people who had been pleased about me quitting my job became the opposite, they would incessantly ask questions about what I would do next.
While I knew they meant well, their questions and looks bothered me a lot, and I didn’t handle it well. Rather than staying the course and exploring what would best serve this new chapter of my life, I ended up going for a nice cushy corporate job.
This was a mistake and I hope you don’t make a similar mistake.
People will always have expectations of how you should live your life. You need to use wisdom in who you discuss your plans with and how much you tell them. Not everyone needs to know. More so, do not let the fear of what people think get you to do what doesn’t serve you.
I will discuss this a bit more below.
2. I DIDN’T HAVE A STRONG WHY.
The real reason I went back into paid employment before I was ready was truly because I didn’t have a strong why.
So, I knew that my time was done at my first job. It was clear that I needed a change, but I didn’t have real clarity of what this would look like.
I knew I wanted to work in a role where I could help people – encourage, advice, and support them (whether with my legal skills or otherwise), but I didn’t know the best way to do this, so I started with the NGO I mentioned above.
While it was a great opportunity, I didn’t feel like it was a good fit. I continued to volunteer with that organisation for over 4 years after, but most of my work only required a few hours a month.
Having a strong why is a game-changer.
It is what will keep you going even when nothing else makes sense or your progress is stalled or slow.
When I started my current business in 2022, it was hard at first because of the transition to a new industry and market, but because I had a strong why, I have been able to stay the course, and even those challenges have served me and made me a better entrepreneur.
What about you? Do you currently have a strong why.
Here are a few questions to ask:
Why do I want to do this?
What is it about this business or job that matters to me?
Who am I looking to reach or what difference am I looking to make?
What if things don’t work out, will it still be worthwhile to try?
Will I stay the course if things take too long?

3. I LET FEAR AND WORRY LEAD.
When I resigned from my job, I experienced such a lightness in my chest. It was like my mind had finally followed through on what my heart had been saying for months.
There was no doubt about the decision I had taken.
But once I left and struggled to find something meaningful to do, I watched doubt, worry, and anxiety make their way to me.
Suddenly, I found myself worrying. I worried about so many things and when I look back, I realise most of the things I worried about were fruitless.
- I worried that I may have made a mistake leaving.
- I had a fear of failing.
- I felt a pressure to make things work, because of all the people I felt were watching me.
- I had deep fear of looking a certain way to the outside world. This was a debilitating fear that plagued me for a few years. Breaking this pattern is still one of my major testimonies.
During this period, I focused on the fear of things not working out, rather than revel on the incredible opportunity I had been given to live a life of meaning and fulfilment.
And this one thing I want you to remember.
A decision to transform your life will always be a good one.
Don’t let the fear or doubt stop you from pursuing a dream that can change your life forever.
Of course, I also know that important decisions attract resistance in the form of fear, procrastination, and distractions. Expect these to come and find ways to address them effectively.
That’s it from me. What did you think of these three mistakes? Are these things you can relate to or things you’ve experienced?
Do share with me in the comments.
Are you ready to get support and accountability as you plan out your career transition? Then reach out to us here.

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