Thursday, January 27, 2011

My Decision!

In case you missed it....start HERE.

So my boss drives up to go out to lunch and we decide on Olive Garden because it was cold and we were both in the soup mood!

I told her that I would drive and we get in the car and you can tell that she was a little nervous....image that...having your boss nervous at you!

The restaurant was less then 10 minutes away and we talked the whole way there....but not one word was said about work.

She told me my hair looked really pretty and that she liked my shirt.....hmmm...she was trying...

When we got to the restaurant, there was a 5-10 minute wait for a table so we sit down and our conversation was still about everything but work.

Our buzzer goes off and we are escorted to a table.  Drinks are ordered and my boss reaches in her bag and pulls out a folder....here we go...

She asks me why I want to leave and I tell her that you can't beat the State's pension plan...she says that they have a great 401K plan..I said that pension and 401k's are 2 different things...she agreed. 

She then asks me what other reasons I have and I told her about advancements, stability, the ability to bid on other jobs, etc.....

She then started talking...and talking...and it was then that I kinda drifted off and wasn't even really paying attention to her...not to be disrespectful but because I realized then that I wasn't interested in what she had to say...I knew then...at that moment that my decision to leave was the decision that I was going to stick with.  I felt good...confident...excited that it finally came to me that my choice was the right one and no lunch...no extra week of vacation...no salary increase would change my mind.

We were there for 1 1/2 hours! 

She told me to think about it overnight and call her in the morning.  She thanked me for meeting with her and for considering her offer.

Wednesday morning she called me before I even had a chance to call her.

"Well??  She said...have you made a decision?"

I thanked her for the opportunity and said that I was sticking with my decision to leave.  You could hear the sigh escape from her mouth.  I told her that it was nothing personal and that I appreciate everything she has done for me.  She said that she understood and said that I will do great no matter where I go and that it is a great opportunity. 

I then told her that I would help out on Saturday's and help train my replacement if she wanted me to.  She said, "you would do that?"....I said yes and she thanked me and said that would be a great help and that she really appreciated it.  She said she would put an ad in the paper and asked if I would help in the interview process.  I told her I would and said that I wanted to make the transition easy for her.  She thanked me several times and I was happy that I was able to help her out.

When I got off the phone, my employee Kate started crying.  It is just her and I that work at the store.  She was sad that I was leaving and was hoping that I would change my mind.  The rest of the day she was very quite and hardly talked.  I told her that we can't work like that for another week & 1/2 and she said that she is afraid that whoever replaces me she won't like.  I told her that she could help pick the person with me.

So I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.  I am happy about my decision and looking forward to my new job. 

Thank you all for your advice...it helped me immensely! 

"You have a choice: to plow new ground or let the weeds grow."
Jonathan Westover

32 comments:

  1. As long as you are comfortable with it and happy. Leaving a job is never easy for anyone, but it's so nice of you to help out in the transition.

    I hope things go smoothly for you! Good luck!

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  2. Congrats on making your decision. Good luck on your new job.

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  3. Good for you! Congrats and good luck!

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  4. Congrats on your decision. Sometimes just making the decision is the hardest part.

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  5. Good quote. Hope all goes well in your new job.

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  6. Congrats on your decision. Good for you to help in the store transition, it is so important to never burn bridges. I know your boss will be forever grateful to you.
    Yipee to the new benefits!
    Shawn

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  7. It's hard to leave a workplace where you feel comfortable. I left my job of 5 years last year to completely start over in a different field. I was terrified, & it was so hard to leave all the people I was close to. But, I know I made the right decision & I don't regret taking that leap. I know you won't either. Congrats on new job!!! I know you'll be great at whatever you do!

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  8. It is such a mental relief when those all-important decisions are finally made. Congratulations on the new job.

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  9. Isn't it beautiful when that 6th sense that God gave us just clicks. You made a great choice and you will be so happy with those benefits. Sometimes, the benefits are worth more than the pay!!!!
    Congrats!!!!
    Amy (Mom to the Four Sisters)

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  10. That is a great end to the story... You didn't burn any bridges and are looking to your new horizons with wonderful expectations.. Bravo!

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  11. I was nice of your boss to take you out to lunch alone and try to talk you out of leaving. Not that many bosses would do that these days with people lined up for job openings.Even thou you made a decision to leave it must make you feel good to know that she valued you so much.

    Congrats on your new job!

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  12. I can relate. People here were very surprised that I decided to retire this year, but I felt that same relief, so I knew it was right. Still hard to leave--I've loved this job. But time to move to the next stage. Congratulations.

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  13. Glad you made the decision that fit you best! Congratulations!

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  14. You handled that so well. You knew what you wanted and stuck to your guns! Go you! And you were generous about allowing Kate to help in the choosing of who she would work with, as well in offering to help train the new person. All of these things will be remembered and appreciated. That is a lovely footprint to leave behind.

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  15. congrats on your new start! You go girl!

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  16. Sometimes you just know when it's a good decision.

    Good luck with your new job.

    carol

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  17. Well done, Java! How generous of you to offer to make the transition go smoothly. blessings on your day!

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  18. (sigh) I can tell you are at peace with the decision you've made. Good for you.

    It is so important that we listen to what we need rather than trying to make others happy.

    In the end, if we are happy, then it will spill out and others will be happy to be in our space.

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  19. I'm so pleased that it worked out for you. You made is work out for your boss and fellow worker too, which was very, very generous of you.No wonder she doesn't want to lose you, and she's right, you'll go far!

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  20. I truly think you made a wise decision and you handled it very well. Congrats on your new job.

    Hugs,
    Kat

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  21. I am glad you made your decision, and for what it's worth, I think you made the right one! Blessings jane

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  22. It's wonderful that you felt confirmation about your decision, Java. Congrats on your new job! I'm wishing you all good things with it!
    Deb @ RaisingFigureSkaters.com

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  23. Feeling like the weight is lifting is a good sign that you did the right thing for you. Sometimes we let people guilt us into doing what is best for them... You are one SMART COOKIE!!! Not to mention kind in helping them find and train your replacement. (((HUGS)))

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  24. Congrats.... I think you made the right choice....Good luck!

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  25. Congrats, Java! It sounds like you made the right choice. Best of luck at the new job!

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  26. Congrats on the courage to do what you want! It sounds like there are exciting things going on in your life! Best of luck!

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  27. Wow, Java, you are one amazing cookie for making such a courageous decision and following through with it! Great post! Enjoy your new frontier! I'm all linked up for Follow Friday and hope you stop by to post something new too. Have a great weekend! Roz

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  28. Congratulations on sticking to your guns! Changing jobs is the hardest thing, even when you KNOW you're making the right decision. If your blog is any indication of the type of person you are, then there's no doubt in my mind that you'll have success in your new job.

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  29. Someone once told me that I didn't have to make a decision - because the right choice would become obvious if I let it happen! Sounds like that's what happened to you!! Congrats on the new job and have a great weekend!

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  30. Congratulation Java!! You really weight out your decission and I think its the right one for you. I am glad you are so happy, you deserve it!! Have a fantastic weekend!! :)

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  31. Congrats! You made the right decision!

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