You are an inspiration to me. Every time I read this newsletter 10 more amazing ideas pop into my head to add to my ‘how to make the Bren’s Buzz community even better’ list. It’s hard to articulate but I think it’s optimism. There’s a tone in your writing, your secret sauce, that opens my eyes, lights up my brain, and sparkles with effervescent creative juices all over my aura every time. I felt it on the first post of yours I read and I feel it every time. It makes me feel alive and valuable and reassured that somebody out there waits for my posts with bated breath like I wait for yours. Thank you for your life spark!🦋⭐️🎉
This is so relatable and that video was fantastic!
In the trades, we call that kind of quitting “dragging up,” and we’ve all done it. If you just can’t get along with the foreman, you’re getting bullied, have to work with situations that are too dangerous or full of assholes? Time to drag up and get a new job. It’s a go-to move, especially in welding, pipefitting, rig workers, pipelines, and all construction I think. Why would you stay and work with a bunch of people who suck when you could just leave?
Tim, I used to have a roommate who worked in trades (welder) and he shared similar stories. I've also heard that up north can be pretty harsh work environments.
The part that gets me is when people can't afford to leave a job that's not good for them.
Yeah it’s entirely different when you’re trapped by circumstances and have nowhere to go.. I’ve never worked in one place long-term and that’s where that video really hits home those challenges.
But in the trades there’s a lot less planning and security and we all live more day to day, so it’s harder to trap us. All the jobs are short-term and you’ll be hunting for a new one soon anyway.
That’s the definitely the case. You literally sell your physical presence at a regular job in return for “security”, and pretend that the company will take care of you. Tradespeople quite often don’t have that illusion.
What they also don’t have is good examples of coworkers with money management or life skills, so they might make more money and blow it all.
Restaurant people don't have that illusion either. Having done it for so long, sure we make killer money but security?? Nada. That's how I've been jobless for 8 months now 😆
I want to send a meat grinder email soooo bad. I burst into tears when someone asked how I was on Monday. There is a 0% chance I will be happy in my job next year. I am the sole breadwinner for our family and that is constraining my options quite a bit. Trying to accumulate enough side hustles that I can do it.
Ugh I'm so sorry you're going through that. I absolutely understand your position, been there. I'm sending all the positive vibes into the universe for side-hustle galore!!
I left a job that paid double what I had ever made before because it was burning my brain to a crisp. I don’t make a lot of money now, but now I spend a lot less on things to reduce my stress, so it all turned out fine.
The most fun quit was from a Christmas job I had in 1972 in a supermarket in south London. I was working in the basement, unloading trucks and wheeling pallets over compacted layers of broken eggs, spilled flour, and rotten vegetables. Apart from making me never want to eat again, the working environment was abusive. On my last day, I got my final paycheck just after lunchtime with a warning to stay till 5 or else. Five minutes later, I hopped off the loading dock, legged it to Waterloo station, and jumped on a tube train. One of the best moments of my life. Thanks for the chance to relive it!
I didn't walk away from the corporate grind; it kicked me out. I was a mortgage broker from 2001 to 2008. Does the latter year sound familiar? If not, perhaps these words may jog your memory: foreclosures, unemployment, tent cities.
I had no idea what to do, so I became: a standup comedian. I was single, and much like you now, had the freedom to make risky choices as I was the only one who would suffer the consequences. For a wonderful seven years I did comedy, wrote humor, and lived the life of a starving artist. I eventually moved to NYC to sleep on a couch for $700/month and fulfill my comedy dreams.
42 days later, I met the beautiful amazing whirlwind that would be my future wife. It's been eight years, marriage, and two kids since and I wouldn't change a thing. But there went my fucking freedom. I HAVE to make money. So I'm back in finance, and lo and behold, real estate is taking a shit again.
So I gotta figure something out. I doubt I can fit my whole family on a couch in NYC.
I'm glad you actually said that to the job you quit. I feel like workplaces need to know why people leave so they can make improvements (if they choose to, I guess).
There are jobs from which the only sane response is to get out with your skin intact. It's a good thing when one is in such a position in life as to allow for sanity. That's why it's so vital to have, whenever possible, a reserve of Go To Hell money. Freedom is wonderful, but also terrifying if you don't have the wherewithal to handle it.
Good for you! Really gutsy. I went to work for a friend in 2017; she was the CEO and I was her #2. She promised me the moon and the stars, told me she considered me more of a co-CEO than a subordinate. I believed her at first because I had known her for 10 years and really thought she was a genuine person of her word.
The truth was disappointing to say the least. She turned out to be power hungry, shifty with the truth in any given situation, and very subtly abusive and coercive of the staff (who trusted me much more and started relying on me as a shield and buffer). I started to put all the pieces together around the year two mark. I shared with her how I was feeling and she promised change. She couldn’t do it. She then started turning on me. So I started quietly making moves and then I left. She was SHOCKED that I was leaving; her level of denial and her ego were both huge. Most people didn’t leave her; they just bobbed and weaved and stayed, with her giving promotions and raises to keep the most loyal staff (to her) around. My leaving sent shockwaves through the place. But it also gave a few others tacit permission to do the same for themselves.
I don’t regret working there; there’s lessons to be learned everywhere. But learning the true colors of my friend was kind of a shock.
Aww man, it sucks worse for you because she was someone you considered a friend. I'm sorry you had to learn that lesson the hard way but at least you learned and moved forward.
Leaving a relationship of 25 years and traveling back to Canada without a clue of what my future would entail. It's been seven months and I'm only starting to feel more like myself, but wiser. I know I'll never defer to anyone else for my self-worth again.
Thanks for continuing to write thought-provoking stories with your own brand of humor. ❤️
Robin, I'm glad you're starting to forge your new life back here. I know it's been a long road for you but you'll get there, one step and one picnic table at a time 😁❤️
I'm working on it! Hopefully we can catch up in person sometime in the somewhat near future?! Lol. The liquor store is definitely interesting with so many characters coming through.
This is very powerful motivation. Hard to make changes like that when you have people depending on you for an income, but that's one reason I'm here on Substack!
It is hard with mouths to feed. That's precisely why I stuck out corporate for so long, to give my son a good, stable life. Internet income didn't exist back in those days. I'm old 😂
The most ballsy move I've made was to quit drinking. This big step involved years of ignoring my inner voice in favor of 'relaxing with a glass (or three) of wine' before I finally began to listen. It's the thing I never thought I would do and am so glad I did.
I have always been fascinated by those that shift toward change and those that don't. There is always the outlier who is working in a cubicle but lives a vastly rewarding, rich inner life but I think they are likely the exception.
Quitting drinking is probably a much more difficult thing to execute than quitting a job. I applaud you 👏 👏 Your life is so much better for it! I remember longing for the power to quit smoking. It was SO hard but eventually I overcame.
You are an inspiration to me. Every time I read this newsletter 10 more amazing ideas pop into my head to add to my ‘how to make the Bren’s Buzz community even better’ list. It’s hard to articulate but I think it’s optimism. There’s a tone in your writing, your secret sauce, that opens my eyes, lights up my brain, and sparkles with effervescent creative juices all over my aura every time. I felt it on the first post of yours I read and I feel it every time. It makes me feel alive and valuable and reassured that somebody out there waits for my posts with bated breath like I wait for yours. Thank you for your life spark!🦋⭐️🎉
This is so relatable and that video was fantastic!
In the trades, we call that kind of quitting “dragging up,” and we’ve all done it. If you just can’t get along with the foreman, you’re getting bullied, have to work with situations that are too dangerous or full of assholes? Time to drag up and get a new job. It’s a go-to move, especially in welding, pipefitting, rig workers, pipelines, and all construction I think. Why would you stay and work with a bunch of people who suck when you could just leave?
Tim, I used to have a roommate who worked in trades (welder) and he shared similar stories. I've also heard that up north can be pretty harsh work environments.
The part that gets me is when people can't afford to leave a job that's not good for them.
Yeah it’s entirely different when you’re trapped by circumstances and have nowhere to go.. I’ve never worked in one place long-term and that’s where that video really hits home those challenges.
But in the trades there’s a lot less planning and security and we all live more day to day, so it’s harder to trap us. All the jobs are short-term and you’ll be hunting for a new one soon anyway.
I guess that's why trades pay the bigger bucks huh? Less certainty in "will I have a job tomorrow?"
That’s the definitely the case. You literally sell your physical presence at a regular job in return for “security”, and pretend that the company will take care of you. Tradespeople quite often don’t have that illusion.
What they also don’t have is good examples of coworkers with money management or life skills, so they might make more money and blow it all.
Restaurant people don't have that illusion either. Having done it for so long, sure we make killer money but security?? Nada. That's how I've been jobless for 8 months now 😆
I want to send a meat grinder email soooo bad. I burst into tears when someone asked how I was on Monday. There is a 0% chance I will be happy in my job next year. I am the sole breadwinner for our family and that is constraining my options quite a bit. Trying to accumulate enough side hustles that I can do it.
Ugh I'm so sorry you're going through that. I absolutely understand your position, been there. I'm sending all the positive vibes into the universe for side-hustle galore!!
“But then I realized it would just be more mileage and several hours of my life I’d never get back, so I turned the car around and went home.”
Love this! How many times do we do things we don’t want out of some self imposed obligation?
👏👏👏
Far too often! But I get it. Sometimes it's not obligation, it's necessity and it hurts to know we're stuck because we need to survive!
I left a job that paid double what I had ever made before because it was burning my brain to a crisp. I don’t make a lot of money now, but now I spend a lot less on things to reduce my stress, so it all turned out fine.
Isn't it like a breath of fresh air to just leave and give yourself permission to be happier? Good for you!
The most fun quit was from a Christmas job I had in 1972 in a supermarket in south London. I was working in the basement, unloading trucks and wheeling pallets over compacted layers of broken eggs, spilled flour, and rotten vegetables. Apart from making me never want to eat again, the working environment was abusive. On my last day, I got my final paycheck just after lunchtime with a warning to stay till 5 or else. Five minutes later, I hopped off the loading dock, legged it to Waterloo station, and jumped on a tube train. One of the best moments of my life. Thanks for the chance to relive it!
HA!! That's the truest definition of a great escape! Nice one! So glad you ran from that hell hole!
I didn't walk away from the corporate grind; it kicked me out. I was a mortgage broker from 2001 to 2008. Does the latter year sound familiar? If not, perhaps these words may jog your memory: foreclosures, unemployment, tent cities.
I had no idea what to do, so I became: a standup comedian. I was single, and much like you now, had the freedom to make risky choices as I was the only one who would suffer the consequences. For a wonderful seven years I did comedy, wrote humor, and lived the life of a starving artist. I eventually moved to NYC to sleep on a couch for $700/month and fulfill my comedy dreams.
42 days later, I met the beautiful amazing whirlwind that would be my future wife. It's been eight years, marriage, and two kids since and I wouldn't change a thing. But there went my fucking freedom. I HAVE to make money. So I'm back in finance, and lo and behold, real estate is taking a shit again.
So I gotta figure something out. I doubt I can fit my whole family on a couch in NYC.
Joseph, that's one of the best stories I've heard! From finance to comedy? I LOVE that!
I have no doubt you'll figure out a way to bounce back a second time, this economy can't last forever!
I once quit a job by saying, "I want to come to work and feel happy. I haven't felt that way in months." But this is way more satisfying.
This was a great read with an important lesson.
I'm glad you actually said that to the job you quit. I feel like workplaces need to know why people leave so they can make improvements (if they choose to, I guess).
There are jobs from which the only sane response is to get out with your skin intact. It's a good thing when one is in such a position in life as to allow for sanity. That's why it's so vital to have, whenever possible, a reserve of Go To Hell money. Freedom is wonderful, but also terrifying if you don't have the wherewithal to handle it.
Go To Hell money...that's a fantastic name for the slit under your mattress where emergency money lives 😁
Good for you! Really gutsy. I went to work for a friend in 2017; she was the CEO and I was her #2. She promised me the moon and the stars, told me she considered me more of a co-CEO than a subordinate. I believed her at first because I had known her for 10 years and really thought she was a genuine person of her word.
The truth was disappointing to say the least. She turned out to be power hungry, shifty with the truth in any given situation, and very subtly abusive and coercive of the staff (who trusted me much more and started relying on me as a shield and buffer). I started to put all the pieces together around the year two mark. I shared with her how I was feeling and she promised change. She couldn’t do it. She then started turning on me. So I started quietly making moves and then I left. She was SHOCKED that I was leaving; her level of denial and her ego were both huge. Most people didn’t leave her; they just bobbed and weaved and stayed, with her giving promotions and raises to keep the most loyal staff (to her) around. My leaving sent shockwaves through the place. But it also gave a few others tacit permission to do the same for themselves.
I don’t regret working there; there’s lessons to be learned everywhere. But learning the true colors of my friend was kind of a shock.
Anyway, here’s a great podcast on this topic:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/601FTG2Vs1OvcL8xf1ynW2?si=nprXZGhrRuq5DlefnvC1cQ&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=copy-link&nd=1&_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXLy7IL8lMq9TLyczL1k9KNsz0LDPPNHdOAgDWzX1RIAAAAA%3D%3D&_branch_match_id=1253056835535841180
Aww man, it sucks worse for you because she was someone you considered a friend. I'm sorry you had to learn that lesson the hard way but at least you learned and moved forward.
Thanks for the link, I might listen later today.
Leaving a relationship of 25 years and traveling back to Canada without a clue of what my future would entail. It's been seven months and I'm only starting to feel more like myself, but wiser. I know I'll never defer to anyone else for my self-worth again.
Thanks for continuing to write thought-provoking stories with your own brand of humor. ❤️
Robin, I'm glad you're starting to forge your new life back here. I know it's been a long road for you but you'll get there, one step and one picnic table at a time 😁❤️
Thanks Kristi!
I'm working on it! Hopefully we can catch up in person sometime in the somewhat near future?! Lol. The liquor store is definitely interesting with so many characters coming through.
Take care and give Dezi a hug from me.
As soon as I get the hang of working shift work, I'll be in touch.
Sounds good! :)
There’s truth in this post. Take a minute to read it.
“Life is far too short to live it uninspired.”
This is very powerful motivation. Hard to make changes like that when you have people depending on you for an income, but that's one reason I'm here on Substack!
It is hard with mouths to feed. That's precisely why I stuck out corporate for so long, to give my son a good, stable life. Internet income didn't exist back in those days. I'm old 😂
Thank you for reminding me that I still have autonomy over what I think to be right.
I felt this - indeed, FEEL this - deep in my soul. Great work, really enjoyed it.
Feeling it is the first step!
The most ballsy move I've made was to quit drinking. This big step involved years of ignoring my inner voice in favor of 'relaxing with a glass (or three) of wine' before I finally began to listen. It's the thing I never thought I would do and am so glad I did.
I have always been fascinated by those that shift toward change and those that don't. There is always the outlier who is working in a cubicle but lives a vastly rewarding, rich inner life but I think they are likely the exception.
A great piece as always, thank you❤
It's better doing it yourself instead of having your doctor wave his finger in front of your face as happened to my brother back in the day.
He listened so is still here with us
Quitting drinking is probably a much more difficult thing to execute than quitting a job. I applaud you 👏 👏 Your life is so much better for it! I remember longing for the power to quit smoking. It was SO hard but eventually I overcame.
Well done on the smoking, it’s not easy!