Decision Making Process (Changing Jobs
Decision Making Process of Changing Jobs
Changing jobs, and the lifestyle opportunities that go with it can be extremely stressful and often result in the decision to stay at the current job. The decision to stay in the current job is usually viewed as the safe route or a delay in the decision making process, but it is usually neither. Under normal circumstances the decision to change jobs is only entertained if an opportunity is perceived, or a problem exists in the current job. So why is the predominate decision to stay in the current position, or more accurately make no decision? The answer lies in the process used to make such a complex and life altering decision.
In the case of this student, the decision to change jobs was not only difficult and necessary, but also amazingly complex. After serving 20 years in the US Army, starting and successfully operating consulting company for 7 years, and owning and operating a restaurant for nearly 3 years it was time to retire from the Army. Of course continuing to run the consulting company and restaurant were the easy and apparent options, but other opportunities where also presented. For the last 7 years business has been very profitable for the consulting firm, and the restaurant is positioned to start turning a profit so this is the easy course of action. However in this time profit was never needed because of the Army’s salary the prospect of not having that stability and relying solely on income generated through consulting contracts was scary. At this point it was still possible to stay in the Army for an additional 7 plus years, but because of current responsibilities in the local area moving is not an option so that decision is an easy no.
Several opportunities to work for other companies had been presented as well. Money was never the issue it was always time, position, and or relocation. These opportunities were not easy to dismiss as each had several benefits most importantly the security previously
Changing jobs, and the lifestyle opportunities that go with it can be extremely stressful and often result in the decision to stay at the current job. The decision to stay in the current job is usually viewed as the safe route or a delay in the decision making process, but it is usually neither. Under normal circumstances the decision to change jobs is only entertained if an opportunity is perceived, or a problem exists in the current job. So why is the predominate decision to stay in the current position, or more accurately make no decision? The answer lies in the process used to make such a complex and life altering decision.
In the case of this student, the decision to change jobs was not only difficult and necessary, but also amazingly complex. After serving 20 years in the US Army, starting and successfully operating consulting company for 7 years, and owning and operating a restaurant for nearly 3 years it was time to retire from the Army. Of course continuing to run the consulting company and restaurant were the easy and apparent options, but other opportunities where also presented. For the last 7 years business has been very profitable for the consulting firm, and the restaurant is positioned to start turning a profit so this is the easy course of action. However in this time profit was never needed because of the Army’s salary the prospect of not having that stability and relying solely on income generated through consulting contracts was scary. At this point it was still possible to stay in the Army for an additional 7 plus years, but because of current responsibilities in the local area moving is not an option so that decision is an easy no.
Several opportunities to work for other companies had been presented as well. Money was never the issue it was always time, position, and or relocation. These opportunities were not easy to dismiss as each had several benefits most importantly the security previously