NFT: Career transition opportunities - to jump or not to jump...

at a job that's pretty cushy, great benefits, good pay. Small office and culture is very chill. However I don't know what the future holds. I'm 36 and I am the IT dept. I don't know how much further of a ladder I can climb. So i've been poking around at linkedin and indeed to see if anything comes up. I'm not actively looking and I haven't updated my resume on purpose. But if somebody came along and told me about an opportunity that sounded good, I might jump.

What matters most to you? Stress or Money?

Worked for a company a longtime then we picked up and moved south.

Now I’ve been with same company for 7 years but I’m plateaued ....,I’d hate to give up 30 vacation days , And I know they say the grass isn’t always greener on the other side but I’m at the point where I’m worth more ...

Scary when you get in your upper 40’s.

in life, so for me I weigh the opportunity - the risks, the potential, the strengths, weaknesses vs where my family and I are at various stages of our lives.

To give you an example, I have been at a brick and mortar like tech company for 10 years, and I had a chance to accept a leadership role at a hot startup/early stage tech company.

Less pay with the startup, worse benefits and "perks" and probably longer hours and more travel, but the equity potential could be life changing. But...nothing is guaranteed, so with two kids newly driving and on the verge of college and a third not far behind risk of this nature was not something I felt like we could tolerate.

5 years ago, no-brainer or even 8 years from now, also probably a no-brainer, but for now based on where my family is and my priorities I am very risk averse.

Anyway, just an example and opportunities like that come up periodically and have throughout my career and that's how I approach them.

then you likely aren't using your yearly allotment anyways. So take a 2-3 week vacation (or staycation), relax and think about your future. If you decide to leave, you're only leaving 15-20 days behind and if you stay, hopefully you're refreshed.

quality of life or money?


whats more important... such a tough question

In comment 14668387 giants#1 said:

Quote:

then you likely aren't using your yearly allotment anyways. So take a 2-3 week vacation (or staycation), relax and think about your future. If you decide to leave, you're only leaving 15-20 days behind and if you stay, hopefully you're refreshed.

TRUST ME, I use them... We like to hit the Florida Gulf up every chance we can. I use them all because I cannot carry them over. In the summer when the kids are out of school I take every Friday off. Plus another 3 weeks based around Holidays.

That was extremely chill. Decent pay. Worked from home every day. Tons of time off. I wasn’t really going anywhere but I was so comfy. I was also a little leery that one day the big company I worked for would inevitably lay me and others off because that big company bought the smaller company I worked for. For five years nothing ever went down and it seemed like I was safe but nonetheless I got a job offer for much more money and much more stress and a brutal commute. I took it anyway.

Just found out more and more of my dept were sacked at my former job. Plus I was able to buy a house with this new salary. I’d be lying if I said i didn’t second guess the decision to leave old job every single day, but I’d do it again if I had the choice.

It’s not an easy choice but I would err on the side of jumping ship if your gut tells you to.

moved to business-friendly Texas, and started my own business. Best move I ever made.

and I doubt anyone can know if it is the "right" decision until they have taken the blunge or held off doing so.

Having built my own company and run it successfully for over a decade i'm faced with trading control and good money for less control and potentially great money. With my little one only 19 months old i'm leaning towards taking the risk following a lengthy due diligence process on the company.

In comment 14668858 RasputinPrime said:

Quote:

and I doubt anyone can know if it is the "right" decision until they have taken the blunge or held off doing so. Having built my own company and run it successfully for over a decade i'm faced with trading control and good money for less control and potentially great money. With my little one only 19 months old i'm leaning towards taking the risk following a lengthy due diligence process on the company.

'The Founder's Dilemma'. Good book. Have you read it? Talks about exactly this. If not, maybe that will help your decision.