When is it time to leave work?

WS-

I just wrote an entire fired-up response, than hit backspace, which backed my browser up one window, subsequently losing my entire post. FOTRUNATLEY, I am in your position, and have nothing better to do with my time in the office than to re-type the damn thing!

SO - As mentioned, I am in your similar boat (I'm not married and don't own a home, this becomes relevant)

Too often, we find ourselves so concerned with finding the best/highest paid/most hours job we can. Unfortunately, I see this concept exemplified with MBA students! You are in a unique position, you have been accepted to an obligation (be it work or school) with a significant prior notice. Essentially, you can do whatever you want this summer, and you will be in the same role this fall - act on it!

By your description of your current job, you have little to no gratification (sounds like my job!) So get the hell out of there!

Is there anything you have really wanted to do? Anything crazy? Go hitchhike across the country (ok, at your own risk, and with your wife's approval), write a book, learn to cook, learn a language, travel to some foreign land, put some time into your business idea, train for something, do some gratifying volunteer work. During that job interview after your MBA graduation, what do you think a potential employer would rather hear about, how you stuck it out at your **** job, or did something truly unique/risky/inspiring? I wouldn't want to work for a company who values the prior more than the latter...

My plan:

Libtery Day (Last day): May 2nd
Move to school (UC - Boulder): Mid Julyish
Classes: Mid August

May 4th: Using 35,000 air miles (thanks current employer!), fly roundtrip to Lima, Peru. Meet up with my girlfriend in La Paz, Bolivia (she'll be working for Engineers Without Borders, helping develop a wastewater treatment facility - she rocks ). Over the next 18 days, I plan to bike down the "death road", climb Huayana Potosi (19,900 feet), hike around Machu Pichu, and explore some seriously different and rich cultures.

June-July, train for some Tri's, bike across Michigan, do the things I've always wanted to do.

When I'm old and gray, will I regret these decisions? I can't imagine so. Many of my friends and co-workers think I'm crazy, but crazy is sticking with an unsatisfying job when you don't have to.

Live NOW, you'll make money later (you're going to have an MBA right!?)

Reason,

J

Good post jwiner ,

I visited London Business School last month and as some of you know, their MBA programme is fexible when it comes to length (either 15,18 or 21 months). A group of students took the 15 month option and got out of school early to climb Mt Everst before they took up their jobs. you can read about it here. I was inspired!!

https://www.everest2007.net/

Thanks... That is freakin' awesome!

Is it alright to just take the summer off and play golf, drink margaritas, and hang out at the beach? Or do I have to come up with an earth shattering plan?

Good call jwiner. kudos!
Currently the plan is to learn chinese this summer, hopefully with a trip there in august to cap things off. Today is my one year anniversary here (read: the options that will vest just did - worthless as they may be). I will only be in the office for about 50% of the time for the next 3 weeks. After that, I'll decide what to do with my next 4 weeks (a.k.a. the month of may). If nothing comes up and it is decent I may hang out and surf the web for $$$. Otherwise I'll cut it short.

As for that "description of my job" I mentioned - the closest I could come was my fake job posting - what they SHOULD have advertised for:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/p454563#p454563:-D

Cheers

HAHA! Don't get me wrong, there will be a lot of that too! I probably made myself sound WAY more ambitious then I actually am.

All that really matters is that my view changes from this:


Yeah. I took that sitting at my desk. My view encompasses a garbage can and the mail room. Doesn't exactly satisfy my adventerous cravings. (did that picture work? Doesn't work in my preview...)



Learning chinese - great!! Yeah, my "vestedness" was way overrated! Surf the web for $$$, I think I got that email too...

"Job Description" - HILARIOUS! My boss wants me to put a packet together to help my replacement "learn the ropes", I should follow your guidlines!

The right time to leave work? TOMORROW!!! Oh god does it EVER feel good =)

Congrats westsider! So sad I wont be reading anymore about 10c sodas and vending machines with minds of their own.

I wont be leaving until the end of july